Fumiyo Kono:

"Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms"

This manga story is composed of two parts: "Town of Evening Calm" and "Country of Cherry Blossoms." The setting of "Town of Evening Calm" is the city of Hiroshima, ten years after the atomic bombing. The main character, Minami, lost her father, her older sister, and her younger sister as a result of the atomic bomb and she is now struggling with the trauma of her experience. A coworker confesses his love for her, but this triggers guilt over the fact that she survived. On the day he tells her how grateful he is that she lived, she falls ill from the aftereffects of the bomb's radiation and dies. "Country of Cherry Blossoms" continues the story many years later, in Tokyo. Through the experiences of Minami's brother, Asahi, and Asahi's children, Nanami and Nagio, the story conveys the lingering impact of the atomic bomb on the lives of the survivors and their descendents.

Taking action is vital / Respect our differences

Fumiyo Kono

Fumiyo Kono was born in 1968 in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima. She graduated from Inokuchi High School and attended Hiroshima University. Her first work was published in 1995. She was the winner of the Excellence Prize of the 13th Media Arts Festival Awards in 2009

The manga "Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms" has two settings, Hiroshima in 1955 and contemporary Tokyo. The story shows the consequences of the atomic bombing and how they influence the love felt by young people. With a light touch, so that the story doesn't become too gloomy, it has gained the sympathy of many readers. Published in 2004, it was chosen the winner of the Grand Prize at the 8th Japan Media Arts Festival and New Life Award at the 9th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize. In 2007, a film based on the manga was released. The story has also been translated into several languages and published in seven countries and regions including Taiwan, Korea, and the United States. The author, Fumiyo Kono, is pleased that "People in foreign countries are interested in this subject, too."

Although she was born and raised in Hiroshima, Ms. Kono said that she consciously kept the atomic bomb at arm's length from the time she was in her last year of elementary school. "I felt uncomfortable trying to write about it," she admitted. "I found the subject very upsetting to think about."

But in the summer of 2002, an editor proposed that she create something about Hiroshima. At that point, she decided to face her reluctance and she began researching the bombing.

She found herself feeling sorry for those who died due to the atomic bomb. She was worried, though, about her fitness to convey the experience since she herself wasn't a survivor. However, she also thought that at the same time the survivors might feel sorry for the victims, the victims who died instantly might feel sorry for the victims who died painful deaths. Finally, she thought, "If I continue hesitating, there will be no end to it. At some point, I have to act."

Ms. Kono suggests that we are the generation that can serve as a "bridge" for the A-bomb survivors in telling their stories. She stressed, "For this reason I want to catch the survivors' facial expressions and read between the lines of their accounts. Because there are also things we can't convey in words alone."

Ms. Kono made a request of the children in Hiroshima, saying, "Don't look down on anyone who doesn't know much about the atomic bomb. And don't think, either, that you know all about it. On the other hand, don't think that you aren't eligible to learn about the atomic bomb. You must have the attitude that there is always more you can learn."

To realize a more peaceful world, Ms. Kono wants children to "clarify the cause of difficulty in your relationships and respect your differences." One example is bullying. "Maybe someone's clothes are different or their way of speaking is different or they seem difficult to talk. As a result, you don't hit it off. You have to pinpoint the reason for your feelings and find respect for the other person." She believes that creating peace in our own lives leads to widening peace in the world.

When Ms. Kono was in junior high, she dreamed of being a manga artist. At the age of 26, she published her first book. "It can take more than ten years to realize your dreams," she said. "It's vital to keep going and not give up." She doesn't plan to continue writing about the atomic bombing and war because "I wouldn't want others to hesitate about tackling these subjects and simply leave me to write about them." (Rie Nii, Staff Writer)

In this section, the staff writers of the Chugoku Shimbun interview makers of pictures books, manga, songs, and other works of art about Hiroshima and ask them to share their work and their messages to young people.