YUNAGI no MACHI, SAKURA no KUNI (TOWN of an Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms) taught me that there are many people who want to know more about "Hiroshima" and "Nagasaki" in this country. This work has been very fortunate with a good editor and readers. I have never felt more encouraged than now by having Hiroshima as my hometown and owning these hands to create manga. I will continue to pursue my work. Thank you.

This work takes as its subject "Hiroshima". The manga artist who produced it belongs to the post-war generation and though the story is only 10 pages long, its depiction of "the dark shadow of war" is excellent and clearly draws on experience. This is why this work was highly regarded from the early stages and won this prize ahead of other longer works. The extension of hope from the older generation to the younger is clearly drawn, as are the subtle differences in the values received to those conveyed. I was impressed by the method of expression which, whilst conveying a powerful message, never imposes upon the reader, but rather serves to evoke understanding and acceptance.