Before the birthday of the writer, Osamu Dazai, the "Day before the birth of Osamu Dazai" will be held on June 18.

Osamu Dazai was born in Kanagi-mura, Kitatsugaru-gun, Aomori Prefecture (currently Goshogawara City). He was enrolled in Hirosaki High School, one of the predecessors of Hirosaki University, and spent three years in Hirosaki. The event will deepen the understanding of Dazai, centering on his student days when he had a sensuous time.

Last year, which was held for the first time, invited Mr. James Westerhoven, a translator of Dazai literature and a professor of the former Faculty of Education of the same university, as a lecturer and gave a lecture on the points of translating the novel "Tsugaru" into English. This year, we will invite four instructors to hold a symposium. "I analyze Dazai Osamu from various angles," says Toshio Yasuda of Hirosaki Pen Club.

The old Dazai notebook I used when I was at Hirosaki High School had a lot of graffiti left on it, and I will introduce it as a material to dig into Dazai at the time. One of the instructors, Sawada Hanna Joy, is an associate professor at the Center for International Education at the university, saying, "I think we can take a rare approach such as Osamu Dazai seen from international students."

In addition to the symposium at the event, we plan to visit Dazai's "Osamu Dazai Manabi no Ie" (former Fujita Family House) and literary monuments.

Free of charge. Applications are accepted at the Aomori Prefectural College Secretariat (TEL 017-739-0900).