of weakness over his aristocratic descent as the reason, also denouncing all ideologies which suppress the individual. The story ends with a letter by Kazuko to Uehara. She reveals that she is pregnant, and wants to raise the child on her own, disposing of the old morality and embracing a new revolutionary way of life. She ends the letter addressing Uehara once again as M.C., this time resolving the initials as "My Comedian". Publication history The Setting Sun first appeared in serialised form in Shinchō magazine between July and October 1947, before being published as a book the same year. An English edition appeared in September 1956 in a translation provided by Donald Keene. The first two chapters had been printed in Harper's Bazaar the previous month. Background The character of Kazuko was modeled after writer and poetess Shizuko Ota (1913–1982), a mistress of the then married Dazai. Her diary served as the basis for Kazuko's notes. Legacy Ozamu's novel is nowadays widely regarded as his best-known work, which "created an immediate sensation" (Keene) upon its first appearance. It has been touted as an accurate portrait of post-war Japan, and its title became eponymous for the decline of the Japanese aristocracy of the time. References External links Complete Japanese text online at Aozora Bunko 1947 novels Novels by Osamu Dazai Novels set in Japan 20th-century Japanese novels Japanese serial novels Works originally published in Shinchō