At what age did you learn that My Neighbor Totoro was inspired by a terrible case of rape and murder? There is a disturbing theory that takes all the tenderness out of this beautiful Studio Ghibli film that we love so much.
While it’s not something that filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki has confirmed, in recent years it has gained more traction and credibility on social media. This story is not for the faint of heart and if you wish to keep the heartwarming part of the story clean in your mind, you shouldn’t proceed.
What Is My Neighbor Totoro About?
My Neighbor Totoro was released in 1988 and is set in the 1950s Japanese countryside. It follows the story of two sisters, Satsuki and Mei Kusakabe, who move into a rural house with their father while their mother recovers from an illness in a nearby hospital.
They soon discover that their new home is inhabited by friendly, magical creatures, which includes Totoro. The plot centers on the adventures of the two sisters as they explore their surroundings and befriend these beings.
The Murder Behind My Neighbor Totoro
According to the theory, Miyazaki would have portrayed in My Neighbor Totoro a terrible murder that occurred in Japan in 1963, better known as the “Sayama Incident.” The victim was a 16-year-old girl named Yoshie Nakata and although it is not known exactly who was responsible for this heinous crime, the prime suspect was Ishikawa Kazuo.
Yoshie’s body was found with marks of violence and it was determined that she was abducted, raped, and then murdered. Sadly, the young woman’s family had to face a second loss. Her sister, who intended to pay the ransom, could not bear the pain and a few days later took her own life.
But How Does This Case Relate to My Neighbor Totoro?
Fans of the most recognized animation production house claim that the movie fits perfectly, since just like in the real case, the plot centers on two sisters who arrive in Sayama. Another sign is the name of the girls. The murder occurred on May 1 and they are named Satsuki, which means “May” in English, and Mei, which phonetically, has the same sound as this month.
If you add the ages of these two characters, they give a total of 16, the years that Nakata was when she was murdered. In addition, they claim that Totoro is a God of Death (Shinigami), so people who can see him are dead or close to it.
Because of the above, fans point out that when Mei disappears and they find a sandal in the pond, it is really the representation of her death. Although creator Hayao Miyasaki has denied such a relationship between the film and the murder, this theory does not sound so far-fetched, as they share more than one similarity.
This story was written in Spanish by Nayeli Párraga in Cultura Colectiva
