Hayao Miyazaki Confirms Princess Mononoke Urban Legend About Leprosy Theme

Director Hayao Miyazaki has confirmed a longstanding urban legend concerning his 1997 Studio Ghibli animated film, Princess Mononoke.

While the film's primary focus is on the conflict between industrialized man and the spirits of nature, there are several subthemes present as well. One such theme involves the bandaged individuals who live at the Tatara factory.

The cause for the bandages is never explicitly stated in the film. Most Western audiences assumed that the cause was leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease, since such bandages are often used as visual shorthand for the disease, but the original Japanese dialogue uses the word "gyobyo," meaning "incurable disease" or "suffering the consequences." Like real world sufferers of Hansen's Disease, these victims were ostracized by their communities, and Lady Eboshi showed them unusual kindness by taking them in.

In Japan, the notion has become something of a fan theory, but with World Leprosy Day approaching on Jan. 31 – an event designed to raise awareness for the disease – Miyazaki has decided to publicly set the record straight, confirming the bandaged individuals at the Tatara factory were meant to represent leprosy sufferers.

"While making Princess Mononoke, I thought I had to depict people who are ill with what's clearly called an incurable disease, but who are living as best they can," Miyazaki said, according to All Nippon News Network, while explaining that leprosy and the way victims of the disease are treated inspired him to create the bandaged factory workers.

Princess Mononoke was the film that introduced the now retired Miyazaki to the Western world, proving popoular enough for the director himself to tour the United States to attend select screenings. Clearly the film's powerful themes still resonate today.

Via Kotaku