Overview

A classic of Japanese literature, brought to life in manga for the first time! This is the first manga edition in English of The Setting Sun, Osamu Dazai's classic novel, often considered his masterpiece. Set in the aftermath of World War Two, this is the story of Kazuko, a strong-willed young woman from an aristocratic family that has fallen into poverty since the war. The book follows Kazuko's journey as she and her family struggle to survive and adapt to the harsh new conditions of their life. In addition to having to move from Tokyo to the countryside, where she has to work in the fields to support the family, she has to deal with her divorce, the birth of a stillborn child, and the return of her drug-addicted brother from the war. A gripping and inspiring portrait of one woman's determination to survive in a society that is in the grip of a social and moral crisis, this classic manga will appeal to fans of Bungo Stray Dogs as well as to anyone who is fascinated by Japan.

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9784805317617

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Reviews

"""Dazai's brand of egoistic pessimism dovetails organically with the emo chic of this cultural moment…and with the inner lives of teenagers of all eras."" — Andrew Martin, The New York Times ""Though not as autobiographical as Dazai's subsequent novel, No Longer Human, The Setting Sun draws heavily on his experiences…[and] would transform its author into a celebrity, the literary poster child for Japan's postwar malaise…"" —The Japan Times ""Though not as autobiographical as Dazai's subsequent novel, No Longer Human, The Setting Sun draws heavily on his experiences…[and] would transform its author into a celebrity, the literary poster child for Japan's postwar malaise…"" --The Japan Times"

"""Dazai's brand of egoistic pessimism dovetails organically with the emo chic of this cultural moment…and with the inner lives of teenagers of all eras."" -- Andrew Martin, The New York Times ""A powerful and beautifully written novel of Japan that deals with the impoverished years following the war and depicts a sort of Japanese lost generation, in the disruption of the old moral and spiritual beliefs…"" --Kirkus Reviews ""Though not as autobiographical as Dazai's subsequent novel, No Longer Human, The Setting Sun draws heavily on his experiences…[and] would transform its author into a celebrity, the literary poster child for Japan's postwar malaise…"" --The Japan Times"

"""Dazai's brand of egoistic pessimism dovetails organically with the emo chic of this cultural moment…and with the inner lives of teenagers of all eras."" -- Andrew Martin, The New York Times ""Though not as autobiographical as Dazai's subsequent novel, No Longer Human, The Setting Sun draws heavily on his experiences…[and] would transform its author into a celebrity, the literary poster child for Japan's postwar malaise…"" --The Japan Times ""Though not as autobiographical as Dazai's subsequent novel, No Longer Human, The Setting Sun draws heavily on his experiences…[and] would transform its author into a celebrity, the literary poster child for Japan's postwar malaise…"" --The Japan Times"

Author Information

Osamu Dazai (1909 - 1948) was the pen name of Shuji Tsushima, the tenth of eleven children born to a wealthy landowner and politician. Dazai studied French literature at the University of Tokyo, eventually leaving without a degree. He first attracted attention in 1933 when magazines began to publish his work. Between 1930 and 1937, he made three suicide attempts, a subject he dealt with in many of his short stories. Despite his troubled life and rebellious spirit, Dazai wrote in simple and colloquial style, conveying his own experiences in his best work. Dazai's life ended early in a double suicide with a married lover. Retold and Illustrated by Cocco Kashiwaya, born 1970, is a Tokyo-based manga artist. In 2010, her manga serial Rikon Dokyo was made into a national TV drama in Japan.

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