To fully answer we must look at Japan. The original Ningen Shikkaku (人間失格) uses Japanese typography rules.

But if you need one answer for a design project, use Bodoni for the title (large, elegant, fragile) paired with Futura Bold for the author’s name. For interior reading, use Garamond (English) or Kozuka Mincho (Japanese).

: Published by VIZ Media , this version uses standard manga typography for dialogue, often utilizing fonts like for readability in text-heavy panels. Usamaru Furuya Adaptation

The 2017–2018 manga adaptation by Junji Ito, published in English by , uses specialized lettering typical of the horror genre. Dialogue/Word Balloons

The original 1948 Japanese publication by used traditional Japanese typography.

If you want to replicate the bold cover text of the New Directions edition: