Japan commemorates end of WWII through children's wartime literature

As Japan marks the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II, local initiatives are using literature and historical archives to pass wartime memories to younger generations.

In Kagoshima, a discussion was held involving children to reflect on the book ‘Boku no Tonari ni Maya ga Ita’ (Maya Was Next to Me). Written by Rika Kubota, the granddaughter of children's author Koji Mukoda, the story depicts the perspective of a young boy living through the war, specifically focusing on the loss of a beloved pet due to wartime circumstances.

In the Sundo district, a commemorative volume has been published to mark the 100th anniversary of ‘Jido Buen’, a collection of writings by children. The archive contains firsthand accounts from children during the war era, including a poignant entry by Setsuko Suzuki. Her writing described the hardships of air raids and the desperate measures mothers took to keep their children hydrated in air-raid shelters. These historical documents serve as a tool for peace education in local schools, helping students understand the realities of past conflicts.