The video titled “Paper City” has a duration of 47 minutes and 20 seconds (47:20). It sheds light on the survivors of the 1945 firebombing of Tokyo who are campaigning for official recognition of this forgotten tragedy. The United States launched a massive air raid on Tokyo just after midnight on March 10, 1945, which resulted in a firestorm on a densely populated area of wooden and paper houses. By sunrise, more than 100,000 people had lost their lives, and a quarter of the Japanese city was destroyed, making it the most destructive air raid in history.
Despite the devastating impact of the bombing, survivors Hiroshi Hoshino, Michiko Kiyooka, and Minoru Tsukiyama managed to survive. However, the Japanese government has refused to acknowledge their appeals for recognition and compensation. After seven decades, they find themselves cast aside while former soldiers have been treated generously by the state.
The film “Paper City” is directed by Adrian Francis and highlights the plight of these survivors who are seeking official recognition for the tragedy they endured.