Kazuko: Sixth Grade in World War II Hiroshima

by Kazuko Blake, Sandra Y Vega (primary_contributor)

Genres: History

162 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Jenn Riemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kazuko: Sixth Grade in World War II Hiroshima" is a beautifully written and deeply insightful memoir that offers a rare glimpse into the life of a young girl in wartime Japan. Kazuko Blake’s storytelling is both poignant and compelling, making this book a quick yet powerful read. Her personal experiences bring history to life in a way that is both educational and emotionally moving. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in firsthand accounts of World War II, as well as those who appreciate stories of resilience and courage.

[Connie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my local bookstore’s 2024 Book of the Year, and I can understand why. ‘Sixth Grade in World War II Hiroshima’ was a very enjoyable read, and I am so glad to have picked it up. The book is written pretty straightforward, Tajima Kazuko doesn’t bother to fluff her words about her life before, during and after the dropping of bombs on Hiroshima. As she was only twelve years old during the war, Kazuko reflects more so on the average life of a Japanese citizen, then anything to do with the war outside of her town, and it really brings the reader into those quiet moments that are so often overshadowed by the horrors.

It was interesting, getting to see an insight into someone who was growing up during such a pivotal point in history. WW II a point in history well documented and taught, and it's strange to think that while such atrocities were being committed in the world (even by her own nation), there were people who were just living their everyday life; with the climate of today’s world, and atrocities being perpetrated – both globally and nationally – it's sad to realize that so many of us, like Kazuko, are just trying our bests, during a part of history that will be taught to later generations with the hopes of never repeating it again.

[DW Rowlands · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite short -- I read it in one sitting this morning -- but I found it really interesting as an account of life in Japan during and shortly after World War II, and of the Hiroshima bombing and surviving it. While I wish it had been longer and had gone into more detail, as a ninety-year-old woman's memoir of events of her childhood, it is quite impressive, and I am glad that she managed to get it written and published.

One thing that surprised me was that the use of English, as well as English signage, was common in Japan before and in the early days of the Pacific War. Using English in public was banned and signs were removed from public places because of the government's fear it would help American spies, but there was apparently enough of this for it to be something Kazuko remarks on, along with the fact that she had always called her father the English word "papa" instead of the Japanese word, though she doesn't say anything about how much English she knew at this point or how she'd learned it.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is good this book exists to save firsthand lived history of a young Japanese girl's life around WWII and the Hiroshima bombing. It is an easy read, simply written and in a matter-of-fact way. Ms. Blake's father had important positions with Mitsubishi, allowing some fortunate privileges that helped the family during the difficult times around the war, but they were lucky to all survive the bombing with apparently no radiation poisoning. Many people have no knowledge of what life for Japanese civilians was like during the war, so this book, along with a very few other memoirs, will be enlightening. The devastation of the bombing is lightly told so the book is suitable for even middle school readers. Ms. Blake's memory in her elder years is remarkably clear about those times. The book ends at an appropriate point but I wanted to know more. The Afterword is helpful to fill readers in a bit about Ms. Blake's life in the US, leaving out any bad experiences common to Japanese wives here soon after the war ended.

[T.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's an important story and one that should be remembered always. Much like Anne Frank's diary, this is the true account of an everyday girl in Japan swept up by a monstrous war. Reflecting back on her life during that time and the unfathomable things that happened, Kazuko shares her days of luck, heartbreak, and small joys. I do wish she had said more about what became of her parents, especially her father. They clearly loved and provided for her, and her descriptions and anecdotes make you fall in love with them, too. I can only speculate that it was something too personal for her to write about. Thank you for telling your story, Kazuko.

[Sebastiaan De Gier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vivid and honest account of one of the most horrific events in history. At times I was a bit perplexed by the sobriety with which the events are told, and by how neutral the writer remains toward the Americans who killed so many of her family and friends. At other times, the story hit me like a bomb. It is an important account of an event that should never be forgotten.

[DV · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rich, but crystal clear, memory of a firsthand experience of one of the most defining days in human history - and the days and years surrounding it - told in a deeply profound, personal way. I obtained an advance copy and read it in one sitting.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of memories from Kazuko’s childhood in Japan during WWII. It is very succinctly written, and it allows glimpses into everyday life in wartime Japan. A short read, finished in one sitting.

[Janet Loeffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick reading but so detailed and informative. I am so glad she had her story told. It is an important one.