What is the true nature of the "loss" depicted by Soseki and Dazai?

In Japan, the top novels are still divided between "No Longer Human" and "Kokoro."

In Europe and America, stories depicting dreams, adventure, and hope, such as "The Lord of the Rings," "Huckleberry Finn," and "Harry Potter," continue to be read and enjoyed for generations.

Why do novels that explore the "essence of humanity" continue to be overwhelmingly popular in Japan?

it is,

Doesn't this symbolize the reality that the Japanese people have "lost their sense of self"?

Soseki's view of "the end of bushido" and the collapse of the era

Natsume Soseki lived his life amidst the winds of the Meiji Restoration.

In the midst of the turbulent currents of modernization, values were being shaken to their core.

To make matters worse,

The death of Emperor Meiji,

Following closely behind, Nogi Maresuke committed suicide to serve his father in the line of duty.

These two events

This seems to symbolize the significant transformation that has begun to take place in "Bushido," which was once the spiritual cornerstone of the Japanese people.

Soseki described that turmoil and loss as follows:

It's as if he's writing a requiem into his work.

The profound loneliness and sense of guilt that permeate "Kokoro" are

It feels like the pain of an era coming to an end.

Osamu Dazai, a darling of the postwar era.

He depicted "post-war nihilism" and the loss of support.

All values have been rewritten,

It reflected an era in which no one could answer the question of what to believe in and how to live.

"No Longer Human" is more than just a story of self-loathing.

The background to this is,

It depicts the very image of the Japanese people who have lost their support system.

Dazai based his work on his own weaknesses,

I think it reflects the weaknesses of the times.

Why are these two works still being read today?

While Western stories often depict hope in "adventures that venture outward,"

Japanese masterpieces showcase "internal collapse and rebirth."

Since when have the Japanese people been searching for their lost "sense of self"?

The "loss" depicted by Soseki and Dazai is

Both in Soseki's time and in Dazai's time,

And even in this day and age,

I have lost my support many times, and each time I have to re-examine my approach.

What should I believe in to live my life?

Where can I stand to feel safe?

Beyond this question, the Word of God begins to whisper.

What exactly is a human being?

That you are remembered in my heart. (Psalm 8:4)

In Christ, humanity's true nature is restored.

In Christ, man receives life as a being to be remembered.

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