Looking up at the glowing evening sky, the children headed home.
Almost never used alone — it appears as the second half of 夕焼けこやけ, where it functions partly as a sound-pattern echo of 夕焼け. Famous from the children's song "夕焼けこやけ," which plays from public-address systems in many Japanese neighborhoods at 5 p.m. to signal that children should head home.
Forms
夕焼けこやけ: sunset (with afterglow) — the standard pair
夕焼け: sunset glow — the bright red glow at sunset itself