My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away
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While it is no secret that Hayao Miyazaki borrowed character concepts and ideas from traditional Japanese folklore, there are several conspiracies saying that the movies have far more sinister aspects. Whether or not these urban legends have a hint of truth, there is no doubt that these perspectives have a few creepy coincidences.
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1. My Neighbour Totoro
Known for its cute character design and creative plot, My Neighbour Totoro is well-loved throughout Japan and the Western world. However, there are arguments stating that the characters are based on not-so-innocent circumstances such as the unfortunate ‘Sayama Incident’ of 1963.
“The story takes place in 狭山丘陵 (Sayama hills) where also 八国山病院 (Hachikokuyama Hospital) or 新山手病院 is, which is believed to be the model of the hospital where the mother is, 七国山病院 (Shichikokuyama Hospital).
There is also a murder-case (the Sayama incident) which has many scary coincidents with Tonari no Totoro. Especially that it all happened in May and both of the sisters names actually are May – Satsuki (五月), the name of the older sister that means May in Japanese and Mei (メイ), the name of the younger sister, which is how Japanese people pronounce May.
Furthermore, the fact that the little sister went missing and that both sisters later turned up dead. According to some rumors, the big sister saw her little sister’s corpse and went crazy and later should have mumbled something alike “I saw a ghost/monster cat （猫のお化）” and “I met a big raccoon” = Totoro, before committing suicide.”
There is also a murder-case (the Sayama incident) which has many scary coincidents with Tonari no Totoro. Especially that it all happened in May and both of the sisters names actually are May – Satsuki (五月), the name of the older sister that means May in Japanese and Mei (メイ), the name of the younger sister, which is how Japanese people pronounce May.
Furthermore, the fact that the little sister went missing and that both sisters later turned up dead. According to some rumors, the big sister saw her little sister’s corpse and went crazy and later should have mumbled something alike “I saw a ghost/monster cat （猫のお化）” and “I met a big raccoon” = Totoro, before committing suicide.”
“The girl who was killed in Sayama had an older sister who loved her little sister so much that she committed suicide after her death. It’s said that the older sister was seeing big raccoon or cat-like ghosts before she killed herself, due to so much stress. The Totoros could have been inspired by this.”
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It is also thought in Japanese culture that soot sprites (Susuwatari) only appear to those who are close to death. With this in mind, it is argued that the Neko-bus is the girls’ one-way transport to the afterlife. People also argue that the girls do not have shadows in the final scenes (a sign of being a ghost/dead).
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Apparently the Totoro conspiracy caused a staggering amount of controversy and resulted in Studio Ghibli releasing a statement denying the accusations.
Sayama Incident Wiki Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayama_Incident
2. Spirited Away
Although less urban legend and more fact (as admitted by Miyazaki), Spirited Away draws on the historical elements of Japan’s prostitution culture.
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“Her name was changed to "Sen” from her real name “Chihiro”. it is same as women who work as prostitution in Japan, they usually change their real names to Genjina (Nickname) when they work as prostitution. Chihiro was forced to work at Aburaya (油屋) or oil house as a Yuna (湯女), probably aburaya is indicating Yuya (湯屋) an old type bath house, and Yuna is indication yujo (遊女) which is the name of prostitution in Edo period. The proof of this is all the guests who come to Aburaya are Otokogami. (Male gods).
It is also interesting to think why her parents turned into pigs. In the beginning of film, her father got lost on the way to the new home trying to find a shortcut, parents pushed their daughter away bluntly, and overeating someone’s food without paying. It seems like these are the metaphor of “debt” her parents have. Chihiro was forced to work at Aburaya because of her selfish parents.“ |
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"I always wondered why the symbol “ゆ” (said “yu”) was on the door to the bath house. I asked my Japanese teacher, and he wasn’t too sure so I did a little research. The symbol is used on the entrance to Japanese bath houses. The word “yu” is translated to “hot water”. So, makes sense to be on a bath house, yes?
Then I did more reading. During the Edo period, these public baths became popular for men because of women who started working at these communal baths, washing men and selling sex. The woman were known as 湯女, or “yuna”. This directly translates to “hot water woman”. So basically, they were brothels. Guess what the woman who ran this bath house would be called?
Yubaba. Yubaba is the name of the woman who runs the bath house in Spirited Away. If you watch Spirited Away in Japanese, the female workers are referred to as yuna.
Chihiro was forced to change her name to Sen. Kinda like how strippers get names like “Candy”. No-Face keeps offering Chihiro money. He “wants her”.”
Then I did more reading. During the Edo period, these public baths became popular for men because of women who started working at these communal baths, washing men and selling sex. The woman were known as 湯女, or “yuna”. This directly translates to “hot water woman”. So basically, they were brothels. Guess what the woman who ran this bath house would be called?
Yubaba. Yubaba is the name of the woman who runs the bath house in Spirited Away. If you watch Spirited Away in Japanese, the female workers are referred to as yuna.
Chihiro was forced to change her name to Sen. Kinda like how strippers get names like “Candy”. No-Face keeps offering Chihiro money. He “wants her”.”
Although somewhat far-fetched, these urban legends reveal an entirely different perspective of horror and taboo to Hayao Miyazaki’s creations.