Akiyuki Nosaka (Author) Akiyuki Nosaka (1930-2015) was a novelist, singer, lyricist and former member of the House of Councillors in Japan. Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa, his memories of living through the Second World War – including the loss of his adoptive father in the 1945 Kobe bombings – served as the inspiration for his most famous short stories. In 1967, he won the Naoki Prize for Grave of the Fireflies and American Hijiki, both based on the Japanese experience of the War. Nosaka also wrote erotic fiction, including The Pornographers (1963), and in later life he continued his career as a newspaper and TV journalist, as well as a politician and chanson singer.Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator) Ginny Tapley Takemori is an award-winning translator based in rural Japan. She has translated works by writers including SayakaMurata, Kyoko Nakajima, and Mayumi Inaba.

Nosaka reminds us of the small lives that are lost in the churn of war and who are left without even a memorial. I wish such reminders did not continue to be necessary but sadly this story is still extremely relevant

Akiyuki Nosaka (Author) Akiyuki Nosaka (1930-2015) was a novelist, singer, lyricist and former member of the House of Councillors in Japan. Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa, his memories of living through the Second World War – including the loss of his adoptive father in the 1945 Kobe bombings – served as the inspiration for his most famous short stories. In 1967, he won the Naoki Prize for Grave of the Fireflies and American Hijiki, both based on the Japanese experience of the War. Nosaka also wrote erotic fiction, including The Pornographers (1963), and in later life he continued his career as a newspaper and TV journalist, as well as a politician and chanson singer.Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator) Ginny Tapley Takemori is an award-winning translator based in rural Japan. She has translated works by writers including SayakaMurata, Kyoko Nakajima, and Mayumi Inaba.

Nosaka reminds us of the small lives that are lost in the churn of war and who are left without even a memorial. I wish such reminders did not continue to be necessary but sadly this story is still extremely relevant

Akiyuki Nosaka (Author) Akiyuki Nosaka (1930-2015) was a novelist, singer, lyricist and former member of the House of Councillors in Japan. Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa, his memories of living through the Second World War – including the loss of his adoptive father in the 1945 Kobe bombings – served as the inspiration for his most famous short stories. In 1967, he won the Naoki Prize for Grave of the Fireflies and American Hijiki, both based on the Japanese experience of the War. Nosaka also wrote erotic fiction, including The Pornographers (1963), and in later life he continued his career as a newspaper and TV journalist, as well as a politician and chanson singer.Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator) Ginny Tapley Takemori is an award-winning translator based in rural Japan. She has translated works by writers including SayakaMurata, Kyoko Nakajima, and Mayumi Inaba.

Nosaka reminds us of the small lives that are lost in the churn of war and who are left without even a memorial. I wish such reminders did not continue to be necessary but sadly this story is still extremely relevant