Master Hayao Miyazaki’s Farewell Work – The Captivating Settings of “The Wind Rises”

Text by MOOK Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Zhang Yingying

 

The recent hot-topic film “The Wind Rises,” released in Taiwan during the Mid-Autumn holiday season, is also the retirement work of Japanese animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki, generating particularly high expectations among fans of Japanese and Studio Ghibli animations. The real-world locations referenced in the film have also become a hot topic among enthusiasts.

“The Wind Rises” tells the story of Jiro, a boy from the countryside who is determined to become an aircraft designer, dreaming of one day creating planes as beautiful as the wind. However, fate does not go as planned. From his youth to early adulthood, Jiro endures some of the darkest periods in modern Japanese history—from the local tragedy of the Great Kanto Earthquake to the global catastrophe of the Great Depression, as well as the then-incurable epidemic of tuberculosis—all of which repeatedly test Jiro’s resolve and perseverance in chasing his dream.

Although the Great Kanto Earthquake brought devastating destruction, it also became the catalyst for Jiro’s meeting with the female lead, Nahoko. The two meet on a train, and when they reunite later in life, their “bond forged in adversity” remains unforgettable. Despite obstacles from illness and reality, the two cherish each other and support one another through hardship.

On his journey to realize his dream of designing airplanes, Jiro is supported not only by his insightful boss and loyal classmates but most importantly by the unwavering companionship of his wife, Nahoko, and the mutual admiration he shares with his mentor—the Italian aircraft design master, Caproni.

 

 

After its release in Japan on July 20 this year, “The Wind Rises” achieved the remarkable feat of topping the box office for five consecutive weeks. Aside from sparking widespread discussion, the film’s settings have also piqued curiosity. Japanese fans noticed that the bridge featured in the film bears a striking resemblance to the Kyōraku Bridge in Karuizawa, Gunma Prefecture. Key scenes involving interactions between the male and female leads closely match the exterior and interior of the Hotel Wanpaku in Karuizawa. The forests depicted in the film are also believed to be those around Karuizawa. Beyond the captivating storyline, audiences are eager to visit these sites in person and experience their charm.

 

“The Wind Rises” is Hayao Miyazaki’s first new work in five years since “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.” It was not only nominated for the 70th Venice International Film Festival competition section but also selected for both the Toronto and New York film festivals. Furthermore, it marks the tenth collaboration between director Hayao Miyazaki and legendary composer Joe Hisaishi. It is also one of the few Miyazaki films centered around a male protagonist. A particularly compelling highlight is that the film’s main character is based on a real person, showcasing how the male lead pursues his dream of flight amid the chaos of war, and how the protagonists’ touching love story unfolds against a backdrop of natural and human disasters. The film allows viewers to feel how these surreal yet realistic settings come to vivid life under Miyazaki’s masterful direction.

 

 

● Read More: Follow the Master on a Journey into the World of Hayao Miyazaki’s Animation: http://goo.gl/nu8XUn