Dazai, Osamu: - Osamu Dazai (1909--1948) is one of the most highly respected author's of modern Japan and is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in post-war Japanese literature. He was widely known by contemporaries for his eclectic lifestyle, inventive use of language, and his multiple suicide attempts, which led to his final, successful attempt in 1948. His two major novels, No Longer Human and The Setting Sun, continue to be widely read and leave a vibrant legacy for one of Japan's greatest writers.

Markin Powell, Allison: - Allison Markin Powell is a literary translator and editor in New York City. She has worked in the editorial departments of American and Japanese book and magazine publishing. Her published translations include the manga series Eyeshield 21; the novel Only the Ring Finger Knows by Satoru Kannagi; and a biography of Hideki Matsui written by the novelist Shizuka Ijuin. She also edited the Japan issue of Words Without Borders.