Grave of the Fireflies (1988) 1989

In March 1945, as the Pacific War reaches its peak, American Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers ravage much of Kobe. Among the survivors are Seita and his younger sister Setsuko, the children of an Imperial Japanese Navy captain. Tragically, their mother sustains severe injuries and ultimately succumbs to her wounds. In a bid to protect his sister’s innocence, Seita hides the devastating news of their mother’s death from Setsuko.

After the loss, the siblings are taken in by a distant aunt, who holds little affection for them. Although Seita makes an effort to contribute by giving her the supplies he had hidden away prior to the bombings, he keeps a small tin of Sakuma drops for Setsuko’s comfort. Their living situation deteriorates as their aunt becomes increasingly resentful, attributing their hardships to Seita’s inaction. At her urging, he reluctantly uses some of his mother’s funds to purchase necessities, including a charcoal stove.

As the war intensifies and rations dwindle, Seita and Setsuko make the difficult decision to move into an old bomb shelter—creating a flickering sanctuary by capturing fireflies to chase away the darkness. However, the fleeting light turns tragic when they discover the fireflies dead at dawn. Overcome with grief, Setsuko buries them and expresses her heartbreak, lamenting, “Why did the fireflies have to die so soon?”

Circumstances worsen when the siblings find themselves without food. A kind farmer urges Seita to swallow his pride and return to their aunt for help, highlighting the dire straits they are in. Instead, desperation drives Seita to steal crops and forage during air raids. His actions land him in trouble when a farmer catches him and administers a harsh beating, although a police officer feels pity for the young boy’s plight as he acts solely to feed his sister.

When Setsuko’s health deteriorates due to malnutrition, Seita exhausts the last of their funds to seek medical help. Heartbreakingly, he learns that Japan has surrendered, and the news of their father’s possible death looms over them. In a desperate attempt to rectify their situation, he returns home with food, only to find Setsuko in a state of hallucination. Tragically, she passes away just as he is preparing a meal.

In a sorrowful farewell, Seita cremated Setsuko’s remains alongside her beloved doll, storing her ashes in the familiar candy tin. Seita’s own struggle for survival ultimately leads him to starvation a few weeks later at a Sannomiya train station, where he succumbs to his fate amidst others suffering from malnutrition. A janitor tasked with clearing the bodies discovers the candy tin and carelessly tosses it into the field, resulting in Setsuko’s ashes scattering, and their spirits emerging together.

United in spirit, Seita and Setsuko are surrounded by a magical gathering of fireflies as they board a spectral train. This haunting journey allows them to reflect on their tragic past, culminating at a beautiful hilltop bench overlooking present-day Kobe, where they find tranquility, free from the pain of their earthly struggles.