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The year is 1945, and the Japanese war effort is grinding to a halt. In Hiroshima, the Nakaoka family is working hard to survive in the midst of poverty and persecution. With his father constantly working, six year old Gen has been left in charge of his family, yet stays relentlessly optimistic in the face of hardship. Then, on August 6th, the atomic bomb Little Boy detonated in the center of town, and the people's lives were changed forever. As Gen struggles to cope with the horrific event, his youthful innocence and refusal to give up brings a renewed sense of hope to those around him...
Even those that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima couldn't escape its repercussions. Ten years after that fateful day, blast survivors still struggle with lingering radiation exposure and squalid living conditions. During this time, Minami Hirano ignores her worsening physical condition and tries to live her life as best she can, despite being haunted by what she saw and how she reacted during the event. Then, fifty years in the future, the city has been rebuilt and the radiation has subsided, but the ghost of the tragedy still looms in the minds of those that were left behind.
If you liked Barefoot Gen because of the heart wrenching story of surviving after an atomic bomb, not only physically but also mentally, then you'd probably like Yunagi no Machi, Sakura no Kuni. Although the latter is somewhat more serene and reminiscent in nature, they both show the aftermath of a weapon that killed hundreds of thousands of people, not only when it exploded but also many years after that. But most of all they're both a story about willing to live, about making the best of your life. The art styles are also somewhat similar; simple, but effective. So, if you've read this manga, please check Town of Evening Calm out. It's just one volume and incredibly touching.
