Agreed. Plus the animation is just breathtakingly beautiful for me - like paintings I can spend hours reflecting on. Totoro as well, the countryside scenes always make me miss Japan.

Definitely a soft spot for Kiki! Princess Mononoke was a close one for me, because it was the first one I saw in the cinema but nothing beats Howl’s.

I’m so sorry to hear this. I mean, foreigners can just very simply choose not to go like I’ve done so. And it’ll be so complicated and frustrating for you.

Oooh! I quite enjoyed the plot and the set design was amazing! And so was the cast! It was an interesting experience having to read the subtitles quickly on the side and then paying attention to their acting.

Then the Chinese couple next to me started snickering when a fan of Park Hae Soo’s told him his fans are called “Hae Soo Nation” (witnessed a fan service moment with my own eyes!) But also got annoyed with the Chinese couple for trying to gatekeep the fan about how to “watch a play properly”. Ugh!