The Mystery Behind The Movie Totoro

THE MYSTERY BEHIND THE MOVIE TOTORO

Totoro's animated film turns out to have a mystery that is still a question. After watching the movie Totoro, of course we would think that Totoro is a good tree spirit or mountain spirit and loves children, because only children can meet and see it. This article, may change your opinion about Totoro, but here I do not judge Totoro directly, until now I still fall in love with this film, the film is objectively full of positive things. This paper is not based on my opinion, but is a summary of some articles that discuss about the rumors behind this film. My personal opinion, I can not establish that the rumors are true or false, but if based on the evidence presented,

I will convey some rumors behind this Totoro film. I suggest to those of you who love this movie, if you do not want your views on the film to change, do not continue to read this article.

The rumor says that Totoro is not the Spirit of the tree or the Spirit of the Mountain, but instead Totoro is the god of death. For anyone who can see Totoro or Susuwatari / Mokurokurosuke, then the person will soon die. Whether the rumor is true or not let us peel one by one.

Why Totoro is considered a Shinigami or god of death, because the film is associated with the murder that occurred on May 1, 1963, called 狭 山 事件 " Sayama Jiken " or the incident of Sayama. This happened in Sayama, Saitama prefecture. One day a girl who had just returned from her school was gone, and some time later her body was found on the edge of the forest. The person who first discovered the sister's corpse was her own sister. When he saw the fact that his brother was killed, his brother became traumatized. And when asked what happened, the older brother replied "I met with a very large Tanuki (a kind of raccoon)" and "I also saw a cat monster". Does this answer inspire the characters in the movie Totoro ?.

If only based on this story, may not yet be able to prove that the film is related to the incident of Sayama, on the scene in the movie if we look very carefully, then we will find some facts.

First writing 狭 山茶 " Sayamacha" which means tea from Sayama seen on the box, at the time of Kanta's grandmother and May arrange the goods.

Sayamacha kanji writing with a blue background

posters used by Studio Ghibli in advertising this film, it appears that, instead Satsuki holds the umbrella as it is in the movie. but in May who use Satsuki's dress, of course this becomes a question? what's wrong with Mei? did Mei just come home from school, then wait for the bus?

Tonari no Totor Poster; May look that use umbrella

The names of Satsuki and Mei, the Sayama incident occurred in May, the same as the name of May's adek, while Satsuki also means the month of May with different pronunciations in Japanese.

The hospital where Ms Mei and Satsuki were treated was named 七 国 病院shichikoku byouin , if it meant to be "Seven Country Hospital", whereas in Sayama, Saitama prefecture is a hospital 八 国 病院hachikoku byouin , meaning "Eight State Hospital" .

Kanji for the hospital where Mei's mother and Satsuki were treated

When May disappears, May may have died drowning in the pond. Because the same shoes worn by May are found there. But after scrutiny again, the shoes used by May are different from those found in the pond. But here comes a question, if Mei is dead, and Totoro is the god of death. When Satsuki asks Totoro for help in May, at that very moment Satsuki dies or enters another world, because in this scene, we do not see Satsuki's shadow, this is a question, why the famous studio Ghibli in detail forgets this. at the moment the dirty satsuki feet are clearly described. And also when Satsuki was looking for Mei at a crossroads, at that time Satsuki still had a shadow.

Nekobasu , requested by Totoro to escort Satsuki to where Mei is located, at the top of Nekabasu there is a kanji which is the name of the destination. There is a kanji 墓道, if we use google translate to interpret these words, then the meaning is the way the grave, if in the film is defined "Cemetery-shrine" or sacred burial. What is the task of nekobasu itself ?, is he a means of transportation to another world used by Totoro ?. And also Nekobasu can not be seen by adults in general.

Writing kanji goals from Nekobasu

Both of these adults, can not see Nekobasu

There are still some other things that connect the film with the murder incident in Sayama. The sources are written in Japanese kanji, it is impossible for me to track them down.

I personally think that the film is objectively very good and once again I say, I still fell in love with this movie. The animated film is very nice and imaginative. This paper just wants to convey information about things that may be beyond our expectations. Whatever it is, it's all returned to us about how we judge and see things from our own perspective.