The people responsible for taking inappropriate photos at Ghibli Park have come forward to apologize for their behavior.
As reported by Comic Book, a collection of park-goers have delivered a statement in response to the controversy regarding their inappropriate social media posts. The culprits took a collection of lewd images throughout the park, showing them fondling character statues and taking photos up their skirts, which they then shared on social media. They recently addressed their actions at a press conference: “Taking these photos went beyond the level of a practical joke. We’ve caused a lot of distress to everyone. We endeavor not to cause any mischief in the future.”
The photos of these park-goers molesting and acting indecently with depictions of underage characters from the Ghibli canon caused a big stir throughout Feb and March, with the Japanese government getting involved and promising to crack down on such behavior. Hideaki Omura, the governor of Aichi prefecture — where the park resides — commented on the matter at the time of the posts saying, “Ghibli Park is a place for adults and children to have fun while experiencing Ghibli films. I don’t want people who do things that many find offensive to come to the park.”
Ghibli Park Refrained From Commenting on the Controversy
The park and Ghibli company themselves have not made any statements regarding the controversy. However, Omura expressed his willingness to accept their apology and his desire to leave the whole incident in the past. It is unknown whether the culprits are facing punishment for their actions, such as criminal charges or a ban from attending the park.
The studio itself recently faced its own controversy as the company’s co-founder, Toshio Suzuki, was embroiled in a scandal that saw him embezzling company funds to give to his girlfriend. Besides that the company has continued to thrive, with new merchandise and a lot of success with the park’s opening.
Ghibli Park opened its doors to the public in November 2022, two years after the initially planned opening date of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives attendees a chance to experience the world of Ghibli, with models and attractions from some of their most popular movies, such as My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Spirited Away. The park has multiple sections, with the currently opened areas including “Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse,” “Hills of Youth” and “Dondoko Forest.” In addition, there are two areas that have yet to open, “Mononoke Village” and “Valley of the Witches.”
Tickets to visit the park are available on the website. Additionally, the portfolio of Studio Ghibli movies is available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: Comic Book
