Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka

'A fragile, haunting novella... this book is a profoundly sad and precious gift' Phelim McDermott, director of My Neighbour Totoro

'Nosaka reminds us of the small lives that are lost in the churn of war and who are left without even a memorial' Rowan Hisayo Buchanan

The heartbreaking Japanese classic telling the story of two orphans fighting for survival at the end of World War Two, published in English for the first time


In the dying days of the War, Seita and Setsuko must fend for themselves. Firebombs have obliterated their home in Kobe, leaving them searching for shelter and scrambling to survive in the depths of the countryside. But, as their suffering becomes a constant companion, so do the lights of the fireflies – shining from the bomber planes, and the insects glowing by the lake at night.

This unforgettable semi-autobiographical tale by Akiyuki Nosaka won him the Naoki Prize, cementing his place in the Japanese cultural canon. Published here for the first time as a standalone story, Grave of the Fireflies illuminates the untold sorrows of normal people who live in the shadow of war.

'A beautiful and sensitive translation... I wish stories like this were unnecessary, but that is sadly not the case' Tom Morton-Smith, playwright and writer of My Neighbour Totoro