Imperial couple pose for photo with ‘No-Face’ anime character
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Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are seated beside No-Face, a fictional character from the film “Spirited Away,” during their visit to “Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes,” an interactive exhibit in Ghibli Park, in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on Sept. 20. (Pool)
NAGAKUTE, Aichi Prefecture—Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako showed off their appreciation of Studio Ghibli Inc.’s anime works in this city outside Nagoya at Ghibli Park, taking home a whimsical keepsake.
On Sept. 20, the imperial couple viewed exhibits at Ghibli Park as part of their itinerary in this central Japan prefecture and posed for a photo.
At one point, Naruhito and Masako stopped for commemorative photos at a section where famed film scenes are replicated.
The imperial couple toured “Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes,” an interactive exhibit, under the briefing of Goro Miyazaki, a Studio Ghibli movie director.
The exhibit allows the visitor to get into the roles of fictional characters from Studio Ghibli works.
In a rare sight, Naruhito and Masako were seen seated by the side of the Kaonashi (No-Face) character, like in an iconic scene from the film “Spirited Away,” as a close aide used Naruhito’s cellphone to take photos of the couple.
The imperial couple interacted with children in the Cat Bus Room, where the fictional bus from the movie “My Neighbor Totoro” awaits the visitor.
Naruhito and Masako went their separate ways in the room to ask, “Where did you come from?” and talk otherwise to the young ones with smiles.
Miyazaki, the film director, said that both Naruhito and Masako have likely seen many Studio Ghibli works.
He quoted Naruhito as pointing out, for example: “Oh, I know. It’s about that scene.”
He also quoted Masako as saying: “Oh, (No-Face’s) hands are so small.”
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