Documentary receiving massive response on ETV special adapted into highly anticipated book: "Isao Takahata and Grave of the Fireflies" releases June 24

"Isao Takahata and Grave of the Fireflies: Decoding the 'Phantom Script' and 'Seven Concept Notebooks'" by Yoko Terakoshi will be published by Shinchosha on Wednesday, June 24.

Director Isao Takahata created numerous masterpieces, from "Heidi, Girl of the Alps" and "3000 Leagues in Search of Mother" to his final work, "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya." This book is a documentary that approaches the birth of "Grave of the Fireflies," one of his most representative films that continues to receive acclaim from all over the world.

The book is based on the ETV special "Grave of the Fireflies, Isao Takahata, and the Seven Notebooks," which decoded the seven concept notebooks found after the director's death, incorporating production anecdotes and new facts discovered after the broadcast.

■ Meeting the notebooks and director Takahata's original "device"
After Takahata passed away, seven notebooks written for "Grave of the Fireflies" were found. They recorded the creative process from Akiyuki Nosaka’s short story "Grave of the Fireflies" to the creation of the animated film. (From the Introduction)

The author is Yoko Terakoshi, an NHK director who produced the ETV special. She had previously spent two and a half years closely covering the production of "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya," where she heard director Takahata say: "I released 'Grave of the Fireflies' without completing it at all."

What did that remark mean? From there, Terakoshi began examining the seven notebooks, strictly preserved as art objects, and visiting staff and experts one by one to trace how the film was made from the original novel. A key point was the original "device" director Takahata created for the film adaptation.

The feature, which decoded this original cinematic device—rarely discussed before—received a great response. Immediately after the August 2025 broadcast, social media was filled with praise, such as "It was a wonderful documentary that should be watched now," "An amazing program," and "I felt the terror of Isao Takahata."

This book significantly expands the analysis of the seven notebooks and publishes numerous testimonies and episodes from production staff that could not be aired on the program.

■ Understanding "Grave of the Fireflies" more deeply: 13 images featured on 8 color frontispiece pages
One of the features of this book is that it includes many valuable materials used during film production and photos related to director Takahata, starting with the seven concept notebooks. In addition, readers can view 13 materials and scene cuts in the 8-page color frontispiece at the beginning of the book, two of which are published for the first time.

"Grave of the Fireflies" began global streaming on Netflix in 2024, and its distribution in Japan last year sparked various reactions. This has also led to a series of theatrical releases in various countries. Why does "Grave of the Fireflies" continue to touch people's hearts 38 years after its production? This is a moving documentary that will make you want to re-watch the film from a new perspective.