Osamu Dazai

The 'Black Wraith' who nullifies abilities while seeking a comfortable death with a beautiful woman.

Osamu Dazai is one of the two main protagonists of the manga series Bungo Stray Dogs, written by Kafka Asagiri and drawn by Sango Harukawa. A member of the Armed Detective Agency, he mentors Atsushi Nakajima while managing threats to Yokohama. Formerly a feared executive of the Port Mafia known as 'The Black Wraith', Dazai's design contrasts sharply with Atsushi: black hair against white, and a 5'11 height versus 5'7.

Quick Facts

Series: Bungo Stray Dogs
Franchise: Bungo Stray Dogs Anime - Bungo Stray Dogs Light Novels - Bungo Stray Dogs Manga (15)
Creator: Kafka Asagiri; Sango Harukawa
Voice: Mamoru Miyano (Japanese); Kaiji Tang (English)
Occupation: The Port Mafia (14/15 - 18); The Armed Detective Agency (20 - Present)
Family: Unknown as of present
First: Bungo Stray Dogs, chapter 1: "Losing a Tiger may be a Blessing in Disguise" (2012)

Lore & Background

Dazai served as the youngest ever executive in the Port Mafia, specializing in torture and creating surveillance tactics. During this era, he mentored Ryūnosuke Akutagawa under Ōgai Mori's watchful eye. His backstory was influenced by a real-life photo of author Osamu Dazai with Ango Sakaguchi and Sakunosuke Oda, inspiring the light novel 'Osamu Dazai and the Dark Era'. In that story, Oda encouraged Dazai to leave the mafia and find a life without murder. The fictional dynamic reversed reality: while real Dazai admired Akutagawa, fiction sees Dazai mentoring the younger writer. His departure from the mafia remains tied to these relationships, leading him to join the Agency at age 20 via direct recruitment by Fukuzawa Yukichi following Oda's death.

Reader's Guide

Dazai wields the ability 'No Longer Human', which completely nullifies any supernatural ability by touch. His appearance features short, messy brown hair with bangs covering his nose and eyes, light brown eyes, and a beige trenchcoat over a bolo tie with a blue gem. Bandages cover his body, representing his obsession with suicide—a trait where he constantly seeks death with a beautiful woman. Despite this 'suicidal maniac' persona, he is cunning and intelligent, acting as the sage to Atsushi's hero. He balances Kunikida's seriousness with humor. In the film 'Dead Apple', director Yasuomi Umetsu and Asagiri adjusted his hairstyle, though Dazai remained a secondary focus behind Atsushi, Kyoka Izumi, and Akutagawa.

Did You Know?

Dazai's nickname 'The Black Wraith' is canon from the light novel 'Osamu Dazai and the Dark Era', while 'The Demon Prodigy' was a fan translation error.
Voice actor Kaiji Tang was attracted to the role specifically by Dazai's comical attitude.
Dazai's ability allows him to nullify supernatural powers simply by touching them.