returning home

His films consistently explore the spiritual and emotional journey of characters returning to their roots, most notably in *Spirited Away* and *Howl's Moving Castle*.

He examines the yearning for home and belonging as a metaphysical quest, particularly in *The Thin Red Line* and *A Hidden Life*.

His intimate family dramas like *Like Father, Like Son* and *Shoplifters* profoundly explore what home and family truly mean across generations.