Its connection with the movie is explained in the next point. In Spirited Away, Yubaba is an old woman with white hair who controls her employees through the power of language and magic. In order to survive in the spirit world, Sen worksat the bathhouse, which depends on water for its livelihood. It turns out it refers to Japanese folklore, where it includes various animal transformations and a representation of the greed that took place during the Japanese recession of the 80s. RELATED: 10 Best Anime from Studio Ghibli (According to IMDb). The paper dolls used by Yubaba’s sister Zeniba to attack Haku are called “Shikigami” in Japanese folklore. One prime example of this would be the Yokai Kappa, who kidnaps children residing near rivers, and then eating them whole. Onsens or as some refer to them as Sento, are a staple of Japanese culture and have been prevalent for millennia. Haku is shown to be a water dragon known as Mizuchi. She can freely transform humans into animals and eat them, which is entirely reminiscent of yamauba's cannibalism. A legend going back as far as seven centuries in Japan calls mizuchi a snake like dragon that was venomous in nature. Following after, Chihiro notices transparent shadow Kami, who traditionally do not take a visible form to the human eye. Naruto: 10 Characters That Should Have Died But Didn't, Spirited Away: 10 Mysterious Japanese Folklores That Inspired The Anime, 10 Best Spirited Away Tattoos That Will Make You Want To Get Inked, Best Studio Ghibli Anime (Ranked By MyAnimeList), 10 Best Anime from Studio Ghibli (According to IMDb). Ubasute, literally means “abandoning old women,” and, even today, Japan has a mountain called Ubasute-yama. Recognized as No-Face, “Kaonashi,” or “faceless” as he is called in Japanese, is first introduced when Chihiro is holding her breath to cross successfully into the spirit realm. Boh, the mammoth sized child of Yubaba, was inspired by the Japanese folk hero Kintaro. Yubaba’s Baby Bo, which means “Boy,” refers to the legendary folk hero “Kintarō, the golden boy.” The tale features a beefy young toddler raised by the mountain witch Yamauba. So, now giving her the name “Sen,” meaning “One Thousand” in English, could be a metaphor for what Chihiro is to Yubaba, a money source, rather than a person. The Tsuchiguo flourished in folklore until they were exterminated by emperor Jimmu, which may be why Kamajī seems like the only one left of his kind. Fans of Japanese cinema will undoubtedly know all about Studio Ghibli and the amazing and timeless movies it has produced. These statues are used to mark boundaries to protect travelers and those in a “transitional phase.” Something Chihiro happens to be experiencing at that moment. This fairy lore belief is likely influenced by Japanese mythology and Shinto. They are similar to the Yokai in Japanese folklore called “Tsurube-otoshi,” where they resemble giant disembodied heads. In his native Japan it won best picture at the 2002… They are spirits resembling giant chickens or ducks that are clients of the Bathhouse, here they put themselves into bath tubs. Similarly, Chihiro must eat the food of the Kami world to stay there. Sen nearly drowns inthe process, but the spirit p… Miyazaki wrote, directed, and drew the storyboards for the … Chihiro and her family are introduced, driving through the countryside and passing several iconic Japanese structures where they first pass a wooden gate called a Torii. It is said that Sakata Kintoki was the real life inspiration behind the folk hero Kintato, who probably had his home in Kanagawa. The River spirit is initially shown to be a dirty and “stinky” spirit that everybody avoided so much to the point that they didn’t even remember who it was. When Haku gives Chihiro a berry to eat, it keeps her from disappearing from the spirit world. Yubaba’s three pet heads are called “Kashira,” meaning head. RELATED: Best Studio Ghibli Anime (Ranked By MyAnimeList). Other articles where Spirited Away is discussed: Miyazaki Hayao: …to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001; Spirited Away) captured the top prize at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival, won best Asian film at the Hong Kong Film Awards, and was named best animated feature at the 2003 Academy Awards. Simply because they were consuming important food rations that was better spent on the more healthy members of the family. In the Japanese creation myth, Izanami, the Japanese goddess of creation and death, is banished to the realm of the dead after giving birth to the god of fire “Kagutsuchi.” Her brother Izanagi travels to the realm of the dead to retrieve her. These dolls always come in pairs – one is shaped like a horse, and one is shaped like a woman. 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