I guess I can't really edit it now, but I think my editorialization of this title may actually be a bit misleading.
While avoiding the Oscars at the time was a silent moment of internal protest from Miyazaki, no one at the time really knew about it because he was pressured to remain silent by Toshio Suzuki, as mentioned in the linked essay.
>‘The reason I wasn’t here for the Academy Award was because I didn’t want to visit a country that was bombing Iraq,’ he said. ‘At the time, my producer shut me up and did not allow me to say that, but I don’t see him around today. By the way, my producer also shared in that feeling.’
Many people may argue that it was only later on when he directed Howl's Moving Castle and made more public comments on the invasion of Iraq that he was truly engaging in an act of active protest against the United States.
________________
I hope you all decide to read the actual linked essay and its citations. They share some interesting political comments by Miyazaki, including his feelings towards the Gulf War and how the events in Yugoslavia around the time influenced 'Porco Rosso'.
shadowds2026-01-04 15:10
[deleted]
mayonnaiser_132026-01-04 15:18
Calling it a stupid fuck up is removing the malicious intent.
Mii0092026-01-04 22:29
How so? Honestly asking.
chicken_burger2026-01-04 22:34
Not the guy you were responding to, but season 1 of the podcast Blowback does a deep dive into the war. And has H. Jon Benjamin making cameos as the voice of Saddam Hussein
Mii0092026-01-04 22:45
I see, I am aware of various atrocious, especially with people sent to Guantanamo Bay and the CIA black sites, I was just curious how the user before the one I replied to who called the war a "stupid fuck up" was removing the malicious intent. I assume the malicious intent being the war itself or the justifications of the war? Or am I completely missing the point?
Few-Insurance-64702026-01-05 04:33
A "fuck up" means a mistake and usually implies no malicious intent. Just an honest mistake. They mean to say that war was not just an honest mistake in any way.
WiqidBritt2026-01-04 23:39
I guess because it makes it sound like an 'oopsie' rather than a massive international crime
Mii0092026-01-04 23:45
I understand now, thanks!
Kadmos12026-01-04 15:49
A lot of people don't realize how popular IP can have political metaphors and similar.
No_Walk_Town2026-01-11 12:26
>I didn’t want to visit a country that was bombing Iraq,
Japan supported the invasion, so I guess Miyazaki stated out of Japan, too?
What? No? All his "anti-war" movies are just about how big a victim Imperial Japan was? He's actually totally cool with war as long as he personally doesn't suffer?
Huh.
Fuck Miyazaki's ethnonationalist hypocrisy.
Backoftheac2026-01-11 14:37
If you get a chance, I highly recommend [reading this 2013 Essay by Miyazaki](https://apjjf.org/2014/12/36/miyazaki-hayao/4176/article). It's a critique of certain proposals to amend the Japanese Constitution around that time. Miyazaki does touch briefly upon the role of the JSDF in foreign nations in this essay, including Iraq, but it also largely focuses on his anti-imperial sentiments. Whether Miyazaki is white-washing the extent of JSDF involvement in Iraq in this article or not, his sentiments towards Japan's involvement in war is clear.
Later, in 2015, Miyazaki would criticize Shinzo Abe for trying to push a controversial 'security bill' that would allow the JSDF to continue operating overseas:
>The controversial bill would allow Japanese Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to play a greater military role overseas – something it has eschewed since the end of World War II.
>“I presume that PM Abe wants to leave his name in history as a great man who changed the interpretation the constitution. But I think it’s despicable,” animator and director Hayao Miyazaki told a press conference held at his studio in western Tokyo Monday.
>Miyazaki referred to Japan’s actions in China as a “war of aggression” and said that Abe’s government should unequivocally acknowledge that Japan “inflicted enormous damage on China and express deep remorse over it.”
>The legendary animator, who officially retired last year, is currently working with an activist group, the Henoko Fund, which seeks to block the construction of a new U.S. military base in Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture. He says the demilitarization of Okinawa is crucial to a peaceful East Asia in the future.
_______
Regarding his feelings towards Imperial Japan, I'll just copy-and-paste this comment I made earlier:
In 2024, in response to receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Miyazaki issued a statement that:
>“Being honored with this award made me think of the Philippines once again,” the message said.
> “The Japanese did a lot of terrible things back then. They killed many civilians. The Japanese people must not forget this. It will always remain. With such history, I solemnly accept the Ramon Magsaysay Award from the Philippines.”
In a 1995 interview he stated:
>[C]omparing the issue of some being burnt by the air raid and some not and the issue of, for example, Japan as a nation doing many horrible things such as massacres in China, the Philippines, or other countries in South East Asia, I have to conclude that Japanese as a whole were perpetrators, so the problem isn't that simple.
DietrichDoesDamage2026-01-04 15:33
Based
RPO7772026-01-05 06:46
For a bit of context, Miyazaki was the first Japanese director ever to win an Oscar (excluding honorary awards).
It was only the 6th Oscar won by a Japanese person ever, with Miyoshi Umeki (1957 - Best Supporting Actress) being the only other to have won in any film/direction/acting category. The other 4 wins were Costume Design (x3) and Best Original Score (1987).
So the Oscar was a really f'ing big deal in Japan (and remains a considered a very big deal). Boycotting your Oscar win is a big deal for anybody, but it was especially quite a statement for Miyazaki to choose to boycott his moment of national pride and glory.
The_Parsee_Man2026-01-05 18:47
I'm sure it was a big deal to some people. I'm not sure it was a big deal to Miyazaki. He didn't show up to accept one for The Boy and the Heron either.
3lirex2026-01-05 21:40
He's just built different
MiddleOccasion13942026-01-06 01:43
To make it clear, a lot of the anime movie dubs at that time were commissioned to Miramax, run by Harvey Weinstein. Miyazaki was well aware of that when Disney approached him to dub Ghibli movies.
ZaphodBeebblebrox2026-01-04 16:01
[removed]
Backoftheac2026-01-04 16:10
While the title doesn't explicitly highlight it, much of the article focuses on Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, as well as political elements of 'Porco Rosso'.
Are these kinds of analytical/reflective essays outside the scope of the requirement that the post focus on 'anime'?
ZaphodBeebblebrox2026-01-04 17:32
Sorry about all this. I've now reapproved your post.
The issue was largely the first half of the linked article being more tangentially related to anime combined with the second half of it having absolutely nothing to do with anime. If it was just the first half, I think it would've been a lot more clear.
Again, I'm sorry about this.
Backoftheac2026-01-04 17:37
No problem. Thank you!
dungfeeder2026-01-04 18:09
W mod, not rage banning people who he doesnt like.
noahquesada2026-01-04 16:08
That’s why Miyazaki has always been my favorite
Wonderful-Quit-92142026-01-04 19:32
Thank you for making Elden Ring 🙏
Light_Error2026-01-04 22:14
I’m sure you’re making a joke, but for others who don’t know, the director/president of Fromsoftware is Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Wonderful-Quit-92142026-01-05 06:25
why'd you get downvoted?
Light_Error2026-01-05 07:42
Who knows? I made it clear that I knew the person was likely joking. But lots of people don’t hear the name Miyazaki a lot, so. I figured I’d clarify.
Light_Error2026-01-04 22:14
I’m sure you’re making a joke, but for others who don’t know, the director/president of Fromsoftware is Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Raddish30302026-01-04 18:22
Miyazaki is a radical pacifist. Makes sense.
AprilDruid2026-01-04 18:55
A lot of his generation are. They grew up seeing what war gets you
Raddish30302026-01-04 19:06
Yup. Now you see the cultural effects play out in new anime. Where pacifism translates into radical control to prevent larger war and conflict from happening. Like say Chainsaw man. Or Psycho pass.
All those shows where "control" and "safety" to reduce war end up becoming an odd reflection of "war" itself.
polacy_do_pracy2026-01-05 02:27
huh makes you think
[deleted]2026-01-05 16:06
[deleted]
polacy_do_pracy2026-01-05 16:58
I kinda understand it because that comment doesn't contribute to the discussion in any way.
SteeveJoobs2026-01-05 02:39
Lycorico. Well really, theyre all taking a page from Minority Report and kind of missing the point.
Herson1002026-01-05 02:47
The themes Psycho-Pass has relating to control are fairly nuanced, with it being made clear that the Sibyl system actually *does* improve the quality of life for the average person. While the viewer is invited to question whether or not the tradeoff that the populace makes in giving up their freedom is worth it, the show still makes it clear that the Sibyl system is quite pleasant to live under for most people.
It's really important when analyzing Psycho-Pass to acknowledge that the Sibyl system mostly delivers on everything it promises. The world is very peaceful, crime rates are low, and the citizens are generally pretty happy. The society they live in is in no way "an odd reflection of 'war' itself" as you imply.
Desperate_Method40202026-01-05 09:41
Yeah, that's one of the reasons Akane still follows the system, she know it isn't perfect, but it's the best they have
Tora-shinai2026-01-05 09:56
Why Akane is the sanest in the series. The Kogami circlejerkers missed the point. Can't blame them tho lol he's hot and the anime is selling that.
genshiryoku2026-01-05 09:42
Yeah it's a good-faith attempt at making the world a better place. It's mostly a commentary on taking utilitarianism to its extreme. Especially in community driven societies like Japan or China.
Not a lot of westerners realize this but individualism is seen as immoral by most people here in Japan (and China) every single action should contribute towards the greater good at the expense of yourself and you *will* be shamed if you do something that is perceived as for your own personal gain.
There's a reason why communism was always so enticing for asian societies and Japan was almost communist so many times. The entire Yakuza CIA ties and how they influenced rigged elections in Japan to favor the LDP in an effort to prevent communism in Japan is something westerners, especially Americans, should really read.
A lot of westerners don't realize the only reason we're not a communist nation right now and work 12-16 hours a day is because of American influence. Not because Japanese people genuinely wanted this capitalist system. I can say the same for South Korea, wouldn't be capitalist without US interference historically.
Romapolitan2026-01-08 10:56
Reminds me of how Gouda comments on Japan actually being ideal for socialist ideas in Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex season 2
Raddish30302026-01-05 16:04
Lol.
Tell me how control is achieved. It's not through words. It's through violence. Premeditated and practiced violence with strategic and tactical goals/objectives over society within and without.
That's war.
Lol the gun wielded by the public safety is literally called the DOMINATOR.
KnoFear2026-01-05 17:00
This papers over aspects of the show. Because of the way the Sibyl System actually works once it's revealed, as the audience we're invited to question if everything is actually "working" the way it should. Just because there isn't mass violence and death in the streets, doesn't mean people aren't suffering and dying in ways they shouldn't be.
anshul282026-01-06 10:46
My interpretation was actually the exact opposite. I mean these wars that western countries fight in foreign lands are at least outwardly(really just outwardly) for the peace and safety of the people living in those regions so I always thought of the sibyle system as a representation of those governments
Raddish30302026-01-06 15:31
The system has already been purged of everyone the system ASSUMES is a danger. Sibyl in it's current iteration is "bug" and "hot fix" control.
Many_Dragonfly41542026-01-04 20:24
There is a difference between "war is bad" and "we took on more than we could handle".
AprilDruid2026-01-04 20:37
Okay, but a lot of the directors who grew up in post-war Japan are anti-war.
Impossible_Front44622026-01-04 23:28
Similar to the American invasion of Iraq not being supported by every single citizen of the USA, it’s not insane to believe a known pacifist like Miyazaki would be legitimately anti-war and not whatever this shitty assumption is
kisekifan692026-01-04 20:59
Particularly in Japan.
For obvious reasons.
eetsumkaus2026-01-05 00:14
[the same generation that keep voting in the LDP who constantly find new ways to flout Japan's Article 9?](https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/na-k10014718241000)
it's not a his generation thing, it's a Miyazaki thing.
RPO7772026-01-05 06:50
Miyazaki's born in '41. People born before '50 or so during the War and Occupation are considered a different generation (Senzen-sedai) than those born between about '51\~'75, which is called "Kodo-Seichoki" (the rapid economic growth generation), basically the Japanese version of the boomers.
Most of the people calling strongly for the repeal of Article 9 that support the Right Wing politicians of Sanseito and the Right Wing of the LDP are from the Boomer generation.
The Pre-War generation (or those who are left) tended to be strong pacifists.
Ren-Ren-19992026-01-05 09:49
Miyazaki saw what war got him. Money. His dad profited a lot from the war. Which is where Miyazaki's conflict over war and human nature comes from and why his films are so poignant.
The Wind Rises for example.
eastgaston2026-01-04 19:10
I question OP's motive to post a 2022 article now, but tbf to this case, there's alot of iraq war regret, so even broken clock can be right sometimes.
Raddish30302026-01-04 19:12
Lol, seriously, you can smell and see the OP nudging others toward contemporary politics.
It'd be more hilarious, if it wasn't how effective this is to a sigificant portion of reddit people, who frankly, haven't had little to no thoughts on Iraqi people for significant amount of time.
MarioToast2026-01-04 22:46
Except for when he gave everyone in Moomin guns and thought it was funny the author didn't like it.
pratzc072026-01-04 19:21
He also didn't show up when he won the second time for Boy and the Heron. Man is based F\*\* these awards.
Wonderful-Quit-92142026-01-04 19:32
why
theonewhoknock_s2026-01-04 19:37
Couldn't be arsed.
paperiveitsi2026-01-04 20:44
because being in his 80s, he didn't want to fly to the usa for an awards show.
bravetailor2026-01-05 00:10
Yeah I ultimately think he doesn't really give a crap about these awards. Also he's past the age of wanting to travel.
The_Parsee_Man2026-01-05 18:45
It seems like he keeps too busy to drop things for an awards show.
[deleted]2026-01-04 19:53
[deleted]
Backoftheac2026-01-04 20:05
Yeah, I think the reason I posted this article relating to the U.S. invasion of a foreign nation with substantial oil reserves on January 4th, 2026 (the day after the U.S. invaded Venezuela) should be pretty obvious.
[deleted]2026-01-04 20:06
[deleted]
awrylettuce2026-01-04 20:10
The oil needed some liberation
Backoftheac2026-01-04 20:11
You know if you have a point you want to make, you should just make it. This kind of facetious baiting is just a waste of time. Besides, I'm sure your audience will be much bigger the earlier in this thread we can get this out of the way since people tend to lose attention the deeper you go with this kind of dull back-and-forth.
The_Silver_Nuke2026-01-05 21:55
If the mods are removing content for explicit politics then your comment and post should qualify for removal too.
Cheetah3572026-01-04 20:00
Was he protesting Iraq? I’m pretty sure he just doesn’t give a shit about the Oscars. He’s a well known America hater so why would he show up for an American award? He also didn’t show up for The Boy and The Heron’s nomination/win
dwayne_betski_DGO2026-01-04 22:10
[removed]
GGG1002026-01-04 22:18
He made a film that’s basically the Japanese equivalent of Oppenheimer (The Wind Rises). Either you’re seeing something that the rest of us don’t, or your head isn’t in the right place.
PotatoeyCake2026-01-04 22:20
[removed]
GGG1002026-01-04 22:25
Thinking that The Wind Rises is pro-Imperial Japan and excuses their atrocities is like thinking that Attack on Titan is pro-genocide. It’s so idiotic and off the mark that it exposes people’s utter lack of media literacy.
HARiMADARA2026-01-05 01:25
He referred to Japan's war crimes many times... He is the opposite of who you think he is
Backoftheac2026-01-04 22:38
[removed]
GallowDude2026-01-05 04:42
Sorry, your comment has been removed.
- Explicit politics
---
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flunny2026-01-04 23:09
That reminds me of Marlon Brando sending Sacheen Littlefeather, a native American, as a protest after he won an oscar for The Godfather
MATAJIRO2026-01-05 04:01
He hate war(it's common sense) and he said he like tank, war plane and everything war stuff. He had struggling for that dilemma.
APRengar2026-01-05 06:31
I dunno why that has to be a dilemma at all. I think guns are pretty cool, but I know how unregulated guns can get a lot of people hurt.
So I play with guns in video games where real people can't be hurt.
I think extreme greed is killing people and think it's gross, but I enjoy min-maxing money in video games about making money.
This isn't a problem at all. Tanks are pretty fucking cool, but war is awful and anyone who thinks otherwise has never lived in one.
MATAJIRO2026-01-05 07:45
Yeah, I agree but apparently he said like it long time ago. If I remember correctly it is when he drew tank crew comic.
Galle_2026-01-05 13:38
Technology is admirable and machines are beautiful. The problem with a bomber is not the machine itself, but how it's used. The same planes that were used to drop bombs on cities were then used for the Berlin Airlift.
Romapolitan2026-01-08 11:01
It's like the Ace Combat communities motto, "War is bad, but planes are Rad". I do like the aesthetics of the military in any media, but man do I hate the actual concept of these things. It's like thinking Nazi uniforms look cool, I guess, you can still acknowledge that everything is tainted by them having to do with that regime. But that doesn't mean that your brain is bad for finding certain aesthetics cool. It's when you don't think you get the problems and sadly many do not.
biggie_way_smaller2026-01-05 07:16
Miyazaki is also highly aware of japanese atrocities in nanking so he really is very much anti war on all side
peanutbutter4all2026-01-05 08:28
He is so incredibly awesome. Miyazaki 🏅
Nenwabu2026-01-05 09:03
FYI: Miyazaki had strong Marxist views in his youth when he was a young man growing up in 1960s Japan. Japan at the time was strongly political, and when Miyazaki was working for Toei Animation, he actively participated in labour union strikes.
He eventually ditched Marxist ideology, but he remained to have a strong humanist views.
MiddleOccasion13942026-01-06 01:41
It's amazing that people from other countries still want to visit the USA.
Commentaires
While avoiding the Oscars at the time was a silent moment of internal protest from Miyazaki, no one at the time really knew about it because he was pressured to remain silent by Toshio Suzuki, as mentioned in the linked essay.
>‘The reason I wasn’t here for the Academy Award was because I didn’t want to visit a country that was bombing Iraq,’ he said. ‘At the time, my producer shut me up and did not allow me to say that, but I don’t see him around today. By the way, my producer also shared in that feeling.’
Many people may argue that it was only later on when he directed Howl's Moving Castle and made more public comments on the invasion of Iraq that he was truly engaging in an act of active protest against the United States.
________________
I hope you all decide to read the actual linked essay and its citations. They share some interesting political comments by Miyazaki, including his feelings towards the Gulf War and how the events in Yugoslavia around the time influenced 'Porco Rosso'.
Japan supported the invasion, so I guess Miyazaki stated out of Japan, too?
What? No? All his "anti-war" movies are just about how big a victim Imperial Japan was? He's actually totally cool with war as long as he personally doesn't suffer?
Huh.
Fuck Miyazaki's ethnonationalist hypocrisy.
Later, in 2015, Miyazaki would criticize Shinzo Abe for trying to push a controversial 'security bill' that would allow the JSDF to continue operating overseas:
>The controversial bill would allow Japanese Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to play a greater military role overseas – something it has eschewed since the end of World War II.
>“I presume that PM Abe wants to leave his name in history as a great man who changed the interpretation the constitution. But I think it’s despicable,” animator and director Hayao Miyazaki told a press conference held at his studio in western Tokyo Monday.
>Miyazaki referred to Japan’s actions in China as a “war of aggression” and said that Abe’s government should unequivocally acknowledge that Japan “inflicted enormous damage on China and express deep remorse over it.”
>The legendary animator, who officially retired last year, is currently working with an activist group, the Henoko Fund, which seeks to block the construction of a new U.S. military base in Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture. He says the demilitarization of Okinawa is crucial to a peaceful East Asia in the future.
_______
Regarding his feelings towards Imperial Japan, I'll just copy-and-paste this comment I made earlier:
In 2024, in response to receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Miyazaki issued a statement that:
>“Being honored with this award made me think of the Philippines once again,” the message said.
> “The Japanese did a lot of terrible things back then. They killed many civilians. The Japanese people must not forget this. It will always remain. With such history, I solemnly accept the Ramon Magsaysay Award from the Philippines.”
In a 1995 interview he stated:
>[C]omparing the issue of some being burnt by the air raid and some not and the issue of, for example, Japan as a nation doing many horrible things such as massacres in China, the Philippines, or other countries in South East Asia, I have to conclude that Japanese as a whole were perpetrators, so the problem isn't that simple.
It was only the 6th Oscar won by a Japanese person ever, with Miyoshi Umeki (1957 - Best Supporting Actress) being the only other to have won in any film/direction/acting category. The other 4 wins were Costume Design (x3) and Best Original Score (1987).
So the Oscar was a really f'ing big deal in Japan (and remains a considered a very big deal). Boycotting your Oscar win is a big deal for anybody, but it was especially quite a statement for Miyazaki to choose to boycott his moment of national pride and glory.
Are these kinds of analytical/reflective essays outside the scope of the requirement that the post focus on 'anime'?
The issue was largely the first half of the linked article being more tangentially related to anime combined with the second half of it having absolutely nothing to do with anime. If it was just the first half, I think it would've been a lot more clear.
Again, I'm sorry about this.
All those shows where "control" and "safety" to reduce war end up becoming an odd reflection of "war" itself.
It's really important when analyzing Psycho-Pass to acknowledge that the Sibyl system mostly delivers on everything it promises. The world is very peaceful, crime rates are low, and the citizens are generally pretty happy. The society they live in is in no way "an odd reflection of 'war' itself" as you imply.
Not a lot of westerners realize this but individualism is seen as immoral by most people here in Japan (and China) every single action should contribute towards the greater good at the expense of yourself and you *will* be shamed if you do something that is perceived as for your own personal gain.
There's a reason why communism was always so enticing for asian societies and Japan was almost communist so many times. The entire Yakuza CIA ties and how they influenced rigged elections in Japan to favor the LDP in an effort to prevent communism in Japan is something westerners, especially Americans, should really read.
A lot of westerners don't realize the only reason we're not a communist nation right now and work 12-16 hours a day is because of American influence. Not because Japanese people genuinely wanted this capitalist system. I can say the same for South Korea, wouldn't be capitalist without US interference historically.
Tell me how control is achieved. It's not through words. It's through violence. Premeditated and practiced violence with strategic and tactical goals/objectives over society within and without.
That's war.
Lol the gun wielded by the public safety is literally called the DOMINATOR.
For obvious reasons.
it's not a his generation thing, it's a Miyazaki thing.
Most of the people calling strongly for the repeal of Article 9 that support the Right Wing politicians of Sanseito and the Right Wing of the LDP are from the Boomer generation.
The Pre-War generation (or those who are left) tended to be strong pacifists.
The Wind Rises for example.
It'd be more hilarious, if it wasn't how effective this is to a sigificant portion of reddit people, who frankly, haven't had little to no thoughts on Iraqi people for significant amount of time.
- Explicit politics
---
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So I play with guns in video games where real people can't be hurt.
I think extreme greed is killing people and think it's gross, but I enjoy min-maxing money in video games about making money.
This isn't a problem at all. Tanks are pretty fucking cool, but war is awful and anyone who thinks otherwise has never lived in one.
He eventually ditched Marxist ideology, but he remained to have a strong humanist views.