修治 津島 (1909 - 1948)

Born 19 Jun 1909 in 日本青森県金木町

Ancestors

Husband of 美知子 (石原) 津島 — married 8 Jan 1939 (to 13 Jun 1948) in 日本

Died 13 Jun 1948 at age 38 in 日本東京都

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Biography

修治 津島 is Notable.

Dazai Osamu is a Japanese author. He is considered to be one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th century Japan.

His birth name was Tsushima Shūji (津島修治 ). He was the sixth son and eighth surviving child of the Tsushima family in Kanagi, Aomori, Japan. His father's name was Gen'emon, and his mother's name was Tsushima Tane. He had an aunt named Kiye (Kie).

In November 1930, Osamu was in a relationship with Tanabe Shimeko. On 29 November 1930, he attempted suicide with Shimeko by overdosing or drowning at a beach in Kamakura. Shimeko died, but he survived, and was soon suspected as an accomplice to her death. However, due to the intervention of his family, the charges were dropped.

After the suicide attempt with Shimeko, Osamu lived with Oyama Hatsuyo from February 1931 until they separated in March 1937.

He was married at least once, to Ishihara Michiko, and he had three children: Sonoko, Masaki and Satoko (里子), who went by the pseudonym Tsushima Yūko (津島佑子). In addition, he fathered at least one child out of wedlock with a fan (this fan possibly being Ōta Shizuko (太田 静子), as there is evidence that he had a daughter with her who is still living.

During his latter years he ran away with a beautiful young woman, Yamazaki Tomie (山崎富栄), effectively abandoning his family.

He died by suicide alongside Yamazaki (on 13 June 1948) by drowning themselves in rain-swollen Tamagawa Canal near his house. Their bodies were not discovered until six days later (19 June 1948).

Because he died over 70 years ago, Osamu's works are now in the public domain in Japan. However, as of 20 December 2023, they are assumed to be not in the public domain in the United States because foreign works published by him after 1 January 1928 have had their copyright in the United States restored in 1996 before the copyright in Japan expired on 1 January 1999.

Sources

• https://jahis.law.nagoya-u.ac.jp/who/docs/who4-6143
• https://jahis.law.nagoya-u.ac.jp/who/docs/who8-14331

See also:

• Wikipedia: Osamu Dazai
• Wikidata: Item Q317685, en:Wikipedia