A picture book has been created based on the true story of parents and their child born on January 17, 1995, when a major earthquake struck western Japan.

An event to mark the book's completion was held in the city of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, on Saturday.

The operator of an art class in the city and others raised money for the book through crowdfunding.

They spent two and a half years on the project to pass on memories of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake to future generations.

The book's artwork was drawn by children who attend the art class.

The story begins with a huge jolt rattling the couple's home. They evacuate to a shelter and get support from other survivors.

The woman then gives birth to a boy at a hospital during a power outage. His name is Nakamura Tsubasa.

His mother, Hizuru, said the book reminds her clearly what happened at that time. She thanked the children who drew the pictures.

A boy whose drawing is on the book's cover said he's glad the book has been completed. He said he used his imagination to create the picture after hearing what happened after the quake.

The boy said he wants to convey to others that there were much kindness and caring among survivors even during hardship.

Three-thousand copies of the book are to be donated to schools in Hyogo Prefecture as well as areas struck by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.