“Grave of the Fireflies” (火垂るの墓), Original Japanese Home Video Promotional Speed Poster 1998, Speed Poster Size (25.7 x 72.8 cm) Q150

This is an original Japanese speed poster printed in 1998 to promote the home video release of Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka), issued as part of the ジブリがいっぱい / Ghibli ga Ippai Collection series.

Unlike the standard theatrical one-sheet formats, this is a Japanese “speed poster” — a tall, narrow promotional format produced for use in video shops, rental stores, and other tight retail display spaces. These vertically elongated posters were designed to fit pillars and narrow wall sections, and they are today especially appealing to collectors for their unusual format and strong display presence.

Film background

Released originally in 1988, Grave of the Fireflies was directed by Isao Takahata and based on the celebrated semi-autobiographical novella by Akiyuki Nosaka. The film features voices by Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, and Akemi Yamaguchi.

Widely regarded as one of the most important and devastating achievements in the history of animation, the film tells the story of Seita and his younger sister Setsuko struggling to survive in Japan during the final months of the Second World War. Although produced by Studio Ghibli, it stands apart even within that extraordinary body of work for its emotional gravity, humanism, and extraordinary restraint.

Today, Grave of the Fireflies is recognised not only as a landmark of Japanese animation, but as one of cinema’s great anti-war works.

Poster design

This poster is a particularly charming and unusual home video campaign design. The composition is dominated by a full-length image of Setsuko, shown standing alone and saluting, wearing oversized boots and a makeshift hat. The imagery is gentle and deceptively innocent, creating a poignant contrast with the tragic subject matter of the film.

At the top appears the ジブリがいっぱい COLLECTION 5 branding, firmly placing the piece within Studio Ghibli’s official home video line. The bold title 火垂るの墓 sits prominently above, with credit lines naming Akiyuki Nosaka as original author and Isao Takahata as writer-director.

Running vertically at right is the poetic line:

「七輪ひとつと、布団、蚊帳。それに妹と、蛍。」
“One charcoal brazier, a futon, a mosquito net. And my little sister, and fireflies.”

At lower left, the poster includes a small image of the VHS cover artwork, while the circular pink release announcement at lower right reads:

「ビデオ 8月7日 新発売」
“Video: New release on August 7”

with the price given as 4,500 yen (before tax).

Collector significance

This is not a standard theatrical poster, but an item of original Japanese Ghibli retail ephemera, issued for the film’s official home video release. Such campaign pieces are often scarcer than regular cinema posters, particularly in unusual formats like this, because they were intended for short-term display and were seldom preserved.

It is also worth emphasising that original pre-digital Ghibli promotional material is increasingly sought after, especially for major titles such as Grave of the Fireflies. The combination here of Studio Ghibli, Takahata, the speed poster format, and the moving image of Setsuko gives this piece strong collector appeal.

Authenticity

This is an original Japanese promotional poster for the official home video release of Grave of the Fireflies. It is not a later reproduction or reprint.

Condition
Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 28 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.