Sakaguchi Ango's "Discourse on Decadence" (Daraku-ron) is a provocative and influential essay that challenges conventional morality and offers a radical perspective on post-war Japanese society. Written in 1946, this seminal work explores the liberating potential of "decadence" and argues for embracing human desires and imperfections as a path to authentic living. With its bold ideas and captivating prose, Ango's essay continues to intrigue readers and spark debates about individuality, social norms, and the nature of human existence in times of upheaval. Sakaguchi Ango's "Discourse on Decadence" (Daraku-ron) was published in April 1946, immediately after World War II, against the backdrop of chaos and the collapse of values in Japanese society. At this time, Japan was The breakdown of social order following defeat in the war. A significant shaking of previously held moral and ethical values. A forced, rapid shift from wartime ideologies. Faced with this turbulent era, Ango deeply contemplated the essence of human nature. He observed the dramatically changed social conditions before and after the war, exploring the concept of inherent "decadence" in human nature. The core of Ango's argument lies in the following The insight that humans inherently possess a nature of "decadence." The idea that people don't become decadent because they lost the war, but that decadence is an essential part of human nature. The recognition that humans are contradictory beings who can never fully succumb to decadence. "Discourse on Decadence" provided a new perspective for post-war Japanese people, prompting a fundamental reconsideration of conventional morals and values. Through this work, Ango encouraged readers to confront the essential nature of humanity and explore new ways of living in a new era.