Totoro Bento Onigiri
Cute rice balls shaped like the forest spirit Totoro: soft rice, nori ears and a smiling face. The perfect treat for a bento box.
In Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro the food is always simple and heartfelt — rice balls the sisters carry on their walks. We turned an ordinary onigiri into a little grey Totoro: a rice body, a darker dusted back and a funny nori face. It is both tasty and almost too cute to eat.
🧺 Ingredients
🍽 4 servings👩🍳 Method
- 1
Rice
Rinse the rice until the water runs clear, cook with an equal volume of water, lid on, for 12 minutes, then rest 10 minutes. Stir in vinegar and salt.
- 2
Body
With wet hands shape the warm rice into oval balls, hiding a spoon of filling inside each. You should get 4 Totoro bodies.
- 3
Grey back
Mix some rice with ground black sesame until grey and press it over the top of each ball — this is Totoro's back.
- 4
Nori belly
Cut a belly oval and thin stripes from nori and lay them on the pale front.
- 5
Face
Cut triangular ears, a nose and thin whiskers from nori. Make eyes from cheese rounds topped with a nori dot. Assemble the face.
- 6
Serve
Place the finished Totoro in a bento box next to vegetables or fruit and serve.
💡 Tips
- 💡
Ground black sesame not only tints the rice grey but also adds a pleasant nutty flavor.
- 💡
Nori details are easiest to cut with small scissors or a dedicated nori punch.
- 💡
If the rice dries out, wet your hands and press the ball again — it becomes pliable once more.
🔄 Swaps & variations
- 🔄
Make small white Totoro without the grey back — plain rice with just a face.
- 🔄
For a heartier bento, fill them with a piece of teriyaki chicken instead of tuna.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Where do the rice balls in Totoro come from?
Simple onigiri appear in Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro as the sisters' homemade food. Our recipe is a decorative version inspired by that lovely image.
Can I make the onigiri without filling?
Yes, they hold their shape well even empty. Just salt the rice a little more so the flavor pops.
How do I keep the rice from sticking to my hands?
Keep a bowl of water with a pinch of salt nearby and wet your palms before each ball.
How long do these onigiri keep?
They are best eaten the same day. Nori softens over time, so add the decorations just before serving.
