Toshio Suzuki will once again serve as President of Studio Ghibli.
As detailed on Anime News Network, the studio recently announced that Suzuki will take over the role from Koji Hoshino, who stepped down as both President and President at the end of March. Hoshino is taking on the role for the first time. President in 2008, where he served until being replaced by Kiyofumi Nakajima in 2017. Hoshino returns to the position again in 2021. When asked why he left the company, Hoshino explained liked that it was due to Ghibli’s continued inaction against Suzuki, who repeatedly embezzled company funds during his time with the studio. On Ghibli’s website, Hoshino also cited the completion of How Do You Live as an additional reason to leave. Hoshino will stay with Ghibli as Representative Director in April, but will officially retire in June.
Studio Ghibli was expelled for abusing company money
Last month, new information emerged regarding Suzuki’s repeated mishandling of company funds. According to an investigation conducted 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 to open. He also tasked Kanyada with organizing an official photo book for the restaurant, although she is said to have no experience as a professional photographer.
Although the restaurant is an official Ghibli business venture, Suzuki allegedly used it as an opportunity to flirt with Kanyada, using the company’s money to cover all living and travel expenses. her back. One of Ghibli’s employees accused Suzuki of deliberately organizing a photo exhibition at a hot spring resort just so he could enjoy his time there with Kanyada. When Hoshino questioned Suzuki about the incident, the Ghibli co-founder was said to have removed Hoshino from the position of Chairman. Suzuki has yet to publicly respond to Shukan Josei’s post.
Studio Ghibli Animation’s Success Begins With Nausicaa
Toshio Suzuki worked alongside Hayao Miyazaki before founding Ghibli. Originally an editor for 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 became one of Animage’s most popular features, eventually leading to the creation of its iconic counterpart film. Following the film’s success, Suzuki helped Miyazaki establish Studio Ghibli and acted as a Producer on most of the studio’s major release films, including How Do You Live?, scheduled for release. in Japanese theaters on July 14.
Studio Ghibli’s entire movie library is available on HBO Max.
Source: Anime News Network