Summary
Hayao Miyazaki, best known for his beautiful animated movies fromStudio Ghibli, has a serious passion beyond anime - his classic car. Miyazaki’s car was famous amongStudio Ghiblidiehards, and even featured in a few movies. But Miyazaki also has apassion for the environment, as seen in many of his films, and the famous director has vowed to start walking from here on out, giving up his beloved vehicle.
Miyazaki’s car was not just any car; it’s a classic French car called a Citroën 2CV. He was known for driving it from his home in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, to the Ghibli studios in Mitaka each day. The car was immortalized in 1979 inLupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, the first film that Miyazaki directed, and then again by his son inEarwig and the Angry Itch. He had continued to drive the car nearly every day, even though it was over 40 years old.
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That is why everyone was shocked last week when the Aichi Prefecture Governor Hideaki Omura announced last week that Miyazaki would be giving up his beloved Citroën. The main reason that Miyazaki is not going to drive anymore is that he is now 82 years old, and said that he realized it was dangerous for him to continue to be on the road (though his agedoes not stop him from continuing his work!). This is in line with a recent push in Japan for elderly drivers to give up their licenses and turn to public transport instead, which is readily available across the country.
Another reason Miyazaki has likely given up his car is his personal stance on environmentalism. While he did not come out and say this, instead only stating his age as the main reason to give up driving, it is not at all surprising that someone so vocal about preserving the natural world would make a conscious effort to do his part as well. Many of Miyazaki’s films have an environmental message, likePrincess MononokeandPonyo, and his feelings on the subject are no secret.
Luckily for both Miyazaki himself and fans of his Citroën, the car has found a new home where it can live happily ever after. The car will be displayed at theStudio Ghibli theme parkin Aichi Prefecture (hence Aichi’s governor being the one to make the announcement). Hayao Miyazaki’s son Goro Miyazaki and the co-founder of Studio Ghibli Toshio Suzuki helped make his happen, moving the beloved car to the theme park across the country.
Now, Miyazaki’s car will be a part of Studio Ghibli forever, and can be loved by everyone who knows how special the car was to the studio’s creator. Miyazaki himself can also rest easy knowing that the car he loved so much will live on even beyond him, and continue to be admired by fans of his work when they are visiting theStudio GhibliMuseum. It also serves as an inspiration for all of us toget out there and walk more, or choose public transportation ourselves, which is exactly what Miyazaki would want from his fans.
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