The West, in its striving for progress, is presented as continuously searching for light and clarity, while the subtle and subdued forms of East Asian art and literature are seen by Tanizaki to represent an appreciation of shadow and subtlety, closely relating to the traditional Japanese concept of sabi.

In addition to contrasting light and dark, Tanizaki further considers the layered tones of various kinds of shadows and their power to reflect low sheen materials like gold embroidery, patina and cloudy crystals.

The text presents personal reflections on topics as diverse as architecture and its fittings, crafts, finishes, jade, food, cosmetics and mono no aware (the art of impermanence).

[attribution needed][6] In the Sora Books edition, the 16 section themes are: Tanizaki's observations include cultural notes on topics such as arts and crafts, paper making, lacquerware design and the Japanese room.

Among the historic and contemporary individuals mentioned in the essay are:[7] The work has been praised for its insight and relevance into issues of modernity and culture,[8] and Tanizaki has been called an "ecological prophet".

[1] Regarding the new translation published by Sora Books, David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas, wrote, "A rhapsodic meditation on a vanishing world, its aesthetics and its values.