Latest news with #DonguriKyowakoku
SoraNews24
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Elegant ghostly Ghibli curtain captures the ungraspable form of No Face【Photos】
Clever design trick brings the Spirited Away star's otherworldly appearance into your real-world home. Spirited Away's No Face is one of the easiest characters to see through in any anime from Studio Ghibli. That might seem like an inaccurate description of a deeply complex figure who ends up as someone unimaginably different by the end of his character arc, but I'm not saying that No Face is thematically transparent, but that he's visually translucent. ▼ What's going on inside No Face is often obscured, but the stuff on the other side of him? Not all that hidden. This unique aspect of No Face's appearance can be hard to capture in plushies and figures, but the designers for Ghibli specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku have come up with a clever way to preserve this ethereal aesthetic with a new No Face noren, a traditional Japanese doorway curtain. The curtain actually has a two-layer construction, and is made of a lacey material that allows a measure of light to pass through. That means that when the layers of fabric overlap, they still block enough light to function as curtains, but since No Face's features are only present on the front cloth, his silhouette appears indistinct and vaguely defined, just as it would to Chihiro and the other characters within the anime. The complete curtain measures 82 centimeters (32.3 inches) across and 90 centimeters in length. In classical Japanese interior design, noren can be used for both exterior and interior doorways, but Donguri Kyowakoku realizes that some fans might prefer to use this as a poster/wall scroll instead. Because of that, the noren comes with only a tiny cleft at its bottom, leaving it up to you as to how long a cut, if any, you want to make. The No Face Rainy Night Double-layer Noren is priced at 5,280 yen (US$36) and can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store here. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Studio Ghibli, Donguri Kyowakoku ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Studio Ghibli specialty shop in Tokyo Station announces indefinite closure, for kindhearted reason
Every other store in Tokyo Character Street is open, but Donguri Kyowakoku says it's not time to shop. Earlier this month the Tokyo Skytree branch of Studio Ghibli specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku held its grand reopening, welcoming guests to its enchanting forest-style interior. However, just a few weeks after gaining a place to find cool Ghibli stuff, fans are now losing one, though it's hard to imagine anyone getting too steamed over the logic behind the shutdown, which is itself an attempt to deal with some sweltering conditions. First Avenue Tokyo Station, or Tokyo Station Ichibangai as it's called in Japanese, is a shopping center attached to Tokyo Station. The most popular part of the complex is Tokyo Character Street, a section of specialty shop after specialty shop filled with merch for some of Japan's most popular characters from anime, manga, video games, and the sphere of adorable mascot characters, and one of those shops is Donguri Kyowakoku's, officially listed as its 'Tokyo Station branch.' First Avenue Tokyo Station's proximity to one of Japan's busiest rail hubs for both short and long-distance train and subway rides, plus being located outside the ticket gates so you don't even need a ticket to shop there, make Tokyo Character Street an extremely popular place to pick up souvenirs and presents. However, First Avenue Tokyo Station is an underground shopping center, which means there are no naturally cool breezes coming into its stores. As a matter of fact, cool breezes are in short supply right now in general in Japan, as the whole country, Tokyo included, is grappling with an intense heat wave, and things have gotten so hot that the Donguri Kyowakoku branch has announced it will be temporarily closing, for an undetermined amount of time, out of concern for the wellbeing of its workers and customers. 【東京駅店 臨時休業のお知らせ】日頃よりジブリがいっぱい どんぐり共和国をご利用頂きありがとうございます。この度どんぐり共和国 東京駅店は、誠に勝手ながら7月26日(土)より当面の間、臨時休業いたします。 下記詳細をご確認くださいませ。 — ジブリがいっぱい どんぐり共和国【公式】 (@ghibli_dongurep) July 23, 2025 The announcement was made through the Donguri Kyowakoku Twitter account and on the website of managing company Benelic. The statement says: 'Over this series of consecutive extremely hot days, it has become difficult to regulate the temperature in the facility, and we do not feel able to adequately provide the atmosphere of a place of comfort, warmth, and unfading smiles that our customers value.' First Avenue Tokyo Station is air-conditioned, but as a series of long, wide tunnels with hundreds of people moving through them at any given time, keeping the place cool isn't always easy, especially since Tokyo Character Street's shops have open storefronts when their shutters are open during business hours. Neither Donguri Kyowakoku nor First Avenue Tokyo Station have mentioned the facility's air conditioning system being outright broken, and there's been no order from the health department or other governmental authorities to suspend business operations within the center. Of the roughly 30 shops in Tokyo Character Street, Donguri Kyowakoku is the only one to have said they'll be shutting down indefinitely in response to the heat, so this really does seem to be a judgement call the store has made to protect it employees and would-be shoppers from the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and other high-temperature maladies. It's an especially conscientious move considering that Japanese schools are currently on summer vacation, and it's also the high season for inbound foreign tourists as well, so Donguri Kyowakoku is leaving a lot of potential sales revenue on the table, but still feels that shutting down for the time being is the right choice. ▼ Calcifer was unavailable for comment regarding his possible culpability in the affair. The announcement apologizes to fans for the inconvenience, and directs them to the Donguri Kyowakoku branches elsewhere in Tokyo at the Skytree, Sunshine City shopping center in the Ikebukuro neighborhood, and the Diver City complex in Odaiba. Source: Benelic via Maido News via Yahoo! Japan News Top image: Studio Ghibli Insert image: Studio Ghibli ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Totoro and Jiji tail seat cushions blend Studio Ghibli backsides with yours【Photos】
Ghibli tails from Ghibli tales. Does anyone else sometimes forget that Totoro has a tail? Maybe it's a result of how cozy napping on the forest spirit's tummy looks in the Studio Ghibli anime classic, or because of how expressive his facial expressions are. There really are a lot of captivatingly cute points to his character design to keep track of. But sure enough, he's got a tail, and now there's an adorable reminder of that fact courtesy of Ghibli specialty store Donguri Kyowakoku. At 35 centimeters (13.8-inches) in diameter, the Totoro Tail Seat Cushion may not be big enough to accommodate Totoro's bottom, but it should work just fine for human fans. There's an embroidered-patch Medium/blue Totoro on the pad itself, and a pair of Soot Sprites make an appearance too. The big highlight here, though, of course, is the Totoro tail that sticks out for an anime aesthetic touch even when you're sitting on top of the cushion. The promotional photos show the urethane foam cushion placed on a chair for some extra padding, but it should also work great for Japanese tatami reed floormats, as well as on-the-floor seating in Western-style interiors with carpeting or hardwood floors. Speaking of Ghibli tails from Ghibli tales, there's one character that no one will ever forget has such an appendage, black cat Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service. Technically, the Jiji Tail Seat Cushion gives you two versions of the character's tail, one on the embroidered Jiji patch and the other dangling out from underneath the pad. The Jiji Tail Cushion is the same size as the Totoro one, and they're identically priced too, at 3,300 yen (US$23) each. Both can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online shop here. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Featured image: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Studio Ghibli Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
It's officially Ponyo time as Ghibli character appears as new anime accessory line and clock【Pics】
Whether you're heading out to brave the summer heat or staying cool at home, Ponyo is ready to hang out. With summer here, it's the perfect time to head to the beach. Or, alternatively, it's the perfect time to say 'Yeah, it's way too hot to be outside' and enjoy some marine-themed anime in your air-conditioned home. But while only you can decide which of those times it is, Ponyo can tell you what time it is on the clock. Studio Ghibli's spunky fish girl, star of the anime movie of the same name, is swimming into specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku with a new lineup of summery merch, including a Ponyo Jellyfish Clock, with elegant glass beads instead of numbers serving as markers on the clockface. Donguri Kyowakoku is known for their attention to detail, and whereas some designers might have been tempted to only model the part of Ponyo that sticks up over the top of the jellyfish, the character is represented in full. The material for the jellyfish itself even has a translucent effect to it, making it seem even more realistic. Arriving at the same time as the clock is a selection of Ponyo accessories. The ring once again features Ponyo and a jellyfish, but this time she's crawled inside for a nap. With pierced ears not being quite as prevalent among Japanese women as they are in some other countries, and especially less so among teens and kids, Donguri Kyowakoku often releases its earrings in two styles, one for pierced ears and the other as clips, and that's the case for the Ponyo earrings. No jellyfish here, but Ponyo won't be lonely, because she's got some of her sisters with her! Something to bear in mind here is that the sea glass-style accents at the end of the strands vary from piece to piece. So if you're ordering the earrings online, you won't be able to choose the exact color you're getting, but you will still have something that's beautiful and somewhat unique. And finally, even more of Ponyo's siblings show up to help form this bracelet. Prices range from 2,420 yen (US$17) for the ring, 2,970 yen for the bracelet, 3,630 yen for the earrings of either type, and 8,580 yen for the clock. The whole lineup goes on sale July 5 and can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store (clock here, accessories here), meaning they'll be available in time to wear for a summer trip to the real-life town that inspired the Ponyo anime. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Beautiful forest-style Studio Ghibli specialty shop reopens at Tokyo Skytree this summer
Catbus and multiple Totoros getting ready to receive guests once again. There's more to do at the Tokyo Skytree than take the elevator up to the top of Japan's tallest spire. The Solamachi entertainment complex at the foot of the tower has an aquarium, a planetarium, and a wide variety of restaurants and specialty shops, and one of those shops that's opening soon is going to be very special. Donguri Kyowakoku boasts the biggest selection of Studio Ghibli anime merchandise you'll find anywhere in Japan, with several items exclusive to the chain. With Ghibli's movies having built up a global fanbase, Donguri Kyowakoku often has branches in spots that see a lot of international travelers passing through, and until recently the Skytree was one of them. However, this past spring the Solamachi Donguri Kyowakoku closed down for renovations. The work is nearing it's completion, though, and not only will the shop be open and ready to receive customers again this summer, it'll look cooler than ever too! With its name translating to 'Acorn Republic,' most Donguri Kyowakoku stores have a woody look to their interiors. The renovated Skytree branch, though, is really committed to this theming. One section of the store will look like a leafy forest, and even feature a special flooring meant to simulate the sensation of walking across soft-packed earth. Waiting among the trees will be a jumbo-sized Catbus, and if you follow the path the Small and Medium Totoros are on, you'll find their Big Totoro brethren doing what he does best: taking a very cozy-looking nap. The designers say that another part of the store will have the atmosphere of a cottage outfitted with antique furniture and include a mysterious array of vials and flasks, akin to what you'd see in a witch's home laboratory. The Skytree is located in Tokyo's Shitamachi district, which was the busiest and most bustling part of the city during the Edo period (1603-1868). So while they're not exclusive to this particular Donguri Kyowakoku branch, you can the store to be well-stocked with Ghibli items that have a traditional Japanese vibe, like the Totoro folding fan and tenugui towel/tapestry seen below. Donguri Kyowakoku's Skytree branch's grand reopening will take place on July 11. And if you're looking for more sky-related travel destinations in Japan, we've got a whole bunch of them right here. Shop information Donguri Kyowakoku (Tokyo Skytree Solamachi branch) / どんぐり共和国（東京スカイツリータウン・ソラマチ店） Address: Tokyo-to, Sumida-ku, Oshiage-1-12, Tokyo Skytree Solamachi East Yard 2nd floor 東京都墨田区押上1-1-2 東京スカイツリータウン・ソラマチ イーストヤード2F Open 10 a.m-9 p.m. Source: PR Times Top image: Studio Ghibli Insert images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
