That the said main character later starves to death on the floor of JNR Sannomiya Station in the opening of the film should tell you a bit about how he still feels about that. In Real Life, Nosaka watched his little sister die of starvation the same way the main character of the movie did.
The story in Grave of the Fireflies was based closely on the experiences of the writer, Nosaka Akiyuki, in World War II.The backgrounds turn out to be drawn by the supposed murderer, who is actually innocent and seeking a way to clear his name. The ComiQ has an in-universe example, as Ryota's work has parallels to murders that took place three years ago, specifically a symbol found at the scene of the crime.Barefoot Gen is basically an adaptation of Keiji Nakazawa's life in Hiroshima before, during and after the atomic bombing as he and his Author Avatar Gen were raised in a house of outspoken and ostracized pacifists and both of them lost nearly all their family members from his burning house except for his mother, elder brothers, and infant sister who died from malnutrition stemming from food shortages.
