When I was in 5th grade I started writing to a boy in Tokyo. We wrote very little as I speak/read no Japanese, and his English was about the same. When he was 18 he came to Hawaii and my father sponsored him. He finished college in LA and moved back to Japan. He and his family have come to Hawaii many times so I was happy to have lunch with him and his mom this trip and....he arranged for us all to visit Ghibli Museum, a dream of mine. He speaks excellent English now, I still speak no Japanese. I found out I even pronounce my Japanese last name with a Hawaiian accent!
Ghibli is the animation company that brought the world Totoro! Disney owns the rights in USA to many of it's features.
The giant robot from Laputa stands over the museum...I decided not buy any big stuffed Totoros as I have many, but fell prey to many cell phone charms, cards and a pen. The museum showed a lovely short movie featuring Totoro, Mei and the Catbus. I was overwhelmed with the cuteness. I didn't not jump in the big Catbus as it was full of kids and I didn't want to hurt anyone, heh.
I couldn't resist Baby from Spirited Away. He is a giant baby, son of the main witch in the story, who gets transformed into a mouse. He is so heavy he can barely walk. One of my favorite scenes in this movie is when the fly has to carry him and can barely lift him off the ground.
I found Totoro items in this cute shop in..darn, was it Shibuya or Harajuku? I found some items in Narita Airport and also another Totoro shop in Asakusa.
I love Totoro!
2 comments:
Look at all that Totoro! I think it's funny that you have so many Totoros at home that you were able to show some restraint in his native home. I like the cute little planters all stacked up. At first I thought it was a shrine...
I'm really enjoying this little travelogue you're posting.
Sounds like fun! You've also reminded me that I have not watched my Laputa dvd in a while, I should go dig that up.
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