Black Rain is centered around the story of a young woman who was caught in the radioactive black rain that fell after the bombing of Hiroshima. lbuse bases his tale on real-life diaries and interviews with victims of the holocaust; the result is a book that is free from sentimentality yet manages to reveal the magnitude of the human suffering caused by the atom bomb. The life of Yasuko, on whom the black rain fell, is changed forever by periodic bouts of radiation sickness and the suspicion that her future children, too, may be affected.
lbuse tempers the horror of his subject with the gentle humor for which he is famous. His sensitivity to the complex web of emotions in a traditional community torn asunder by this historical event has made Black Rain one of the most acclaimed treatments of the Hiroshima story.

Based on historical documents about the devastation caused by the atomic bomb and on first-hand accounts and writings from victims of the massacre, this is the Japanese novel that has best confronted the consequences of the atomic explosion in Hiroshima. The novel focuses on a young woman, Yasuko, who was caught by surprise in the radioactive black rain that fell on the outskirts of Hiroshima. The possible consequences of her contact with the radiation give way to an endless amount of gossip and questions among her suitors: Is she sick? Can she still bear children? Her family remembers those fateful days spent trying to rid themselves of the danger that threatens her. Masuji Ibuse portrays the complex web of emotions that develops between survivors who continue to endure illness and pain caused by the explosion, and who are unaware of the extent to which their health could be compromised. "Basada en documentos historicos sobre la devastacion causada por la bomba atomica y en entrevistas y diarios de victimas de la masacre, esta es la novela japonesa que mejor se ha enfrentado a las consecuencias de la explosion atomica en Hiroshima. El libro se centra en la historia de una joven, Yasuko, que se vio sorprendida por la lluvia negra radioactiva que cayo en los alrededores de Hiroshima. Las posibles consecuencias de su contacto con la radiacion han dado lugar a un sinfin de habladurias entre los pretendientes de la joven: estara enferma?, podra tener hijos? Su familia rememora aquellos dias aciagos tratando de conjurar el peligro que la acecha. Masuji Ibuse retrata con sensibilidad y con un esperanzado humor la compleja red de emociones que se establece entre unos supervivientes que siguen soportando las enfermedades y el dolor provocados por la explosion y que ignoran hasta que punto su salud puede estar afectada."