Ghibli and Moss

Hello, this is Moss Para.

Have you ever paid attention to "moss"?

I won't let you say you haven't.
Because you have definitely seen it.

Moss growing on the roadside, moss growing on mountain paths.
That's not all.
Moss also appears in movies and works of art, helping to create their worldviews.

The worldview of "Studio Ghibli" is symbolic of this.

Ghibli works treat "moss" with great care.
They beautifully depict "moss" not only in deep forests and vast nature, but also as a symbol of the tranquility, mystery, and unreachable places within a scene.

I imagine there are very few people who have never seen a Ghibli film.
Even if you weren't conscious of it, those deep green forests must be burned into your memory.

The person who was solely responsible for the world of moss in Ghibli was Mr. Nizo Yamamoto.
Mr. Nizo Yamamoto was an animation art director who painted backgrounds for animation.
He began his career early on by creating backgrounds for "Sazae-san" and "Mazinger Z".

After that, he met Hayao Miyazaki and served as the art director for "Future Boy Conan".
He also served as the art director for "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro" and was active as an art director for Miyazaki's works.

Following that path, he joined Studio Ghibli.
He served as the art director for films such as "Castle in the Sky," "Grave of the Fireflies," "Only Yesterday," "Whisper of the Heart," "Princess Mononoke," and "Spirited Away."
The beautiful forests and natural worlds in these works were painted by Mr. Nizo Yamamoto.

It is not just the beautiful forests and mossy landscapes; when it comes to Ghibli clouds, they are the clouds drawn by Mr. Nizo Yamamoto.
Those unique, billowing cumulonimbus clouds.
It was Mr. Nizo Yamamoto who drew these.

These clouds are called "Nizo Clouds" and have been inherited by Ghibli works.

Unfortunately, Mr. Nizo Yamamoto passed away in 2023.
Now, there is a museum dedicated to him in the Goto Islands of Nagasaki Prefecture.

What do you think?
Even those who say they have never seen "moss" have definitely seen it at least once and must have been moved by it.
The way moss grows represents the passage of time, and it is not only beautiful but also gives the background a sense of temporal depth.

When making a moss terrarium, it's not just about "making it".
You can see the way time passes, how the moss and plants grow, and how their shapes change, all within a small bottle.

It changes very slowly, over time, and little by little.
A moss terrarium allows you to create a new landscape by adding your own touches to those changes little by little.

There are many moss terrarium creators who first discovered the beauty of moss through Ghibli.
If you are a Ghibli fan reading this and have the desire to 'create a Ghibli forest in your room!', I think you will find making a moss terrarium to be a very enjoyable experience.

Bring the beauty of moss to your own hands.
This was Moss Para.