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Keiji Nakazawa
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Barefoot Gen Volume 10: Hardcover Edition Hardcover – July 1, 2018

by Keiji Nakazawa (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
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Beautiful new hardcover edition of Barefoot Gen Volume Ten! Striking new design with special sturdy binding.
Barefoot Gen is the powerful, tragic, autobiographical story of the bombing of Hiroshima and its aftermath, seen through the eyes of the artist as a young boy growing up in Japan. The honest portrayal of emotions and experiences speaks to children and adults everywhere. Nakazawa's manga illustrates the true impact of nuclear weapons when used against a civilian population. It is vital reading for people of all ages, and especially for today's youth. By keeping this tragedy in our collective consciousness, we can strive to never repeat it and guide humanity towards a course of peace.
Barefoot Gen Volume Ten ― "Never Give Up" ― The year is 1953. Now an apprentice sign painter, Gen has become a skilled artist, while his friends run a thriving dressmaking business. Gen falls in love for the first time, but fails to notice that a good friend has been caught in the clutches of drug addiction. Heartbreak and loss await Gen as the atomic bomb continues to wreak havoc on the lives of people in Hiroshima years after the fact. Yet these tragedies also inspire Gen to make the big move to Tokyo to pursue his career as an artist.
This is the final volume of a ten-part series.
Previous page
  1. Book 10 of 10
    Barefoot Gen
  2. Print length
    262 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Last Gasp
  5. Publication date
    July 1, 2018
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0867198400
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0867198409
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Highly recommended for older readers and for all libraries." -- The Library Journal

"Invaluable for the lessons it offers in history, humanity and compassion." -- Publishers Weekly

"This vivid and harrowing story will...burn a radioactive crater in your memory that will never let you forget it. Gen is one of those few comix that actually pulls off the essential magic trick... those little marks on paper come to fully-realized life." -- Art Spiegelman

About the Author

Nakazawa was born in Hiroshima, and was six years old when the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945. All of his family members who had not been evacuated died in the bombing, except for his mother, and an infant sister who died several weeks after the bombing. Compelled to tell his story in the memory of his family, Keiji Nakazawa is best known for his epic tragic history Barefoot Gen.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Last Gasp (July 1, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0867198400
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0867198409
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

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Keiji Nakazawa

Keiji Nakazawa

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
33 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

F. Orion Pozo
5.0 out of 5 stars Strong ending to a great series documenting the effects of the 1945 atomic bomb on the lives of the people of Hiroshima
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2016
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Barefoot Gen, Volume Ten: Never Give Up by Keiji Nakazawa

The Barefoot Gen series documents the life of young Gen Nakaoka of Hiroshima starting when he is six years old in the summer of 1945 when the USA dropped an atomic bomb on the city. Never Give Up is the tenth and final volume of the series, and is set in Hiroshima in 1953, eight years after the events of the first book. As in previous books, the characters suffer from memories of both the terrors of the war and the horrendous day the atomic bomb destroyed their city and caused their lives to change forever.
Gen and three other orphans of the bomb live together in a small shack and dream of opening their own business making and selling the dresses they now sell as street corner vendors. Gen has also been learning to be an artist while working at a sign shop, and falls in love with his boss's daughter. Yet the long lasting effects of the atomic bomb on the people of Hiroshima's bodies and their souls will not let them live in peace. Memories of the horrendous day and its aftereffects continue to fill their minds, as the silent poison of radiation sickness eats away at their bodies.
The anti-war theme that has pervaded this series, starting in the first book with Gen's father and his opposition to the war that the military and the emperor have forced on the nation, is especially visible in this, the last book of the series. In this book the author outlines Japanese war crimes and makes a call for a world without war, especially calling for an end to atomic weapons. The book opens with a short two page introduction called "Gen's Message: A Plea For Nuclear Abolition" written by the translators and editors of Project Gen. It states clearly that "nuclear weapons and nuclear power cannot coexist with life on Earth." This strong pacifist message against war and nuclear power gives the ten volume story of the bomb and its aftermath a structure and a meaning far beyond simple history.
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Stephen
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect ending.
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2022
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Perfect ending to the series. Heartwarming and sad to the core, this entire series will take you on a Rollercoaster journey of emotions. If you haven't red this from the beginning, please start at the beginning. It will blow you away.
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Patty
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2017
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nothing to say if you're a fan
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Peter Coleman
3.0 out of 5 stars Barefoot Gen/ Series Finale
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2010
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Am a big fan of this series, and feel, in a sentimental way, sorry to see it go. The final book, Never Give Up, had it's share of both heartbreak and euphoric enthusiasm for what lies ahead. The characters were as well-drawn, both literally and figuratively, as ever, their destinies seeming to make sense within the larger context of this epic story. At times, however, the resolutions seem contrived and rushed. In an effort to further drive home yet more horror, the author threw in two tragedies, that would normally span either a whole book or more than one, situations that would take their time in getting going. Here, for instance, one important character is introduced and then dies within about 40 pages. So, compared to the rest of the series, this last book, at times, gives the impression that the author just wanted to wrap up. This series, however, as a whole, is as important a literary event as ever occurred in the last century. Moreso than anything that I ever read previously, these books put you there, both on that hellish day in August, 1945 and in the horrific days and years that follow. It is not merely educational - though that it is in a big way - it's as good a personalized journal of events as ever documented. Perhaps some of these scenarios are complete fiction; they are, nonetheless, true. True as any NY Times article ever could be. And the repetitive flashback to the dropping of the Atom Bomb drives home the everyday reality of people who witnessed and survived this hell on earth. Even 7, 8 years later, they walk around with it and pay for it in ways you are not likely to know about unless you actually delve into Barefoot Gen. Of course, this series is also about courage, fortitude, taking responsibility and digging into life in it's fullest, and, as such, it's not merely tragic, but downright inspirational. At some point, I intend to re-read the whole series, and to make sure my son does so at some point as well. If you're reading this, don't start here. Go order number 1, and you'll soon know what I'm talking about.
p.
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Shakir Hussain
5.0 out of 5 stars Ace everything
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2021
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Ace delivery speed, and book quality.
Recommend the book for anyone looking to learn history through a graphical easy read way.
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majorcrampas
5.0 out of 5 stars Niemals aufgeben
Reviewed in Germany on September 8, 2019
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März 1953, siebeneinhalb Jahre nach dem der Abwurf der Atombombe über Hiroshima Gen Nakaokas Leben nachhaltig veränderte, hat sich der Junge zu einem zeichnerisch talentierten jungen Mann entwickelt, der kurz vor der Aushändigung seines Abschlusszeugnisses steht. Doch die Spuren der Vergangenheit wirken immer noch nach, denn während der feierlichen Zeremonie weigern sich Gen und der Großteil seiner Mitschüler, die kaiserliche Hymne anzustimmen, da sie damit einen der großen Kriegstreiber und seine treuen Staatsdiener ehren würden. Das sorgt für einige Verstimmung, die in ihrer Nachwirkung sogar Gewalt gegenüber den Lehrkräften nach sich zieht. Ryutas, Musubis und Katsukos Näherei macht ordentlich Profite und ein Deal mit einem örtlichen Ladeninhaber sorgt dafür, dass der Traum vom eigenen Geschäft in greifbare Nähe rückt. Gen kündigt seinen Job beim Schilderzeichner, der mal wieder einen besonders militaristischen Anfall hat, und verliebt sich in eine unbekannte Schönheit, der er auf der Straße begegnet und die seine künstlerische Muse wird. Leider sieht er sie zunächst nicht wieder, was ihn in Liebeskummer versinken lässt, was Ryuta natürlich auf seine spezielle Art und Weise zu beheben versucht - mit durchschlagendem Erfolg, auch wenn die Angebetete mehrere Geheimnisse mit sich trägt. Während der Himmel für Gen voller Geigen hängt, gerät Musubi auf die schiefe Bahn und wird drogenabhängig. Er selbst kann den Teufelskreis jedoch nicht durchbrechen, wendet sich von seinen Freunden ab und verschleudert das angesparte Vermögen der Truppe für Philopon oder Heroin. Als die Situation eskaliert, beschließt Ryuta zu handeln, schnappt sich seine vor Jahren erbeutete Pistole und legt sich mit den Yakuza an.

Im abschließenden Band der "Barefoot Gen"-Reihe (zu deutsch: "Barfuss durch Hiroshima") zieht Autor und Zeichner Keiji Nakazawa noch einmal fast alle möglichen Register. Wir erleben die erneuerte Kritik an Kaiser, Militär, Staatsdienern und auch jenen Eltern, die ihre Kinder nicht von jenem Weg abbrachten, sondern sie sogar noch zum absoluten Gehorsam ermutigten. Historische Ereignisse wie der Rückzug der US-Amerikaner aus Japan im Jahre 1952, die wenig später zum ersten Mal in Japan veröffentlichten Bilder des zerstörten Hiroshima (bis dato wurde die Bevölkerung nicht über die tatsächlichen Auswirkungen informiert), die blutigen Demonstrationen vor dem kaiserlichen Palast oder auch die Kriegsverbrechen der Japaner in China werden auf beeindruckende Art und Weise mit in die Geschichte eingebunden, die damit erneut einen durchaus selbstkritischen Charakter erhält. Aber auch die Schuldigen am Abwurf der fatalen Waffe geraten erneut ins Kreuzfeuer, zumal die Auswirkungen der Waffe zum Zeitpunkt ihres Einsatzes nicht absehbar waren und auch die Überlebenden des Infernos zu Zehntausenden bis in die heutige Zeit hinein an den Nachwirkungen (u.a. diverse Blutkrebsarten) sterben. Aber Gen erkennt auch, dass die Bombe eine Warnung an die ganze Welt war, die seitdem auf die Anwendung verzichtet hat, da die Ergebnisse nun klar dokumentiert waren. Das macht die Situation für ihn und die Überlebenden Hiroshimas zwar nicht besser, aber er hofft, dass die gezogenen Lehren noch lange im Bewusstsein der Menschen bleiben und den Preis am Ende irgendwie "wert" waren. Daneben findet Nakazawa aber auch ein recht versöhnliches Ende für seine Helden, die zwar immer noch klare Opfer ihres an einem entscheidenden Punkt fremdbestimmten Lebens sind, aber durch ihren Überlebenswillen und freundschaftliches Handeln vergleichsweise optimistisch sein durften. Leider erfahren wir nicht mehr, was aus Gens Brüdern Koji und Akira wurde, also müssen wir uns diesbezüglich wohl mit den knappen Informationen aus Band 9 zufrieden geben. Künstlerisch weicht Nakazawa natürlich ebenfalls nicht von seinem pragmatischen, aber schlichtweg passenden, Zeichenstil ab.

Ein Ende auf hohem inhaltlichen Niveau, das so ziemlich alle Gefühlszustände der Hauptfiguren und auch des Lesers noch einmal Revue passieren und erneut aufkommen lässt. Wer danach nicht gegen atomare Abrüstung oder auch nur ein wenig pazifistisch eingestellter ist, dem ist wohl kaum mehr zu helfen.
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Angel
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book. The whole family has read the book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2014
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Wonderful book. The whole family has read the book. Even the ones who usually are reluctant to open a book. The drawings make the (hi)story even more compelling! I would urge people to read it. My son read the 10 books within a week, he's 10 years-old! An avid reader myself, this series brought tears to my eyes- it had never happened before. It is funny at times too and is an autobiography, which makes it even more poignant. A must-read!
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Marco
5.0 out of 5 stars I must read for everyone and a great description of what war (not only WWII)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2016
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That's a masterpiece. I must read for everyone and a great description of what war (not only WWII) is
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