Latest news with #SootSprite
SoraNews24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Studio Ghibli wind chime adds anime charm to the summer breeze
The sounds of a Japanese summer, with the help of magical movie characters. Studio Ghibli's 1988 film My Neighbour Totoro is famous for its titular star, but the giant grey Totoro, known as the 'Big' Totoro in Japan, is only one of three that you'll see in the film. The other two are blue and white, known as 'Medium' and 'Small' respectively, and they're now here to step into the spotlight with the big fella, in a beautiful wind chime. Each Totoro has a cute little companion keeping it company, with the white one on top joined by a red ladybug, the blue in the middle joined by a yellow butterfly, and the grey star Totoro appearing with a Soot Sprite by its side. Wind chimes like this one are commonly used in summer, where the tinkling sound acts as an auditory reminder of the breeze. While they come in many shapes and forms, one common element is the oblong paper tag at the bottom, which helps to catch the wind and cause the chimes to ring. This tag is beautifully adorned with Totoro and a Soot Sprite, alongside fireworks, another symbol of summer in Japan, and the word 'furin' ('風鈴' ['wind chime']), which combines the kanji for 'wind' ('風') and 'bell' ('鈴'). The wind chime is made from pottery to give it a beautiful sound, and it measures 7.5 centimetres (3 inches) in length. The refreshing turquoise hues will help keep you cool in the summer heat, and the box it comes in is so gorgeous you'll want to keep it for storage come autumn. Each wind chime is priced at 3,080 yen (US$21.41) and can be purchased at Donguri Kyowakoku stores and online, thanks to a recent restock. Like many Ghibli items, though, this seasonal item looks set to be very popular with fans so you'll want to get in quick while it's still available. Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Studio Ghibli serves up My Neighbour Totoro with a side of traditional Japanese wagashi sweets
Proof that Totoro loves sweets and matcha as much as we do. Studio Ghibli loves to champion traditional Japan in its movies and its merchandise lines, highlighting aspects of the culture to remind us of the things that make it so unique. One of the tastiest examples of this can be found in the Totoro Wagashi Burarin Series, a collection of charms — burarin loosely translates as 'dangly' — that combine the titular character from My Neighbour Totoro with wagashi, Japanese sweets. ▼ There are four to collect, starting with the Sakura Mochi no Omiyage. 'Omiyage' is the Japanese word for 'souvenir' and is often used to refer to sweet local specialty souvenirs purchased while away on a trip. Judging by the look of the sakura mochi dangling from the chain, Totoro may have returned from a trip to Kansai, the region of Japan in and around Osaka, as its made in the Domyoji style, which wraps a mound of sakura mochi rice in a cherry blossom leaf. The product has loads of cute details, including a Soot Sprite, which we hope is able to hop out of the way before being eaten. ▼ Next up, we have the Dango de Hitoyasumi. With a name that translates as 'Taking a Break with Dango', this is a particularly sweet design, with a small white Totoro leaning back on three sanshoku dango (literally 'three-coloured rice dumplings'), which also go by the name 'hanami dango' ('flower-viewing dango'), due to the way the colours match the sakura trees, making them popular during cherry blossom season. Traditional sweets pair incredibly well with matcha and Totoro makes the most of breaktime by enjoying a serving of powdered green tea with his dango. ▼ Here's hoping the white mochi-resembling Totoro doesn't get gobbled up by accident. ▼ The next item in the range is cutely named Taiyaki Tsuri ('Taiyaki Fishing'). This red snapper-shaped cake is filled with sweet red bean paste, and Totoro appears to be fishing for it, in a bowl that looks like a boat. ▼ This sweet contains another Soot Sprite that's in danger of being eaten. ▼ Finally, we have the Shinsen Ichigo no Daifuku Mochi ('Fresh Strawberry Daifuku Mochi') Totoro looks incredibly excited by the fresh strawberry, which appears in his hand as well as the soft rice cake that dangles beside him. Ichigo daifuku are known for containing whole strawberries, and this one includes a mound of red bean paste, alongside… ▼ …a tiny Soot Sprite! This is a collection that's as cute as it is mouthwatering, and with each item in the range priced at 1,650 yen (US$11.46), we can easily take them all home for 6,600 yen. They'll look right at home with these igusa rush cushions and Totoro noren curtains. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
