Showa-Shi

Mizuki’s childhood overlaps with the start of the Showa Era, allowing him to present historical events through a personal lens. With the help of his narrator, Rat Man, he conveys the period in a way that appeals to both younger and older readers. He examines Japan’s increasing militarization leading up to World War II, offering a critical perspective on the country’s involvement in conflict. His depiction of the Nanjing Massacre frames it as a severe atrocity, a view that remains a subject of debate in Japan. Mizuki also explores how technological progress and economic changes influenced Japan’s foreign policy during the early 1900s.