Osamu Dazai | |
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Bungo Stray Dogs character | |
First appearance | Bungo Stray Dogs, chapter 1: "Losing a Tiger may be a Blessing in Disguise" (2012) |
Created by | Kafka Asagiri Sango Harukawa |
Voiced by | Mamoru Miyano (Japanese) Kaiji Tang (English) |
Osamu Dazai (Japanese: 太宰 治, Hepburn: Osamu Dazai) is a fictional character featured in the manga series Bungo Stray Dogs, written by Kafka Asagiri and drawn by Sango Harukawa. He is a member of the Armed Detective Agency who mentors the protagonist, Atsushi Nakajima, into his group while dealing with other enemies facing them. Dazai is also a former executive of the underworld organization, the Port Mafia, with the light novels and anime adaptation dealing with his backstory as a member of the mafia. He has also appeared in related works inspired by Bungo Stray Dogs.
Osamu Dazai's look and personality were designed to contrast with the young lead, Atsushi's. His name is the same as that of the late author Osamu Dazai, and his personality was partially based on the main character from the television series The Mentalist. His backstory was also influenced by the real-life Dazai, as the author was captivated by a picture of him and two other writers. In the animated version of the series, the character is voiced by Mamoru Miyano in Japanese and Kaiji Tang in English.
The fictional Osamu Dazai has been popular in Japan, often appearing in polls and winning awards from different magazines. Critical reception of his portrayal in the anime and manga has been mostly positive due to his interactions with his partners, Doppo Kunikida and Chuuya Nakahara, his personality, and his character traits. Nevertheless, the character's frequent attempts to commit suicide were criticized for being too dark to be humorous.