1. Who is the Author/artist? What influenced him?
Keiji Nakazawa was influenced by his personal experience as a survivor, during the Hiroshima bombings in 1945. In 1961, he moved to Tokyo, Japan to express his stories through his art.
2. What is the full Title of the piece? What is the meaning of this title?
Hadashi no Gen, translates to Barefoot Gen. This title has the lead character’s name, Gen, meaning “root” or “source” in Japanese and “Gen” also being a piece of the word “Genki” which means strength and energy. Nakazawa envisioned Gen, barefoot, standing firmly on top burnt rubble of Hiroshima, raising his voice against the war and nuclear weapons. It’s called “Barefoot Gen” because he hoped that Gen would become a root or source of strength for someone who would be able to walk barefoot over the charred soil and bodies of the Hiroshima to have the strength to say “No” to war and nuclear weapons.
3. What is the Historical context? Where? When? What? Why?- Be very specific.
The historical context for this piece took place in Hiroshima on Aug 6-9, 1945, America was planning to perform “Operation Downfall”, to assault Japan. However, after witnessing the horror of Iwo Jima and Okinawa battles, America changed the plan and decided to drop atomic bombs on Japanese soil. All of his …show more content…
Nakazawa stated in his introduction that he wanted political leaders to read this story of his to see the impact of what this bombing had on his people and the world. The other intended audience is the future generation, he wrote this to inform people who weren’t in the disaster to understand what he and the others went through during this world altering experience. The audience affects the meaning of the piece by making it more personal, he wants everyone to understand pain and how personal this experience was for him. Barefoot Gen is considered one of the most important anti-war manga ever written because it gives this personal
Keiji Nakazawa was influenced by his personal experience as a survivor, during the Hiroshima bombings in 1945. In 1961, he moved to Tokyo, Japan to express his stories through his art.
2. What is the full Title of the piece? What is the meaning of this title?
Hadashi no Gen, translates to Barefoot Gen. This title has the lead character’s name, Gen, meaning “root” or “source” in Japanese and “Gen” also being a piece of the word “Genki” which means strength and energy. Nakazawa envisioned Gen, barefoot, standing firmly on top burnt rubble of Hiroshima, raising his voice against the war and nuclear weapons. It’s called “Barefoot Gen” because he hoped that Gen would become a root or source of strength for someone who would be able to walk barefoot over the charred soil and bodies of the Hiroshima to have the strength to say “No” to war and nuclear weapons.
3. What is the Historical context? Where? When? What? Why?- Be very specific.
The historical context for this piece took place in Hiroshima on Aug 6-9, 1945, America was planning to perform “Operation Downfall”, to assault Japan. However, after witnessing the horror of Iwo Jima and Okinawa battles, America changed the plan and decided to drop atomic bombs on Japanese soil. All of his …show more content…
Nakazawa stated in his introduction that he wanted political leaders to read this story of his to see the impact of what this bombing had on his people and the world. The other intended audience is the future generation, he wrote this to inform people who weren’t in the disaster to understand what he and the others went through during this world altering experience. The audience affects the meaning of the piece by making it more personal, he wants everyone to understand pain and how personal this experience was for him. Barefoot Gen is considered one of the most important anti-war manga ever written because it gives this personal