Grave of the Fireflies is a stark and devastating account of two siblings struggling to survive in Japan during the final months of the Second World War. As society collapses around them, hunger, illness, and social indifference deepen their suffering. Told with restraint and emotional clarity, the book exposes the human cost of war, particularly for civilians and children. It was later adapted into an animated film by Studio Ghibli, directed by Isao Takahata.

Akiyuki Nosaka (1930–2015) was a Japanese writer, songwriter, and public intellectual whose work is deeply shaped by his experiences of the Second World War. He is best known for Grave of the Fireflies, a searing portrayal of civilian suffering during wartime. His writing often combines dark humour, autobiography, and social critique, addressing themes of memory, loss, and the moral consequences of war in modern Japan.

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Free for members of The Japan Society

Book available from Bookshop.org, Amazon and Waterstones (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)
Japanese version available here