“Young Gen survives Hiroshima's atomic bombing, enduring post-war struggles with unbreakable spirit in this autobiographical manga.”
Barefoot Gen
はだしのゲン
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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Young Gen survives Hiroshima's atomic bombing, enduring post-war struggles with unbreakable spirit in this autobiographical manga.
1945, Japan. Gen Nakaoka is a spirited six-year-old boy who lives with his poor yet loving family in wartime Hiroshima. As the second World War rages on, Gen's father Daikichi stands among the few outspoken who are opposed to the emperor and stand for the innocent civilians bearing the brunt of the war. However, in a society with nothing but feverous support for their nation, Gen and his family are ostracized as traitors. Unbeknownst to them, a terrible fate awaits the people of Hiroshima... One quiet morning, the US forces drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. In an instant, the city is completely destroyed, leaving thousands dead and many more exposed to radiation. Though Gen manages to survive the blast, he finds his life irreversibly changed. Regrouping with what's left of his family, Gen must now grapple with starvation, destitution, and an unsympathetic public who see survivors as little more than disease-ridden beggars. Based on author Keiji Nakazawa's real-life experiences, Hadashi no Gen follows Gen and his fellow survivors in their struggle to survive in post-war Hiroshima. Gen resolves to soldier on with unwavering determination, while never forgiving those who caused the atrocity, never forgetting the pain of the bomb, and never letting his spirit be broken by the tragedy.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 10 sampled reviews
What 10 readers settled on.
Strong agreement
σ 0.90 · scores cluster tight
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
↓ 0.70
Running avg · Jun 2010 → Apr 2025
- 9 “When I was in middle school, we started learning about the second world war in English. The book we studied was the manga, 'Barefoot Gen' We only managed to cover 1 volume, but I found the story...”
- 7 “This manga could have been a masterpiece if it wasn't impossible to take it completely seriously because of an extremely simple and comedy-like drawing style, and the constant joking remarks of...”
- 10 “This manga holds no punches, cuts no corners on what it is like to survive the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, especially as a young child. Though I have to warn readers, it veers into...”
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A Manga Publication
- Format 54 × 10 ch × vol
- Total read 7h 12m approx
- Published May 1973 – Sep 1974
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M2826 catalog