Bungo and Alchemist is a hugely popular game aimed at women. It tells the story of famous writers who are reincarnated into this world and fight to protect lost literature. It is a popular work that is scheduled to be made into an anime in April 2020 and is currently a hot topic among readers. Many famous writers appear in Bungo and Alchemist, including Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Dazai Osamu, and Natsume Soseki. All of them have been reincarnated as handsome modern men, and each one is unique. Around 60 famous writers appear in Bungo and Alchemist, but what kind of characters are they? In this article, we will introduce the characters that appear in Bungo and Alchemist.
Bun-Al Character Introduction: "Buraiha"
This is the collective term for Japanese writers who criticized modern literature after World War II and aspired to create literature of a similar ilk. "Bun-Al" also features characters from the Buraiha school of writers.
Osamu Dazai
His most famous works include "Shayo" and "No Longer Human." He plays the role of a cheerful, upbeat character, but deep down he's a narcissist and attention-seeking person. He's condescending and critical, but when he flatters, he flatters to the fullest. He seems to be very particular about fashion.
Oda Sakunosuke
His representative works include "Fufu Zenzai" and "Teni Musou." He has a cheerful personality and speaks in Osaka dialect. He's not very physically strong, so he sometimes tries to act cheerful. He's also outspoken, calling himself a handsome man. He goes by the nickname "Odasaku," and his favorite food is curry.
Ango Sakaguchi
His representative works include "Decadence Theory" and "Under the Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom." Despite his unconventional personality, he is also caring, and his first line was, "I'll take care of Dazai and Odasaku." His hobby is making a hotpot called Ango Nabe. His goal in life is to become a great loser.
Bun-Al Character Introduction: The "Shirakaba School"
This is a literary movement that arose around the coterie magazine "Shirakaba," which was first published in the Meiji era. Many of his works are idealistic, humanitarian, and individualistic. The Shirakaba faction of characters in "Bun-Al" are also quite popular, and are sometimes referred to as the "Prince Group."
Naoya Shiga
He has a straightforward personality and doesn't worry about small details. However, he is particular about novels. He also seems to have a strong sense of duty. His special skill is cooking. His hobby is cycling. He often crashes into things due to not paying attention to what's ahead.
Mushanokoji Saneatsu
He's the center of the Shirakaba school. He has a wide range of talents, including literature, theater, and painting. He can also be naive, but he'll do anything to achieve his dreams and ideals. His talent and charm are evident in the way those around him cooperate despite their confusion.
Takeo Arishima
He is a member of the Shirakaba school, joining later than Shiga and Mushanokoji. He is introverted and sometimes shy, but this is due to his gentle nature. He also seems to have given up on life, sometimes showing a vacant expression. He sometimes dozes off in the corner of the library.
Bun-Al Character Introduction: "The Relaxed School"
Prewar literature that values a relaxed approach to life and a lofty outlook on things. This genre primarily features Masaoka Shiki, Natsume Soseki, and their disciples.
Natsume Soseki
His representative works include "I Am a Cat" and "Botchan." He is a kind-hearted man, and is greatly beloved by his disciples, including Ryunosuke Akutagawa. While generally calm, he can also be strict when it comes to work. He has a sweet tooth, and even when warned against overeating, he doesn't seem to be inclined to do so.
Mori Ogai
His representative works include "Maihime" and "Vita Sexualis." He is a former military doctor and has a serious and responsible personality. He is kind to everyone and has consulted with many famous writers. His favorite food is anpan (sweet bean buns).
Shiki Masaoka
Shiki Masaoka is curious and cheerful. His motto is to act before thinking. While Shiki Masaoka was sickly in real life, he is healthy in the game and loves to play baseball. However, since many of his friends dislike exercise, it seems difficult to get enough people to join.
Bun-Al Character Introduction: "Shinshicho"
A Japanese literary magazine. Many members of Shinshicho also appear in "Bun-Al."
Akutagawa Ryunosuke
He has beautiful bearing and a well-bred appearance. He is a heavy smoker and is always smoking. He has charisma and charm that draws people in, but he can also unconsciously attract troublesome people.
Kikuchi Kan
He's like a big brother to everyone. He's generous and willing to support talented people, so many great writers have borrowed money from him. He seems to have given up on the sloppiness of his longtime friend, Akutagawa Ryunosuke. He's a rational person outside of his hobby of gambling.
Masao Kume
Although he possesses undeniable talent, he is prone to self-deprecating remarks due to past experiences. However, his sentimental words seem to have a captivating charm. He is extremely concerned about the difference in talent between him and his friend Akutagawa, and intentionally tries to avoid him.
Junichiro Tanizaki
He's a polite, ladies' man, but in reality, he's a total pervert who pursues the ideal of masochism. His motto is to live life as it is, without hiding his inner desires. He has a desire to be stepped on by a woman's feet. However, he is also devoted to literature, and seems to be quite angry about the current erosion of literature.
Bun-Al Character Introduction: "Naturalism"
Naturalist literature is a literary style that depicts reality as it is from an objective standpoint. In Bun-Al, naturalist writers use bows as their weapon.
Tayama Katai
His most famous works include "Countryside Teacher" and "Futon." He openly admits to having a love for beautiful girls. His likes and dislikes are so clear that they seem to have many enemies, but he doesn't seem to mind them too much. His natural cheerfulness and honesty endear him to many people.
Doppo Kunikida
His representative works include "Musashino" and "Beef and Potatoes." He is always passionate and shares his original ideas, always on the lookout for new scoops. He was once a kindred spirit with Katai Tayama. He seems frustrated that the times haven't kept up with his innovative ideas.
Toson Shimazaki
His most famous works are "Before the Dawn" and "Breaking the Commandments." Perhaps due to his tragic past, he has eyes like a dead fish. He's an otaku who can't rest until he's thoroughly devoted to everything, to the point that those around him are put off by his enthusiasm. He seems to understand his own gloomy personality, and is loyal to those who are kind to him.
Tokuda Shusei
His most famous work is "Arakure." He is the tutorial author of this work and is actually the most popular character. He is a hard worker, but his presence is weak and he can be a bit cynical. He is very hardworking and tends to get caught up in things. He seems to have been quite the nuisance of his senior apprentice, Izumi Kyoka.
Iwano Hounen
A young man who, even if he knows he can't win, will smugly pick a fight. He attacks with blunt, caustic remarks, but because he doesn't think deeply about what he says, his words are often ignored. However, he is strong-willed and hates to deceive others.
Bun-Al Character Introduction: "The Ozaki Clan"
Ozaki Koyo and his disciples.
Ozaki Koyo
Caring and unwavering, she has trained numerous disciples. She currently keeps a watchful eye over Izumi Kyoka and Tokuda Shusei, and is often concerned about their rifts. She is also picky about food and will never eat anything that doesn't suit her taste. Izumi Kyoka once criticized her for her unbalanced diet, and she became extremely angry. She also has a mischievous side.
Izumi Kyoka
Although she has a calm, almost feminine appearance, she actually has a very assertive personality. She is extremely obsessive-compulsive, always wearing gloves and avoiding touching anything with her bare hands. She also cannot eat food that has already been cooked once without refrigerating it again. She is loyal to her master, Ozaki Koyo, and will never tolerate anyone who criticizes him. Her hobby is collecting rabbit goods.
Tokuda Shusei
See the "Naturalism" section. He and Izumi Kyoka didn't get along well and were constantly fighting, but in real life they apparently reconciled.
Bun-Al Character Introduction: "Proletarian Literature"
A literary work depicting the harsh realities faced by oppressed workers.
Takiji Kobayashi
A young man who was once pursued as a rebel. Though he may seem cynical, his true kindness is apparent to those he trusts. While he dislikes political power, he has strong beliefs about the current literary invasion, and is cooperating with them. Although he appears thin, he is quite a voracious eater.
Shigeharu Nakano
Although he appears calm and collected, he harbors a deep sense of guilt. He has strong opinions, but also makes indirect criticisms. He regrets choosing literary pursuits over his own beliefs, and feels sorry for Takiji Kobayashi, who stuck to his beliefs to the end. He is known for his vulgar way of writing.
Nao Tokunaga
He has a cheerful personality that encourages those around him. He always speaks in the Kumamoto dialect. He has an indomitable and energetic personality, and has struggled since childhood, working and self-studying. In the game, he appears as a young boy. He encourages and cares for his depressed companions, but at the same time, he is patient and unyielding.
Bun-Al Character Introduction: The Kitahara School
Kitahara Hakushu and his disciples.
Kitahara Hakushu
He is talented not only in poetry, but also in singing and songwriting. He is admired by many people and has many students, but he doesn't seem to be particularly interested in them. Furthermore, he hates being criticized or ordered around, and cannot tolerate his aesthetic sense being criticized. However, he is also a very hard worker, sparing no effort to be the best.
Sakutaro Hagiwara
He dislikes people and avoids crowds, but he also gets lonely and hates being alone. He has a very troublesome personality. He pursues high ideals in poetry every day, but he is completely uninterested in anything other than poetry, so he sometimes has trouble tying his shoelaces or buttons his clothes incorrectly. He has a strong respect for Hakushu Kitahara and is always waiting for a reply to his letters.
Muroo Saisei
Muroo Saisei is a poet who writes poems about his hometown, Kanazawa. He calls himself a "wild child" and has a free-spirited nature that allows him to live freely in nature. He also feels self-conscious about his short height and emphasizes that he is already an adult. He is best friends with Hagiwara Sakutaro, with whom he shares a "two souls in one body." He will not tolerate anyone who makes him cry, even if it's just someone, and once went on a rampage, grabbing a chair. (According to historical fact)
Bun-Al Character Introduction: Poets and Fairy Tale Writers
All of the poets and fairy tale writers who appear in Bun-Al use guns as weapons.
Nakahara Chuuya
His best-known works include "Song of the Goat" and "Song of the Past." He's a small but bossy delinquent. He's a heavy drinker with a bad drinking habit, and when drunk, he insults others with a unique sensibility. He's also violent, but always loses fights. He actually wants to get along with others, but he doesn't really know how to build equal relationships. Despite this, he writes very delicate and pure poetry.
Kenji Miyazawa
His most famous work is "Night on the Galactic Railroad." He is a kind-hearted boy who desires peace for those around him more than for himself. In the game, Kenji Miyazawa appears as a young boy. He is a vegetarian who does not eat meat. He also has a surprising side: he owns a large collection of erotic prints, which he calls "picture books for adults." He also hates and rebels against adults who try to force their way of thinking on others.
Kotaro Takamura
His signature work is "Chieko Sho." He's a cool artist, always sporting a gentle smile. He's active as a poet, but he's also active in a variety of fields, including sculpture and painting. He also believes that fighting only brings sadness, and seems to have mixed feelings about the current situation where he must fight the invaders. He also loses sight of his surroundings when he sees a tree suitable for carving.
Bun-Al Character Introduction Summary!
That concludes our introduction to the characters of "Bun-Al!"! Various authors appear depending on their literary style, but they're all truly unique. With so many fascinating characters, you're sure to find your favorite author. How will the characters battling in the game play a role in the anime? I'm really looking forward to future developments. Thank you for reading this far.
