We have partnered with the Barbican to celebrate the new publication of Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka. One lucky winner will be able to win a pair of tickets to the Barbican Outdoor Cinema screening of Grave of the Fireflies, the 1988 Studio Ghibli movie of the same name, on 27th August 2025 at 8:30PM. The winner will also receive two copies of the book.
Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka:
In the dying days of the War, Seita and Setsuko must fend for themselves. Firebombs have obliterated their home in Kobe, leaving them searching for shelter and scrambling to survive in the depths of the countryside. But, as their suffering becomes a constant companion, so do the lights of the fireflies – shining from the bomber planes, and the insects glowing by the lake at night.
Publishing on the week of the 80th anniversary of the formal ending of World War II in Japan, Grave of the Fireflies is an unforgettable semi-autobiographical tale of the untold sorrows of normal people living in the shadow of war.
Grave of the Fireflies, dir. Isao Takahata:
One of Studio Ghibli’s earliest works, the themes of Grave of the Fireflies are timeless and prescient, asking us not to look away when presented with the stark reality faced by Japanese civilians in WWII.
Michio Mamiya’s heartbreaking score washes over this exquisite animation, bringing a rich depth of emotion to the story of Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi) and Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), a boy and his younger sister who are left homeless during bombing raids, forced to find ways to survive amidst the devastation.
The innocence of the pair means the drama hits hard, and Takahata pulls no punches when sharply examining the brutal inequalities of the time. The realism of the film is punctuated with stunning, unforgettable moments of beauty, delivering a cinematic spectacle perfect for the setting of Barbican Outdoor Cinema.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply enter the form below by Wednesday, 20th August, 23:59 BST. The full terms and conditions for this competition are outlined below.
Please note that this competition is now closed.
Prize Draw Terms and Conditions:
- Please ensure all entry fields are completed to enable you to be contacted if you are successfully chosen at random during the prize draw.
- This prize draw is open to UK residents aged 18 years or over, with the exception of employees of the Promoter, their families, agents and anyone else connected with this promotion.
- Entries must be received by 20th August 2025, 23:59 GMT. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted or fail to reach the Promoter by the relevant closing date for any reason. Proof of posting or sending is not proof of receipt. Automatically generated entries and entries via agents or third parties are invalid and will not be counted. Entries become the property of the Promoter and are not returned.
- Only one entry per person. No entrant may win more than one prize.
- To enter fill in your details on the online form.
- All correctly completed entries will be entered into a prize draw which will take place on 21st August 2025.
- The prize for the winner is 2 x tickets to the outdoor screening of Grave of the Fireflies at the Sculpture Court at the Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS, happening on 27th August 2025, Wednesday at 8:30PM, and two copies of Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka.
- Other than those specified above, the promoter shall not be liable for any costs or expenses arising out of or in any way connected with this prize and does not accept any responsibility for any damage, loss or disappointment suffered by the winner as result of accepting this prize.
- Prizes are subject to availability. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the Promoter reserves the right (a) to substitute alternative prizes of equivalent or greater value and (b) in exceptional circumstances to amend or foreclose the promotion without notice. No correspondence will be entered into.
- The winner will be notified via email by 5PM on 21st August 2025. The winner must confirm their attendance within 5 working days of the Promoter sending notification. If the prize is unclaimed after this time, it will lapse and the Promoter reserves the right to offer the unclaimed prize to a substitute winner selected in accordance with these rules.
- The prize will be collected at the Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS.
- By entering this competition, all entrants agree to the use of their personal data by the Promoter for the purposes of running the competition as detailed in these terms and conditions. Details on how we process the personal data of entrants can be found in our Privacy Policy ((http:// https://www.penguin.co.uk/company/about-us/notices/privacy-policy)
- We will make the winner’s name and county available on request to the following email address: vzhang1@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk (please state the name of the competition in the subject heading 10 weeks after the closing date). If you do not want your name and county to be made available in the event that you win, please let us know by emailing vzhang1@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Please note we are required to make the winner’s details available to the ASA if requested.
- Promoter may disqualify any entrant whose entry does not comply with these terms and conditions (in Promoter’s sole opinion) or who, in Promoter’s sole determination, has acted in a manner that is fraudulent, dishonest or unjust to other entrants including, without limitation, tampering with the operation of the prize draw, manipulating or rigging votes, hacking, deceiving, cheating or by harassing or threatening other entrants or a representative of Promoter.
- By entering the competition each entrant agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.
- The Promoter is The Promoter is Penguin Books Limited, One, Embassy Gardens, 8 Viaduct Gdns, Nine Elms, London SW11 7BW
- These terms and conditions are governed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.