The UP Asian Center in collaboration with the Ramon Magsaysay Transformative Leadership Institute is organizing the panel discussion, “Growing Up with Ghibli: Transnational Legacies of Hayao Miyazaki” on 18 August 2025, 1 PM to 4 PM (GMT+8), ONSITE at the UP Asian Center. The event is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register online.
ABOUT THE PANEL DISCUSSION
Hayao Miyazaki (born 1941) is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker and mangaka, a masterful storyteller regarded as one of the most impactful figures in the animated film industry. He co-founded Studio Ghibli,popular for its animated films such as My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), and Howl’s Moving Castle(2004), as well as Academy Award recipientsSpirited Away (2001) and, more recently, The Boy and the Heron (2023).Miyazaki’s works tackle different perspectives of the human experience. They touch on various social issues such as peace, women’s rights, and the environmentwhile still being relatable to children and adults alike.
An avid supporter of Studio Ghibli, Filipinos have long patronized these masterpieces. A part of their childhood, Pinoys watched these well-loved movies through VHS tapes and DVDs. Since then, fans have created their own communities that regularly gather to celebrate these works through vibrant fairs, art and anime festivals, film showings, and cosplay events. Even artists have created artworks inspired by the works of Miyazaki using photos, posters, stickers, and cards.Indeed, these works have earned an important place in Filipino culture and society, illustrating the socio-cultural and economic impact of Miyazaki’s work.
Although divided by borders, Miyazaki’s works serve as an example of transnational cultural exchange and of the enduring impact of such exchanges. In this light, the UP Asian Center and the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation and is conducting a panel discussion and film showing on the cultural and intellectual significance of Hayao Miyazaki’s works to culture and society in the Philippines and beyond. The discussion aims to illuminate how these works are received by various cultures and how their influence translates to the reimagining of identities, cultures, scholarship, creative work, and international relations. It also aims to highlight how Miyazaki’s works promote cultural exchange as well as bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan. Through gathering scholars and artists, this activity aims to create a space for dialogue and conversation on the philosophical and cultural frameworks of Studio Ghibli films, their connection with the current realities of global society, and their lasting influence on scholarship, storytelling, and filmmaking.
ABOUT THE 2024 RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD FOR HAYAO MIYAZAKI
In recognition of his substantial contribution to animation, Miyazaki was bestowed the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award last November 2024. Dubbed as Asia’s Nobel Prize, the award is a recognition of the selfless efforts of individuals and their impacts to creating successful solutions to issues of human development to their respective societies, to Asia, and to the world.The Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation recognized Mr. Miyazaki’s legacy in animated filmmaking and inspiring genuine human connections among young and adult audiences alike. Miyazaki’s works inspired the imagination, young or old, by believing that storytelling can engage children to raise questions about complex issues surrounding humanity and its environment, and society.
OBJECTIVES
The discussion aims to:
- Explore the cultural and socio-political themes embedded in Hayao Miyazaki’s films and examine how these narratives resonate with diverse audiences, particularly in the Philippine context.
- Analyze the role of Miyazaki’s works as instruments of cultural diplomacy and soft power, with attention to their influence on Japan’s image, global media culture, and international relations.
- Foster interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars, artists, and cultural practitioners on the intellectual and creative impact of Studio Ghibli, and how its philosophies inspire contemporary scholarship, storytelling, and identity formation.
- Discuss the lasting impact of the works of Hayao Miyazaki to contemporary media and storytelling and highlight the importance of imparting messages of social realities to the youth.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
KARL IAN CHENG CHUA, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Asian Center, UP Diliman
Karl Ian Cheng Chua, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman. He served a Professorial Lecturer at the UP Asian Center. He has recently completed his posting as a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University. He serves on the editorial board of East Asian Journal of Popular Culture, Comics Studies: Aesthetics, Histories, and Practices and Social Science Diliman.
LOUIE JON A. SÁNCHEZ, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Broadcast Communication
College of Media and Communication, UP Diliman
Louie Jon A. Sánchez is Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Broadcast Communication at the College of Media and Communication, University of the Philippines Diliman. He is a prize-winning poet, critic, media historian, and translator. He is the author of Abangán: Mga Pambungad sa Resepsiyon sa Kultura ng Teleserye (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2022) and Ang Drama ng Ating Búhay: Isang Kultural na Kasaysayan ng Teleserye (De La Salle University Publishing House, 2024).
SZUSZA T. VELASCO, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Art Studies
College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman
Szusza Velasco is an Assistant Professor from the Department of Art Studies, University of the Philippines, Diliman. She obtained her MA in International Studies under the UP Department of Political Science, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art Studies (Interdisciplinary) at the same university. She was also an exchange student under the International Student Program at Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan. Previously, she served as the Program Coordinator at the Japan Foundation, Manila, working on arts and cultural exchange initiatives by the Japan Foundation Asia Center. Her research interests include international relations and exchange, popular culture, and technological mediations in art.