1. Autobiographies
2. Book design
3. Family
4. History
5. Survival
6. Visual literacy
7. War
8. WW2

In this autobiographical picture book, Japanese author-illustrator Junko Morimoto provides her eye-witness account of the bombing of Hiroshima when she was 13-years-old. The jacket cover features an ominous mushroom cloud in the background. In the foreground, two children, with backpacks signalling they are bound for school, are oblivious. On that day, 6 August 1945, 70,000 people were instantly killed by the atomic bomb.

The initial endpapers provide historical black and white photographs of Hiroshima before the bombing. The final set of endpapers reveal Hiroshima’s destruction as a result of the atomic bomb. Junko Morimoto retells the events of that day without passion or recrimination. She begins by introducing her family members and her favourite pursuit as a child—drawing stories. There are scenes of her friends playing and her family enjoying summer fireworks. Ominously, in her fourth year at school, life changes as the country prepares for war.

Page layout and colours guide the reader’s response. Initial typical scenes of daily life feature stark white backgrounds with minimal illustration. The pace of the story then changes. On that fateful time and day—8.15am 6 August 1945—Junko is at home with stomach pain. Multiple scenes of people going about their daily lives stretch across the double page. Then, with the page turn, the left page is a brilliant blue with a plane flying overhead. A double page spread reveals the mushroom cloud centre stage in bright light while above and below, hands and bodies float amidst dark brown strips of colour. Subsequent devastating scenes show people with skin hanging from their bodies, offer smells of burnt skin and sounds of moans. At the end, there is a double page photograph of Hiroshima, buildings mostly flattened, followed by a double page showing present day rebuilt Hiroshima.

Few stories could be more harrowing to tell, especially as this is Junko Morimoto’s first-hand experience. Her retelling is presented in a matter-of-fact way, without recrimination or sensationalism. This picture book continues to be widely discussed and studied.

1. SBSNews ‘Comment: How My Hiroshima changed my view of the world’, by Darren Mara, 6 Aug 2015 https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/comment-how-my-hiroshima-changed-my-view-of-the-world/tinulu8rl
2. Penguin Books, profile of Junko Morimoto https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/junko-morimoto
3. ABCNews ‘Junko Morimoto, author of ‘My Hiroshima’, talks about the day the atomic bomb landed on her city’, 6 Aug 2015. A letter written by Morimoto and reproduced here, urges Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to sign a treaty banning nuclear weapons. Also included is a retelling of ‘My Hiroshima’ with Junko Morimoto pictured adding her personal experiences. An extensive interview with Morimoto is also included https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-21/junko-morimoto-urged-turnbull-to-sign-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty/8969046
4. Review in Publishers Weekly of ‘My Hiroshima’, 1 Aug 1990 https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780670831814
5. SBS LANGUAGE ‘Junko’s Story’ Includes casualties of the atomic bomb, details of risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure amongst Hiroshima survivors, 6 Aug 2020 https://www.sbs.com.au/hiroshima/