Studio Ghibli President Koji Hoshino announced on the official website of the studio that he had stepped down from the President and Chairman role at the end of March 2023.

He will, however, continue to serve as the representative director until the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders, which will be held on June 2023, where a new chairman will be appointed.

The website also revealed that Toshio Suzuki has taken over the role of the Studio Ghibli President as of April 2023.

I, Koji Hoshino, will be stepping down from the Board of Directors of Studio Ghibli and leaving Ghibli at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in June.
Prior to this, I will be stepping down as President and Chairman of Studio Ghibli at the end of March, but will continue to serve in a representative role until the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

According to Hoshino, this was the perfect time to leave Ghibli after 15 years of hard work, and that he entrusts the management of the studio to whoever takes over, hoping they will continue to lead the legacy.

He also added that he wanted to try his hands on new fields, making the most of his experience and connections.

After 15 years of hard work managing the studio since assuming the position in February 2008, I have decided that this is the only time to leave Ghibli, following the end of the three-year-long Corona disaster, the opening of Ghibli Park last November, and the completion of Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, “How Do You Live? I have decided that this is the only time for me to leave Ghibli. I am happy to entrust the management of Ghibli to my successor and hope that he or she will lead the new Ghibli.

On a personal note, I will turn 67 years old in May. From now on, I intend to challenge myself in new fields, making the most of my experience and personal connections.

Studio Ghibli, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo. It has a strong presence in the animation industry and has expanded its portfolio to include various media formats, such as short subjects, television commercials, and two television films.

The studio was founded on June 15, 1985, by the directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, after acquiring Topcraft’s assets.

Its mascot and most recognizable symbol is a character named Totoro from the 1988 anime film My Neighbor Totoro. Among the studio’s highest-grossing films are Spirited Away (2001), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), and Ponyo (2008).

Spirited Away won the 2002 Golden Bear and the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Source: Official Website