Abstract

"We need to think more about the present, not the past or the future," says Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki in a free-spirited conversation with a Zen monk. His counterparts are Genyu Sokyu (author and head priest of Fukujuji Temple), Yokota Nanrei (head abbot of the Engakuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism), and Hosokawa Shinsuke (head priest of Ryuunji Temple). They offer a Zen-like interpretation of Ghibli classics like "Princess Mononoke" and "Grave of the Fireflies," exploring their views on life and death and life philosophy, and discuss Zen in the light of their experiences working on films with directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. The conversation and Suzuki's essay have been added to the monthly "Nagomi" serialization.

Author’s Information

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