Osamu Dazai (June 19, 1909 – June 13, 1948), was a Japanese author. Dazai was born Tsushima Shūji in Aomori, northeastern Japan. He is best known for his novels "The Setting Sun" (1947) and "No Longer Human" (1948). Dazai wrote a number of novels about the meaning of life, pessimism and alcoholism based on his own private life. Dazai remains the most popular author among Japanese college students.