"The Setting Sun" Author: [Japanese] Dazai Osamu Translator: Yang Wei Publisher: Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House

If you like "No Longer Human", don't miss "Sunset"!

The true masterpiece of "No Longer Human" author Dazai Osamu!

This novel is set against the backdrop of the chaos of postwar Japan. It unfolds through Kazuko's first-person narration and her brother Naoji's diary and suicide note, depicting the life of aristocratic descendants whose social status is declining like the setting sun, and pinning a bright future on the protagonist, which flashes a ray of light in the decadence. The novel is full of ups and downs, yet it is written in one go, and is a very important work in the postwar Japanese literary world.

New annotations and interpretations are added to help you understand "Setting Sun" and the story behind it.

Dazai Osamu (1909-1948)

His real name is Tsushima Shuji (つしましゅうじ).

Japanese novelist.

A representative figure of Japanese rogue literature.

Born into a wealthy family in Tsugaru County, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.

At the age of 14, he and his friends started to publish fanzines and literary works.

In 1930, he entered the French Department of Tokyo Imperial University but dropped out midway.

He began writing under the pen name Dazai Osamu in 1933. In 1935, his short story "Reverse" was selected for the first Akutagawa Prize candidate list. In 1939, he published "Female Disciple", and later won the fourth Kitamura Toruya Prize.

He attempted suicide five times in his life, and finally committed suicide by drowning at Tamagawa Josui with his lover Yamazaki Tomie in 1948 at the age of 39.

Yang Wei

Born in Chongqing, he is a university professor and doctoral supervisor.

He has served as a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo, Hosei University, and Nara University of Education, as well as a special researcher at the Japan Foundation.

He has translated works such as "No Longer Human".