Mizuhiki – Adorning Life
Mizuhiki is an ancient Japanese art of knot-tying. This intricate craft has evolved over the centuries and is now cherished in modern Japan as both a holiday gift and a decorative element.
Ghibli, I dreamt a dream
Is Studio Ghibli a Japanese version of Walt Disney? Yes and No. As a writer, I know, one of the easiest way to introduce a new concept to the readers is by means of comparing/analogising it with a well known, older one. But this technique should be applied carefully. In some cases, it can cause more confusion than actually help. BTW, the name “Ghibli” is from Italian origin, meaning “blow a new wind through the anime industry” and is pronounced dʒɪblɪ (like jeebli), with a soft “g”.
Hayao Miyazaki
Founded in 1985 by then, manga writer and illustrator, Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli shows characteristics of a child who witnessed and suffered the horrors of war. Miyazaki's family had to be evacuated three times during the bombing of Tokyo. A large part of his work is centered in the difficulties of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world. There is also the recurrence of themes surrounding humankind relationship with nature and technology and the morality of natural and traditional patterns of living. As an artist himself, Miyazaki also places a heavy weight on the importance of art and craftsmanship.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
The breakthrough for Miyazaki came with the film "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" in 1984. Both a pacifist and a skilled warrior, Nausicaä, a roaming wanderer as well as a princess, is a fascinating mishmash of traditional heroic tropes who serves as the ultimate force for good. As in Nausicaä, the main characters of Miyazaki's stories/films are often strong girls or young women. Yet lots of sympathy is also given to morally dubious characters, who possess redeemable qualities.
However, the mascot of Studio Ghibli is definitely “Totoro“. With a larger than life personality and a well-fed physique, Totoro, is an adorable chinchilla in Miyazaki’s animated movie, “My Neighbor Totoro”. This gentle, gray and giant rat, together with the film has become a cultural icon. The film won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize, the Mainichi Film Award, the Kinema Junpo Award, and the Special Award at the Blue Ribbon Awards in 1988.
My Neighbor Totoro grossed over $41 million at the worldwide box office, in addition to generating approximately $277 million from home video sales and $1.142 billion from licensed merchandise sales, adding up to approximately $1.46 billion in total lifetime revenue.
Studio Ghibli: The 10 Best Movies (According To IMDb)
10 - Porco Rosso (1992)
A comedy-adventure about a former World War I pilot who now spends his time chasing after air pirates. He must also deal with the mysterious curse that has transformed him into a pig.
9 - Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
This movie is about Kiki, a 13-yo witch who travels to the seaside to learn magic. After figuring out how to fly on a broomstick, she starts offering a delivery service to the dwellers of the seaside town.
8 - Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Adapted from the 1989 manga of the same title by Aoi Hiiragi, Whisper of the Heart tells the story of a 14-year-old student named Shizuku who hopes to grow up to become a writer.
7 - The Tales of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
Adapted from the Japanese folktale, the Tales of the Bamboo Cutter, this drama was praised for being a strong message with swoon-worthy art which has cemented it as a classic.
6 - Castle in the Sky (1986)
An orphan girl named Sheeta, uses her magic crystal to escape a crash while being transported on a plane with her kidnapper. She befriends another orphan, Pazu, and discovers the floating city of Laputa with him.
5 - Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
This fantasy follows a girl named Sophie, who is living in a magical, technologically advanced kingdom. But she has been transformed into an old woman by the jealous Witch of Waste, the wizard Howl must figure out how to make Sophie young again.
4 - My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Sisters Satsuki and Mei find themselves traveling to a country house with their father, where they communicate with a group of Japanese wood spirits, including the giant Totoro.
3 - Princess Mononoke (1997)
Mononoke follows an Emishi prince named Ashitaka who must locate the deer god. During their journeys, they uncover the struggle between the forest gods and the humans who use the land.
2 - Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)
This animated war film, based on the semi-autobiographical story by Akiyuki Nosaka, tells of a brother and sister who have been pulled apart from their parents during World War II and struggle to survive.
1 - Spirited Away (2001)
Winner of the Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature in 2002, Spirited Away is the story of 10-year-old Chihiro, who stumbles into an empty amusement park where her parents are transformed into pigs. The park is a resting place for supernatural beings. Chihiro must find a way to save her family and herself.
An emotional rendition by Nataliya Gudziy of "Itsudemo, nando demo", the theme song of "Spirited Away", recognised as Gold at the 43rd Japan Record Awards.
You might also enjoy
Gardens of Eden, almost
Gardens in Japan are more than just beautiful green spaces; they’re an art form that reflects the country’s history, culture, and philosophical ideas.
Sumi-e, Less is More
We hear often that “Less is more”. Hmmm, what exactly does it mean?! Perhaps the artwork “Sumi-e” can visually explain it.
Halloween with a Japanese twist
Halloween, a festival that originated in the Western world, has gradually found its way into the heart of Japan.
Karate – fighting with empty hands
No guns, no weapons, Karate is a self-defense technique to fight with bare hands