My Neighbor Totoro
A warm Studio Ghibli tale about a forest spirit and two sisters. The food here is simple and homemade — rice balls, bento boxes and picnics in the open air.
Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro is a heartwarming story about two girls who befriend a gentle forest spirit named Totoro. Food in the film is simple and rural — onigiri rice balls made by the family often become a symbol of care and homely warmth. Totoro's own aesthetic — soft, round, a little food-like — has inspired fans to shape onigiri into the character's form, decorating them with nori to create a cute face. The film's atmosphere is quiet rural Japan, where food is made unhurriedly and with love. Here are recipes in the spirit of the film — starting with onigiri, cute and simple to make.
Frequently asked questions
Why is onigiri often shaped like Totoro?
The character's round, soft shape works well for molding rice, and nori is easy to cut into his signature belly stripes and face — a popular idea for fan-made bento lunches.
What is onigiri made of?
The base is cooked sticky sushi rice, salt, and a sheet of nori for decoration or wrapping. A filling (like salted salmon or pickled umeboshi plum) can be added if you like.
How hard is it to shape onigiri like Totoro?
The basic shape is simple — just a round or oval rice ball — and the details (eyes, whiskers, stripes) are cut from nori with scissors or a small bento hole punch.