Seventy-five years after the atomic bombing, the story of Hiroshima is still told in various ways. Here, we asked the librarian of the Library of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum for recommendations of books on three different themes: “A book that tells about Hiroshima before and after the war, through World War Ⅱ,” “A book to learn the atomic bombing of Hiroshima,” and “A book that has testimonies from survivors of the atomic bombing.”

　　　　

　　　　

Ishibumi : a memorial to the atomic annihilation of 321 students of Hiroshima second middle school

　　　

　　　　

　　　　　

　　　　　

On August 6, 1945, 321 first-year students at Hiroshima Second Middle School were serving in the labor force. This is a record of the tragedy that was told by the families of the students at Hiroshima Second Middle School that lost their children in the atomic bombing. Many of the families, many of whom were also atomic bomb survivors, express their grief at the loss of their children, and tell the story of Hiroshima at that time.

　　　　

Author: Hiroshima Television Corporation

Publisher: POPLAR PUBLISHING (Poplar Pocket Library)

Year of Publication in Japanese: 2009

Web purchase is available

No e-book version is available

　　　

　　　　

“In This Corner of the World”

　　　　

　　　　　

　　　　　

　　　　　　

A family drama set in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, during World War II. The main character Suzu, who married and came to the city of Kure from city of Hiroshima, goes through life with a new family, a new town, and a new world. The lives and emotions of the people of that time are expressed realistically, and the great tragedy of war is clearly portrayed from the view of people that time.

　　　　　

Volumes: 3 volumes

Author: KOUNO, Fumiyo

Year of Publication in Japanese: 2008 (first edition of the first volume)

Web purchase is available

E-book version is available

　　　　　

　　　　　　

Hiroshima : a tragedy never to be repeated

　　　　

　　　　　

　　　　　

　　　　　

The author, who was born in Hiroshima and was exposed to the atomic bombing at the age of three, presents a multifaceted depiction of the town of Hiroshima at that time based on the testimonies of survivors. There are many themes including the lives of its people, the atomic bombing in the city, the historical background of the development of the atomic bombing, the principles of nuclear weapons, damage, and other themes that must not be forgotten. NISHIMURA Shigeo, a painter, visited the actual town and created detailed pictures to illustrate these themes. This is a scientific picture book that describes the whole picture of “The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima.”

　　　　

Author: NASU Masamoto, Illustrations by NISHIMURA Shigeo

Publisher: Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers, Inc.

Year of Publication in Japanese: 1995

Web purchase is available

No e-book version is available

　　　　　　

　　　　　

The Spirit of Hiroshima An Introduction to the Atomic Bomb Tragedy by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

　　　　

　　　　　

　　　　

　　　　

Includes illustrations and detailed explanations of the damage caused by the atomic bombing and the history of Hiroshima before and after the bmobing. It also records materials and photographs from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. With the renovation of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in 2019, a revised edition of this magazine is being edited.

　　　　

Author: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Publication: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Publication year: 2019 (15th edition)

You can purchase in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Shop (1,000 yen)

Japanese version includes English

No web purchase is available

No e-book version is available

　　　　

　　　　

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Database

　　　　

　　　　

A database of atomic bombs and peace-related materials maintained by the museum can be viewed on The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum’s website. It is a record of the war and the atomic bombing as well as Hiroshima at that time.

Please visit: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/database/index_e.html

　　　　　

　　　　　　

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

　　　　　

　　　　　　

The museum displays artifacts from the atomic bombing, including photos and pictures of the devastation of the bombing, and tells the world about the tragedy that occurred in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. In the library on the basement floor of the East Wing (free), visitors are free to browse through many materials and books of the war and the atomic bombing.

　　　　

　　　　

　　　　

Address: 1-2 Nakajimacho, Naka ward, Hiroshima City

Phone Number: +81 (0) 82-241-4004

Open Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (*8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on August 5 and 6), 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (March to July, September to November), 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (December to February)

Closed: December 30, 31

*The library is closed from December 29 to January 1

Fee: ¥200 for adults, ¥100 for high school students, free for junior high school students and younger

HP: http://hpmmuseum.jp/?lang=eng