As one of the most fascinating characters in Bungou Stray Dogs, Osamu Dazai proves to be a protagonist that steals the spotlight from the actual lead in the story, Atsushi Nakajima. Dazai is a complicated figure with a dark past that still remains a mystery. Despite being a cheerful and laid-back person on the surface, he is a character with a labyrinthine mind.
Dazai’s character development is one of the most complex among the characters in Bungou Stray Dogs. His past ties to the Port Mafia, which makes it difficult to label him as either a hero or a villain. Dazai’s moral compass is highly questionable. He does not care much about upholding justice or morality. During his time at Port Mafia, he shot a dying person with a smile on his face. Even Chuuya Nakahara had to stop him from doing more harm. In terms of morality, Chuuya proved to be a better person than Dazai.
It is when he joined the Armed Detective Agency (ADA) that he was motivated by Oda Sakunosuke’s advice and started helping people. That includes Atsushi Nakajima and Kyouka Izumi, whom he helped come out of the darkness. Though he does not fit the mold of a hero, he would still do things that ordinary villains would not.
Dazai’s confidence and nonchalance irked his enemies as well as his allies. He hardly doubted himself, and his plans rarely fail. Yet, this confidence also allowed him to make others underestimate him. Thus, he would always appear with a new plan, even while seemingly fooling around at times.
His ability to annoy his colleagues at ADA, especially Doppo Kunikida, by his laziness, is something that Dazai takes pride in. He believed that it was fun to see Kunikida furious. Dazai would give him ridiculous health tips and would then confess to lying about them, just to see Kunikida go berserk. Once, Dazai decided to go around the office, searching for ways to further annoy Kunikida.
Apart from his convoluted life, Dazai’s love life is also complicated. He seems to be looking for the right woman to die with, regardless of who she is. This is not just a made-up characteristic of his fictional personality. The real Osamu Dazai also tried to commit suicide with his first wife, Hatsuyo, after finding out that she was cheating on him with his friend, Zenshiro Kodate. In the end, Dazai died by drowning in Tamagawa Canal with another woman, Tomie Yamazaki.
Dazai’s character type is ENTP, just like Satoru Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen and Hange Zoe from Attack on Titan. However, Dazai’s personality is far from conventional when compared to other ENTP characters. His dark past adds a mysterious edge to his charm, making him stand out even more.
In conclusion, Osamu Dazai’s enigmatic character deserves all the attention he gets from Bungou Stray Dogs fans. His dark past and unpredictability make him one of the most complex personalities of the anime world.
