Hayao Miyazaki in Conversation with Roland Kelts 

I’m Japanese and a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki. And I must say this translator did incredible job.

Can we take moment to appreciate the great work of the translator 👏👏👏👏👏

Translators are amazing to me. It's kind of magic to have someone who can on the spot paraphrase accurately the meaning of both languages, not just the words used ... in two directions and without interfering in the dialogue. WOw! This translator is excellent ... a voice without impeding or disrupting the flow.

She is a good translator as she tries to transfer what exaclty Mr. Mizaki says. Clap your hands to her too.

通訳さんがすごい上手。 宮崎さんの説明する描写にあう綺麗な英語で説明してくれるから表現を失う事なく伝わってると思う。

I'm not his student, but he's always my teacher... till the end!

I just got his book of Spirited Away. My daughter turned me on to this movie. I am 62 and I love it.

Miyazaki-san is the reason I am currently learning Japanese. I want to hear with ears unclouded...so to speak. Just for him, it's worth it.

I'm just so looking forward to his next film, How Do You Live?

His creativity is unbelievable. He created my childhood

I realize that some of the comments point out the fact the translator being a little and/or way off on both Eng and JP translations. In my opinion, although the translator did ok job over all, there are several very obvious inaccuracies as well. Here are some corrections and notes I've made. Hopefully non-Jp speaker Miyazaki fans will have a better understanding of Miyazaki san's response. @16:00, Miyazaki san says to the translator that he doesn't understand it. I re-listened a few times to what the translator was telling Miyazaki san in Jp. I could hear her trying to come up some words and phrases without any comprehensible sentences. I think that confused Miyazaki san. Unfortunately Miyazaki san really didn't understand the question here. @ 28:33, the translation of Miyazaki san's response was not exactly right. He actually says, " All the staff actually loved the goodness and nicety in him(Noboru Yoshida who did the background art), they all surprisingly accepted it and enjoyed his work that he put into the film (Ponyo)." @28:47, the translator mumbles and tries to come up some words in JP, which I could hear that she didn't seem to know a JP word for "Impressionistic". That leads me to understand about Miyazaki san's body gesture as a response to the host narrator's. @45:36, Miyazaki san's additional comment to his own response about the mother character in Ponyo was interpretaed, or maybe had a wrong nuance by the translator. Miyazaki san says, "I DON'T mean that the way she wildly drives a car is a good thing," and he put an emphasis on "don't mean". Whereas the translator's take in Eng makes his comment sound like that he'd more likely encourage a wild element of the mother as a positive quality of a 'strong woman'. But I'd say that he was not correlating the wild driving skill at all with an idea of a 'strong woman'. @1:07:29, unbelievably way off on Eng translation. Miyazaki san says, "I would like to continue to make an effort in making a living off of animation films in Japan and in doing so it would suffice me just fine." The translator version was "I'd like to continue to eat our rice in Japan," which was translated literally. Right after this inaccurate Eng interpretation was delivered, you can hear the audience chuckling. It is sort of embarrassing Miyazaki san and I think he's unaware of that (even though he's smiling). @1:17:56, Eng translation of Miyazaki san's response is completely off. He actually says, "It would be really great if I could make a film that grandmothers being able to introduce to their grand children, but I think I've only been able to make films that mothers could make their kids to watch." Some may say those changes are not big of a deal, but sometimes seemingly small nuance & interpretation differences could end up with very different meanings. If you are a big enough fan of Miyazaki san to spend over 1 hr of your time to watch this interview, you might want to hear closer to the true Miyazaki san's voice.

Listening to Miyazaki talk is magic in itself

Hayao Miyazaki is a great man and he has given so much to both youngters and adults. I bow to his incredible imagination and talent.

It’s kind of fascinating that all the things we wonder about Miyazaki and his films are just things that seem normal or make sense to him. It’s just elements of his culture and the way he was raised. You can tell he’s just being honest and creating work that’s true to him. Not trying to be deep or strange for the sake of it. All he’s trying to do is make films that inspire and entertain us like any kids movie director. It was interesting to see that he saw himself on the same level as someone like John Lasseter.. Hayao far exceeds him imo, but it’s very telling how he views his own films. I’m pretty sure no one thinks Toy Story is on the same level as Spirited Away, but Hayao sees them as basically trying to achieve similar things if only in spirit. If only he understood how starved we are for the kinds of stories he tells. Japanese culture can be so poetic and we’re so literal in America. A lot of our stories never keep us wondering or mystified like a good Ghibli film.

He is a genius. One of the Greatest Animation Directors of all time. I'm forever grateful to my brother who introduced me to his films when I was only 7 :) He is such a huge inspiration and huge influence on my childhood, creativity and pretty much changed my life around! I also learnt about the history of Japan a lot faster as a kid. You would be surprised by how many hidden messages there are in all of his films. Scenes, objects, the characters and what they say relates to the history (and the present) of Japan. There's so much depth and thought into his films, I just can't go a day without watching his films over and over again! if not that, I'd be reading the comics or drawing the characters or reciting lines from his film's that relate to my life. Yeah.. Huge Studio Ghibli Fanatic here ^^

It was so exciting to be there and see this in person. I didn't get to meet him that night but I loved every minute. Thank you for everything you've done, Miyazaki-sensei.

Had no idea this was on RU-vid this whole time... I was incredibly fortunate to be there in the audience that day.

I don't want him to die QAQ I wish there is something that will keep him alive forever and bring his anime forward

I was at Berkeley when this happened. I picked up a school newspaper and saw that Miyazaki was going to talk and then realized that it had started about an hour before I saw the newspaper. Glad it is at least here.

Miyazaki is very intelligent, funny and wity. He has a big sense of humor. And the lady translator is very very nice !! Great interview.

He is not only a film maker, and a creator, he is a messenger from the sublime spirit of love.

In captions Hayao Miyazaki's name is "Hi All Me a Sake"

I can't explain how much Hayao Miyazaki's films mean to me. He is an inspiration and humble man, I truly admire him

His imagination is GOD gifted, sending through the animation. it opens ones mind to full and very inspiring....

Miyazaki is such an inspiration... what an incredible amount of talent and creativity.

Something I LOVE about Miyazaki’s films is the lack of pure evil villains like he said! The person who acts as the antagonist often has justifiable reasons for the way they act even if it’s wrong or morally grey.

トークショーにも、根っからのエンタテイナーのセンスを感じます

just watched it. thank you soo much to make a upload. world is just lucky to have him.

great man

Cant we all start a fundrasier and come up with something special for Hayao Miyazaki for enriching our childhoods?

やっぱり天才なんだよなこの人。

Awww, I'm so glad this was recorded! It took me this long to find it though. It sure brings back awesome memories!

This was something that was very special for me to watch. It really motivated me and it's beautiful to see how many hearts and imaginations this man is able to reach! God bless him and his creations!

I'm amazed that i haven't bat an eye while listening to this conversation. While I'm drawing and listening to this conversation i learned so much about Miyazaki. Of course i love his movies but what i love most is how he created them. I loved the idea that all of his films are all in his imagination and are based on folktales and history. I also love how he mentioned the idea of "child like wonder" in the movie "Ponyo" and how some of his characters are connected to close friends, family, and personal experiences. Hayao Miyazaki is truly an amazing person.

I knew it !!!!!! Miyasaki is TOTORO !!!!!!!

Fantastic interview. Thank you for the upload.

I just graduated in illustration and animation and I worked traditional illustration all the time during my studies and I was criticised for that. I am glad that you work traditional. You are an inspiration for me. You are a master and I loves your philosophy

Hayao Miyazaki is the second son of four brothers. He was also good at drawing pictures when young, but his fourth brother was better. Then, Miyazaki sketched people in the park almost every day for four years since he entered high school. Of course, people will not stop, so he must instantaneously draw and draw. finally,he was getting better than the youngest brother.

Hayao Miyazaki is great, and that translator Beth Cary is also great :)

the best movie maker of all time

I love the child-like way he waves his hands!

Thanks for upload this video.

28:35 "it almost become impressionistic". this is a great mention, because hayao miyazaki quotes Claude Monet in his next formidable film "The Wind Rises". i hope his response, but translater and himself couldn't catch it.

こういう対話、面白いですね✨ アップありがとうございます😊

I really hope his son carries his fathers legacy. Spirited Away and Howls moving Castle are one my favorite animated films of all time.

He smiles a lot :)

thanks for this talk uproad.

聞き手に教養・知性があるので良いインタビューになっている。 1:19:30　泣ける

very amazing talk! Bless you,director!

As a Japanese I would like to thank UC Berkeley Center for providing this kind of award. It is a mission by the Japanese to let people know more about Japan. Especially recently history of Japan is questioned often. Those who knows about Japanese culture may agree that Japanese culture rather encourage to shy away from explaining what you did or what you did not do or say thats not true. Japan is suffering from this Japanese way of thinking as Japanese history is aften critised based on what we feel not truth. I do not know why this award was established but Japan needs to speak up our thinking now or in the past so that hopefully we can prove that Japan is not so a evil country as some countries criticises after all. I believe this award is not about politics but I just wanted to express my gratitude to those who created this award. I believe all the Japanese have to thank this award also.

宮崎駿の通訳は相当に難しいと思う。

DAMN LUCKY PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE!! Mr. Miyazaki's films get your heart & he is a very thoughtful type of person. One of the few "celebrities" I would love to.. not even personally meet, but at least be in the same room would be sufficient!!

正確に対話を行うためには、英語→日本語を日本人が、日本語→英語を英語圏の方がやらないと難しいですよね。 この通訳さんは宮崎駿の言葉をほぼそのまま通訳しようととても頑張ってると思います。私は英語が不得意ですが、それでもそのまま言い換えてるなと感じました。

King of Anime!!!!! I wish he was my granddad.

if i could just sit and drink tea for an afternoon with Hayao Miyazaki i would be able to die right then and there as happy as can be. gosh Miyazaki is such an inspiration, and his works have become such a quintessential part of life for me.

i teared up a little about the grandmother vs mother bit...

I love how they just Laugh at his Laugh beforehand without understanding what he says

Spirited Away was the first movie I watched from him, and that was like 9 years ago. And it's still one of my favourite movies of all time. I watched it so much, I damaged my DVD...

Thanks for this upload :)

I just stumbled upon this and my evening is set...thx

Gracias!, Thanks so much!

The Master. And an True Amazing Artist, in every sense of the word.

Legend!!

Just watched spirited away bro its the definition of perfection

Omg omg omg omg!!!!!!!! I admire that translator~~~!!!!! Since I can understand both Japanese and English , I know hard it is to translate so well of this sort deep topic~~ and this lady nailed it!!!

Thank you! Amazing amazing man!

It took only his entrance to make me feel this deserved a like.

Thank you for uploading!

this is so cool to watch

The most unpretentious man I have ever heard. Brilliant😊👍🏿

宮崎さんの返答は文学的だね どんな遠回りな話をしてるんだろうと思ったら ご自身の言いたいことを深いところまでよく表している

Hayao Miyazaki is and always will be a legend!!

I love how Spirited Away got the loudest Cheers. Miyazaki is my role model

just wanted to add what this man has is a gift of God given to us and himself through him, there is no way a human can do to animation like he does with animation on his/her own prowess. his mind has been inspired by the Formless One indeed

私の生きてる間に文明の終わりを見られたら素晴らしい。 →爆笑、拍手。

I find this terribly fascinating.

I remember the first time I saw that scene. I was so shocked. I think I felt exactly how I was supposed to--like Chihiro felt.

You can tell how unbelievably creative a mind this man is gifted with by his answers.. Almost everything he says here is unique, funny and unexpected.

I respect Beth Cary

Miyazaki really knows about story, drawing, knows about giving advice. thats something you learn here even with the indirect translation and his japanese modesty :)

The translator is amazing

I wish to shake the hand of this talented man and may his magic rubs on me.

"iyah(いやー)" not means "yeah"."iyah"means "umm".

Ryuichi Sakamoto and Hayao Miyazaki deserve every award.

I LOVE HAYAO MIYAZAKI!!

so kind to people, Mr. Miyazaki is the royal king in my world.

宮崎さんのもどかしさが伝わる。。。 ダイレクトな会話ができれば世の中変わるかもなぁ

Wow. Miyazaki's voice: like chocolate in the ears.

What a lovely interview! Watching this plus drinking beer, I'm happy as can be :)

The humility!

Castle in the Sky, and Nausicaa Valley of the wind are my favorite!!! Just by watching, it makes you feel like you can change the world to the better even alone if you try the best. Beautiful music too.

hes a big damn hero (like in firefly) looking out for his people and his craft. a statesman of the art of the animated image!

OMFG the english captions are golden lol

I like Hayao, this interview is very interesting.

I love how he starts off with the "anime was a mistake" question.

I was there!

this is gold

この後3.11が起きるんだから凄いよな。どんな気持ちになったんだろ監督

MAGNIFICO!!!!!!!

To be the translator would be such an exciting experience.