Study Abroad Blog

Text by Max Ladenson

During the trip to Nikko, the sprawling beauty of the Japanese countryside reminded me of the animation of Hayao Miyazaki. Miyazaki is the founder of Studio Ghibli, one of the most famous animation studios in the world, and certainly the most well-known Japanese animation to American audiences. I watched many dubbed versions of his films as a child, and in Nikko I thought of My Neighbor Totoro the most. This 1988 movie follows a small family as they move
to the Japanese countryside. Through the process, the father teaches his daughters many key Shinto values, such as a respect for nature and its kami. This appreciation in nature is evident in Miyasaki’s beautiful animation, most notably to me the shots we see of rural Japan. I couldn’t help comparing the sights of Nikko to Miyazaki’s films, forming a deeper appreciation for both.

Image from My Neighbor Totoro, Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli,1988

Max’s photo of the countryside in Nikko