I wonder if Charles Burress and Japan Times readers are familiar with the Japanese film "Grave of the Fireflies." I use this film in history instruction as a counterpoint to "Saving Private Ryan." I've seen the film described with the phrase "Be prepared to have your life changed."

I know it changed my view of the bombing of Japan, which I had studied extensively as a technical project, in the antiseptic world of war history. I regard it not as the best animated film ever made, or even as the best war film ever made — I think it might be the best film ever made. If Americans could see this film, it would change their view of the world.