Kiaan 2

The podcast discusses the connections between the beloved Japanese film, My Neighbor Totoro, and a tragic real-life event called the Sayama Incident. The film's details suggest a link to the incident, such as the presence of Totoros, which are considered gods of death in Japanese mythology. The film's location and the timing of the incident also align. While definitive answers are elusive, the impact of both the event and the film is undeniable. Hi there, this is Kiran from 2.5 and welcome to my podcast, The Twin Taboos. So I'm willing to bet that many of you would have heard this tune from your childhood days, from watching the heartwarming film, My Neighbor Totoro. It's a classic animated Japanese film, produced by the world-renowned Studio Ghibli. It revolves around two sisters, Tatsuki and Mei, who move to the countryside to be near their sick mother. There, they encounter magical beings like Totoro, a gentle forest spirit amidst their adventures. But here's where it gets interesting. There's a surprising connection to a tragic real-life event, the Sayama Incident. A handful of details in this cherished film are proof that it is made in relation to the incident. Today we'll be diving into the conspiracies of My Neighbor Totoro, while exploring its ties to a darker piece of history. On May 1st, 1963, Yoshimi Akata, from Tokorozawa, a city in Japan, was kidnapped on her 16th birthday and a ransom of 200,000 yen was asked for her release. Her sister, Yosha, delivered the money in hopes of seeing her sister, but to no avail. Three days later, Yoshi's body was found dead in the alley of her farm. Devastated, her grief-stricken sister, Yosha, tragically took her own life. Although many might wonder how such a horrifying real-life event intersects with a cherished animated film, there is concrete evidence that might prove otherwise. In Japanese mythology, Totoros are considered gods of death, and if you don't see them, you are already dead. So in principle, this shows that both Maid and Satsuki, like Yoshimi and Yosha, are dead. In the film, Maid was missing and a slipper is found in a pond, which supposedly implies that she has drowned. In theory, Satsuki goes to look for her and with wrathful grief, opens Death's door and joins her sister in death, emanating the girl's suicide. As we dive deeper into these fan theories, another detail in the movie stands out, the location. But the connections don't end there. The house from the film is in Sayama City, which is located right next to Tokorozawa City. This explains the My Neighbor part, doesn't it? Lastly, the month that the Sayama Incident took place was in May, and Satsuki's maiden is also translated to May in Japanese. Maid's name also sounds similar to the month May. To make coincidences, in an IJRF critic's podcast, it is clear that the legacy of the Sayama Incident continues to spark curiosity and speculation, particularly in relation to the cultural works, like My Neighbor Totoro. While we've explored the possible influences and connections between the two, it's important to recognize that definitive answers may elude us. What remains undeniable, however, is the enduring impact of both the real-life event and our beloved film. Thank you.