Nature of the human heart : a recital inspired by themes of nature from Isao Takahata's film The tale of Princess Kaguya

The program selection is inspired by nature found within plants and humans. One of the biggest influences is Isao Takahata's film The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013).The Tale of Princess Kaguya was the last film Takahata directed, whose film credits also include Grave of the Fireflies (1988) and Only Yesterday (1991).The film is a retelling of the Japanese folklore about a young girl found within a bamboo shoot by a bamboo cutter.3 However, Takahata takes the story farther into depth by exploring the development of Kaguya's character as she learns what it means to be human. Nature and the seasons play an important role in The Tale of Princess Kaguya. The genuine theme consisting of the connection humans have with nature is emphasized. Artists, whether they are filmmakers or composers have tried helping people see the bond between human and nature for centuries. Isao Takahata exemplifies this bond in The Tale of Princess Kaguya. The depiction of Kaguya's connection with nature made this film mesmerizing. It is what healed her in her moments of sadness and despair. Nature also moved the story along to represent the coming and going of time. Along with the heroine's notable relationship with nature, the film also shows the perspective of being human. It follows Kaguya's experiences of growing up. A film like The Tale of Princess Kaguya brings back the idea of how the Japanese value life. As humans experience moments of great joy and suffering, one can learn that pain felt in life does not mean there is no goodness in the world. A tale about the relationship humans have with nature and each other, Tale of Princess Kaguya is a film depicting the beauty of life seen within the eyes of the Japanese. The program's selections were chosen primarily by each piece depicting the nature of plants and humans.