by Friday Road Show 2026 kicks off with a Studio Ghibli film. Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” will air on January 2nd, followed by Isao Takahata’s “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” on January 9th. See stills from “Spirited Away” and “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.” “Spirited Away,” directed in 2001, was a phenomenal hit, grossing ¥31.68 billion at the box office and establishing itself as a national animated film. In 2022, Toho and Studio Ghibli teamed up to produce a stage adaptation starring Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi.
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” is a new interpretation of Japan’s oldest story, “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter,” directed by Isao Takahata, a master of Japanese animation.
The familiar story is brought to life through colorful picture scrolls and watercolor paintings. “Spirited Away” will air on January 2nd from 9:00 pm to 11:39 pm, and “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” will air on January 9th from 9:00 pm to 11:54 pm, both in their entirety. Why not take your time over the New Year and enjoy Studio Ghibli films on TV? [Film Information] “Spirited Away” (2001) Uncut Broadcast Date and Time: Friday, January 2nd, 9:00 pm to 11:39 pm Extended by 45 minutes Original Story, Screenplay, and Director: Hayao Miyazaki (※崎 is pronounced “tatsusaki”) Music: Joe Hisaishi Voice Cast: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takashi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Bunta Sugawara
Story: Beyond the tunnel was a mysterious town – an impossible place. Impossible things have happened. 10-year-old Chihiro finds herself lost in a world humans are not meant to enter. In this town of wonders and wonders, Chihiro discovers a great sense of powerlessness…and a small hope. Let me work here! Chihiro’s dormant “will to live” is gradually awakened.
“The Tale of Princess Kaguya” (2013) Uncut Air date and time: Friday, January 9th, 9:00 pm – 11:54 pm Extended by 60 minutes Original story, screenplay, and director: Isao Takahata Screenplay: Riko Sakaguchi Music: Joe Hisaishi Voice cast: Aki Asakura, Kengo Kora, Takeo Chii, Nobuko Miyamoto, Atsuko Takahata, Tomoko Tabata, Shinosuke Tatekawa Synopsis: When an old man (Okina) discovers a shining bamboo in a bamboo grove, he finds a beautiful princess among the bamboo shoots that have grown nearby. He and his grandmother (Ouna) decide to care for her.
The princess grew rapidly and became a young girl in about 6 months. She was nicknamed “Takenoko” by the neighborhood children and the boy they loved, Sutemaru, and lived a lively life running around the fields and mountains. One day, an older man received gold and beautiful clothes from a glowing bamboo. He thought it was God’s will for him to raise the princess to be a girl worthy of the clothes, and decided to move to the capital, but.[Upcoming broadcast lineup] December 12th, 9 pm “Wish” First broadcast, full version December 19th, 9 pm “Home Alone.”
