Japanese pop diva Matsuda Seiko (45) is to make her first movie appearance in seven years. She will play the role of the mother in an adaptation of Nosaka Akiyuki's famous novel "Hotaru no Haka" (Grave of the Fireflies). Filming started yesterday in Awajishima in Hyogo prefecture, and the movie is scheduled to open next summer.

The project was to be directed by Kuroki Kazuo (1930-2006), but following his death last year it was taken over by his apprentice, Hyuugaji Tarou (41). The novel, a restrained but powerful antiwar story about a young brother and sister struggling for survival in WWII, was previously adapted into a hugely successful anime feature in 1988.

(some may know the story from the studio ghibli film of the same name)

spoilers.. this will be a sad movie... TOO SAD!

OMG that is one of my favorite anime's. I can't wait to see the movie, I know I will cry for sure though