18 Comments
User's avatar
Harold Ember's avatar

Those are both excellent films of Hayao Miyazaki's. Castle in the Sky is my favorite ghibli and possibly favorite movie. I haven't seen the others, but I do want to watch the seven samurai.

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

"Seven Samurai" is a long movie, with a running time of three and a half hours, but it's very enjoyable.

Expand full comment
Wolfgang's avatar

And Ponyo, and… 🙃

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

Actually, I have never seen "Ponyo on the Cliff," so I would like to see it someday.

Expand full comment
Wolfgang's avatar

Ponyo is wonderful!

Also some of my favorites:

-The Borrowers (Arrietty)

-Spirited Away (Kaonashi No-Face)

-My Neighbor Totoro (I even have a dog named Totoro)

-Howl’s Moving Castle

-etc.

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

Apparently you are a big Ghibli fan. There's a Ghibli park in my town, but I've only seen the place from the outside.

Expand full comment
Wolfgang's avatar

Yes, I’ve been following the work of Hayao Miyazaki, who I consider exceptionally skilled, and have visited both the Ghibli Museum (Tokyo) and the Ghibli Park (Aichi, Nagakute).

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

Wonderful!

Expand full comment
Robert A Mosher (he/him)'s avatar

TCM - Turner Classic Movies frequently shows live action Japanese films from the 1940s through the 1960s (a lot of samurai films but also many set in the 20th Century) and even a few films from between the two world wars. It's been a great introduction to many more of the actors and directors beyond Mifuni and Kurosawa

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

That's great. The 1950s and the period around it were the most vibrant and prolific period in the Japanese film industry, when many excellent actors and directors were active.

Expand full comment
francisco arcaute's avatar

Throne of Blood!

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

I was confused at first, but I see, "Throne of Blood" is the English title of "蜘蛛巣城". The arrows shot towards Mifune in that movie were very memorable.

Expand full comment
Paul Votava's avatar

Thanks for sharing. I have watched many Japanese movies on Criterion, early to recent releases. I like to view not just for the plot or actors and directors, but also for a glimpse into the culture.

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

I'm happy that more and more people are becoming interested in Japanese culture as a result of movies (and of course anime and manga as well).

Expand full comment
David Foye's avatar

Hi I’d love a read as I dive into the ethics of tech through the lens of Japanese animation

https://open.substack.com/pub/davidfoye/p/akira-and-the-ethics-of-technological?r=4g90ob&utm_medium=ios

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

AKIRA is a work that I have a special attachment to, as the title is the same as my name. AKIRA is also an incredible work in that it was animated and directed by OTOMO Katsuhiro, the creator of the original manga.

Expand full comment
SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

I just saw the movie the other day, and its calm, everyday depiction soothed my soul.

Expand full comment