Unravelling Neo-colonial Japan: Mythic Metamorphosis and Urban Picturesque in Miyazaki’s Spirited Away

Abstract

This research investigates the postcolonial impact on Eastern identity, through a child's experience in neo-colonialized Japan, focusing on environmental and religious/cultural disruptions. Through an analysis of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, the study investigates how the film's portrayal of spaces blurs cultural boundaries, creating a sense of identity unease among those affected by neo-colonialism. It further explores the influence of cultural shifts on contemporary Japan's religious and environmental landscapes, emphasizing identity following the Meiji Restoration. Employing eco-critical and critical myth lenses, the research scrutinizes the clash between anthropocentric Americanized and traditional Japanese values within urban and natural spaces, highlighting how characters in Spirited Away encounter and navigate unfamiliar religions. This study provides a nuanced understanding of the collision between traditional and neo-colonialized Japan, emphasizing the challenges of identity dislocation and the quest for belonging in a changing cultural landscape.