Moral Dimension of Japanese Aesthetics Essay Example

on live humans, and mass rape remain absent from school textbooks.

Hayao Miyazaki: The Wind Rises & Japanese Culture

The Wind Rises delves into Japanese society, rewriting the history and misremembering of the Rising Sun and World War 2. It is a biographical film about a man who sympathetically contributed to brutal campaigns in Japan during World War 2.

The Wind Rises, a Japanese fantasy historical film directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki, brings Japan to life in unprecedented ways, earning it an Oscar nomination. Released in 2013, the movie beautifully depicts a story set in war but goes beyond being just a war film. Hayao Miyazaki, born in 1941, spent much of his childhood drawing war planes. Alongside notable figures such as Dr. Seuss, Margaret Wise Brown, and Maurice Sendak, Miyazaki created works for children that were not only relatable but also appealed to individuals of different ages. These artists seemed to have preserved a part of their childhood that many of us lose as we grow older and become more rational.

The Wind Rises is a film with breathtaking, imaginative, powerful, and whimsical images. It is fortunate that Hayao Miyazaki, a dedicated humanitarian and pacifist, is behind it. The movie portrays powerful ideas and situations in Japan. However, there are critics who argue that The Wind Rises glorifies the enslavement of Korean laborers, Japanese military celebrations, the Tuberculosis epidemic, and smoking among young people. The film focuses on Jiro Horikoshi, a Japanese Aviation Engineer who aspired to design beautiful airplanes and fly, drawing inspiration from Italian Aeronautical designer Caproni. Despite being unable to become a pilot at a young age, Jiro joins

a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 where he thrives as an accomplished and innovative airplane designer.

The film discusses Hayao Miyazaki's life and historical events, such as the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake, Japan's plunge into war, and the Great Depression. The director refers to these events as a "sense of more intense stagnation today than the one hanging over Japan" (Cavallaro, Dani, 64). Miyazaki's final movie showcases breathtaking hand-drawn crafted attention to detail that is a treat for the soul and eyes. While Miyazaki's films have always been enjoyed by viewers of all ages, The Wind Rises is a more mature movie compared to his previous works, moving away from the childlike joy of Ponyo (Miyazaki, Hisaishi, 72). Horrified by war, Hayao doesn't try to romanticize the military. As Caproni declares, it's better to have a world with pyramids than without. Jiro is the central figure in Miyazaki's film.

Like Terrence Malick, another director born during World War 2, Hayao Miyazaki also allows his characters to traverse long distances and uses symbols of human capability as tools for creativity and imagination. The film also focuses on the risky use of Zero aircraft in the attack on Pearl Harbor and Kamikaze operations. Currently, Japan faces tensions with neighboring nations, including territorial disputes, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has downplayed Japan's aggressions during World War 2 (Leachman, Neeson, 55). Hayao Miyazaki, often referred to as Japan's Walt Disney, has faced numerous controversies throughout his career, but it remains one filled with enchantment and wonder. At the age of 73, Miyazaki has finally matured.

In the film, Jiro is depicted as both a brilliant creator of extraordinary flying machines and

a mastermind behind deadly Zeros. Miyazaki explained in an essay that this portrayal could pose a threat to the strength of the Japanese military. As a child, he heard adults discussing the horrifying acts they had committed on the Japanese continent during war, with the theme being "kill, loot, destroy all". The current conservative government faced criticism for allegedly planning to overturn the constitution's "peace clause" which prohibits armed forces capable of war. Miyazaki's main focus, as he titled it, is on the male protagonist, if that is indeed what he wishes to emphasize.

The movie's contradiction lies in the contrast between the deadly uses of Jiro's plane, the legendary Zero fighter, and his dreams. Some critics argue that Miyazaki downplays evil, even prompting the cancellation of an award meeting in Boston to condemn anyone who voted for the film as accepting a whitewash of atrocities committed. When it comes to weapons of mass destruction, Miyazaki's irony is not as overt as that of Berthold Brecht in Galileo. The film subtly alludes to the terrible implications without being too explicit. The machines, objects, and materials mentioned by Obi-Wan Caproni and Jiro resemble mechanically enhanced birds. The influence of foreign technology is depicted in the 1920s and 1930s during the World Arms Of War era. The Wind Rises is also a film advocating against war, although some perceive Miyazaki's approach as too mild. Nevertheless, he closely follows Jiro's journey through his education, dreams, his affectionate courtship of Naoko (who later becomes his wife), and his investigative trips to Germany.

The movie delves into the unsettling concept of dreams being used as weapons in warfare. It portrays planes morphing

into horrifying nightmares that bring devastation and death to those on the ground. Comparing Disney movies with Miyazaki's works is a legitimate exercise, and what makes Miyazaki's films so captivating is their storytelling grounded in culture. For instance, one of his films features a young girl who must face the trials of growing up. These characters offer a refreshing departure from Disney's typical portrayal of "princesses." Moreover, they are firmly rooted in their own cultural legends surrounding youth and gender.

From a cultural perspective, it is interesting to note the absence of a true antagonist. Western philosophy strongly believes in polarity, where evil and good, wrong and right coexist. Therefore, it is expected that a well-defined villain must be present for the hero to overcome. In contrast, Eastern philosophy acknowledges that the distinction between good and bad often depends on the circumstances or context.

The Wind Rises portrays Jiro's dreams transforming into something foreboding as the elegant soaring planes suddenly take on a menacing presence, akin to monsters breaking through turbulent clouds. Similar to The Aviator, the movie displays advancements in design and construction (Hayao, Allen, 21). Moreover, technology is exemplified by Japan's zero fighter plane, which played a vital role in World War 2 due to its exceptional maneuverability and long range capabilities. However, as the war progressed rapidly, other fighter planes surpassed the Zero in terms of effectiveness. Consequently, Japan primarily utilized the Zero for Kamikaze missions. Throughout the film, wind serves as a recurring motif both literally and metaphorically.

In Japan, the winds of war and change are already stirring. The wind symbolizes the breath of life, urging Japan to catch up with the

rest of the world. Jiro is one of those who contribute to this effort. The earthquake in 1923 serves as a prediction for Japanese culture. Horikoshi, high above in the sky, witnesses a flash as fires begin to rage.

Conclusion

The Wind Rises depicts natural disasters, diseases, and military conflicts as essential elements of Japanese culture.

Both investors agreed that airplanes should not be used solely for making huge profits or for warfare. It is recognized that both Italy and Japan have witnessed the use of airplanes in warfare, with Miyazaki specifically emphasizing the devastating consequences of the bombing carried out by the Imperial Navy. The film takes place during a time of scarcity and unrest in Japan, featuring poignant scenes showing impoverished individuals and starving children on the streets. Interestingly, there appears to be little enthusiasm for history or politics among the people.

Work cited

• Cavallaro, Dani. The Late Works of Hayao Miyazaki: A Critical Study, 2004-2013., 2015. Internet resource.
• Miyazaki and Joe Hisaishi. The Wind Rises. Gent: Lumie?re, 2014.
• Miyazaki, Hayao, Jocelyne Allen, Yukiko Whitley, Rebecca Downer, Nick Mamatas, Michael Montesa,
• Masumi Washington, Yo?ji Takeshige, and Kitaro? Ko?saka. The Art of the Wind Rises., 2014. Print.
• Miyazaki, Hayao, Toshio Suzuki, Atsushi Okui, Takeshi Seyama, Joe Hisaishi, Katsuya Kondo?, Tomoko
• Yamaguchi, Kazushige Nagashima, Yuki Amami, Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey,
  Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, and Betty White. Ponyo., 2014.
• http://www.jstor.org/stable/4622213?seq=1;cid=pdf-reference#page_scan_tab_contents