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The 1985 animated film “Night on the Galactic Railroad” was such a huge inspiration for Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” that he also included a “magical train ride” scene similar to Gisaburō Sugii’s film. The lyrics appear to depict Chihiro’s near-death experience in the river, notably with the two lines that read, “Me, who is living because of someone / Someone who was living for me.” These lines can be interpreted as Chihiro being alive because of her brother’s sacrifice after saving her.
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The movie’s theme song “Ano Hi no Kawa” translates to “The River That Day.” While the song does not have lyrics in the film, director Hayao Miyazaki reportedly gave the film’s composer, Joe Hisaishi, lyrics as a guide to create the melody. According to SoraNews24, Chihiro also said that “the river she fell in is all built over and ‘flows underground’, which can be read as a metaphor for her brother - the river - being buried underground.” The memory of Chihiro falling into the river is also based on her mother’s story, leaving fans to believe that her mother left out details regarding her brother’s death. He mentioned that he has known her since they were little. There are other instances in the film to support his theory such as Haku knowing Chihiro’s name without her telling him. Haku then became the guardian spirit of the river known as “Nigihayami Kohakunushi,” which translates to “ God of the Swift Amber River. However, Haku fell in the river and drowned, sacrificing his life to save her. The film’s visuals show an arm with a white sleeve plunging into the water during the memory.Īccording to Okada’s theory, the hand was Haku’s as he tried to reach in to save her. In one part of the film, 10-year-old Chihiro recalls a childhood memory wherein she falls into a river as she attempts to retrieve her shoe. The author and lecturer provided arguments that shocked and convinced many viewers, according to SoraNews24. Okada, a co-founder and former president of the production company Gainax, believes Haku to be Chihiro’s older brother who died while saving her from drowning in the Kohaku river. Anime producer and author Toshio Okada shared his theory regarding the real relationship between protagonists Haku and Chihiro in the classic 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film “Spirited Away.”