Keiji Nakazawa
Keiji Nakazawa was a Japanese manga artist and writer, best known for his work 'Barefoot Gen', a semi-autobiographical series based on his experiences as a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Barefoot Gen, Volume One
A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima
Set against the harrowing backdrop of Hiroshima during World War II, this poignant graphic novel follows the life of a young boy and his family as they navigate the devastating impact of war and the atomic bombing. Through the eyes of the resilient protagonist, readers witness the struggles of daily life, the strength of familial bonds, and the indomitable spirit of survival amidst unimaginable destruction. The narrative offers a deeply personal and unflinching portrayal of the horrors of war, while also highlighting themes of hope, resilience, and the enduring human spirit.
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2. Barefoot Gen, Volume Two
The Day After
In the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the story continues to follow the resilient young boy as he navigates the harrowing landscape of a devastated city. With his family shattered and resources scarce, he faces the grim realities of survival amidst widespread destruction and societal collapse. The narrative delves into themes of loss, hope, and the enduring human spirit, capturing the struggles and small victories of those trying to rebuild their lives from the ashes. As he encounters both the kindness and cruelty of others, the boy's journey becomes a poignant testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.
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3. Barefoot Gen, Volume Five
In this installment, the young protagonist and his remaining family struggle to survive in the ruined, occupied city after the bombing, confronting starvation, disease and the cruelty of profiteers while also witnessing the lingering physical and social effects of radiation; amid scenes of loss and injustice they show fierce resilience, protecting one another, exposing corruption, and trying to rebuild some semblance of everyday life even as the moral and emotional scars of the catastrophe continue to shape their choices.
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4. Barefoot Gen, Volume Four
In the brutal months after the atomic blast, a resilient young survivor and his family fight to stay alive amid widespread sickness, starvation, and the collapse of their community; they endure radiation-related illness and social stigma, face the harsh economy and black-market survival, mourn devastating losses, and yet cling to small acts of kindness and the boy’s fierce determination to protect his loved ones and bear witness to the horrors of war.
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5. Barefoot Gen, Volume Three
A harrowing continuation that follows a young boy and other survivors in the months after the atomic bombing, portraying desperate scarcity, illness and social breakdown alongside acts of unexpected kindness; the volume focuses on daily struggles to find food and shelter, the rise of black-market hardships and prejudice against the exposed, and the slow, painful process of burying the dead, nursing the sick, and trying to rebuild lives—forcing the protagonist and those around him to confront moral choices, lingering trauma, and faint threads of hope amid devastation.
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6. Hiroshima
A semi-autobiographical graphic narrative follows a young boy and his family in wartime Hiroshima, chronicling the immediate horror of the atomic blast—the scorching heat, blast winds, burns, and burial of loved ones—and the desperate struggle to survive amid fires, disease, and starvation. The protagonist’s eyewitness account captures the collapse of community, institutional indifference, and the long-term physical and psychological effects of radiation, while also showing moments of compassion and stubborn resilience. Through stark, visceral imagery and personal testimony it condemns the brutality of war and nuclear weapons, preserves the memory of victims, and insists on bearing witness for future generations.
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7. Barefoot Gen 1
A raw, semi-autobiographical wartime coming-of-age story that follows a young boy and his family as they endure increasing poverty, food shortages and social ostracism under a militaristic regime; when an atomic bomb devastates their city, he witnesses horrifying blast, fire and radiation effects, loses loved ones and is forced into desperate acts to survive, care for the injured and confront the moral collapse and human cruelty that follow the disaster.
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8. Gen Pés Descalços
Mangá semi-autobiográfico que acompanha a vida de um menino que sobrevive ao bombardeio atômico de Hiroshima, descrevendo a destruição imediata, a perda de parentes, a luta por comida, abrigo e cuidados médicos, e as cicatrizes físicas e psicológicas que persistem após a explosão; a história alterna cenas de realismo cru e ternura, denuncia os horrores da guerra e mostra a resistência, a solidariedade e a busca por reconstrução e justiça em meio ao sofrimento.
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9. O Recomeço
A harrowing semi-autobiographical tale follows a young boy who survives the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and, after losing family and home, must struggle through starvation, disease, social cruelty and bureaucratic indifference to rebuild a life amid ruins; through stark, often graphic scenes the narrative exposes the human cost of war and nuclear devastation while tracing the boy’s fierce resilience, moral growth and determination to protect the memory of those he has lost.