Ningen Shikkaku
No Longer Human

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Story of a depressed young adult with existencional crisis and how the interactions with others influence his life (mostly not in a good way), including family and attempt at romantic relationship. In both works the psychological state of the protagonist is expressed with a gorgeous art, those two titles in general are really nice to look at from art point of view and yet they carry such an ugly story (ugly in a good way). Both have the ability to influence the readers state of mind as the depressing story carries on. 

These two managed to unsettle me more than almost anything else, and I didn't even realise why Aku Hana disturbed me so greatly until re-reading Usamaru's No Longer Human (NLH) manga. As an example of how much NLH in particular affected me, my username came to be after watching the anime adaptation (Aoi Bungaku) of NLH. It struck me that the irony of the author's semi-autobiographical suicide note disguised as a novel was that, rather than him not being human, his struggles were very much that of a human. His failing was that he was too human, if anything; too sensitive to what others were not. I have always assumed Aku Hana is a story destined to end with suicide. I was unaware at the time of this being due to the striking similarities Kasuga and his character arc share with NLH's Yozo. They both feel a need to put on a public facade and feel uncomfortable around others; as if they have to pretend just to fit in. The idea of being ordinary and leading an ordinary life scares them on a subconscious level, yet they find themselves drifting along, helplessly. But various encounters with sexualised female characters in both stories end up pulling the characters off the rails until they become rebels without a cause. They both have an artistic ideal of purity: Kasuga putting Saeki on a pedestal as his angel before realising she's just a girl in Aku Hana and Yozo, despite having slept with countless women, finding 'salvation' in the form of his very own virgin angel in NLH. If there's a difference between them, it's that Yozo begins as an older, more mature, far more calculating person than Kasuga. ...So, yeah: although Aku Hana was inspired by a book of French poetry, I get the impression that's mainly in terms of symbolism. It has too much in common with NLH for it to be purely coincidental. I won't spoil (I haven't even finished it, out of disgust) but Aku Hana disappointed me since the author suddenly decided not to follow-through with what he started. You only have to watch how the anime was adapted to get an idea what sort of vibe the manga gives off to different people. NLH's manga also shied away at the last, but given the complete mental destruction that came before, it was less of an issue. But, either way: I STRONGLY recommend these two to anyone looking for psychological despair that is sure to resonate with anyone that can relate... and is able to overlook Aku Hana's early lulzy antics.  read more 

MC is a twisted boy who goes through a lot of hardships and suffering because of his mistakes. He tries to redeem himself. 

Manga adaptations of No Longer Human novel by iconic horror, crafted using their specific style. Both have alternated story, yet still remain the as tragic as the original. 

Both are coming of age stories where the protagonists undergo tragedy throughout their respective stories.  

Tale of an individual that struggles with being a funtional part of the society, feeling they are somehow "defective". The manga takes a look at human relationship. Both of those are narrated in the first person and have autobiographical elements - My Solo Exchange Diary is fully autobiographical while No Longer Human is authobiographical only partly and is otherwise fictional. 

The struggles of a young man in modern Japanese society, with depressions, drugs, anxiety and addictions. Also about the relationship with women and how that influences the protagonists. 

Comics about troubles that the protagonist encountered as children and young adults, partly troubles with family, and how the experiences scarred them. Ningen Shikkaku is considerably more drastic. 

These 2 mangas provide a very similar atmosphere. Just like in Ningen Shikkaku, depression, suicide and nihilism is central to Boy's Abyss. To whoever felt captivated by this manga, I highly recommend it. 

Freesia does not focus on the mental ailments of the protagonist alone, although also important, it has a more complex story (not that that makes it better). However it strongly depicts dark themes that are also very present in No Longer Human. In fact, I would say its even darker in some ways. 

If you're looking for anothr manga adaptation of the classic No Longer Human novel, you might want to check out this one. Difference is that the Variety Art Works sticks to the original, the Furuya Usamaru version shifts the setting into more contemporary Japan. 

Furuya Usamaru's portrayal of a deranged/socially inept individual and their unfortunate fate through their adolescence. 

These two manga are very depressing, they deal with topics that most people would find quite disheartening and these tribulations allow the characters to develop and grow as not only characters but as receptacles of life. They both fit a similar niche in the way they evoke your feelings and they both touch on what is beyond the face of human instinct. I thought it was interesting that they both have punpun as their number one recommended yet no one has suggested these two are similar.  

Although their overall focus doesn't quite line up, both series have recurring themes of false fronts, fake personalities, and the dishonesty required to be considered a successful and prosperous member of society, as well as the strain this places on the protagonist when he feels he can't handle it anymore and where the fallout leads him. 

Psychological elements are a common theme in both, specifically the notion of suicide as a means to end one's existence. Dazai Osamu's Ningen Shikkaku is cited frequently throughout Bungaku Shoujo as a means to connect the stories together. Many characters in Bungaku Shoujo are similar to Yozo Oba in that they deal with severe bouts of depression, a sense of failure, and isolation from society. 

The two Male leads have a very dreadful childhood, which prompts the main character to become isolated and anti social. Both manga's show the up's and down's of the characters in the story, facing a lot of drama between close companions. Both narratives show amazing character development, seeing how they get there acceptance and assurance back by learning from previous mistakes. Both manga's have Drama, and Psychological genre components.  

The portrayal of a man from his younger day to an adulthood as he struggles to be a part of the society and deems himself unable to. Both feature high quality illustrations that metaphorically depict the protagonists's inner state. The Climber as well as No Longer Human are modern-day adaptations of older novels. 

Modern, 21st century re-imaginings of famous novels. One is best described as a lengthy suicide note written by the author (No Longer Human); the other is a story of murder, guilt and redemption (Crime and Punishment). Both are aimed at the seinen demographic and get inside the heads of the respective leads--clearly showing the thinking of those unable to connect with society and examining the human condition in detail. In short, they're fantastic psychological rides. As a direct result of the edits made to the Crime and Punishment adaptation in order for those of today to better relate to its lead and the content (reclusion, prostitution, etc...), the struggles of the leads are more than likely far more similar than in the original works. read more 

The tale of a "werid" protagonist with mind that works differently from his peers as he lives in a society to which he feels alienated from. Both manga are narrated by the protagonist and give of a sinister feel.