Totoro & Japanese Green Tea + Our Secret Edible Makkuro Kurosuke Recipe!

Just like every film and TV series needs a protagonist, it seems like they all need some sort of tiny-little-cute side character. 

Think “Baby Yoda” (aka Grogu) or the adorable yellow Minions from Despicable Me.

Certainly, in Japanese media cuteness is everywhere.

Even Japanese advertisements and everyday products often feature cheek-pinchable characters.

The iconic cheek-pinchable kewpie brand character

One of our all-time favorite cuties from Japan are the Makkuro Kurosuke (まっくろくろすけ) “Pitch Black” (also known as Susuwatari “Wandering Soot”), featured in two different Studio Ghibli films.

But these little fellas are more than just whimsical fluff balls, they come from ideas based on Japan’s native religion, Shintoism.

In this article we’re going to explain a little about these fictional creatures, how they relate to Shintoism, and how this ancient religion is intrinsically linked to Japanese green tea practices.

And, to top it off, we’re going to tell you how to make your own edible Makkuro Kurosuke! 

Studio Ghibli’s Shinto Influence

If you don’t already know, Studio Ghibli is famously headed by beloved director Hayao Miyazaki and a few other extremely talented people.

They produce Japanese animations in a very beautiful style that has become adored around the world.

If you have even the slightest interest in cinema or animation, you have surely heard of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, or Princess Mononoke.

Totoro wall art in Kakaako, Hawaii during COVID time.

 Read more about Hawaii and Japanese Green Tea here.

You may have noticed that in Studio Ghibli’s films, they frequently feature many strange creatures – usually inexplicable, supernatural beings.

These spirits are inspired by the kami of Shintoism, Japan’s native religion in which there are essentially an infinite number of these nature and ancestral spirits.

Remember those big bouncing head guys from Spirited Away?

They’re (sort of) kami!

Or the odd-looking deer-like creature from Princess Mononoke?

That’s a kami too!

Although, not all kami are so easily categorized – there are many different types of kami, and translating the word simply means “spirits” in English. This may not be strictly accurate, but broadly speaking, that is the meaning.

The concept of kami is the way in which Shinto followers in Japan for hundreds of years have interacted with the natural world – pleasing, avoiding, or caring for these hidden spirits.

In a more practical sense, it’s a way of bringing community together to practice traditional ceremonies and celebrations, and most of all, to foster respect for nature.

Hayao Miyazaki’s genius is turning these invisible concepts into terrifying, but cute and curious figures on the screen to entice our imaginations.

Now the question is, how does Studio Ghibli use the idea of kami to enhance its animations? But more importantly, why does Shintoism play such a prominent part in their storytelling?

The Makkuro Kurosuke

But you didn’t read up until here for just any old kami!

You want to know about those fuzzy little fluffs, right?

The Makkuro Kurosuke appear in two Studio Ghibli films -- Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.

In My Neighbor Totoro, the Makkuro Kurosuke are very shy and elusive.

They represent a sort of loneliness and emptiness in abandoned or empty houses – but as the protagonists move into the house, the spirits harmlessly disappear into the sky.

In this example, they are more representative of a concept or a feeling than nature.

Think about it, don’t you ever feel like an empty building has a mysterious life of its own?

It’s an explicable feeling, but turning that feeling into a ‘living’ creature is a way of understanding it.

Where you probably really noticed these kami is in Spirited Away, where they interact more directly with the main characters – showing themselves to be hard workers, carrying coal to the fire, and even being a little mischievous.

For Spirited Away, they provide us with an example of how the material and spirit worlds interact harmoniously.

So, Why Does Studio Ghibli Feature Kami?

It begs the question, what’s the deal with all these spirits in these films anyway?

These animated films highlight some of the core concepts behind Shintoism.

In Shintoism, the spiritual and physical world interact (mostly) harmoniously, and the kami represent that idea in a way that they interact with the human characters.

This isn’t to say that Studio Ghibli is pushing some sort of religious agenda, but they use the folkloric and religious background of Japan to tell stories in a distinctly Japanese way that resonates with audiences around the world.

All of us depend on nature, and we all contend with its forces in some way.

The animated kami that they have created give us scary but loveable and whimsical depictions of the natural world. that while sometimes bizarre are also inherently relatable for everyone in a deep sense.

They use these Shinto concepts to give us a feeling of wonderment, which also compliments the beautiful stories they depict at the same time.

Weird Kami/Yokai

Studio Ghibli has surely created some mind-bogglingly strange characters, but the “official” spirits of Shinto can be just as fascinating.

(And no disrespect to the practitioners of Shinto, but some of the spirits are just plain… well, odd?)

Take for example the yokai known as Tōfu-kozō (“Tofu Boy”) who have the appearance of big-headed little boys wandering the streets at night offering people tofu, and sometimes playing pranks on them.

Another particularly grotesque one is Akaname, a filthy ogre-like spirit who uses his long tongue to lick the dirt from unclean bathrooms (thanks for the help?).

So, when you think about it, some flying soot sprites like the Makkuro Kurosuke are pretty tame in comparison to some of the actual spirits of Shinto!

But while these mischievous spirits are entertaining to imagine, they tie into a deeper connection between the lives of humans and spiritual practices, such as tea ceremonies, where spiritual forces play a role in how followers of Shintoism engage with their surroundings.

Green Tea, Shinto and Spirits

Hah, did you think we forgot about green tea? Never!

Green tea is, in fact, strongly linked to Shinto and Kami in a number of ways.

While there isn’t really a specific famous “green tea kami” or some sort of tea-slurping yokai, some of the most important spiritual figures in Shinto are linked to agriculture and green tea such as Inari Ōkami and Toyouke-hime.

Rural communities and those who work in agriculture surely pay their respects to such spirits even today – and indeed, they have hundreds of shrines dedicated to them around Japan.

It could also be said that the Japanese green tea ceremony (which we’ve written about here previously) is in itself a way of honoring the kami and showing reverence to the spiritual and the natural world.

In one scene from Spirited Away, we even see the protagonist, Chihiro, having tea with one of the “witches” known as Zeniba.

Considering that fact that up until this point of the film, our heroine has been experiencing mostly danger in the spirit world, this scene is very calm in contrast; and the addition of tea is symbolic of harmony, unification, and mutual respect.

To share tea with someone in this way is to express kindness and interconnection, and by extension in the context of the film, Chihiro is beginning to balance her relationship to the world of these spirits and supernatural beings.

Whenever you are watching a Studio Ghibli film, keep an eye out for these tea scenes!

Many of their films feature such scenes, even if it is brief, they often represent similar ideas of closeness, connection, and appreciation.

Conclusion

Studio Ghibli’s world is filled with spirits, folklore, and hidden meanings that make its stories feel alive.

The Makkuro Kurosuke may be tiny, but they embody something much bigger - a connection to nature, imagination, and the unseen forces that shape our world.

Green tea, like these spirits, holds a special place in Japanese culture - bringing people together in moments of reflection and appreciation.

Next time you watch a Ghibli film, notice how these elements shape the story.

And if you are feeling creative, try making your own edible Makkuro Kurosuke.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup pitted dates
• 1 cup almonds
• ¼ cup cacao powder
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 3 tsp Hojicha Loose Leaf or Hojicha Powder
• splash of almond milk
• chocolate sprinkles
• small candy eyes

Instrucitons 

1. Grind about 1 tbsp of Hojicha Loose Leaf Tea into a fine powder in a coffee grinder. (Or use 1 tbsp of Hojicha Powder) Set aside. 
2. Blend the dates, almonds, cacao powder, maple syrup, and Hojicha powder in a food processor.
3. Scrape down the sides and add a splash of almond milk. Blend again until the mixture holds together but isn’t too sticky.
4. Scoop out the mixture with a small cookie scoop and roll into balls.
5. Toss in chocolate sprinkles and gently press two small candy eyes on the top half of each ball.
6. Serve and enjoy! 

Even the smallest things can carry a sense of wonder!

FAQs about Totoro, Studio Ghibli, and Japanese Green Tea

What are Makkuro Kurosuke, and are they the same as Susuwatari? Why does Studio Ghibli include kami spirits like Makkuro Kurosuke in its films? How is Japanese tea connected to Shintoism? What Japanese green tea pairs best with a Studio Ghibli movie night? Is the edible Makkuro Kurosuke recipe kid-friendly?

What are Makkuro Kurosuke, and are they the same as Susuwatari?

Honestly, this trips up a lot of people. Yes, they're the same thing, just two names for the little soot sprites you see in My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. "Susuwatari" (ススワタリ) means "wandering soot" and is the more formal name you'd find in fan wikis or official sources. "Makkuro Kurosuke" (まっくろくろすけ) is more of a nickname. It literally translates to something like "Pitch Black Kurosuke," since "kuro" means black and "-suke" is a common ending you tack onto a boy's name in Japanese.

So when the kids in the films call them Makkuro Kurosuke, that's just the cuter version of the name. Susuwatari is the official label. Either way, the little guys don't really do much beyond hanging around dusty corners and occasionally carrying coal to the fire.

Why does Studio Ghibli include kami spirits like Makkuro Kurosuke in its films?

From what I've read, it really comes back to Shintoism. Shinto is Japan's native religion, and the basic idea (as far as I understand it) is that spirits called kami live in all kinds of things — old houses, mountains, individual trees, sometimes everyday objects. Hayao Miyazaki grew up around all that, so it's not surprising that those ideas show up everywhere in his films. Totoro is essentially a forest kami. So is the deer god in Princess Mononoke. Even the bouncing radish guys from Spirited Away come from the same well.

The Makkuro Kurosuke fit into that worldview pretty naturally. They're tiny spirits hanging around abandoned, dusty corners — not really evil, not really friendly either. Honestly they just kind of are, the way soot just is in an old building nobody's cleaned in years. I think that's part of what makes them feel Shinto, at least the way I understand it as someone outside the religion. The world is full of these little presences, and you sort of let them be without making a whole thing of it.

I don't think Miyazaki's trying to push anything religious in his films. It feels more like growing up around all that naturally shapes how you tell stories.

How is Japanese tea connected to Shintoism?

Look, this is the kind of question I've thought about for a while and still don't have a clean answer to. Tea in Japan goes back centuries, and at every point along the way it's been tangled up with ritual. First Shinto, and later Zen Buddhism after Buddhism came in. When you see someone doing a proper tea ceremony today, the part that gets me isn't really the tea itself. It's how careful everything around it is. They clean before they brew. They wipe a tool that probably doesn't need wiping. That kind of attention being paid is what feels Shinto to me, even though the person doing it would probably just say it's how you're supposed to do it.

You see something like this on a smaller scale with farmers and tea bushes too. I've gotten the sense from how some of our farmers talk that a single bush gets treated almost like a being and not just a crop. The same hands tending the same plant year after year — over time, that consistency ends up being its own kind of respect. Maybe I'm romanticizing it. But it does feel different from how other crops get talked about.

All of that might be why a cup of Japanese green tea sometimes feels different than other teas. Or maybe it's just the umami doing the work and I'm overthinking it. Either way, I don't think you have to be Japanese to feel the difference. People drink it for a while and they kind of just notice something. I'm not sure I can explain it better than that.

What Japanese green tea pairs best with a Studio Ghibli movie night?

Honestly, my answer changes depending on the film. For the slower, contemplative ones — Totoro, Whisper of the Heart, Only Yesterday — I'd reach for sencha. It's the everyday-cup tea, gentle, a little grassy, easy to settle into. Trying a few side by side is the easiest way to find one you like.

For the more dramatic, magical ones — Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle — I'd go with matcha. The whisking is its own little quiet moment before the chaos starts on screen, and the deeper umami matches the heavier mood.

If you want something cozy for a winter night, hojicha is hard to beat. Toasty, almost coffee-like, low caffeine — kind of the Studio Ghibli equivalent of a warm blanket. Whichever you pick, having the right cup nearby makes the film a little better. Both teas above are linked below.

The Sencha Lover Gift Set - Premium Japanese Green Tea Set Package $179.00 $159.99 /

Matcha - Japanese Limited Reserve Ceremonial Green Tea - (Global Tea Champion 2018, 2025) From $250.00 /

Is the edible Makkuro Kurosuke recipe kid-friendly?

Yeah, it's pretty kid-friendly, which is half the fun of doing it. The ingredients are basic. Sweet bean paste for the body, a soft mochi-style dough to hold it all together, and a little cocoa or activated charcoal powder for the black color. Nothing in there is weird or alcoholic, and there isn't anything I'd worry about feeding to a younger kid.

Honestly, in my experience kids tend to care more about the making part than the eating part. They get really into the rolling and the eye-sticking. So this turns into more of a low-key afternoon project than a quick snack, which I think is part of why it works as a recipe to do together. The one real thing I'd watch out for is the cocoa powder. Toddlers will absolutely try to eat it straight from the jar if you turn your back for a second.

Try Our Hojicha

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Hojicha - Roasted Green Tea

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Our roasted green tea, known as hojicha (ほうじ茶), is crafted from freshly harvested premium green tea carefully roasted in porcelain over charcoal to maximize flavor while retaining more catechins than typical hojicha on the market. With lower caffeine and a smoother, less bitter taste compared to steamed green tea, it is an ideal choice for evening relaxation and is gentle enough for kids and pregnant women. Cultivated using the Chagusaba method in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil, this loose-leaf authentic Japanese roasted green tea, made from the Yabukita cultivar, also pairs beautifully with oily foods. Each eco-friendly resealable package contains 3.5 oz (100g) of tea, enough to steep 30–40 comforting cups.

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Hojicha Powder - Roasted Green Tea Powder

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Our roasted green tea, known as hojicha (ほうじ茶), is crafted from freshly harvested premium green tea carefully roasted in porcelain over charcoal to maximize flavor while retaining more catechins than typical hojicha on the market. With lower caffeine and a smoother, less bitter taste compared to steamed green tea, it is an ideal choice for evening relaxation and is gentle enough for kids and pregnant women. Cultivated using the Chagusaba method in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil, this loose-leaf authentic Japanese roasted green tea, made from the Yabukita cultivar, also pairs beautifully with oily foods. Each eco-friendly resealable package contains 3.5 oz (100g) of tea, enough to steep 30–40 comforting cups.

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The Sencha Lover Gift Set - Premium Japanese Green Tea Set Package

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This tea set features three exceptional Japanese green teas, each crafted with care and traditional techniques. Issaku Reserve, a Global Tea Champion winner in 2017 and 2019, is a rare masterpiece created by Farm Master Mr. Arahata at Arahataen Green Tea Farm. Handpicked once a year from the first flush and processed with advanced methods, Issaku represents the highest-grade deep-steamed green tea, available only in limited quantities even in Japan.

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Gyokuro - Shaded Imperial Premium Green Tea

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Gyokuro, also known as "jade dew" or "jewel dew tea," is a premium Japanese green tea shaded from the sun for 20 days using specially made mats, a method that boosts caffeine levels and strengthens amino acids to create a sweeter, richer flavor. This extended shading process results in dark, mossy green leaves with an unmistakable aroma and a complex taste that is layered yet balanced. Cultivated by the Chagusaba method in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil and made from the Yabukita cultivar, this loose-leaf authentic Gyokuro is offered in a high-quality, air-tight paper tube canister (chyazutsu) to preserve its exceptional freshness and flavor. Each 3.5 oz (100g) full-size package steeps 30–40 cups, and a convenient single-serve sample is also available.

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Matcha - Ceremonial Japanese Powdered Green Tea

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This ceremonial matcha is crafted from the finest Japanese green tea, grown in nutrient-rich soil enhanced with compostable grasses and sugarcane through the Chagusaba method, which gives the tea a natural sweetness and exceptional flavor. In collaboration with researchers from Shizuoka University, farmers ensure that the soil quality consistently produces tea of the highest standard.

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