Rating: 4 for Studio Ghibli like artwork and supernatural, fantastical power of children
My Thoughts:
If you are a studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki fan and a fan of Rhoald Dahl, Journey to Tomioka has a similar vibe of tragedy, fantasy and the strength of children. Osamu and his older sister Akiko live with their grandmother. They once lived in Fukushima, but the tsunami hit Fukushima, killing their parents and destroying their home, In addition, the effects of the tsunami started a nuclear meltdown in the area and former residents were displaced. If readers are interested in the real story in Fukushima, direct readers to the graphic novel Meltdown: Six Days of Disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant.
The small family is as content as they can be even if they can no longer go home. Osamu lives in his own lonely world where he befriends imaginary friends known as yōkai, or spirits. See the connection to Hayao Miyazaki? When Bāchan dies, though, Akiko and Osamu are adamant that they need to return grandmother's ashes to their home
From the Publisher:
For fans of This Was Our Pact and Hayao Miyazaki films comes a breathtaking graphic novel about siblings who risk everything to return their grandmother's ashes to her home inside the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.
Osamu hasn't been the same since that day. When the tsunami hit Fukushima prefecture, it killed his parents, destroyed his home, and triggered one of the world's worst nuclear disasters. Now, all Osamu has left is his grandmother, Bā-chan, and his big sister, Akiko. As he withdraws into his own world, he befriends friends yōkai―spirits only he can see.
Then, tragedy strikes again, and Bā-chan dies. Osamu and Akiko are determined to return her ashes to their family farm in Tomioka, a town within Fukushima's forbidden zone. There, the siblings will face dangerous radiation and yōkai, both friendly and deadly―but they're willing to risk it all to make it home.
Osamu hasn't been the same since that day. When the tsunami hit Fukushima prefecture, it killed his parents, destroyed his home, and triggered one of the world's worst nuclear disasters. Now, all Osamu has left is his grandmother, Bā-chan, and his big sister, Akiko. As he withdraws into his own world, he befriends friends yōkai―spirits only he can see.
Then, tragedy strikes again, and Bā-chan dies. Osamu and Akiko are determined to return her ashes to their family farm in Tomioka, a town within Fukushima's forbidden zone. There, the siblings will face dangerous radiation and yōkai, both friendly and deadly―but they're willing to risk it all to make it home.
Publication Information:
Author: Laurent Galandon
Illustrator: Michael Crouzat
Translators: Owen Smith, Anne Smith
Publisher: First Second (June 9, 2026)
Print length: 112 pages
Grade level: 4-6
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