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Two books to read before The Boy and the Heron

Source: medium.com

TL;DR

Article recommends two books that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron.
Books are How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino (Japan, 1937) and The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (England, 2006).[[1]](https://medium.com/new-east/two-books-to-read-before-watching-studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-f9a8146533fe)
Reading them deepens appreciation of the film's themes without spoilers.

The story at a glance

Yuri Minamide's article in New East on Medium introduces two books that greatly influenced Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron, blending his wartime childhood memories with stories from Japan and England. The books are Genzaburo Yoshino's How Do You Live? and John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things. It's reported now amid the film's UK release buzz after its 2023 premiere.[[1]](https://medium.com/new-east/two-books-to-read-before-watching-studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-f9a8146533fe)[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_and_the_Heron)

Key points

Miyazaki fused his own childhood during World War II with elements from the two books, one Japanese and one English.[[1]](https://medium.com/new-east/two-books-to-read-before-watching-studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-f9a8146533fe)
First book: How Do You Live? (Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka) by Genzaburo Yoshino (1899–1981), a 1937 uplifting classic about personal growth that has enchanted millions; the film's Japanese title references it, though not a direct adaptation.[[1]](https://medium.com/new-east/two-books-to-read-before-watching-studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-f9a8146533fe)
Second book: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (born 1968), a 2006 children's fantasy set in WWII England; provided a loose framework for the film, with Miyazaki praising its Japanese translation.[[1]](https://medium.com/new-east/two-books-to-read-before-watching-studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-f9a8146533fe)[[3]](https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c030224)
Article shares spoiler-free highlights from both books to enhance viewing.
Both are confirmed favorites of Miyazaki, tying into the film's themes of loss, fantasy worlds, and self-discovery.[[1]](https://medium.com/new-east/two-books-to-read-before-watching-studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-f9a8146533fe)

Details and context

The article notes the UK premiere at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival on October 8, with wider release on December 26, 2023, positioning it as a timely recommendation for Studio Ghibli fans.[[1]](https://medium.com/new-east/two-books-to-read-before-watching-studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-f9a8146533fe)

How Do You Live? follows a boy's philosophical journey amid societal challenges, reflecting 1930s Japan; it appears in the film as a key prop from the protagonist's mother, emphasizing ethical growth over plot adaptation.[[4]](https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20231208-the-boy-and-the-heron-inside-the-dark-heart-of-studio-ghibils-latest-animated-masterpiece)

The Book of Lost Things features a boy entering a dark fairy-tale realm after his mother's death during the Blitz, mirroring the film's entry to a fantastical world via a tower; producer Toshio Suzuki proposed it as the project's basis.[[3]](https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c030224)[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_and_the_Heron)

These influences create a semi-autobiographical tale of grief and maturity, distinct from direct adaptations like other Ghibli works.

If the article is paywalled or incomplete

The article was partially inaccessible due to Medium's paywall. This summary draws from visible excerpts and matching details in reliable sources like Wikipedia, Nippon.com, and Anime Herald.[[1]](https://medium.com/new-east/two-books-to-read-before-watching-studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-f9a8146533fe)[[3]](https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c030224)

Why it matters

These books reveal how Miyazaki weaves global literature with personal history into universal stories of loss and growth. Readers gain layered insights into the film's metaphors, enriching rewatches for Ghibli enthusiasts. Watch for reader discussions or Ghibli art books expanding on these inspirations.

Two books to read before *The Boy and the Heron*