Grave of the Fireflies

American bombers devastate Kobe in March 1945 during the late Pacific War. Seita and his sister Setsuko survive the bombing, but their mother dies amid the chaos. The siblings are left to face a ruined city and an uncertain future.

After the bombing, Seita hides the fact that their mother has died to spare Setsuko's feelings. He tries to maintain a sense of normalcy for his younger sister. The lie strains their already fragile situation but temporarily shields her from grief.

The two children move to live with their aunt, who becomes increasingly resentful of their presence. The adult's harsh attitude contrasts with the boys' attempts to keep Setsuko fed and safe. The home environment grows tense as food and shelter become scarce.

Seita digs up a supply cache he buried before the bombing and presents almost everything to his aunt. He keeps only a tin of Sakuma drops for Setsuko, hoping the candy will comfort her. The act underscores the siblings' dwindling resources and Seita's protective instinct.

The aunt pressures Seita to sell his mother's silk kimonos to buy rice, effectively erasing a link to their past. Setsuko's distress grows as she witnesses another family heirloom being sacrificed for food. The family's morale continues to deteriorate under hunger and grief.

From their mother's bank account, Seita withdraws money to purchase a charcoal stove and other essentials. He hopes the stove will improve their conditions, even as the war tightens its grip. The act foreshadows the widening gap between needs and resources.

Another air raid drives the siblings into an abandoned bomb shelter. They seek refuge from the destruction outside and try to endure with whatever they can scavange. The shelter becomes a fragile sanctuary in which they confront hunger and fear.

The siblings capture fireflies from the marshes to light the shelter's darkness. By the next morning the fireflies have perished, leaving Setsuko to bury them. She then discovers, through the aunt's words, that their mother is dead and asks why the fireflies had to die so soon.

With rations running out, Seita steals crops and breaks into homes during air raids. A farmer catches him and brings him to the police, but a sympathetic officer lets him go. The near capture underscores the harsh conditions and Seita's desperation.

Setsuko's health deteriorates as malnutrition takes its toll. A doctor confirms she is suffering from severe malnutrition and warns that hunger is endangering her life. Seita's anxiety and guilt intensify as the situation worsens.

News of Japan's surrender shocks the siblings, ending any hope of rescue from higher authorities. Seita is distraught to realize their father is almost certainly dead as most of Japan's naval fleet has been sunk. The realization compounds their grief and isolation.

Seita returns with food and finds Setsuko delirious; she dies as he finishes preparing the meal. Grief consumes him as he contemplates the loss of his sister and the collapse of their world. He mourns in silence, realizing there is no rescue in sight.

Seita cremates Setsuko's body and places her ashes, along with his father's photograph, in a straw casket inside a candy tin. He holds onto this fragile memory as the war closes in around him. The tin becomes a symbol of family and the last link to hope.

Weeks later, Seita dies of starvation at the Sannomiya train station, surrounded by other starving people. A janitor sorts through his possessions and discards the candy tin, unaware of its contents. The tin's fate mirrors the oblivion of the war-torn era.

Setsuko's ashes scatter, and her spirit is joined by Seita's as they rise together with a cloud of fireflies. They board a ghostly train and silently reflect on the events that led to Seita's death. The journey ends on a hilltop overlooking Kobe, where their memories linger among the fireflies.