Uncle Pom

An eccentric old man who appears to Pazu and Sheeta while they are wandering in the abandoned mine to escape from the Dola gang and the army, calling them "little imps." The draft notes describe him as a 70-year-old miner, knowledgeable about the underground of the Slag Valley. In 'Catalog I,' he is described as a miner. He has known Pazu for some time and is deeply admired by him, being called "Uncle Pom." He is well-versed in minerals, referring to changes in the state of ores as "the voices of the stones," and enjoys wandering alone in the abandoned mine. He provides Pazu and Sheeta with knowledge about the levitation stone and legends such as "the stones are restless because Laputa is above," and guides them to the exit. In the novel version, he is described as a living dictionary of the mines (of Slag Valley) known among the miners. Although a mysterious figure, it is suggested that he might be a descendant of the working class of Laputa, as his appearance resembles the people depicted in the opening. He is modeled after Yasushi Mori and Yoshifumi Kondo. He is one of the five people appearing in the opening credits, and in the movie's end credits, he is listed as "Uncle Pom."