Toshio Suzuki will once again serve as Studio Ghibli’s President.
As detailed on Anime News Network, the studio recently announced that Suzuki would take over the role from Koji Hoshino, who resigned as both President and Chairperson in late March. Hoshino first assumed the role of President in 2008, where he served until replaced by Kiyofumi Nakajima in 2017. Hoshino returned to the position again in 2021. When asked why he was leaving the company, Hoshino explained that it was due to Ghibli’s continued inaction against Suzuki, who repeatedly misappropriated company funds during his time with the studio. On Ghibli’s website, Hoshino also cited the completion of the film, How Do You Live, as an additional reason for leaving. Hoshino will remain with Ghibli as a Representative Director for the month of April, but will officially retire from the company in June.
Studio Ghibli Head Ousted For Misusing Company Funds
Last month, new information surfaced regarding Suzuki’s repeated mishandling of company funds. According to an investigation done by Shukan Josei, Suzuki fell in love with a woman from Thailand. In 2018, Suzuki appointed this woman, identified as “Kanyada” in the article, as the manager of a restaurant that Ghibli had approved the opening of. He also tasked Kanyada with organizing an official photobook for the restaurant, despite her allegedly having no experience as a professional photographer.
Although this restaurant was an official business venture for Ghibli, Suzuki allegedly used it as an opportunity to court Kanyada, using company funds to cover all of her living and traveling expenses. One of Ghibli’s employees accused Suzuki of deliberately organizing a photo exhibition at a hot springs resort just so he could enjoy time there with Kanyada. When Hoshino confronted Suzuki about this incident, the Ghibli co-founder reportedly removed Hoshino from his position as President. Suzuki has not yet publicly responded to Shukan Josei’s article.
Studio Ghibli Animation Success Began with Nausicaa
Toshio Suzuki has worked alongside Hayao Miyazaki prior to Ghibli’s founding. Originally working as an editor for the Animation magazine, Animage, Suzuki helped Miyazaki get approval for the 1984 film, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, by encouraging him to create a manga version of the story. This manga went on to become one of Animage’s most popular features, ultimately leading to the creation of its iconic film counterpart. After the movie’s success, Suzuki helped Miyazaki create Studio Ghibli and served as a Producer for most of its major releases, including How Do You Live?, which is slated for release in Japanese theaters on July 14.
Studio Ghibli’s entire film library is available on HBO Max.
Source: Anime News Network
