It has been announced that Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece anime film, Hotaru no Haka, will be available for streaming in Japan for the first time on Netflix, starting July 15, 2025. This marks the first time a Studio Ghibli work will be distributed domestically in Japan on Netflix.
About the Film
Hotaru no Haka was released by Studio Ghibli in 1988 as an anime film directed by the master, Takahata Isao, based on the short novel by Nosaka Akiyuki, which won the Naoki Prize. Set in Kobe shortly before the end of the war, devastated by B-29 air raids, it depicts the siblings Seita and Setsuko as they try to survive the war together. Since its release, it has won numerous awards both in Japan and internationally and is now known as a representative Japanese masterpiece.
Worldwide Reception on Netflix
As part of Netflix’s ongoing efforts to expand its wide range of Japanese anime offerings to viewers around the world, the film has been exclusively distributed in over 190 countries and regions outside of Japan since September 16, 2024.
In its first week of streaming, it ranked 7th in the Netflix Weekly Global TOP 10 (Films – Non-English). Despite being a film released in 1988, it garnered significant attention, with posts from overseas fans moved by the film trending on social media, and its reception was covered in numerous articles.
Comments from Stakeholders
Regarding this announcement, Mr. Yashiro Shin’ichiro, Head of the Content Business Department at Shinchosha, which holds the film’s copyright and publishes the original novel, stated, “It seems to be receiving such acclaim worldwide now – a film that people want to watch every summer and recommend to someone dear to them. I am happy that, even 80 years after that day, in a time when conflict still rages, it gently resonates in the hearts of many people, regardless of nationality, race, or ethnicity.”
Furthermore, Mr. Sakamoto Kazutaka, Vice President of Content at Netflix, commented, “Netflix has been delivering Studio Ghibli works to the world since 2020, and I was once again moved and felt the power of this film, ‘Hotaru no Haka,’ which began its new worldwide distribution last September and received significant feedback again. Of course, it’s highly regarded globally, but we particularly wanted viewers in Japan to watch this timeless masterpiece. Therefore, we are truly delighted that this first streaming in Japan has come to fruition. We hope that Japanese households will take this opportunity to watch it this summer and that it will spark conversations.”
Looking Ahead
Since its worldwide distribution on Netflix last year, Hotaru no Haka has received emotional responses from many viewers globally. Its themes depicting the tragedy of war and the bond of family have resonated across countries and cultures, garnering significant reactions on social media and review sites. With its first streaming on Netflix in Japan, it is likely to attract considerable attention once again domestically.
Hotaru no Haka
(C)Nosaka Akiyuki/Shinchosha, 1988
《Nakase Koutarou》
