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Ghibli Producer Suzuki Discusses 'Western Influence,' War Loss

Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki offered comments last month on the subject of "Western influence" as a part of the release campaign for the upcoming Blu-ray Disc editions of My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies. He also made comments about Japan's loss in World War II.

Suzuki began his comments by talking about how the meaning of "Seiyō-kabure," a derisive Japanese term for "Western influence," saying that after the end of World War II, the center of that influence shifted from the United States to Europe, with its deep history and culture. He then said that Ghibli directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata were no exception to this, which is why they created titles in European settings such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother.

However, Suzuki went on to state, both men later started to want to create titles with Japanese protagonists in Japanese settings, quoting Miyazaki as saying that he had a "debt to Japan" that he "wanted to repay," creating the impetus for both My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies.

Finally, Suzuki related a quote said to him by an unidentified person that stayed in his mind: "It was a good thing that Japan lost the war. If it had won, I feel like it truly would have become an awful country."

Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies films will ship on individual Blu-ray Discs and in a special combination set of both in Japan on July 18.

Source: AV Watch via My Game News Flash