For those who haven’t heard the news, Hayao Miyazaki, often referred to as “the Walt Disney of Japan,” is formally retiring from the feature film industry. To address the countless questions and concerns of disappointed fans, Miyazaki will be attending a press conference on Friday, September 6, to discuss the details of his retirement. This meeting will be streamed live on website, Niconico, for the whole world to watch.
Miyazaki’s career as an animation director has spanned more than 50 years. His genius brought us such wonderful animated films as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and My Neighbor Totoro. Back in 1997, after the production of Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki entered into temporary retirement, but he returned to the field once again in 2001 with the American Academy Award-winning hit, Spirited Away, and has been steadily producing new animated feature films ever since.
This time, it looks as though Miyazaki will be retiring from the animated film industry for good. The surprise announcement was made by Studio Ghibli’s president, Koji Hoshino, at the Venice Film Festival on September 1. After a full screening of Miyazaki’s most recent work, The Wind Rises, it was made public that this award-nominated film would also be Miyazaki’s last.
A press conference covering Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement has been scheduled for Friday, September 6, starting at 2PM JST on Niconico Live. Access begins a half hour prior to the live broadcast and is available to anyone with a Niconico account.
Source: Net Lab (Japanese)
Reference: Niconico Live
Top image: Wikipedia

Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki to retire from filmmaking
Highlights of Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement press confrence
Studio Ghibli is not Studio Goro – Hayao Miyazaki’s son denies being his father’s successor
Ghibli reveals genre of Hayao Miyazaki’s next anime, and that it’s also working on new CG film
Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki reveals the name of his next feature film
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Osaka teen arrested for hacking into Internet cafe’s app to steal data, was helped by Chat-GPT
Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings
Toyota City civil servant arrested for using government access to run a detective agency
Real-world Koraidon and Miraidon Pokémon are ready for their close-ups【Photos】
Viral 3D ice creams land in Japan… but are they worth the hype?
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Hello Kitty isn’t a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!
Here’s what US$90 worth of katsu curry looks like at CoCo Ichibanya: A mountain of cutlets!
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Tokyo’s Ueno Station has an unmanned noodle restaurant on its platform, and its no-joke good
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Hayao Miyazaki is getting worried about how his new anime is being marketed, Ghibli producer says
Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron nominated for Academy Award
Ghibli’s Boy and the Heron wins Academy Award, studio COO apologizes for Hayao Miyazaki’s absence
Hayao Miyazaki’s latest comeback is so that he can leave an anime behind for his grandson
Take a look at these photos of Hayao Miyazaki’s amazing hands【Photos】
Kabuki adaptation of Miyazaki’s Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind now available to stream online
Hayao Miyazaki’s first solo-directed anime is being adapted to live-action as a stage play
Hayao Miyazaki to receive honorary lifetime achievement Oscar
We’re not going to see Hayao Miyazaki’s new anime for another three to four years, producer says
Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli anime are finally coming to streaming with HBO Max deal
How Do You Live? movie review: Could this be Hayao Miyazaki’s magnum opus?
Hayao Miyazaki working on new project, says “I’m going to continue making anime until I die”
Hayao Miyazaki slams anime, hints at comeback, and praises The Red Turtle, all in one breath
Now’s your chance to ask Studio Ghibli ANYTHING you want about Princess Mononoke
Leave a Reply