The Setting Sun

The Setting Sun (斜陽, Shayō?) is a Japanese novel by Osamu Dazai. It was published in 1947 and is set in Japan after World War II. Principal characters are the siblings Kazuko and Naoji, and their elderly mother. The story shows a family in decline and crisis, like many other families during this period of transition between traditional Japan and a more advanced, industrial society. Many families needed to leave their old lives behind and start anew. Throughout the story, mostly through the character Naoji, the author brings up a number of social and philosophical problems of that time period.

The novel was adapted into a film The Setting Sun which was released by Kaerucafe on June 13, 2009. The film, directed by Masatoshi Akihara and with a screenplay by Yukie Ochiai, starred Eriko Sato as Kazuko. Other cast members included Yōichi Nukumizu, Yosuke Ito, Sera Rinka, Kota Masago, Ichiro Ogura, and Hitomi Takahashi as the mother.