Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, and the Impact of Anime Guest: Helen McCarthy, author of 13 books on anime and manga, including "Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation" Studio Ghibli’s animated movies are beloved the world over for their beauty and insight into the human psyche. They've transformed not only Japanese culture but also how the world sees Japan.  The World's Oldest Novel Guest: Melissa McCormick, Professor, Japanese Art and Culture, Harvard, and author, "The Tale of Genji: A Visual Companion"  "The Tale of Genji" is arguably the oldest novel in the world, and some scholars say it is as central to Japanese art and culture as the Bible is in the West. The voluminous, complicated work was written by a woman scholar from the Imperial court, and you might laugh out loud when you read it.