No Longer Human Complete Edition (Manga)

Product Information

This graphic novel is a departure from Ito's trademark narratives, interpreting as it does a Dazai classic that stands as one of the best-ever selling books in Japan. While the original seems to have focused on the sadness and pathos that marked the existential crisis that our lead (who seems to have been patterned after Dazai himself) labored under, true to Ito's style this book lets the horrors and absurdities of his experiences take the limelight. The Human Bug University ( ヒューマンバグ大学, Hyūman Bagu Daigaku) is a Japanese manga series published by K Contents. It has been serialized online via YouTube with voiced narration and dialogue since March 2019. An anime television series adaptation by DLE aired from October to December 2022. It tells the story of a private girls’ school, lorded over by a principal and his wife, a woman who believes herself the Virgin Mary reincarnate. This is a story that plays on our fear of — and addiction to — the unknown and the seemingly impossible. The other is a writer by the name of Junichi Fujisaku, who wrote may of the original SAC's best episodes, and based on the stand-alone (heh)

I don't want to say that one piece is better than the other, if anything I think they should be read side by side. What Junji Ito gives to this piece, though, is visuals...and amazing visuals at that. He embellishes the darkness and grotesque within this piece and really adds an element to the sad story at hand. It is more vibrant when you see the artwork attached to the text, and I think that is why this is probably my favorite of all Junji Ito's pieces as well. In a way, the focus lies on horror and visually disturbing images and I like it but sometimes it get exaggerated. There are tons of really graphic scenes that I found overwhelming. I hated Yozo Oba in here more than the novel. In the novel, I felt deep sympathy to him even if i hate him, i still felt so much for him because of his traumas and the way he was treated. In here, he seema terrible from womanizing and his manipulation but that was him, he was not a good man, he was deceptive. It was troubling and sad to see him. But Yozo was the embodiment of human's fear, desires, horrible, weakness and cowardice, that you may relate or hate for how similar he is to us. he is almost a reflection of ourselves we dont want to admit deep down in our heart. I didn't like the character. I despised him. I felt sorry for him, though. I continuously hoped he would change, but eventually I realized he couldn't.

Recommendations

Ito is a fiction writer, first and foremost, so having something that is personal nonfiction feels delightfully special and intimate. In Sensor‘s first chapter, Kyoko Byakuya finds herself at the foot of Mount Sengoku, amidst the gentle falling of golden volcanic hair.

The planet Remina is an entirely unknown entity; it seems to be alive, conscious, devouring planets and everything else on its way to Earth. the Professor halfway through the first episode feels very underwhelmingly sane for a character with a mad scientist vibe. The central conceit behind this weird and wonderful Junji Ito manga is that our bedridden man lives for several years in a dream state every time he sleeps. He goes to bed and dreams of entire lives. Each of these balloons is uniquely tailored to a specific person, sharing their exact face and hair. Everyone has a balloon, and everyone’s balloon is after them.There is one particular chapter which involves a strange bug. This headless thing with a swollen body and long antennae is grotesque, but it becomes more-so as the chapter progresses. The detailed gore that Ito draws so well is in full force at this moment. This is another story found in Shiver. I should mention that one of the cool things about Shiver (as is common with many manga tankobon) is the inclusion of little notes and anecdotes from the author. They’re often about what inspired the story to begin with.

I can't help but feel for Yozo. As a kid, he had an uneasy, pessimistic streak that he tried to hide under a buffoonish exterior, a mask that he soon regarded as tiresome but which he felt he can never take off. The abuse he suffered from lecherous servants must have cemented in his mind how untrustworthy and scary people generally are. This manga was a great adaptation of the novel. It's clear that Ito took some risks here. Where Dazai was more elusive, Ito chose to be more explicit. I personally am not a fan of sexual depictions, but thankfully this wasn't the focus of the story - and keeping in mind his usual demographic and the one targeted with this adaptation I do get the choices he made. I was really pleased to see how this manga was able to keep the essence of the story and I enjoyed most of the creative liberties Ito took. No Longer Human is an incredibly story and I don't think it is suitable for everyone. If one does however, I would highly recommend reading the novel beforehand as well as reading up on Dazai (there are a lot of autobiographical elements in the novel). I did so and it definitely payed off - I don't think I would have appreciated this manga as much as I do now. I'm working on a video discussing No Longer Human, Osamu Dazai and this adaptation for my Youtube channel, so stay tuned for that :).

Interest Stacks

uniqueness 6.5/10 (Average Zombie plot, Humans bad or something, Level up stuff and somehow semi-cultivation)

The biggest problem this show has is how seriously it takes itself despite its goofy premise. The first episode is told completely straight-faced from start to finish, setting a strangely sombre tone that overstays its welcome. Even the introduction of Ito’s art is on top form here, designing a planet that looks diseased, alive, and monstrous. This Junji Ito manga is vaguely reminiscent of the outstanding cosmic horror comic masterpiece by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham: Nameless. I never read the original, so can't say for myself who Dasai is in this work, but the story is of Yozo, an artist, rendering his soul on canvas such as other tortured artists like Van Gogh or Munch, though most of the time Oba draws manga. He plays the clown but is profoundly depressed. He is handsome and popular with many women, but he has fears and social anxiety about people. Oba, like Dasai, was sexually assaulted by male and female servants. He had a childhood friend commit suicide that seems to have haunted him all his life. While his stories of terror share much in common with Lovecraft, Umezu, and even writers like Kobo Abe and Stephen King, it’s Ito’s distinct ability to bring what he imagines to life in staggering, chilling detail.Then he watched The Exorcist and felt deflated because the filmmakers had done it before he had the chance to. When the titular fashion model turns up to a day of filming, our protagonist is immediately frightened.