Ghibli giant Hayao Miyazaki has – to the surprise of nobody it seems – retracted his latest promise to retire, making it the 7th time he has vowed to quit only to think better of it.

The withdrawal, made in a radio broadcast on New Year’s Eve, marks the 7th such recantation (although by some counts he has done it as many as 10 times).

Starting after Laputa in 1986 and again in 1992, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2008 and now 2013, it now seems a time honoured tradition for him to celebrate his latest blockbuster’s success with a retirement announcement.

Online the usual railery has intensified, with there being some mild relief that his latest “retirement marketing” will not interfere with the prospect of a Nausicaa sequel.