Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009

There’s already a lot of buzz surrounding the movie version of Ningen Shikkaku (No Longer Human), the classic novel by Osamu Dazai that’s set for release next spring. To mark the start of filming, the stars attended a big media event accompanied by Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, chairman and CEO of production company Kadokawa Pictures. The novel is regarded by many as an account of the thoughts and emotions Dazai himself experienced during his final years—the writer committed suicide shortly after the book was released in 1948.

Kadokawa Pictures

The story follows the life of Yozo Oba, a boy born into a wealthy household who grapples with emotional crises as he spirals downward toward self-destruction. Portraying Oba is Ikuta, 24, a Johnny’s Jimusho tarento starring in his first film role. Ikuta acknowledged his lack of experience and said he hopes to learn from his fellow thespians as he attempts to portray the character’s instability. “I’ve only read the book twice, even though I was ready to read it about a hundred times, because the director [Genjiro Arato] stopped me,” Ikuta said. “He wanted me to come to the set with a fresh outlook on the story.” The movie also stars Yusuke Iseya (Blindness) and Eiko Koike (20th Century Boys II).