Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum "Shayo-kan"

Overview

This magnificent mansion, where Osamu Dazai was born and raised, was built during the Meiji era by his father, a prominent landowner in the region. The grounds even included a rice storehouse, where over 6,000 koku (approximately 108,000 bushels) of rice were reportedly stored during harvest time. At the Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum "Shayo-kan," you can experience the rooms where Dazai lived and the landscapes that likely influenced his works. Valuable documents, personal belongings, and photographs are on display, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world of Dazai's literature. An audio guide is also available, offering a deeper understanding of Dazai's life and works. For example, the "Shayo-kan," Dazai's childhood home, was built in 1907 (Meiji 40) and cost the equivalent of 800 million yen at the time. The vast property included a rice storehouse where over 6,000 koku of rice were gathered annually. Dazai was the tenth child (sixth son) in a family of eleven. In a time favoring eldest sons, he wasn't allowed to eat with his father. He customarily ate separately, often choosing the stone steps in front of the rice storehouse. Following post-war land reforms, the Dazai family lost their land, making it impossible to maintain the sprawling estate. In 1950, they sold the property. It operated as the "Shayo-kan" inn until 1996, before becoming a town-run literary memorial museum in 1998. After Dazai's death in 1950, the Tsushima family sold the house. A local innkeeper purchased it, renovating it into an inn with an Osamu Dazai Literary Memorial Museum. Named "Shayo-kan" after Dazai's novel "Shayō," it opened in 1950, attracting many Dazai fans. It even included a cafe. The museum was open to non-guests as well and thrived on the popularity of Dazai's works. However, the number of guests declined from around 1988, and a tax assessment of over 100 million yen for undeclared income in 1990 further worsened the financial situation, leading to the owner's decision to sell. In 1996, Kanagi town (at that time) purchased "Shayo-kan" from the owner and reopened it as a town-run literary memorial museum. The inn closed on April 7, 1996, and reopened in 1998 under its current name, 《Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum "Shayo-kan"》. While overnight stays are no longer possible, the renovated museum exhibits Dazai's literary materials and precious documents from the Tsushima family, a prominent landowner of the early Showa period, attracting many tourists and Dazai fans. The museum displays valuable materials such as Dazai's favorite writing desk and personal belongings. An audio guide is also available, offering detailed information about Dazai's life and works. This is a recommended destination for Dazai fans, literature enthusiasts, and history buffs alike.