The relationship between parents and children in Japanese society based on the material of Hayao Miyazaki's film "Gone with the Ghosts"

The object of the study is the work of the Japanese animator, director Hayao Miyazaki. The subject of the research is the relationship between parents and children in Japanese society on the material of the animated fantasy film, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The empirical material of the article is not only the film itself, but also interviews of the director, participants of the film creation process, journalists, viewers, and posts in social networks. The research focuses on the images of the parents of the main character Chihiro and her parents from the point of view of Japanese viewers. The goals of Miyazaki in creating the image of «inadequate parents» are defined and analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the description of the beliefs associated with spiriting away (hidden by kami) in Japan. The authors describe cases of missing children in medieval Japan, including such phenomenon as 間引き mabiki – «getting rid of children». The basis of the research methodology is an interdisciplinary socio-cultural approach, methods of cultural and phonological interpretation and linguocultural commentary. The relevance of the research topic is determined by the expanding space and forms of intercultural communication, the popularity of Hayao Miyazaki's works all over the world, the humanistic nature of his works, the increased interest of researchers in the subculture of anime, which transfers cultural values and behavior models and serves as a tool of youth socialization. Scientific novelty of the study is determined by the fact that for the first time the film «Spirited Away» is analysed in terms of the relationship between parents and children, taking into account the broad context of national and cultural attitudes. Original materials in Japanese and their interpretation are introduced into the scientific turnover. In the course of the research, the authors conclude that the main task that the director was to help unleash the inner life force of the main character Chihiro, and for this purpose he sent the girl on a journey full of trials.

anime, director, Hayao Miyazaki, inadequate parents, Japanese viewers, Chihiro, beliefs, Spirited Away, children, mabiki