My Neighbor Totoro‘s titular icon not only serves as Studio Ghibli’s official mascot but is also frequently used to raise money for the studio’s preservation efforts. Recently, Ghibli’s official online store unveiled its latest “Totoro Hometown Fund” charity apparel line, which features original designs created by Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki.
Established in 1998, Totoro’s Hometown Fund is a non-profit organization created to protect Japan’s Sayama Hills region, the area that inspired the natural scenery depicted in My Neighbor Totoro (1988). To raise a new round of funding for 2025, Miyazaki created two unique Totoro designs, both of which are featured in Donguri Sora’s new collection. The first depicts Totoro and Mei staring at the ground to admire a budding plant. The navy blue and white T-shirts in the line both feature this design. The remaining navy blue and gray-colored hoodies depict Totoro sitting in a patch of bright-yellow flowers, one of which is perched cutely on his head. CBR readers can check out the official images below.
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Studio Ghibli’s New Hayao Miyazaki Designs Raise Money for ‘Totoro’s Forest’
Located close to Tokyo, Sayama Hills is a 3,500-hectare region of land covered with thick forests and sprawling rice paddies. To protect the area from urban developers, Totoro’s Hometown Fund has purchased a large percentage of Sayama Hill land to preserve its beauty for future generations. According to Donguri Sora’s website, proceeds from its Totoro Fund apparel sales will be directed to the organization and used to protect “Totoro’s forest.” Including tax, each Totoro T-shirt costs 3,960 yen (~US$26.57). The hoodies each cost roughly 6,600 yen (~US$44.28).
My Neighbor Totoro is widely hailed as one of Ghibli’s all-time best family films. Set in 1950s-era Japan, the film revolves around Mei and Satsuki Kusakabe, two young sisters who leave Tokyo to start a new life in the countryside. In the lush forest alongside their house, they soon discover many timid nature spirits that only they can see. One day, Mei unwittingly stumbles into the lair of the large, bear-like spirit she calls Totoro. Throughout the film, Mei and Satsuki experience many unforgettable moments with their new companion, making for a lighthearted and wholesome viewing experience.
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In 2002, Totoro received a short sequel film titled Mei and the Kittenbus, which was created as an exclusive feature for the Studio Ghibli Museum. The original feature has also been adapted into a high-budget stage musical by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Adapted by Tom Morton-Smith of Oppenheimer fame, My Neighbour Totoro retells the classic story with puppets developed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The score was also developed by veteran Ghibli film composer Joe Hisaishi. The show recently began a brand-new run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s famed West End.
Donguri Sora does not ship to customers outside Japan. However, its products are often sold via international retail sites such as Meccha Japan and Neokyo, among others. Depending on the viewer’s geographic location, Studio Ghibli’s film library is streaming on either Max or Netflix.
Source: Donguri Sora (Navy Totoro Fund Shirt, Navy Hoodie, White T-Shirt, Gray Hoodie)
