Journey Through Madhouse Episode #17: Because a movie about a boy who loses everything in the atomic bombing wasn't enough. We also needed a sequel so he could lose everything he had. The film is set in the post-World War II era. It attempts to show what life was like for civilians in a collapsed and defeated Japan. It depicts the negative effects of radiation on people's health, as well as the American intervention in the country. Through the children, it seeks to illustrate the hardship of the situation, in terms of employment, the economy, and education. It's not a movie for lazy Sunday viewing. It hasa rather dense plot that requires your attention. It doesn't aim to be a comedy or a tearjerker. It's a film with the message, "We must not forget that this happened." It's a very important educational resource, especially for historical understanding. If, like me, you were born in the 90s or later, you know about World War II from history books. Except we didn't experience the consequences firsthand, and by the time we became aware of ourselves and our surroundings, Japan had already recovered. Watching the film shows a reality that seems very distant to us, so much so that we can easily forget it ever happened.

The film is a good representation of the saying, "Hard times make strong people, strong people make good times, good times make weak people, and weak people make hard times." It shows how children born in the post-war era had to fend for themselves. They didn't have the freedom to choose their education because at home, people needed to eat.

I don't recommend this film for people who are just looking for entertainment. You need a certain level of commitment to watch it. You're not coming to be distracted; you're coming to understand how difficult that era was for the people who lived through it.