It’s been a while since we’ve seen these adorable coasters and potholders featuring beloved characters from My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
A haven for Studio Ghibli fans, Donguri Kyowakoku is filled with cute, artistic goods inspired by the animated films from the studio co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki. While cool Ghibli merchandise is a constant feature of this store, the exact selection changes constantly, as Dontuo Republic’s work is so popular that it often sells out quickly.
For example, the last time Acorn Republic released chinchilla fur potholders, you tried to buy one, but it quickly sold out. Or maybe you just want to buy Calcifer, the fire spirit from Howl’s Moving Castle, or Jiji, the black cat from Kiki’s Delivery Service. Either way, if you thought, “I guess I’ll just have to wait until the stock restocks,” then you must have been waiting a long time—after all, the last restock was seven years ago!
But the wait is finally over, as Donguri Kyowakoku has finally received another shipment of their three-piece wool potholders. Why has it taken so long? Because each piece is handcrafted. This means that not only do they meet Donguri Kyowakoku’s high standards of craftsmanship, but each piece is unique.
Of course, they’re also practical, acting as heat-resistant mats to place pots and pans on while they cool, protecting kitchen countertops and worktops from scratches and sticking. Donguri Kyowakoku claims they can withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) on pans and up to 83 degrees Celsius (181 degrees Fahrenheit) on clay pots, and promotional photos even feature a chinchilla sitting under a Japanese hot pot.
What if you like Ghibli but don’t like cooking? Then you’ll want to have a handmade wool coaster at home.
The potholders range from 20 to 26 cm (7.9 to 10.2 in) at their widest point, and the coasters are designed to hold a cup of tea or coffee.
â–¼ If you insist on staying true to the source material, you’ll be pleased to know that the blue Totoro coaster is technically smaller than the gray one, albeit by only half a centimeter.
Each coaster costs 1,650 yen (about $11.40), and the potholders cost 3,630 yen. All products are now available on the online store “Donguri Kyowakoku” (coasters: Gray Totoro, Blue Totoro, Calcifer, Jiji, Soot Spirit; potholders: Totoro, Calcifer, Jiji). If you still regret not buying it seven years ago, now is the chance you’ve been waiting for.
Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Embedded images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) Want to be the first to receive the latest articles from SoraNews24? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!