Grave of the Fireflies

by Akiyuki Nosaka · first published 1967

"Grave of the Fireflies" (Japanese: 火垂るの墓, Hepburn: Hotaru no Haka) is a 1967 semi-autobiographical short story by Japanese author Akiyuki Nosaka. It is based on his experiences before, during, and after the firebombing of Kobe in 1945. One of his sisters died as the result of sickness, his adoptive father died during the firebombing proper, and his younger adoptive sister Keiko died of malnutrition in Fukui. It was written as a personal apology to Keiko, regarding her death.

Summary: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Genre:

Autobiography, Military fiction

Original language:

Japanese

Year page:

1967