
Next time you’re stuck in traffic, keep your fingers crossed that this guy is nearby.
As a country that’s famous both for its expertise in building cars and the value it places on politeness, it’s not surprising that Japan has developed some unique forms of automotive courtesy. It’s customary to flash your hazard lights when someone lets you into their lane in traffic, for example, and also to turn your headlights off when stopped at intersections at night, so that you don’t blind the driver on the other side of the crossing.
However, Japanese Twitter user @haru_san_ytk recently encountered a driver who displayed an unprecedented level of vehicular hospitality: screening a feature-length anime on the back of his car for others to watch!
前の車がなぜか千と千尋の神隠しを見せてくるので見ながら帰ってる pic.twitter.com/x7NblkYJLV
— ハルさん@トルテ (@haru_san_ytk) May 14, 2019
This wasn’t just any anime, either, but Spirited Away, the Hayao Miyazaki-directed Studio Ghibli classic that’s Japan’s highest grossing film of all time, as well as the only anime to ever win an Academy Award. And to clarify, that’s not a monitor for the car’s rear-seat passengers; the display is mounted on the white car’s rear glass, and not visible to anyone inside the vehicle (though a second, smaller monitor inside the car also seems to be playing the same anime).
“For some reason, this guy was showing us all Spirited Away, so I got to watch it on my way home,” tweeted @haru_san_ytk, who appears to have spotted the car somewhere along Nishi Ojidori street in Kyoto. Online commenters had the following to say about the unique car customization job:
“He should broadcast the audio on a FM station that you can tune into.”
“But how does he see what’s behind him?”
“Just be careful not to crash into him.”
“I’ve seen a car that looked like this in my neighborhood too, but it was playing some moe anime.”
“This would definitely keep me from getting bored during a traffic jam.”
The last commenter makes a good point, but there’s one problem, which @haru_san_ytk experienced. “Just as the anime was getting to a really good part, he turned left, but I had to keep going straight to get home,” he laments, so hopefully the two driver’s paths will line up again at some point in the future, so that he can see how the movie ends.
Source: Twitter/@haru_san_ytk via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Studio Ghibli
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Follow Casey on Twitter, where a large portion of his time behind the wheel has been while listening to anime theme songs.

Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki shares his beloved car with fans
Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki gives up driving, donates beloved car to Ghibli Park
Spirited Away’s No Face pulls up as a car with newest Studio Ghibli Dream Tomica now on sale【Pics】
Vroom-vroom, meow-meow! Driver mods his taillights into awesome “Toro” cat patterns
We travel to China to watch Studio Ghibli anime Spirited Away on its inaugural opening day
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
10 awesome Tokyo cherry blossom festivals and experiences for this year’s sakura season
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Why you should be adding Calpis to your beer in Japan
Osaka man reserved and cancelled 1,873 seats at two baseball games to get more space for self
Super-detailed cherry blossom forecast maps for 2025 show warm winter doesn’t mean early sakura
The five best bento boxed lunches sold at train stations in east Japan
The joy of creating a wild Japanese ikebana flower arrangement for a country house【SoraHouse】
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Ghibli anime theme park unveils real-world Catbus, will start recruiting for Catbus drivers soon
Studio Ghibli answers Spirited Away fan questions, reveals exciting facts and trivia behind the film
Japanese men pick their favorite Studio Ghibli anime heroine 【Survey】
New Studio Ghibli die-cast anime car line brings Catbus, Spirited Away Sea Railway to your home
No Face becomes…a car? Spirited Away anime character enters the Ghibli Tomica collection
Spirited Away posters for first theatrical release in China are stunningly beautiful
79-year-old Japanese granny who fell in love with Initial D sports car finds perfect new owner【Vid】
New Studio Ghibli die-cast anime cars on their way, even if neither one is really a car【Pics】
Studio Ghibli offering reprints of posters from all its anime films made from original plates
Studio Ghibli is not Studio Goro – Hayao Miyazaki’s son denies being his father’s successor
Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki is still drawing…and walking in his Vans
10 best Studio Ghibli anime, as picked by Japanese fans– Different ages have different answers