Who's Left Behind?

Synopsis

Kayoko is a young girl in 1940, just beginning first grade. She is known as a bit of a crybaby to those around her. She delights in playing with friends, singing cheerful schoolyard chants, and occasionally having fun with her three older brothers. With her mother pregnant, Kayoko looks forward to becoming a big sister, only partially grasping the responsibility it might bring. Meanwhile, the war effort intensifies, and supporting the country through patriotism feels like the natural thing to do. Kayoko goes so far as to donate her favorite doll, whose materials could be used to build explosives. As time passes and she grows older, Kayoko witnesses how the war has reshaped her life and the lives of those around her. However, nothing prepares her for 1945 and the bleak times that soon follow. This story is based on the real-life experiences of original creator Kayoko Ebina during World War II in the Showa era.