India’s Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman is not a name that comes up often. Yes, media reports do talk about statements she makes or during the annual Budget release where she is one of the most talked about names even among the general public.
However, most of the time, people associate her with economic and finance-related reasons in the country and, of course, the taxes. Recently though, the FM posted something that left many netizens baffled and stunned.
What Did The Finance Minister Say?
On 1st September, Nirmala Sitharaman posted from her official X/Twitter page congratulating anime legend Hayao Miyazaki for his Ramon Magsaysay award.
She wrote “Co-founder of #StudioGhibli #HayaoMiyazaki gets the Ramon Magsaysay award. His masterpieces are “My Neighbour Totoro” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service—can watch them any number of times. Anime have much for adults and Miyazaki serves them like a magician.”
Hayao Miyazaki is considered a legendary name in the anime sector, being the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and a respected Japanese animator behind some of the most iconic anime films in the world. Miyazaki recently won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, a very prestigious Asian award that is almost considered to be Asia’s Nobel Prize.
Read More: Demystifier: Everything About India’s Climate Finance Taxonomy Introduced In The Union Budget 2024
This led to a lot of shocked and baffled reactions from netizens who couldn’t believe that Sitharaman was someone who would have any knowledge of anime, a sector usually associated with the younger generation.
One user commented “You watch anime?” while another said, “Wow, didn’t expect this tweet,” and a third jokingly asked, “is this twitter hacked?”
Another user wrote “I never thought a government official, especially a sitting minister, would talk about anime. But here we are—it’s surprising, and I’m all for it.”
User @varnityadav made an interesting observation writing, “the reach on this post compared to previous ones suggests that there must be a policy that solely caters to the anime fanbase in India”.
Another user wrote humorously “Tax cut now or we are spamming spoilers. This is warning.”
User @wadadparker posted “There’s something magical about anime. Knowing that this woman loves n appreciates good anime as much as we do, I now cannot bring myself to dislike her in any manner for what she has done to taxes. Wow. “You don’t have enemies, only taxes.”
User @Dillip_Sahoo5 did write how “Previously Ravish kumar also won that prestigious award…but did you wish Ravish sir?? Hypocrisy ki v seema hoti hai.”
A few were not so pleased with the Finance Minister’s post though, with some writing that she should stay away from the director.
Hayao Miyazaki, who co-created Studio Ghibli in 1985 is known for iconic films like Spirited Away (2001), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), The Boy and the Heron (2023), Princess Mononoke (1997), Castle in the Sky (1986), Ponyo (2008) among many others.
“Spirited Away” and “The Boy and the Heron,” even won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2001 and 2023, respectively.
Miyazaki is especially lauded for showing interesting and deep themes like life’s complexities, relationships, ageism, childhood, innocence, death, nature, and more through his work.
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature Image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, Moneycontrol
Find the blogger: @chirali_08
This post is tagged under: Nirmala Sitharaman, Nirmala Sitharaman anime, anime, Hayao Miyazaki, Hayao Miyazaki anime, Hayao Miyazaki award, Hayao Miyazaki films, Ramon Magsaysay Award, finance minister, india finance minister
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, or copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.
Other Recommendations:
10 Bridges Collapse In Bihar In 15 Days: What Is Wrong, Asks PIL
