Because it is time to start Studio Ghibli's press conference, my name is the president of Studio Ghibli. I will be serving as the MC of this press conference. We will be inviting Mr. Miyazaki and Mr. Suzuki to come onto the stage, and once they make a brief comment, we will be going on to the Q&A session, and I will be serving as the MC for the Q&A session. Now I would like to invite Mr. Miyazaki and Mr. Suzuki to the stage.
Mr. Miyazaki, could you give us a brief remark?
Well, this is called the official retirement statement. I thought we don't have to say 'official,' but we've already handed you the copy of this official retirement statement. So if you will be able to ask any questions, I am willing to answer any questions. But if I may, I know I've mentioned that I would retire many times in the past, so a lot of you may think 'once again,' but this time I am quite serious. So now on to our producer, Mr. Suzuki.
Hello everyone, thank you very much for joining us. There is a big group today. From my perspective, it does not look foolish to retire when we are not in a downfall, because we have just opened The Wind Rises, and while it is being supported by a lot of people, we've made this decision. So in that sense I believe it was a good timing. Many of you might wonder what will happen to Studio Ghibli in the future. As you know, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya will open on November 23rd, and right now we are going through production and we have been able to see the end. So we would open this film on November 23rd. And although I will not be able to make any official announcement, but towards next summer we are now producing another film. So we have these two films that will be coming up, and that would conclude my message. Thank you very much.
So from here I would like to open the floor to the Q&A. We have a lot of time, so I hope that we will be able to answer as many questions as possible. So please raise your hand, and I would be designating the person who would be asking questions. The lady over there in the back.
My name is from the newspaper. Based on the press, on the retirement of the director, the kids are saying thank you very much and kids are hoping that you would not retire yet. But I would like to receive a message from the director to the children.
Well, I can't say anything that cool. If there's another opportunity, I would hope that they would watch the movies that we produced and might feel something. And I would like to keep my word at that point.
Next question please. Another lady at the back, please.
My name is from the Y newspaper. I've read your official retirement statement. It says that you will not be making any more feature films. Is that correct? And also, if you will be able to elaborate a little bit on what you would like to do in the future.
I thought those words were very well written. It says that I am free, so I have the freedom to not do anything. But as long as I will be able to drive, I am planning on going to the studio every day and whatever I feel like I want to do, or whatever I can do, I would like to do. But it's a time when I still need to rest and take a break, and I believe that I will be able to find something during the break. But if I make any promise, I will be breaking that. So please give us your understanding on that.
Any other question? Person at the back with the glasses.
Internet Media Reporter
6:32 ↗
I'm from internet media. My name is. In 1984, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was opened. Are you planning to produce a sequel to this movie?
Next person. The person that has a piece of paper in your hand.
My name is from KBS from Korea. In Korea there are numerous Miyazaki fans. I'm one of them. So towards the Korean fans, would you be able to give us a message? And also if you will be able to talk a little bit about The Wind Rises, that is a topic that is being talked about in Korea. So if you will be able to give us your comment on that as well, that would be appreciated.
Once you see the film, I think you will be able to understand. So don't be fooled by words. I hope that everyone will be able to go to the theater and enjoy the film. That's my message to the Korean audience. There are numerous viewerships in numerous countries and we appreciate that. At the same time, The Wind Rises—the backdrop of this is in the era when Japan was going into a militaristic era. So even my family and myself and the staff mentioned about that as well, and I've decided to make this film by answering to that. So if you will be able to look at the film, I believe you will be able to understand. Without viewing it once, I don't think that you will be able to have any discussion. So please pay your movie ticket money and I hope that you will be able to go to the theater and enjoy the film.
My name is from the newspaper. Regarding Princess Kaguya, how do you feel about the drawings of the old man? Will you be giving supervision or advising or giving ideas or writing screenplay to Studio Ghibli's future films? Do you have any ideas of being involved in that way?
Next question please. The lady that's wearing white.
My name is Endo from Fuji TV. This is a question for Mr. Miyazaki. You mentioned that you are serious this time, so what's different? What's the biggest difference from this time and also in the past when you mentioned about retiring?
It's mentioned in this official retirement statement. It took five years since Ponyo to make The Wind Rises, and during that time it's not that I continued to work. I was writing the screenplays or sometimes I was drawing the manga as a hobby, or I was going through the short films for the Ghibli Museum. But it took five years. When I think about the next film, it will take more than five years because of my age. As it says here, next time it might take six years or maybe even seven years. And in three months' time I would be 73 years old, and if it takes seven years from that, then I will be turning 80. I met Mr. Takahata, who was an ex-editor and chief, and he was 83 years old but he was very intelligent still. And I wish that I would be like that when I am 83. That's why I said that I would like to be able to work for another ten years. But I don't think I will be able to work in an extension of what I have been able to do in the past. So I feel now that my days of feature films are done. If I say that I want to, it would almost be like an old man saying something foolish.
My name is from Weekly Spa. The retirement—what was the timing of agreeing on the retirement with Mr. Suzuki? And what kind of dialogue did you have with Mr. Suzuki at that time?
I don't really exactly remember. I think I said 'I can't do it anymore' to Mr. Suzuki, and he said 'oh, really.' But I've done that many times actually, so I don't know if Mr. Suzuki trusted me when I said that. When we established Ghibli, it is true that I never had the intention of doing it so long. Many times we've already had discussions about quitting or retiring between the two. This time, the next film may take another seven years, and I think Mr. Suzuki felt that as a reality. So I don't know if that answers your question, but that's how I feel myself.
I don't remember accurately, but there was this initial copy of The Wind Rises on June 19th. I think he talked to me right after that. Mr. Miyazaki, when he brought that theme up—in many films in the past, he always said 'this is going to be my final film.' I don't exactly remember the exact words he used, but I had to feel that he was serious this time. Personally, when you count from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, it's the 30th anniversary since then, and during that course of time there are a lot of things happening when operating Studio Ghibli. We had a lot of discussions saying that we shouldn't be doing anymore or we should be quitting. And this time, for 30 years, I think we always had this tension. This string of tension had moved a little bit when Mr. Miyazaki brought this theme up. I kind of felt relieved in a way. When I was young, I might have convinced him or stopped him. But in my aging truly felt that, thanking him for his hard work. I have to go on and open up the next movie, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, and this string of tension was almost broken, but I need to retie that and go back to work. Before we announced this to you, we had a discussion of when and how we should be presenting this news to you. Before we made this announcement to you, what we had to say was that we need to open this news to the staff, to the people who are working at the studio. And once we do that, we had to decide we need to disclose this to the press. And there was the opening of The Wind Rises. If we announce the fact that he was retiring right after the opening of the movie, then that would make things complicated. So we decided that we should release the new movie The Wind Rises, and once it settled down, on August 5th we made the announcement to the employees of the studio. Once the movie opening had settled, we thought we can announce this to the press. We thought about it thoroughly, and we came to the decision that we should open this news to the public in early September.
My name is from a newspaper in Taiwan. A lot of the Taiwanese tourists when they come to Japan would always be visiting the museum. They say that it is a must destination as a tourist spot. They are sad that you would be retiring. So after retirement you would have a lot of time. Are you thinking of going abroad so that you will be able to communicate with the fans overseas? Do you have any plan for that?
The Ghibli Museum exhibitions, etc.—I would like to be involved in that from now on as well. It might be on a volunteer basis, but I would like to participate in that. Maybe I myself will be exhibited at the museum. So I think it would be best if you would be able to come visit the museum. We would appreciate that.
My name is Sakaguchi from magazine AA. I have a question to Mr. Suzuki. When you were making The Wind Rises, is there any case where you expected that this was going to be the final film? I mean, did you have this intention that you didn't want to make Ponyo the last movie? And for Mr. Miyazaki, making this your last film—if there's any sense that you were particular about making this last film?
This film, The Wind Rises—you asked the question whether I expected this to be the last film. Well, I have been interacting with Mr. Miyazaki, and based on his personality, what I always thought was that he would continue making films. Even until right before he passes away, I always thought that he would continue making films. Of course, you can't do everything perfectly, but I thought he would always be involved in making films. On the other hand, Mr. Miyazaki—I've known him for 35 years and always felt this way—but when he wants to do something else, he makes a decision and he makes a declaration to everyone else. So maybe by making this his last film, he declares that this is a last film and starts doing something else. So I thought these two were the two directions that he may be taking. We made this film The Wind Rises, and it was completed, and it was released. And right after that he brought this news up. So that was within my expectation, and that's why I was able to accept that naturally.
Well, I was really determined about making the film. I was not thinking about what I would do after that. I was always wondering whether this was worth making—this film. That was more of a pressure to me. That was a bigger issue to me.
I believe there's someone standing towards the back of the room.
My name is from Russia's public TV. This is a question for Mr. Miyazaki. In the previous interview, you mentioned about receiving a lot of influence from numerous overseas animators. Yuri Norstein from Russia, I believe, that's one of them. If you will be able to talk a little bit more about what kind of influence you received from this Russian animator, that would be appreciated.
Director Norstein—what kind of influence I got from him. Norstein is my friend and it's someone that I would not like to lose again. Well, not quite that, but anyhow he has continued to make works, and I believe that's one way to work. I invited Isao Takahata to join us, and he said 'there's no way,' so he declined. And I feel like Mr. Takahata would be the one that would continue to make works.
My name is from Yi newspaper. I have a question to Mr. Miyazaki. Up to this point you've created many, many films, but if you were to pick one, which film is your most favorite film? And throughout all your films, if there's any particular message that you wanted to convey through those films. So if there's any consistent message, please share that with us.
Howl's Moving Castle is the one that gives me the strongest image. It's the world of the game, but I tried to make it into a drama. I tried to convert the world of the game into the drama, and I had to struggle a lot. Maybe the starting point was wrong, because I made this plan, so I had to work through it. A lot of the children's literature influenced me in bringing me into this world. There are different types of children's literature, but basically I wanted to convey the message to the children that this life is worth living. And I think that is the basis of doing this work, and that has not changed.
Going on to the next question.
My name is from Italy. Mr. Miyazaki, you created a lot of films based in Italy. Is it because you like Italy? That's my first question. And this is just my comment—that maybe it would be good if you will be able to take it easy, then with that you will be able to live another twenty, thirty years. So I think it would be better that way. Also, the Ghibli Museum—you're working as an executive director? I think the visitors would be happy if you will be able to work as an executive director leading the Ghibli Museum.
I like Italy. First of all, it's great that there are some chaotic areas included into that as well. And also I have friends there, the food is great, and the women are gorgeous. They might be a bit scary, but still I like Italy. What was the second part of the question? You mentioned about Mr. Takahata and if I would be able to reach him in a ten years' time. I just wish that I would be able to continue to work for another ten years. But if I want to ask for more, I don't know how long Takahata will be around. But Takahata is anyhow ten years ahead of us, and I hope that Takahata will continue to walk in front of me. If I become the director of the Ghibli Museum, rather than welcoming everyone that way, there are many items that are exhibited that are outdated—that need to be reworked. For example, it's fading. I hope that I will be able to work on that, and that's something that I need to work on with my own hands. That's something that I would like to work on if there's time, and that's something that I have always wanted—I felt that I must do, and I would like to be able to do that. The exhibits in the museum are cleaned every day, but it fades as time goes by. It looks like the colors are fading, and if there's something that is glimmering in that faded area, then all of a sudden that portion is going to be revived, and children would be attracted to that area. In order to invigorate the museum, everyone needs to continue to work on bits and pieces of that museum. So that is something that I feel I must do.
My name is, I am a movie writer. I have a question to Mr. Miyazaki. The future animation direction will be finished, but in the case of Mr. Miyazaki, I think you do short films as well. So I would like to understand whether you would be involved in making short animations. And I have a question to Mr. Suzuki—I think Studio Ghibli was established to create films by Mr. Takahata and Mr. Miyazaki, and you have a new film being released next year, but Mr. Miyazaki is saying that this might be the last. If you consider that Mr. Miyazaki is retiring now, I would like to understand your future vision of Studio Ghibli from Mr. Suzuki.
As it is written in my official retirement statement, I am free. Whether I do it or not, I am free. I will not spend my brain on that. I've always wanted to do something else. I would like to start doing something else, and that is not animation.
Well, with regards to the second question, I think you wanted to ask what we're going to do as Studio Ghibli in the future. And once again, as I mentioned before, after The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, I am involved in the next plan. I am a little bit younger than Mr. Miyazaki, but I am 65 years old right now. And this old man—how long will he be involved—is a question you might have. But the issue of Ghibli in the future is an issue of the people who work for Ghibli right now, and how they look at the future will determine what we'll do in the future. For the future of Studio Ghibli, because there's no pressure from the top, I am expecting that the young people will deliver a lot of images—from the young staff wanting to do something. Without that, it's meaningless. If Isao Takahata did something when I was 30 or 40 years old, I had a lot of plans, a very strong determination of wanting to do something. And it really depends on whether the younger staff have that kind of determination. We will not reject that right away. So it really depends on the aspiration or the determination, the capabilities and competency of the staff.
Next. The person that's wearing the glasses towards the back.
From Sun. The Wind Rises—you mentioned this will be the last feature. Mr. Miyazaki, are there any other feature films that you would have wanted to do but you were not able to do? Were there any plans like that?
There are tons of things that I was not able to do, but there were reasons why we did not work on those. So there's no way that I would be able to answer that. And what kind of items were there? Because there were reasons why we did not do them. There are so many ideas that pop into my mind as to what would have happened, but that's not something that I should mention publicly.
My name is. In the earlier question the director said 'I am free' and you said you have something to do, but specifically what exactly would you like to do? Can you share with us a little bit more in detail? And one more question—from Japan, the director has communicated and sent out a lot of messages from Japan to the overseas. I think you're very valuable. Do you have plans in the future of sending out any further messages in a different way to the world?
I have things to do, but if I weren't able to accomplish it, it would be embarrassing. So I will not mention what exactly this is. I don't want to be a cultural person. I just want to be a worker on the factory floor, and I want to continue doing that. I have no intention of wanting to send out any messages. I am not a cultural person.
The next person, the lady there.
My name is from TBS. This is a question for Mr. Miyazaki. So for the time being, that you would be taking a break or you would be resting—so that would be prioritized, is that correct? That's the one question I felt after reading the official retirement statement. And the second—this is a question with regards to The Wind Rises. I saw it in the movie theater. Whether it be the nuclear accident or the Great East Japan earthquake, you made comments about those. So what you felt through the earthquake and the nuclear accident—did that have any impact to making your latest film The Wind Rises?
The idea for The Wind Rises was not influenced by the earthquake nor the nuclear accident. The idea existed there before those incidents. I believe I mentioned it somewhere, but I believe the era caught up and it sped past us while we were making this film. And also when I mentioned about the break or the rest—my rest may not look like a rest or a break from others. When I am not working on something that I like, the work tends to become the rest or a break. If I'm just lying around taking a nap, that's tiring at times. It's a dream—I hope that I will be able to walk on my foot all the way down to Kyoto. But I might not be able to make it. Sometimes I dream of that, and I feel that it cannot be realized.
The gentleman at the front.
