The Japan Society

Upcoming Events

ARCHIVED ONLINE EVENT - Japan Society Film Club: Grave of the Fireflies directed by Isao Takahata

Wednesday 4 August 2021 / 6:30pm
ONLINE EVENT - Japan Society Film Club: Grave of the Fireflies directed by Isao Takahata

Date
Wednesday 4 August 2021
Time
6.30pm (BST)
For countries outside the UK, please use this calculator to check the time in your region.

Booking Details
Free - Booking essential
Priority for Japan Society Members

Please remember to watch the film in advance. Grave of the Fireflies is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Store, and Apple iTunes.

Book online here

The activities of the Japan Society are made possible thanks to the support of its members. This event is free of charge and open to all. We realise that this is a difficult time for many people. However, if you are planning to attend and do not have a membership subscription as an individual or through your employer, please consider making a donation. You can find details of membership and how to join the Japan Society community here.


Do you love Japanese film classics, anime or contemporary cinema stories? Do you miss Japan and want to see it at least on screen? Would you like to learn and discuss about Japanese culture and society? Join us for the Japan Society Film Club where we will chat online about films and Japan in an informal atmosphere.

Join us on 4 August for a Film Club dedicated to a masterpiece of Japanese animation and anti-war cinema, Grave of the Fireflies directed by Isao Takahata in 1988.

Based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka, Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓, Hotaru no Haka) tells the story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko Yokokawa, and their desperate struggle to survive during the final months of the Second World War. It was Takahata's first film produced by Studio Ghibli and is considered one of the most powerful anti-war movies ever made.

Read our review of the book Graves of Fireflies (BFI Film Classics)

Isao Takahata (1935-2018) was one of the key figures in Japanese animation, co-founder of Studio Ghibli in 1985 with his long-time collaborator Hayao Miyazaki and producers Toshio Suzuki and Yasuyoshi Tokuma. Takahata graduated in French literature from the University of Tokyo in 1959 and joined Toei Animation soon after where he directed his first feature film Hols: Prince of the Sun (1968) and met Miyazaki. In 1971, Takahata and Miyazaki left the company to work at Shin-ei Animation where they worked on anime series such as Arsene Lupin, Heidi, Girl of the Alps or Anne of Green Gables. Known for his meticulous work and artistic creativity Takahata directed five films at Studio Ghibli: Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Only Yesterday (1991), Pom Poko (1994), My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999) and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), which was nominated for an Oscar in 2015 as Best Animated Feature Film.

Japan Society Film Club takes place on the first Wednesday of the month. We will recommend a film to watch in advance and meet online to discuss. Films are often available online for free, on DVD, online platforms or on BFI player which includes a special season on Japanese cinema. When possible, we will invite film experts to introduce and lead the discussion, but the event is open to all and we encourage participants to freely express their opinions and feelings about the films.

If you have any questions, please call the Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.

Booking Info

Please remember to watch the film in advance. Grave of the Fireflies is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Store, and Apple iTunes.

  • You should receive an automated email from the Japan Society to let you know that your booking request has been registered. Please note that your booking is pending while we check your details and you will receive a further email once your booking is confirmed.

  • For online events, we will send you the zoom links and details to attend the event closer to the date.

  • If you don't receive any confirmation emails or links, please check your spam folder or email events@japansociety.org.uk.