Barefoot Gen 2

Set in the late 1940s, three years after the Hiroshima bombing. Japan is in a fragile postwar recovery, with famine, disease, and reconstruction shaping daily life. The era is marked by desperate commerce, makeshift work, and a struggle to rebuild amidst lingering fear and uncertainty.

The story unfolds in Hiroshima after World War II, in a city still scarred by ruins and shortages. Civilians scavenge for food and scrap metal to survive, and black market networks become a grim lifeline. Orphans roam the streets, forming loose communities as they try to carve out any sense of home amid the devastation.

🌱 Survival

Gen and the orphans rely on scavenging, odd jobs, and the black market to secure food and supplies. Their improvised efforts create a fragile, yet stubborn, system of daily life in a ruined city. The group learns to navigate danger and scarcity while keeping hope alive.

👪 Family

A makeshift family forms among Gen, Ryuta, Katsuko, Masa's gang, and other orphans, united by shared hardship. Bonds are forged through mutual care, protection, and a collective dream of a safer home. The memory of Gen's father and Kimie's enduring care shape their choices and loyalties.

☢️ War trauma

The survivors confront the lasting wounds of war, including Kimie's radiation sickness and the death that shadows their days. Scenes of improper burials and the soldiers' reactions reveal civilian suffering in the wake of the bombing. The narrative contemplates how communities endure trauma while attempting to rebuild their lives.