The Appearance of Sprouts (Barefoot Gen Vol. 3)

Author: Keiji Nakazawa

Volume Three tells of Gen, his mother, and his little sister's journey to find a place of rest in the aftermath of the bomb, and in the face of rejection, hunger, and humiliation, they realize that they still possess and can share their true possessions: their self-respect, their hope, and their inner strength. "I want to kill all the rich people and war leaders who only thought of their personal interests... Ah, in fact, there is no greater folly than the folly of starting a war; we suffered because of the war." In this volume, Gen spends a lot of time searching for food and caring for a man suffering from "bomb sickness," and is threatened and abused by his family. Near the end of the volume, the Emperor announces his surrender on August 15, 1945. The speech is broadcast on the radio, and the children observe the adults in their sadness or anger.