The Setting Sun

Born as Shūji Tsushima on June 19th, 1909, in Kanagi, Aomori Prefecture, Osamu Dazai grew up in a wealthy landowning family. His early life was marked by privilege and isolation, a paradox that would deeply influence his novels such as The Setting Sun. His father, a prominent politician and landowner, died when Dazai was young, leaving his upbringing largely in the hands of his severe mother and elder siblings. The traditional Tsushima household often clashed with Dazai’s sensitive, rebellious nature.

In 1927, Dazai entered Aomori High School and later moved to Tokyo to attend Hirosaki University, initially studying French literature. However, he lost interest in conventional education and became increasingly involved in bohemian circles. Dazai idolized the writer Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, whose death by suicide in 1927 deeply affected him. Dazai’s early adult years were turbulent. In 1929, he attempted death by suicide after a strained relationship with his family and a failed engagement. This marked the beginning of a pattern of self-destructive behavior that would characterize much of his life. Despite these struggles, Dazai began to gain recognition as a writer. His early works, such as Bannen (The Final Years), displayed his talent for blending autobiographical detail with literary artistry. In the 1930s, Dazai developed substance misuse disorder due to a dependence on morphine.

In the 1930s, Dazai’s attempts to reconcile his leftist ideals with the rise of militaristic nationalism in Japan led to disillusionment. Later, he balanced autobiographical fiction with satirical commentaries on post-war Japan. World War II and its aftermath profoundly influenced Dazai’s later works. His novel The Setting Sun (1947) captured the despair of Japan’s post-war generation, symbolizing the decline of traditional values and the struggles of a country in transition. Another of his works, No Longer Human (1948), is an introspective account of alienation and self-destruction, often interpreted as a thinly-veiled autobiography. The protagonist, Ōba Yōzō, mirrors Dazai’s experiences with substance misuse disorder, depression, and his inability to connect with society.

Despite his literary success, Dazai’s personal life remained in disarray. His first marriage ended in divorce and during his second marriage, he began an affair with Tomie Yamazaki, a war widow. His alcohol and substance misuse disorders worsened. In June 1948, shortly after completing No Longer Human, Dazai and Yamazaki died by suicide by drowning themselves in the Tamagawa Canal. Dazai was 38 years old. Osamu Dazai remains an influential writer in Japan, with The Setting Sun considered a classic of modern Japanese literature.