Editing Spirited Away (section)

=== Traditional Japanese culture ===
''Spirited Away'' contains critical commentary on modern Japanese society concerning generational conflicts and environmental issues.<ref name="napier" /> Chihiro has been seen as a representation of the ''[[shōjo]]'', whose roles and ideology had changed dramatically since post-war Japan.<ref name="napier" /> Just as Chihiro seeks her past identity, Japan, in its anxiety over the economic downturn occurring during the release of the film in 2001, sought to reconnect to past values.<ref name="satoshi3" /> In an interview, Miyazaki has commented on this nostalgic element for an old Japan.<ref name="midnight-eye">{{cite web|last=Mes|first=Tom|date=7 January 2002|title=Hayao Miyazaki Interview|url=http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/hayao_miyazaki.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802193550/http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/hayao_miyazaki.shtml|archive-date=2 August 2009|access-date=1 August 2009|work=Midnight Eye}}</ref>

Japanese philosophy plays a huge role in ''Spirited Away'', specifically through concepts like ''[[Kami]]'' and principles like ''[[Mottainai]]'' and ''On''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://filmcolossus.com/spirited-away-2001-explained/ |title=Spirited Away: The Definitive Explanation |last1=Bean |first1=Travis |date=20 July 2023 |publisher=Film Colossus |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728205315/https://filmcolossus.com/spirited-away-2001-explained |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sps|sure=yes|date=February 2025}} The concept of Kami, for instance, involves various spirits that each represent different elements and aspects of nature. The principle of Mottainai, which is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, embodies a sense of regret towards waste, valuing the complete utilization of an object or resource. While the principle of On, a key tenet of Japanese ethics that signifies a sense of moral indebtedness, plays a significant role in Chihiro's character development.{{cn|date=February 2025}}