Regarding Mark Schilling's July 18 review of the animation film, "Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises)": It's an excellent movie, although I felt the end was slightly abrupt and hurried. It provides a sweeping view of history leading up to the Second World War.
As in so many other Hayao Miyazaki films, the courtship between the couple is pure, innocent and childlike, the ideal of what real love can be. It is best described by the Japanese words junsui and mujaki. The story line has been wonderfully adapted from two sources but feels remarkably original. A sprinkling of adult relationships makes this movie stand out from those where adults mainly remain detached and in the background, a world different from the supernatural world of the children.
The movie contains a very important message for contemporary Japan. The protagonist urges making something that should not become outdated in a short time. It reflects the historical background of Japan always wanting to somehow keep pace with the West rather than thinking of making extraordinary strides in the direction of surging ahead of everyone.
There was a brief period in the 1970s and '80s when Japanese electronic products reflected novel ideas. Now, electronic goods often lag behind. Here the story line blends with the present. Even the earthquake scenes remind us of 3/11 earthquake and tsunami. The movie's ending is heart-wrenching.
Hats off to Miyazaki. He soars to new heights. I wish him good health and hope he continues to make many more movies in the future. I look forward to the release of "Kaguyahime" this fall.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.