Barefoot Gen

Young Gen survives the atomic bombing of Hiroshima that kills most of his family, and struggles afterward amid the ruined, irradiated city to care for his newborn sister and find food and shelter. The animated film depicts the horrific immediate aftermath of the bombing in unflinching detail. Gen's resilience amid devastation carries the story's message of hope and endurance.

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killed an estimated 70,000 to 140,000 people by the end of that year from blast, fire, and radiation effects, devastating the city and leaving lasting health consequences for survivors known as hibakusha. The film is based on the autobiographical manga by Keiji Nakazawa, himself a survivor of the bombing.

Drawn directly from creator Keiji Nakazawa's own experience surviving the bombing, the film is regarded as an authentic, harrowing firsthand-informed depiction despite its animated format.

Two atomic bombings and the Soviet declaration of war led to Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam terms and the end of the Second World War.

Hiroshima was bombed on 6 August and Nagasaki on 9 August, as Soviet forces invaded Manchuria. After a divided cabinet and an attempted coup by army officers on the night of 14–15 August, the Emperor's recorded broadcast was aired on 15 August. The instrument of surrender was signed aboard USS Missouri on 2 September.

Directed by Mori Masaki

Cast: Issei Miyazaki, Yoshie Shimamura

Positioned at August 1945 within the End of war phase of the war, as part of the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This is entry 146 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Hiroshima
• atomic bomb
• hibakusha
• Nakazawa
• anime

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  In This Corner of the World

  1944-1945

• 

  Grave of the Fireflies

  March-September 1945

• 

  The Battle of Okinawa

  April-June 1945

• 

  The Emperor in August

  August 9-15, 1945

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  Japan's Longest Day

  August 14-15, 1945

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  From Here to Eternity

  Summer 1941 – 7 December 1941