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Hayao Miyazaki uses his acceptance speech at Ramon Magsaysay Awards to acknowledge Japanese actions during World War II
The legendary anime director has never shied away from depicting the horrors of war in his films, so it isn't exactly a surprise here.
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Hayao Miyazaki has won almost every award imaginable throughout his career, but he added one more recently. On November 16, the legendary Studio Ghibli director accepted the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in Manila, Philippines. Considering that he isn’t known for mincing his words, Miyazaki used the occasion to give a heartfelt acknowledgement of Japan’s actions during World War II.
For context, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is given to individuals and organizations in Asia for their outstanding contributions to the well-being of others and their leadership in their field. It is often called the Nobel Prize of Asia. It was announced that Hayao Miyazaki would receive the award in 2024 for “his lifelong commitment to the use of art, specifically animation, to illuminate the human condition, especially lauding his devotion to children as the torchbearers of the imagination, to whom he has passed the light and spark of his own.”
Due to his age and health – which hasn’t stopped him from coming back out of retirement – Miyazaki wasn’t able to attend the award ceremony himself. However, his acceptance speech was read by Studio Ghibli board member Kenichi Yoda. Mixed among the usual thanks that come during these award speeches, Miyazaki referred to the actions of the Japanese army during World War II. “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.”
That acknowledgment, on an international stage by one of the anime’s most celebrated directors, carries a lot of weight, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise for anyone who has seen Miyazaki’s films over the years. From The Wind Rises to Porco Rosso to Grave of the Fireflies, Miyazaki has never been shy about showing how terrible war can be not just for those who fight it but for the civilians who get caught in the crossfire.
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