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Hayao Miyazaki Doesn’t Like Gadgets

Acclaimed anime director Hayao Miyazaki is not a fan of gadgets, and an article up on IT Media contains some statements he made about Apple’s iPad:

“For me, there is no feeling of admiration or no excitement whatsoever,” Miyazaki said about the iPad. “It’s disgusting. On trains, the number of those people doing that strange masturbation-like gesture is multiplying.”

Miyazaki also noted that he also got “fed up” when everyone on the trains started reading manga and then later when everyone began using cell phones on the trains to presumably send text messages.

Also, while we’re on the topic of Miyazaki, here’s the newest 30-second trailer for Studio Ghibli’s adaptation of The Borrowers:

{democracy:459}

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29 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - July 13, 2010 at 8:55 am

Categories: Celebrity News, Technology Tags:

dfmoss

What on earth is he complaining about? Isn’t he rich enough so as to be able to avoid the hassles of public transit altogether? Guy is clearly not with today.

Avery

Why are you commenting on a website called JapanProbe when you have never been to Japan?

Karisu

Must have missed that requirement.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherbelcher/ Chris

Okay, so I don’t ride on trains nor buses. It has been over 25 years since I have had the pleasure. But as I remember, there is not much to do. Unless you have friends to talk to, what else is there? No texting or playing with iPads back then, but reading was common. Yes, it was comic books back then, culturally the same as manga, but would that be so different from a newspaper or book?

I guess he is disgusted with the insular world people build around themselves with electronic and books. I just assume that most people are alone on the train, not with companions.
Tom

Here he is complaining about cooking shows on TV:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDqUTBNUHwE#t=0m25s
ThyGoddess

Funny annecdote, my friend was on the bus and there was that guy showing off his iPad smugly.

Then the bus took a sharp turn and his iPad flew out the window.

Ap

Beautiful !
That’s what should be done to alle the crapple “products”.

イブちゃん

Well, frankly I never thought of playing with handheld devices as “masturbatory”, but now ironically it’s Miyazaki who put the thought into my head. It’s a sign of the times, though, and you either stay with the times or “get off the bus”. He can afford to be a technophobe, but in a world where time is money, many of us cannot afford to disconnect from society while we’re in public or private.

hiMe

By “Masturbatory” He might have been referring to some applications that require you to shake and what not. I know, I’ve seen it ALOT.

T-rock

He’s the older generation, what do you expect lol
Colin

I’ve read comic books, normal books, magazines, and every other reading material i may have brought with myself on my days on a Japanese train. I even constantly send e-mails from my docomo cellphone. I mean, there’s nothing really else to do, and if it keeps you entertained, without distracting others, i can handle it. Heck, I’m fine with people listening to music on their MP3 players, even though there’s always that one person listening to it too loud.

Though when I’m sitting down after a long day in the train, happy to have been lucky enough to get a seat in a crowded train departing Shibuya, and this guy next to me pulls out his iPad and begins lightly nudging me every few seconds because he’s putting way too much energy into an iPad game, that’s when it gets annoying.

Annon

I agree. Whenever I’m on the train, I’m always listening to music at the very least. If there’s room enough to pull out a book or manga, I’ll read as well.

But if you take a look at all of Miyazaki’s movies, he always loves scenes that make you step back and just enjoy what you’re watching. He didn’t say it in the interview but I can can assume that he thinks people are too consumed with trying to entertain themselves and unable to just stop and take in what’s going on in the here and now.

Though, I don’t imagine a crowded train is really the place to take a step back and enjoy the beauty of life

http://relaxedfocus.blogspot.com/ Rob

“Get off my lawn, you damn kids!” Grandpa yelled.
T-rock

Look also a definite typical generational gap, your grand-kids will also experience the same thing
helical

Sounds like typical cranky old-people talk, but I laud him for having that point of view.
A common theme in the works of, and in fact the whole livelihood of Miyazaki, seems like it’s centered around rediscovering and capturing the sense of wonder of the world that we live in. That kind of worldview is antithetical to just spending all one’s energy chasing the next latest greatest fad, and if it helps him produce great works, then he can continue to be a cranky old bastard to his heart’s content.
Tony D

I think most articles about this kind of miss the point of what he was saying, because it’s funnier to read his cranky old man complaints.

“Later in the article, however, he encourages people to become creators, and not simply consumers. With all today’s information overload, it is easy for people to lose sight of what they need to focus on to advance society.”

So he’s saying we spend too much time consuming. I agree entirely; people are obsessed with consumption and do very little creating. Though it’s not exactly easy to become a creator, especially in Japan, where you make more money flipping burgers than you do working on anime/manga/video games…

http://photogchris.wordpress.com chris

All people consume, but the idea that people must create art to be a good citizen is absurd. We all have our part in society, most are not destined be artist. The artist has always been poor, the concept of the “starving artist” is universal. There are the few who become famous, the few who become rich, but most of your musicians, writers, actors, painters, programers …. artist will struggle to make a living. That is nothing new.

I would say that the ipad and the like are good for artist. They increase the demand for art to be consumed.
T-rock

He wants us to use your brain, there needs to be a balance between creator and consumer

Bigfujisan

I thought 99% of the Anime world was built on masturbation.

Miyazaki shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds him, but he should wear gloves if he touches it.
Vivi

Well, breaking news: Old man does not like young kids’ stuff. Kidding, kidding.
Only shows his general attitude, he always was that back-to-nature kind of person. Not surprising if you look at his movies, anyway.
hiMe

I like having several gadgets for myself, I could never have only one gadget. I would constantly worry if it’s on me. i.e. with Iphone, its an MP3 player,phone,game thingy e.t.c e.t.c.

I don’t really like the iPad either. I really do love Miyazaki though, but I cannot understand why he’s “fed-up”. Texting on trains is all that I do. I have to keep in contact,(Either that or listening to music.) There’s nothing to do on a train :/ . So we’ll have to agree to disagree then.

Oh and the short teaser is very appreciated, thanks James
I’ve been looking forward to Studio Ghibli’s Game Collab too and this film.
Robin

Miyazaki’s words have been taken out of context to make it appear that he was ranting about the youth of today.
Chojiki

Miyazaki also noted that he also got “fed up” when everyone on the trains started reading manga

Seriously, Miyazaki?

You can complain all you want about cell phones, texting, the iPad, and the general proliferation of technology in today’s society and I’ll be right there with you. But, you’re getting pissed about people reading?

Come on! If you want to live romanticizing the Showa Era then at least acknowledge the people actually reading from a physical medium, and be happy there are people actually creative enough to do Manga now; since you’re the one complaining about the lack of creativity nowadays.

Chojiki

After further reading it seems Miyazaki is lamenting about the decline of interpersonal communication on public transportation.

He feels he’s one of the few people in Japanese society who will openly talk to a stranger on a train or a bus. This is considered unusual behavior to modern Japanese sensibilities, but Miyazaki says that he remembers a time when people would have open, and friendly conversations with each other. Especially if they’re from the same neighborhood.

Sorry, Miyazaki. But that’s how the world is going nowadays. I and a whole generation have been taught to fear strangers. (I’ve even seen a commercial advertising Background Checks. Check up on that contractor you hired! Or your new babysitter! I just met this guy online, and I want to know if he’s dangerous.) “Trust is Earned” and Stranger Danger are prevalent now, with society as a whole going increasingly wired not only will relationships and friendships be broken over a simple mote of information but jobs, schooling, and finances all may one day be on view for all to see.

You’ve got a right to hate what technology has done to us, but don’t be a Luddite, for it still can be used, in capable hands, for for the amazing and creative to happen.

tokyojesusfist

“You jump at the newest gadgets, and all you do is relish the pride in owning one as some consumer.” (this was translated by Sankaku Complex)

Isn’t that really what the iPad is all about? What does it do that other devices don’t already do much better? All it seems to have going for it is that it’s an Apple product.

T-rock

Ipad is not that exciting lol, it’ll be obsolete soon anyway once bendable foldable paper thin PCs OLEDs possibly will come out lol and the stinkin thing doesn’t even have a camera, and probably the sound quality is not up to par either lol.

This is something Miyazaki san will never understand..imagine him at the age of 25 lol This old dog will howl on about it, bet he lacks the skills of using his thumbs to text and probably can’t even write an e-mail. The only touch panel thing he’s probably ever used is at an ATM machine lol

tokyojesusfist

He has also made the best animated movies known to man, so I think I’m ready to forgive him for not being too tech-savvy.

kimsei

Respect goes to Miyazaki for his movies and contribution to the anime/entertainment world. I love his work and greatly appreciate what he does and respect his opinion on the subject of technology and modern culture. However, I agree to disagree with him on the technology side of his comments. People have to right to do what they want but keeping in mind their surroundings. I myself am not a big fan of the iPad. I am not going to spend $900 dollars on a oversize itouch but would I refuse to get one if it was free, of course not! Any who, this is not a bashing of Miyazaki because that is his opinion and I agree with him on most of his points but people can do a lot of things with technology that they enjoy who are be to tell them no.

PS: I am looking forward to his new film. It looks awesome, as always.
http://www.kawaiikakkoiisugoi.com Adrian

This story amused me, if only for the mental image of seeing Miyazaki sitting there on the subway shaking his head and being angry at the kids and adults on their iPads or madly texting away on their phones. It’s a funny image, and it’s also interesting to me that he is so disconnected with technology and doesn’t have a computer/etc.

It’s interesting to me that he is such a visionary director/filmmaker/animator and yet he seems to be so disconnected with the plug-in world we live in.

Just my .02

Hayao Miyazaki Doesn’t Like Gadgets

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