Yoroku: Streaming of 'Grave of the Fireflies' in Japan a chance to revisit tragic tale
The animated film "Grave of the Fireflies" (directed by Isao Takahata) was released in 1988 and screened together with "My Neighbor Totoro" (directed by Hayao Miyazaki), both produced by Studio Ghibli.
At the time, I watched the films as a double feature, something which has now become rare. The lighthearted atmosphere created by "Totoro" was completely transformed by "Grave of the Fireflies" and I remember the people leaving the theater in tears after the screening, moved by the heart-wrenching storyline.
"Grave of the Fireflies" tells the tale of siblings Seita and Setsuko, who lose their parents in World War II and eventually perish. The film is based on a novel of the same name by writer Akiyuki Nosaka, who also lost his younger sister at the place where they evacuated during the war. In the past, the movie was regularly aired on Nippon Television Network's "Friday Road Show," but screenings have been discontinued since a memorial broadcast in 2018 following Takahata's death.
Video-on-demand service Netflix has now announced that it will stream "Grave of the Fireflies" in Japan from July 15. The film has been available in over 190 countries and regions since last fall. It ranked seventh in the non-English film category during its first week, garnering international attention.
Some believe that the film's depiction of injuries caused by air raids is one reason for its absence from recent TV broadcasts. While it is true that there are painful scenes, that is the reality of war. And the film encourages viewers to think about war and society from various perspectives.
When streaming the film, Netflix says it will provide advisories including the film's target age group, but in any case, it will be an opportunity for many people to encounter or become reacquainted with this masterpiece.
Responding to an inquiry, Nippon Television said it was "considering" airing the movie this year. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the air raid on Kobe, which darkened the fate of Seita and Setsuko in the film.
("Yoroku" is a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun.)
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