SPIRITED AWAY (SAKAKI)

Written By Alex Crowson
 

Welcome to Completely Arbortrary’s Treeyazaki, a month-long exploration of the trees of Studio Ghibli and films of Hayao Miyazaki! To start our journey, we visit a bathhouse for spirits in Spirited Away. This is a story about a young girl who finds herself trapped in the spirit world, and must escape with the help of a river spirit. This episode we’re talking Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan, and the importance of the Sakaki (Cleyera japonica).

Sakaki
(Cleyera japonica)

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

Support the pod and become a Treemium Member
Follow along on Instagram
Find Arbortrary merch on our store

Cover art by Jillian Barthold
Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals
Episode cover photo by Studio Ghibli

Additional Reading:

Sakaki (Cleyera japonica)
Sakaki: Sacred Tree of Shinto
Environmental Themes in Spirited Away

 
Alex Crowson
Previous

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (CAMPHOR)
Next

PRESERVATION (INCENSE-CEDAR)