The phrase "The Setting Sun" ( Shayō ) also carries historical weight, popularized by author Osamu Dazai to describe the declining aristocracy. Photographers have inherited this literary weight, using the sunset to document a changing Japan—from the industrial boom to the quiet aging of rural villages.
The following exploration examines the written reflections and visual philosophies of Japan’s most influential photographers regarding the "Setting Sun." The Philosophy of the Golden Hour setting sun writings by japanese photographers
To Sugimoto, the sun setting into the sea is a "time machine" that connects the viewer to the origins of consciousness. Rinko Kawauchi: The Quiet Glow The phrase "The Setting Sun" ( Shayō )