Osamu Dazai's the Setting Sun: The Manga Edition
Osamu Dazai
(Author)
Cocco Kashiwaya
(Adapted by)
21,000+ Reviews
Bookshop.org has the highest-rated customer service of any bookstore in the world
Description
A classic of Japanese literature, brought to life in English & 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 II, 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. In addition to having to move from Tokyo to the countryside, where she is forced to work in the fields to support the family, she has to deal with a difficult divorce, the birth of a stillborn child, and the return of her drug-addicted brother from the war. This 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 tells one story in a fast-changing world, with universal themes that resonates with readers today. After Soseki Natsume, Osamu Dazai is Japan's most popular writer. Dazai is enjoying a surge in interest among young people today thanks to the success of the manga, anime and film series Bungo Stray Dogs, whose protagonist, a detective named Osamu Dazai, is based on the real-life author. **Recommended for readers ages 16+ due to mature themes and graphic content**
Product Details
Price
$14.99
$13.94
Publisher
Tuttle Publishing
Publish Date
March 12, 2024
Pages
192
Dimensions
5.5 X 7.9 X 0.6 inches | 0.65 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9784805317617
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
About the Author
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.
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
"Since about the time of Osamu Dazai's death in 1948, the publishing firm of Tuttle has been instrumental in bringing translations of Japanese literature and culture into forms suitable for the English-speaking audience." --ICv2
"Reading this book felt like I myself was transitioning from one era to another. The melancholic atmosphere and the raw emotions of the characters were almost palpable from the pages as I witnessed them cope with the changes in their lives...now I need to read the original text this manga was based on." --Dominique Jardiolin (@chroniqled), Bookstagram
"Kashiwaya's attractive if old-fashioned art style is a pleasant match for the period setting [...] a solid introduction to Dazai's oeuvre." --Publishers Weekly
"Based on the Japanese novel of the same name, The Setting Sun follows a privileged young woman, Kazuko, as her world falls apart after World War II. With no money, a sickly mother, and a drug-dependent brother to deal with, Kazuko struggles to find reasons to stay positive. An unhealthy romantic relationship offers a solution, but only if she is willing to sacrifice her principles to take advantage of it." --Book Riot
"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
"Since about the time of Osamu Dazai's death in 1948, the publishing firm of Tuttle has been instrumental in bringing translations of Japanese literature and culture into forms suitable for the English-speaking audience." --ICv2
"Reading this book felt like I myself was transitioning from one era to another. The melancholic atmosphere and the raw emotions of the characters were almost palpable from the pages as I witnessed them cope with the changes in their lives...now I need to read the original text this manga was based on." --Dominique Jardiolin (@chroniqled), Bookstagram
"Kashiwaya's attractive if old-fashioned art style is a pleasant match for the period setting [...] a solid introduction to Dazai's oeuvre." --Publishers Weekly
"Based on the Japanese novel of the same name, The Setting Sun follows a privileged young woman, Kazuko, as her world falls apart after World War II. With no money, a sickly mother, and a drug-dependent brother to deal with, Kazuko struggles to find reasons to stay positive. An unhealthy romantic relationship offers a solution, but only if she is willing to sacrifice her principles to take advantage of it." --Book Riot
