Read on Twitter
Bungo Stray Dogs (BSD) Real-life References: A THREAD 
In this thread are tweets showing how the real-life counterparts of the BSD characters influence the anime and manga. I really appreciate Asagiri's efforts in including real elements, it makes world-building much better
In this thread are tweets showing how the real-life counterparts of the BSD characters influence the anime and manga. I really appreciate Asagiri's efforts in including real elements, it makes world-building much better
"What a weird painting. I bet even I could do it."
The painting BSD Dazai was referring to in this scene was an animated version of a real painting by the real Dazai Osamu
The painting BSD Dazai was referring to in this scene was an animated version of a real painting by the real Dazai Osamu
BSD Odasaku's love for spicy curry was based on the real Oda Sakunosuke who loved the dish and frequented Jiyuken, a curry restaurant in Osaka. Real Odasaku loved curry so much he wrote about it. Up to this day, an autographed photo of him writing is still in the restaurant.
BSD Odasaku's death really impacted Dazai, and this was apparent in their real-life counterparts too. When the real Odasaku died, Dazai was devastated and even wrote a eulogy where he called out Odasaku's haters and told them that they played a part in Odasaku's death. (1/2)
Note that Odasaku didn't die of suicide but of tuberculosis. (2/2)
The Lupin Bar is a real bar where the real Oda, Dazai, and Ango spent time together. But it's actually located in Ginza and not Yokohama.
The real Nakahara Chuuya was known as the "Japanese Rimbaud" for his translations of the French author's works. He was short and wore a hat as well and just like his BSD counterpart, he hated Dazai too 
Even though BSD Fitzgerald is named after the author F. Scott Fitzgerald, his characterization is mostly based on the real Fitzgerald's famous fictional character, Jay Gatsby. BSD Fitzgerald has a habit of saying "old sport" and this is actually from Gatsby's own habit.
In the short story "Rashomon" by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, the man stripped the cloth off the poor old woman in order to survive. BSD Akutagawa's ability is fabric/cloth, inspired by the Rashomon tale.
The real Junichiro Tanizaki was known for writing independent and promiscuous female protagonists, one of which was the titular character, Naomi. BSD Naomi is inspired by this character.
The real Fukuzawa Yukichi was a pioneer in Japanese reform during the Meiji Period. He was an advocate for equality, freedom, education, and independence. These themes were the focus of his books, thus his work (and BSD ability) "All Men are Created Equal."
I LOVE HIM
I LOVE HIM
The real Ozaki Koyou (1st pic) and Izumi Kyouka (2nd pic) were men. When Kyouka was just starting his writing career, he worked as a houseboy for the prominent Koyou in exchange for the latter's opinions on his works. Eventually, Kyouka became an official pupil of Koyou.
Elise calls Mori "Rintarou" because that was the real name of the real Ogai Mori. In BSD, it's probably a hint that "Mori" is not his real name and it may actually be "Rintarou" as well.
The real Yosano Akiko and Ogai Mori were connected, just like their BSD counterparts. But their real-life connection was positive. The real Mori helped pay for Yosano's travels, Yosano asked him to name her twin daughters, and she participated in his poetry-writing groups.
In his novel "No Longer Human", the real Dazai quoted Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" when the true nature of crime was being discussed.
"Dogra Magra" is a psychological-mystery novel by the real Yumeno Kyusaku. It's about a psychiatric ward where even the doctors are mentally deranged. This inspired BSD Kyusaku's ability with the same name, which makes its victims psychologically unstable and behave violently.
The real Kunikida Doppo and Katai Tayama were good friends just like their BSD counterparts. Katai learned a lot from Kunikida's criticisms on his work, particularly on how he should use realism instead of imaginings. BSD Katai's got his gloomy personality from the real Katai.
From @juyeonihao
Real Hawthorne's most famous work is The Scarlet Letter, which is BSD Hawthorne's Ability. The protagonist of The Scarlet Letter has given birth to an illegitimate child and required to wear a scarlet "A" on her dress whenever she's in public as a punishment.
Real Hawthorne's most famous work is The Scarlet Letter, which is BSD Hawthorne's Ability. The protagonist of The Scarlet Letter has given birth to an illegitimate child and required to wear a scarlet "A" on her dress whenever she's in public as a punishment.
The following references were shared to me by @eu_gi_oh via dm 
These are focused on some of the American writers (The Guild) and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Thank you, Eu! 
These are focused on some of the American writers (The Guild) and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Thank you, Eu!
From @eu_gi_oh:
In the âFitzgerald Risingâ episode, TJ Eckleberg shows up and his software is called The Eyes of God. In "The Great Gatsby", an oculist named TJ Eckleberg symbolizes the literal eyes of God and judgement because it overlooks the slums and ash heaps of NYC.
In the âFitzgerald Risingâ episode, TJ Eckleberg shows up and his software is called The Eyes of God. In "The Great Gatsby", an oculist named TJ Eckleberg symbolizes the literal eyes of God and judgement because it overlooks the slums and ash heaps of NYC.
From @eu_gi_oh:
Real Twain was so conservative and was very strict on propriety while BSD Twain wears his shirt splayed open the entire show. Also, BSD Twain is Guildâs sniper while real Twain was kicked out of the army for his horrible sharpshooting skills. The contrasts...
Real Twain was so conservative and was very strict on propriety while BSD Twain wears his shirt splayed open the entire show. Also, BSD Twain is Guildâs sniper while real Twain was kicked out of the army for his horrible sharpshooting skills. The contrasts...
From @eu_gi_oh:
The real Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the entirety of "The Scarlet Letter" to criticize Puritanism and regimented Christianity. So to make his BSD counterpart a Pastor is ironic
The real Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the entirety of "The Scarlet Letter" to criticize Puritanism and regimented Christianity. So to make his BSD counterpart a Pastor is ironic
From @eu_gi_oh:
BSD Dostoyevsky's God complex and desire to cleanse the sins of the world is inspired by real Dostoyevskyâs deep devotion to God and Christianity. He was very much against murder and killing of any kindâhence, "Crime and Punishment." He advocated for the weak too.
BSD Dostoyevsky's God complex and desire to cleanse the sins of the world is inspired by real Dostoyevskyâs deep devotion to God and Christianity. He was very much against murder and killing of any kindâhence, "Crime and Punishment." He advocated for the weak too.
From @eu_gi_oh:
BSD Edgar Allan Poe is Guild's Chief Architect, making him very rich. But real Poe had to literally make book reviews roasting his own work just to get by financially. He was always teetering on the edge of poverty throughout his life, despite his famous works
BSD Edgar Allan Poe is Guild's Chief Architect, making him very rich. But real Poe had to literally make book reviews roasting his own work just to get by financially. He was always teetering on the edge of poverty throughout his life, despite his famous works
From @Holdenaki
Aside from contrasting real Dostoyevsky's altruism and devotion to God, BSD Fyodor is also inspired by the protagonist of "Crime and Punishment", Raskolnikov. He believed that he had the right to murder others in the name of cleansing the world of sins.
Aside from contrasting real Dostoyevsky's altruism and devotion to God, BSD Fyodor is also inspired by the protagonist of "Crime and Punishment", Raskolnikov. He believed that he had the right to murder others in the name of cleansing the world of sins.
Sigma Theory + References to support it:
Sigma is probably named after Sigmund Freud:
Though not exactly famous for being an author, Freud wrote several books. He invented psychoanalysis, a method involving a dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. (1/2)
Sigma is probably named after Sigmund Freud:
Though not exactly famous for being an author, Freud wrote several books. He invented psychoanalysis, a method involving a dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. (1/2)
Reference 1: Psychoanalysis is an exchange between two people, like Sigma's ability.
Reference 2: Freud wrote "Dostoevsky and Parricide," an article about one of Dostoyevsky's novels and gambling addiction.
Dostoyevsky and gambling (casino) are both related to Sigma
(2/2)
Reference 2: Freud wrote "Dostoevsky and Parricide," an article about one of Dostoyevsky's novels and gambling addiction.
Dostoyevsky and gambling (casino) are both related to Sigma
(2/2)
BSD Motojiro Kajii's ability is based on "Lemon", the real Kajii's short story. The protagonist placed a lemon on a pile of books, imagining it as a bomb and blowing up all the books in the store. Readers did the same thing at the real bookstore as a tribute to the story.
"Black Lizard", the Port Mafia's assassination department, is named after the literary work by the real Hirotsu Ryuro. In BSD, Hirotsu is the leader of Black Lizard. They have the same moustache
Fans think that BSD Tachihara's green jacket was given to him by Chuuya as a recruitment gift. If this is true, then that reflects the real Tachihara winning the Nakahara Chuuya Prize in 1939 soon before his death. Real Tachihara was a poet and architect who looked up to Chuuya.
BSD Higuchi is popularly known for her (supposedly) unrequited love for Akutagawa. This is based on the real Higuchi falling in love with her mentor, Tosui Nakarai, who didn't return her feelings and instead treated her as a younger sister. This pain was a theme in her works.
Researching about the real-life authors of the Hunting Dogs was a bit hard because I couldn't find many substantial sources. But anyway, here we go.
Hunting Dogs work for the government and this is based on the fact that most of the real-life authors were involved in politics.
Hunting Dogs work for the government and this is based on the fact that most of the real-life authors were involved in politics.
The real Fukuchi Genichiro founded the Constitutional Imperial Rule Party, a Conservative group that supported the Meiji Oligarchy. He was elected to the Tokyo Prefecture Legislature and became it's leader just a year after.
Real Suehiro Tecchou was born into a family of samurais and graduated from a samurai school, which inspired BSD Tecchou's sword-wielding ability. As for political works, he advocated for the Freedom and People's Rights Movement and formed the 1st national political party.
Jouno Saigiku was a journalist and politician who owned newspaper companies. He was a Gesaku writer too, which means he wrote in the tone of "playful, mocking, joking, silly, or frivolous."
This inspired BSD Jouno who always smiles even though he's threatening or mocking others.
This inspired BSD Jouno who always smiles even though he's threatening or mocking others.
BSD Kenji's background in farming and agriculture is based on the real Kenji's work as an agricultural science teacher, farmer, and founder of a farmers' association. He's known for writing children's stories and poems, which is a reference for BSD Kenji's child-like nature.
The lines that BSD Kenji said during this scene were taken from the poem (and his ability's namesake) written by the real Kenji, "Undefeated by the Rain."
Except for the lines with "iron pipe", "knife", "metal bat", the original poem says "snow or summer heat."
Except for the lines with "iron pipe", "knife", "metal bat", the original poem says "snow or summer heat."
Not exactly a reference but I have this saved in my phone since a long time ago, even before I knew BSD. Just saw it again as I was browsing my gallery and it reminded me of BSD Fitzgerald's redemption in the manga and season 3. I saved this because it's so inspirational 
"Thou Shalt Not Die" is a poem written by the real Yosano Akiko for her younger brother who joined the war. She pleaded to her brother not to die and to think of their parents. In BSD and Yosano's backstory, there was a brother who died during the war, right? 
