Studio Ghibli Works With Artisans For Hand-Crafted Keepsakes Seeped In Nature

As lofty as it is to dream of living in Totoro’s magical forest, you can now take a piece of it into your home. Studio Ghibli has partnered with Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, a prominent collective of Japanese artisans that was founded in 1716, to create gifts that immerse you in the natural landscapes that have inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s famous animated work.

The collection breathes over three centuries of hand-crafted excellence into My Neighbor Totoro-themed merchandise. Since no acorn has been left unturned, the selection’s prices range from ¥550 (US$4.07), for a small dish towel, to an eye-watering ¥330,000 (US$2,442).

The latter price is for the collection’s most prized item—a sculpture of the mystical forest spirit hand-carved by a single artisan, Takaaki Tanka, using 50 chisels. The object is created from the wood of the camphor tree, the same variety that Totoro lives in. The endearing tribute entices audiences to “feel the forest” Totoro calls home, describes the traditional handiwork company.

Using the dozens of chisels, Tanka lovingly replicates the fluffy texture of Totoro’s fur and the wispy leaf on the character’s head—all with a single hunk of camphor wood.

Camphor is also said to have an insect-repellent effect, and its unique scent “makes you feel as if you have wandered into the forest where Totoro lives,” details Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten.

Totoro’s whiskers are recreated from shaved camellia wood as the finishing, animated touches.

Considering the elaborate nature of this piece, the statue is the only item in the collection that will be sold via a lottery, which will be hosted on March 1.

The range also includes handwoven, watercolor-inspired dish towels of Totoro and the Catbus, and acorn-accented plates from artisans in three different regions.

Treasure boxes depicting Totoro and Soot Sprites invite collectors to take home gems from nature, like acorns, pebbles, and flowers. The boxes are adorned using a traditional stencil-dyeing technique from Yatsuo Town, Toyama Prefecture.

Tiny vases standing just under two inches tall beckon fans to brighten their space with a single leaf or flower. 

These handkerchiefs stamped with motifs from the opening and ending of the film are created in Nara using a historical dyeing technique called chusen.

Fans can find luck in a pair of charm bells, crafted in the Odawara casting method of wind bells from the region. The bells produce a gentle, clear chime that lingers to give a sense of calm.

You can’t have merchandise without T-shirts, which are the last items in the range. These tees are hand-printed using the chusen method, and can interestingly be worn two ways.

With all these cozy collectibles, you can finally call Totoro your neighbor.

[via Belle of Lost Souls, CBR.com, PR TIMES, images via Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten]