Kuroi Ame ni Utarete

This is a short (1 volume) manga by Keiji Nakazawa, who is also known as the author of Barefoot Gen. It is a story based on the survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima, of which the author was a survivor. Every chapter is focused on a different survivor, and there are no recurring characters. It is a story which focuses on the aftermath of the bombing rather than the bombing itself, taking place over twenty years afterwards, in the 1960s. The victims of the bombing of Hiroshima have been abandoned by both the Japanese and American governments. They face continued discrimination from the general population,who fear the idea of illnesses from radiation spreading. In general, people seem to have forgotten about what happened at Hiroshima, and act as if it has never happened. In the meantime, the survivors continue to face the consequences of what happened in 1945. Each chapter is focused on a survivor who pursues a specific goal connected to their continue regrets. There is a general anti-American feeling among the lead characters of the first few chapters, as well as a very strong opposition to the continued militarism of the United States and Japan. The anti-war feeling is very strong in this work. These are the ideas of the anti-war Left, who would flourish at the time this manga was written. This manga is considered somewhat controversial because of the strong anti-American sentiment. But considering the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan and killed hundred of thousands of civilians, what else could we expect? This manga is worth reading. The characters don't act much different than other from other manga of the same era. The difference is that this manga is very heavy and serious. It will give you an insight into an era and subject matter which manga rarely discusses, and gives a perspective of Japan you rarely are allowed to see.