Ishibumi: A memorial to the atomic annihilation of 321 students of Hiroshima Middle School, is one of the enduring Japanese classics in atomic bomb literature since its publication in 1970. Made available for the first time in English in 2016 to coincide with former President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Hiroshima. Ishibumi presents more than just horrific stories of 321 young male students of ages 12-13, who were killed by the atomic bomb. One-thirds of them perished instantaneously and the remaining two-thirds suffered a slow and painful death. It describes the uncompromised bond of family kinship, and how children tried to make sense of their fate as Imperial subjects in wartime. Their courage facing deaths and their yearnings to see their parents one more time, compels us to reflect on why they were placed in this crisis. The vernacular daily language is accessible to all generations and, of course, the seriousness of this subject sadly remains relevant to all of us today.　『いしぶみ――広島二中一年生全滅の記録』は、1970年の刊行以来、日本の原爆文学における不朽の名作として知られています。2016年には、オバマ前大統領の歴史的な広島訪問に合わせて英語版が刊行されました。この本は、原爆で命を落とした12歳から13歳までの男子生徒321人の悲惨な物語を紹介しているだけではありません。原爆によって、生徒の3分の1は即死、残りの3分の2はゆっくりとつらい死を遂げました。本書には、家族の絆という揺るぎない絆と、戦時下の帝国臣民としての運命を理解しようとする子どもたちの姿が描かれています。死と向き合う彼らの勇気と、もう一度親に会いたいという願いを読むと、彼らがなぜこのような危難に遭ったのかをあらためて考えさせられます。本書には、生徒たちの語る言葉が誰にでも読めるかたちで書かれています。そしてこのテーマの深刻さは、悲しいかな、現代の私たちにも関係しているのです。

This book guides you through the journey of finding your life work, or mission-work that would bring you a deep sense of fulfillment and draw forth an imaginable power from within you. As is quoted below, this is an indispensable key for creating a new era. (Quoted from Introduction) Among the different occupations and types of activity, some are chosen by will while others are not. But the entirety of countless numbers of occupations and activities are indeed what make our society operate. Our bodies are made of 60 trillion cells, and these cells are composed of countless protein and DNA molecules. These come together in a whole to form a network inside the human body. Just like that, the various types of work carried out by individuals are certain to be joined together and resonate together like the instruments in an orchestra. They become the driving force that moves society…. What is important is that a mission-work that draws out our best is always prepared for everyone. Each person who puts everything into doing his best in their respective locations will resonate like an orchestra, one that continues to take up challenging new themes. That indeed would be the future that we should aim at.【※本作品はブラウザビューアで閲覧すると表組みのレイアウトが崩れて表示されることがあります。予めご了承下さい。】