 Miyazaki's film was financed by executive producer Yasuyoshi Tokuma, and both "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Grave of the Fireflies" were released on the same bill in 1988.The dual billing was considered "one of the most moving and remarkable double bills ever offered to a cinema audience".In Japan, "My Neighbor Totoro" initially sold 801,680 tickets and earned a distribution rental income of in 1988. , the film's total box office gross receipts in Japan amounted to  ().