Hayao Miyazaki Taught Us This About Suffering

Hayao Miyazaki is often celebrated for his lush, imaginative worlds and gentle storytelling, but beneath the surface of his films lies a profound understanding of suffering — not as something to be avoided, but as a part of life that shapes us. His characters endure loss, betrayal, and transformation, yet they rarely succumb to bitterness. Instead, they grow, adapt, and find meaning in the struggle. As someone who has watched his films over and over, I’ve come to see Miyazaki not just as a filmmaker, but as a quiet guide through life’s darker moments.

## Suffering Is Not a Sign of Weakness

In Spirited Away, Chihiro is thrust into a strange and often cruel world, forced to work in a bathhouse for spirits. She is afraid, overwhelmed, and homesick — yet none of this is portrayed as weakness. Miyazaki shows us that suffering is a natural response to change and challenge. Chihiro’s vulnerability is not a flaw but a step in her growth. She learns to work, to trust, and eventually to lead — not by denying her pain, but by carrying it forward.

## We Can Still Find Beauty in a Broken World

Miyazaki’s films are full of ruined landscapes — from the poisoned forest in Princess Mononoke to the post-war ruins of The Wind Rises. Yet in each of these settings, there is beauty to be found. He teaches us that even in the midst of destruction, life persists. Flowers bloom through cracks, animals survive, and people rebuild. This is not blind optimism, but a quiet insistence that beauty exists even when things fall apart.

## Forgiveness Is Possible, Even After Deep Pain

In Howl’s Moving Castle, Sophie is transformed by a curse and dragged into a world of war and magic. Yet she never becomes consumed by anger. Even Howl, a character marked by trauma and self-loathing, finds a way to forgive himself. Miyazaki suggests that forgiveness is not about forgetting or excusing pain — it’s about choosing not to let that pain define you. This is a subtle but powerful message for anyone trying to move forward after being hurt.

## You Can Carry Your Sadness Without Letting It Crush You

In My Neighbor Totoro, two sisters cope with their mother’s illness in different ways. Mei is young and hopeful; Satsuki is older, more aware of the stakes, and quietly anxious. Yet neither girl is shown as broken by the situation. Instead, they support each other, hold onto wonder, and face the unknown with courage. Miyazaki teaches that sadness doesn’t have to be a burden — it can be a companion on the journey.

## Suffering Connects Us to Others

One of the most moving aspects of Miyazaki’s films is how often characters help each other without expecting anything in return. In Kiki’s Delivery Service, Kiki loses her magic and nearly her sense of self — but it’s the kindness of strangers and friends that helps her regain it. Suffering, in his world, isn’t isolating. It’s a shared human experience that opens us to empathy and connection.

## Healing Is Not a Straight Line

Miyazaki never offers simple resolutions. There’s no magic bullet for pain in his films. Instead, healing is messy, slow, and sometimes incomplete. But it’s always possible. His characters stumble, doubt, and make mistakes — and yet, they keep going. That’s perhaps his most important lesson: healing isn’t about being “fixed.” It’s about continuing to live, even when you’re still hurting.

Talk to Hayao Miyazaki on HoloDream to explore his philosophy further — ask him how he finds hope in a world full of sorrow.