Kyoto exhibition finds Zen in the worlds of Studio Ghibli

Kyoto – Studio Ghibli’s beloved films have often explored themes of moral ambiguity, leaving viewers with questions that linger long after the credits roll. Hayao Miyazaki’s 2023 feature “The Boy and the Heron” is no exception. Its Japanese title is borrowed from Genzaburo Yoshino’s 1937 novel, “Kimi-tachi wa Do Ikiru Ka” (“How Do You Live?”), which considers how a young person might find their way in a world marked by struggle and uncertainty.

Although the film and book take different paths, both contemplate an open-ended question that lies at the heart of Zen philosophy: How should we live as humans?