Close inspection of The Setting Sun by Dazai Osamu allows one to see a particular family battle changing times that are affecting a whole nation of people. Paralleled in many ways by the author's own reality, we see how this deep message is more than just a fiction story. As a nation, Japan had just surrendered to the U.S. ending their participation in WWII. With the end of this battle, a new one on …showed first 75 words of 1413 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1413 total…like Kazuko, who are able to witness the full picture and make a critical decision on her own about what to do. As we saw, she chose life as her answer. Not only is she making the most of what is left of hers, but she is also bringing a new one into the world with the hopes that it can bring back the honors of an aristocratic family that seems to be no more.