Latest news with #Totoros
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!
SoraNews24
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Totoro travel bags, suitcase ready to take responsibility for inspiring your Japanese countryside trip
Hey, Totoro, can you hold our stuff while we go for a walk in the forest? It may not be a travelogue or official tourism promotion video, but it's safe to say that My Neighbor Totoro is a major reason for a whole lot of trips to Japan. For many people, the Studio Ghibli anime's depictions of the Japanese countryside are their first inkling of the bucolic beauty waiting outside the concrete jungles and neon thickets of the country's big cities, and 'Whoa, this looks like something out of Totoro!' is something countless visitors have thought to themselves when they see farm and forestland in Japan. So if Totoro is going to be inspiring people to travel to/in Japan, it's only fair that he help them carry their stuff, right? Ghibli specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku has a whole line of Totoro travel bags, including a roller suitcase decked out with illustrations of the forest spirit frolicking in a clover patch, along with the white Little Totoro and some Soot Sprite friends. ▼ There don't appear to be any four-leaf clovers, but who needs luck when you've got this much cuteness? The rollers and TSA-compliant combination lock add convenience and security to the suitcase, which is 33 x 52 x 21 centimeters (13 x 20.5 x 8.3 inches) and has a carrying capacity of 30 liters. If you need more room, you'll be happy to know that with the handle extended… …you can slide it through a Totoro Boston bag. This one doesn't just show off Totoros on the fabric pattern, either, because the zipper pulls are little metallic Totoros too. Actually, the suitcase also has Totoro zipper pulls, but they're located inside, and a shiny silver color instead of the rustic bronze shade for the Boston bag's. Size-wise, these are both luggage pieces you'll want to leave in your hotel or inside a locker while doing your sightseeing, but there are two day-use bags in the line as well, a backpack… …and a 'town shoulder bag.' ▼ The shoulder bag is also sized to perch nicely on top of the suitcase. Prices start at 4,950 yen (US$34) for the shoulder bag, with the Boston bag 5,500, the backpack 5,940, and the suitcase 24,200 yen. The whole bunch is available through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store here following a restock, and if you'd like Totoro to help support your neck while you catch some Zs on the plane (and transform too), they've got you covered on that as well. 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!
SoraNews24
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Support Japan's real-world Totoro Forest with special Studio Ghibli collection
Huge range of clothing, bags, accessories and stationery help to save the place where Totoro was born. Not many fans may be aware of it, but the character of Totoro from My Neighbour Totoro was born in a forest area in Sayama Hills in Tokyo's neighbouring prefecture of Saitama, which now goes by the name 'Totoro's Forest'. Ghibli director and co-founder Hayao Miyazaki came up with the idea for Totoro during one of his daily walks in the forested area, leading it to become known as 'the place where Totoro was born', and prompting him to set up the Totoro no Furusato Foundation, which conserves the natural habitat through initiatives such as the 'Totoro Fund'. Part of the way the foundation raises funds is through sales of Totoro Fund goods, which feature illustrations by Miyazaki that you won't find anywhere else. Right now is the perfect time to stock up and support the cause, as a huge number of goods has been restocked at the studio's Donguri Kyowakoku retail chain, giving you a wide variety of products to choose from, at various price points. The first set of goods is a range of clothing, with hoodies and long and short-sleeved T-shirts vying for our attention. ▼ The long-sleeved T-shirts have 'National Trust Totoro Fund' written on the front… ▼ … a couple of cute Soot Sprites on the left sleeve… ▼ … and a trio of Totoros on the back. This design is called 'Furoshiki Totoro', with furoshiki referring to the cloth sacks being carried by the Totoros. The Furoshiki Totoro long-sleeved shirts retail for 4,510 yen (US$31.27) each and can be purchased in white or black. ▼ Next up, we have a couple of 'Furoshiki Totoro' hoodies, priced at 6,600 yen. Like the shirts, the hoodie is made from 100-percent cotton and features adorable images drawn by Miyazaki. ▼ The hoodie is available in grey… ▼… and black. Now we move on to the T-shirts, with the 'Konnichi wa Totoro' ('Hello Totoro') design featuring the big guy popping out from a corner to say hello. The shirts can be left untucked for an oversized, casual look, or tucked in for a neat but relaxed style. The Konnichi wa Totoro is available in three colourways, priced at 3,960 yen each. ▼ Navy ▼Black ▼ … and White. ▼ Meadow Totoro has a duo of Soot Sprites on the front… ▼…and a beautifully whimsical image of Totoro on the back. ▼ The shirt is available in white or black and is priced at 3,960 yen each. Now we move on to some bags and accessories, starting with the Furoshiki Totoro Neck Strap (1,430 yen), which can be used for ID cards, smartphones, pens, name tags, keys — anything that's small and easy to lose. The Furoshiki Totoros will take care of your valuable items, with different designs on the front and back of the strap. There are three bags to choose from. ▼ The Vertical Catbus Tote Bag (2,750 yen), which measures 36-37 centimetres (14.2-14.6 inches). The bag is as cute as it is functional, with an inner pocket helping to keep things easily accessible. ▼ The Sendangusa Foldable Eco Bag (1,540 yen) Light yet durable, this handy bag measures about 38 x 42 centimetres and can carry half a dozen two-litre plastic bottles. 'Sendangusa', a genus of annual plants in the daisy family, features in the adorable design, with Totoro seen relaxing in the leaves. As the name suggests, this bag folds up into a neat little square so you can keep it in your handbag without it taking up too much space. ▼ The Matcha Foldable Eco Bag (1,870 yen) Measuring around 27 x 56 centimetres, this bag is slightly shorter and wider than the previous one, making it a good fit for bento lunch boxes. It also comes in handy for supermarket runs, where everyone in the store will be silently admiring the adorable design. This sweet design embodies the charm , beauty and magic of the place where Totoro was born. This one folds up neatly as well so you can have it ready to go in your bag whenever you need to use it. Now it's time to check out the stickers, which are an affordable way to contribute to the fund while getting some very cute hand-drawn images in return. ▼ Soot Sprites and Furoshiki Totoro Set ▼ 'Mei' and 'Totoro Family' ▼ 'Catbus' and 'Large Totoro' ▼ 'Round Large Totoro' ▼ 'Round Furoshiki Totoro' Both the two-piece sticker sets and larger single stickers retail for 660 yen, and whichever ones you choose, they're sure to grab attention. ▼ The remaining goods will be highly sought after by stationery lovers. First up, there are two postcards sets, with the 'Flowers' collection containing five watercolour designs… ▼ … and the 'Totoro' set containing six. ▼ The 'Totoro Letter' Letter Set (660 yen) contains a total of nine sheets of paper, in three designs… ▼ … and three translucent envelopes, so you can see the artwork without even having to open it. ▼ The Totoro Letter Set (660 yen) is adorned in illustrations drawn by Miyazaki. There are a total of 12 sheets in this set, in three designs. ▼ Mei is shown in a forest setting with the Catbus and the baby Catbus. ▼ The Furoshiki Totoros can be seen walking in line amongst Soot Sprites and their beloved acorns. ▼ And the Soot Sprites loom large over the rural Kusakabe family home, as if having escaped from its confines. ▼ The set is complete with five envelopes. Next up, we have several 'ippitsu-sen' (一筆せん), which are note pads or letter pads that are ideal for writing short messages. ▼ This seven-sheet pad has three illustrations by Miyazaki. Because Japanese is traditionally written from top to bottom, there's also a vertical ippitsu-sen , with three original illustrations by Miyazaki. Then we have some loose-sheet ippitsu-sen , with seven in total featuring three Miyazaki-drawn illustrations. ▼ All the ippitsu-sen retail for 660 yen. Now we come to the final product in the lineup — the Soot Sprite Sticky Notes (660 yen). This adorable set will have you wanting to bookmark everything you can with a sticky note. With 26 products to choose from, Totoro will be receiving a lot of for his real-world forest from supportive fans this summer. As always, stocks are limited, so you'll want to get in quick to show your support, although you can always make the trip to Sayama to experience the forest and purchase the goods in person. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Studio Ghibli adds folding fans to its anime specialty store in Japan
Totoro and No Face whisk you away to enchanted worlds. With the humidity beginning to rise in Japan, Studio Ghibli is here to provide some much needed relief with two folding fans dedicated to My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away. The first fan depicts the Totoros from My Neighbour Totoro, in a cooling nighttime forest scene. Totoro and the smaller Medium Totoro can be seen blowing into their ocarinas as they do in the film. On the other end of the fan you'll find the Small Totoros hanging out on a branch, watching the fireworks as many people do during summer in Japan. The attention to detail continues beneath the design, where you'll be greeted by charming Totoro cutouts every time you open the fan. The second design is adorned with camelias and characters from Spirited Away. No Face stares out from the floral setting as a scattering of Soot Sprites scamper about, carrying their beloved star-shaped komeito candy pieces. ▼ Stretching across the fan is Haku, in dragon form… ▼ …and on the bottom, cutout details tip the hat to natural elements like bamboo leaves. With fans being an essential everyday item on summer outings, you'll need a bag to store them in, and there are four varieties to choose from, two of which are new for summer. ▼ The new bags feature No Face, with the kanji 'ゆ' ('Yu') acting as a nod to the bathhouse in the film… ▼ …and Totoro, with a Soot Sprite. Unfortunately, the blue Totoro bag proved to be so popular that it sold out soon after it was released on 31 May. However, two designs have been restocked, including one with an image of Totoro, in a traditional yellow-toned Japanese colour known as 'yamabuki'. The final fan bag is an indigo-hued variety featuring No Face, again with the character 'ゆ', but this time the character is looking over its shoulder, in a pose that recalls the moment a cooling wave of water splashes against him during the train journey scene. The fans retail for 4,070 yen (US$28.33) each and the bags for 1,540 yen each, and they can be purchased at Donguri Kyowakoku stores and online, while stocks last. If flat fans are more your thing, Studio Ghibli has you covered there too. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top Image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Totoro Mini Pouches are enormously cute【Photos】
Big Mini and Medium Mini Ghibli pouches are like little functional plushies. In laymen conversations, the name 'Totoro' tends to get tossed around to refer to this guy. But as educated anime zoologists know, the gray forest spirit indicated by the arrow in the above image is just one of three distinct Totoros. Technically, he's the 'Big Totoro,' not to be confused with the blue 'Medium Totoro' or white 'Small Totoro.' So it is, arguably, just a bit confusing that Studio Ghibli specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku is now offering a 'Big Totoro Mini Pouch,' but any extra effort our brains need to parse that description is more than offset by the joy the design gives our hearts. The zippered pouch is part of what Donguri Kyowakoku calls its wazakka line, with wazakka loosely translating to 'Japanese-style housewares and accessories.' The rustic, course-touch fabric is meant to evoke traditional Japanese textiles, and the designers say the pouch is especially well-suited to stuffing in the sleeve of your kimono to store important stuff as you head out to a summer festival, though with it looking this adorable, there's never really a bad time to use it. And don't worry, they made sure to include the Big Totoro's tail too. Of course, the Big Totoro Mini Pouch name implies the exitance of other-size Totoro Mini Pouches, and sure enough, there's one for the Medium Totoro too! Though the big gray guy is the most famous Totoro, you could argue that the Medium Totoro is the more appropriate muse for a pouch, since in the anime he's often depicted carrying around a sack of acorns, though that isn't part of the pouch's design. Despite their 'Big' and 'Medium' names, though, both Mini Pouches are identically sized, at 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) in height and 90 centimeters across. They're also priced the same, at 1,980 yen (US$13.65) and share the same style of leafy zipper pull. Both the Big and Medium Totoro Mini Pouches are available now thanks to a restock, but oddly enough there doesn't seem to be a Small Totoro Mini Pouch available. Maybe it's coming soon, but for the time being the Big Totoro pouch can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online shop here, and the Medium one here. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Studio Ghibli (edited by SoraNews24), Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
