KOFU, Japan - Nearly eight decades after Japanese novelist Osamu Dazai's death, his troubled characters and portrayals of human insecurity are striking a chord with a new generation of readers, some of whom gather each year at a mountain teahouse where he once found solace.
Every June, fans come together at Tenka Chaya in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, where Dazai spent a period recovering from a period of emotional turmoil in 1938, an experience he later chronicled in his short story "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji."
Among those attending this year's gathering was Kurara Takatsu, a 16-year-old high school student from Tokyo who discovered Dazai through a manga series featuring literary figures.
Her interest in the author has also taken her to his birthplace in northeastern Japan's Aomori Prefecture.
"I'm drawn to his deep love for his family and his humanity," Takatsu said. "I relate to his writing so much that sometimes it feels as though he wrote it just for me."
Dazai's stories frequently feature characters who conceal their true feelings to protect themselves or deliberately put on a cheerful facade.
The annual gathering, known as Yamanashi Otoki, is held around June 19, the date on which Dazai's body was discovered in 1948 following his suicide in Tokyo.
This year's event, held on June 20, drew about 30 people from within and outside Yamanashi Prefecture, marking the 48th gathering since the tradition began in 1978.
Participants laid flowers at a nearby monument before attending a reading of "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji" at the teahouse.
Junkichi Mochizuki, 54, an associate professor at Josai International University, explained how Dazai's perception of Mt. Fuji changed as he gradually regained his peace of mind.
The participants listened intently before sharing their impressions of the work and discussing its appeal.
Dazai arrived at Tenka Chaya in September 1938 on the advice of his literary mentor, Masuji Ibuse, after a troubled period in Tokyo during which he had become addicted to painkillers.
He spent about two months there recovering physically and mentally, later drawing on the experience for "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji."
Among fans and scholars, Yamanashi is known as a place of rebirth for the author.
The annual memorial was established by the late Shigeki Kitta, a former librarian at Kofu City Library and Dazai scholar who wanted to commemorate the writer at a place closely associated with his life.
Following Kitta's death, a group of volunteers took over the event, including Chie Togawa, 57, a professor at Taisho University in Tokyo whose family runs Tenka Chaya, and her father Mitsuru, 82, the teahouse's former proprietor.
Togawa, who is also involved in preserving an audio archive of Dazai's works, believes his writing continues to resonate with young people struggling with self-doubt and the pressure to fit in.
"I get the impression that many students today have low self-esteem because they're influenced by reactions on social media and constantly compare themselves with others," she said.
"Perhaps Dazai's portrayals of inner conflict and the words of his characters strike a chord with them."
Perched on a mountainside overlooking Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, Tenka Chaya is difficult to reach without a car. Yet the annual memorial continues to attract enthusiastic young readers and other fans.
Togawa hopes the gathering can offer students an opportunity to connect with others and discover their own strengths through a shared appreciation of literature.
"I hope that through the readings, students can experience the pleasure of making others happy and getting genuine reactions from people around them," she said. "It might help them recognize what makes them special."
For Togawa, the teahouse is more than a place to preserve Dazai's literary legacy.
"Just as Dazai was able to make a fresh start here in Yamanashi, I hope this can be a place where people come together, share their feelings and find a way forward," she said.
