Photo: Rolf Lindby / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
I first came across Fumiyo Kōno's work through In This Corner of the World, and honestly it just wrecked me in the quietest possible way — no melodrama, no grand speeches, just an ordinary Hiroshima woman doing ordinary things while the world falls apart around her, and somehow that restraint hits harder than anything loud ever could. She grew up in Hiroshima, which makes her decision to spend her career sitting with that city's history feel less like a choice and more like a calling. Grave of Fireflies will make you sob; Kōno will make you go silent. Her line work has this gentle, almost unhurried quality that lulls you into safety right before she slides something devastating under the door. If you haven't read In This Corner of the World or Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms, clear your afternoon — but maybe don't make any plans after, because you'll need a moment.
Overview
Fumiyo Kōno is a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, and author born on September 28, 1968, in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima Prefecture. She studied at Hiroshima University. She is best known for two major works rooted in Hiroshima's wartime history: Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms and In This Corner of the World, both of which earned wide critical acclaim for their quiet, everyday portrayal of life before and after the atomic bombing.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Fumiyo Kōno
- Name (Japanese)
- こうの史代
- Reading
- こうの ふみよ
- Born
- September 28, 1968 (age 57)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Monkey (申)
- Origin
- Nishi Ward, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
- Occupation
- Manga Artist / Illustrator / Author / Visual Artist / Manga Story Writer
2. Background
- University
- Hiroshima University
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Work | Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms | — | Unknown |
| Major Work | In This Corner of the World | — | Unknown |
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%93%E3%81%86%E3%81%AE%E5%8F%B2%E4%BB%A3
Frequently asked questions
When was Fumiyo Kōno born?
Born September 28, 1968 (age 57).
Where is Fumiyo Kōno from?
Fumiyo Kōno is from Nishi Ward, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
What does Fumiyo Kōno do?
Fumiyo Kōno works as Manga Artist, Illustrator, Author, Visual Artist, Manga Story Writer.
What is Fumiyo Kōno known for?
Notable works include Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms, In This Corner of the World.
Manga Artist — see all → · Illustrator — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.