What is No Longer Human? First of all it’s widely considered to be Osamu Dezai’s magnum opus, a tragic novel framed as a diary of Yozo Obo who serves as a stand in for the author in his semi-autobiographical work. While it’s hard to call it influential, it is undeniably one of the most popular works of Japanese literature. You don’t even have to look outside the medium of anime and manga to see that. The story of Yozo Oba was adapted into anime as part of Aoi Bungaku series and currently has 4 manga adaptations. However, I can’t say that this one or the 2007 manga do it justice.

So what makes Ningen Shikkaku a bad adaptation? First of all the focus of this manga seems different from the novel. Original work feels like an extremely personal experience. You go through his short and depressing life with plenty of details and insight that makes you understand what made Oba the way he is and at times sympathize with or relate to his despite Oba overall being a person unlike many others, plagued with countless traumas and vices. However despite the depth of insight you get Oba’s recollections are kept rather brief and don’t stay on any one event for longer than necessary.

In the manga Oba is not even half as nuanced. The first part of the book that recounts his childhood is almost entirely ripped out with only short snippets of it appearing later on and interpreted in a way that doesn’t align with how it was presented in a novel. Focus instead lies in shifting the priority towards plot rather than Oba’s character. A lot of effort went into making the progression smoother and fleshing out the side characters just a bit more while vaguely following the story beats and themes of the original.

If you want to experience No Longer Human in a different medium this manga is not a way to go, you will miss out on Oba’s character and his development and that’s pretty much the whole point of it. With how different the manga is I think it’s more fair to say that it’s “based on” No Longer Human rather than an adaptation of it. I think it would be better of as something different because of this, the author obviously has a grasp on the original. otherwise reinterpreting it as well as he did would be impossible. He probably could’ve done something much better if this was an original story that only borrows the themes and characters instead of the story itself.

Despite all this I kinda warmed up to it towards the end. While I think it’s necessary to point out adaptations not fulfilling its premise, when taken on its own Ningen Shikkaku can be a decent short read.

While losing some things it made for a more conventional and slightly more relatable story. It’s a rather dramatic tale of self-ruination brought about by problematic upbringing and personal vices that can stem from it. It doesn’t make a big point out of it, there’s no preaching or grandstanding, just a very predictable but satisfying build up to a cathartic climax.

The art is solid and imaginative. It reminded me a bit of Takeshi Obata. Lines are clean and consistent, there’s not much in terms of shading and the character designs are largely pretty to look at. Big strength of this adaptation are inventive visual metaphors and just a lot of expressive imagery throughout. Strangers with warping features, puppets resembling Yozo smiling and dancing to amuse others, childhood memories appearing as holes in the wall of normal beliefs and morals Oba heard from others. The strongest part though for me was the last chapters where Furuya goes wild with Oba’s hallucinations. It can be over the top but overall very entertaining.

In the end, if you want to experience No Longer Human probably just read the novel, it’s short and captivating. If you want a decent, well paced and cathartic tragedy brought about by very human vices and traumas you can’t go wrong with this.