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Definition
Setsunai is a Japanese word that doesn’t have an exact English translation, but it roughly translates to “the pain of things” or even “sweet sorrow”. It’s derived from the kanji 切 (setsu), which means “to cut”. It’s a mix of happiness and vague sadness, nostalgia or longing for someone or something that you can’t have, or even something that you can’t quite put your finger on or never experienced
Why aren’t more people living in Japan’s countryside? >In rural areas, the most common types of work offered are rather low-paying and simply can’t compete with the white-collar job salaries found in the city. So young people move to the city and never look back. This is called “rural flight”. >You know how in zombie apocalypse movies, everyone in the city is infected and it’s pure chaos, but a safe community can almost always be found out in the rolling, green hills of the countryside? On Woodjob! (2014): There is a part where the film calls out city people who romanticize escaping from their boring city life but still act like entitled, ignorant tourists looking down on the locals, which unfortunately is something that’s pretty common nowadays. Though, I can understand the appeal. I mean, the place looks beautiful, and despite its issues, the community is supportive towards each other.
There feels adjacency to the definition of saudade however setsunai is harder for me to pin down resources on.