Ango Sakaguchi (1906–1955) was a prominent Japanese writer and cultural critic known for his works during the post-World War II era. He was a member of the Buraiha ("Decadent School"), a literary movement that rejected traditional Japanese values and the idealism that dominated pre-war and wartime literature. Instead, the Buraiha embraced themes of existential despair, moral ambiguity, and the raw realities of life in a devastated Japan.
Sakaguchi is best known for his essays and stories that explore themes of human frailty, the impermanence of life, and the contradictions of modern society. His famous essay Darakuron (Discourse on Decadence) critiques Japan's pretense of morality and advocates for a more honest and raw approach to living.
Despite his association with the Decadent School, Sakaguchi's writing often displayed a profound sense of beauty and nostalgia, as seen in works like The Idiot (Baka) and In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom (Sakura no Mori no Mankai no Shita), the latter of which combines lyrical descriptions with dark, surreal themes.
Sakaguchi's life and work are often viewed as a response to the social and cultural upheavals of his time, making him a key figure in 20th-century Japanese literature.
