← all stories animerelease 4 sources · 1h ago

Grave of the Fireflies Returns to Netflix Japan on July 15

The re-release pairs a second domestic streaming window with an educational outreach program, signaling Netflix's strategy to treat the film as both a seasonal viewing event and a classroom resource.

Reporting from 4 sources: Eiga Natalie, Comic Natalie, GAME Watch (Impress), Anime Anime.

Grave of the Fireflies Returns to Netflix Japan on July 15

Studio Ghibli's 1988 film "Grave of the Fireflies" will begin streaming again on Netflix in Japan on July 15. The film, directed by Isao Takahata and based on Akiyuki Nosaka's novel, follows siblings Seita and Setsuko during World War II. It first streamed on Netflix in over 190 countries (excluding Japan) in September 2024, where it ranked 7th in the Netflix Weekly Global Top 10 for non-English films in its first week. It became the first Ghibli film on Netflix Japan in 2025, with subtitles in 33 languages and dubbing in 10. The Japanese audio description is narrated by Shota Yasuda (SUPER EIGHT), and the English version by Patrick Harlan. Alongside the re-release, Netflix is launching the "#NetflixEssay" project, including a children's essay workshop on July 11 and a note campaign from July 15 to August 31. Netflix is also supporting free school screenings for middle schools across Japan, providing free viewing codes to approved schools.

The film first arrived on Netflix globally (excluding Japan) in September 2024 and became the first Studio Ghibli title to stream domestically on the platform in 2025. Its return on July 15 marks the second time it has been available on Netflix Japan. The audio description for the Japanese version is narrated by Shota Yasuda of SUPER EIGHT, while the English version is handled by Patrick Harlan, known as Pakkun Makkun. The "#NetflixEssay" project includes a children's essay workshop for 5th and 6th graders on July 11 and a note campaign running from July 15 to August 31, where participants using the hashtags can win Netflix goods and a book about Isao Takahata and the film. Schools that apply and receive permission from Shinchosha will be given free Netflix codes for educational screenings. The film was directed and written by Isao Takahata and released by Studio Ghibli in 1988, with Tsutomu Tatsumi voicing Seita and Ayano Shiraishi voicing Setsuko.

Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.

Grave of the Fireflies Returns to Netflix Japan on July 15

More on this

Sources