Nakazawa, who survived the bombing at age six, lost several family members in the attack. His autobiographical work, first published in 1973, has been widely translated and used as an educational tool to teach about the horrors of nuclear warfare.
"Barefoot Gen was the first Japanese comic ever to be translated into Western languages," the Eisner Awards website said, noting its adaptations into various media formats.
The Eisner Awards, often referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards, have previously honored other renowned Japanese artists, including Hayao Miyazaki and Osamu Tezuka.
Nakazawa, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 73, joins this prestigious group, cementing his legacy in the global comics landscape.