Official Studio Ghibli retailer Donguri Sora has restocked its unique My Neighbor Totoro wallet. Made in collaboration with traditional Japanese leathersmith Bunkoya Oozeki, the wallet pays homage to the fantastical natural world depicted in the 1988 Ghibli classic.
The My Neighbor Totoro Bunkoya Oozeki all-around zipper wallet is a handcrafted piece with roots dating back to Japan’s Taisho period. The wallet measures 191 mm x 104 mm and features embossed iconography that was painstakingly molded and painted using traditional methods. Tulips, cherries, and bluebells are featured alongside Totoro, Chibi Totoro, and the Soot Sprites in Ghibli’s tribute to a childhood summer in the Japanese countryside.
The craft originated in Himeji, which is well-known for having Japan’s best-preserved feudal castle. Leathercrafter Bunkoya Oozeki focuses on its founder’s time in Yokohama during the Taisho period (1912-1926), when he learned the local craft of Banshu Himeji. He eventually established the brand in Sumida Ward, Tokyo. Working with one piece of pure white Himeji leather at a time, the process involves hand embossing and painting it.
Similar to traditional Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, artisans emboss virgin leather with heated metal plates before hand painting it with specialty brushes. The final step is the antiquing process known as sabi-ire. The leather is treated with Japanese lacquer and makomo wild rice derivatives to give it a distinct, aged appearance.
The wallet contains twelve card pockets, two long pockets, and one coin pouch. The hardware is gold-plated brass, with the Bunkoya Oozeki name stamped on each zipper. The wallet was originally part of a line that included a business card case, a square billfold with a clasp, and a coin pouch, all designed in a similar style. The item is available for 34,100 yen (US$222) from the Donguri Sora online storefront or from the Bunkoya Oozeki online store, where customers can also purchase some previously sold-out items, such as a Spirited Away long wallet.
As Japan’s hot summer months continue, Donguri Sora has been releasing and replenishing more Totoro-themed products. Products like the Totoro watermelon planter, which was recently restocked, serve as reminders of all the good things that come with a Japanese summer, as immortalized by Totoro and his friends enjoying the eastern seasonal treat. Another excellent piece is the meticulously detailed replica of Mei and Satsuki’s family home.
The delightful movie-accurate miniature includes small details like an acorn, futons, Mei’s hat in the cupboards, the crawl space beneath the house, and the children’s father’s study, which is lined with books. The house is full of secrets and has an interactive component, with doors that can be opened and closed and working lights that can be turned on.
My Neighbor Totoro, along with the rest of Studio Ghibli’s extensive film catalog, is available for streaming in the United States on Max.
Source – Donguri Sora
