My Neighbor totoro
My Neighbor Totoro focuses on the life of the Kusakabes. The family moves to a country side to be closer to their mother who is recovering from an illness in hospital. While living in this house they soon come to realize that spirits inhabit it and the land surrounding it. These spirits are called Susuwateri and Totoro.
Susuwatari and Totoro, the spirits of the forest
When the family first moves into the house they encounter the Susuwateri. These dust like spirits work to protect the house and are a fictional character by Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of the films. These spirits are Yōkai and act as kami. The Susuwateri can be good or evil in nature and help the characters with guidance. Satsuki and Mei worship them which, in turn, makes the spirits benevolent to them.
Totoro relays Shinto teaching methods to the girls although he is not viewed as a Kami. When the girls first move into the house Totoro teaches how to connect themselves to nature and Kami by plating seeds and growing trees. This act symbolizes the meditation process of Shinto and the teachings thats still undergo today.
The Camphor tree
The movie itself focuses on the adventures these girls have both around and inside the tree. Although Totoro isnt a Kami, they live in a Camphor tree. The father explains to the girls that he bought this house because of the large camphor tree and that "It’s been around since long ago, back in the time when trees and people used to be friends" which toys at the belief that the principle Shinto belief to respect all living things. These trees typically are places of worship for the Shinto religion and have shrines at the bottom of them, and in this case, inside of them. In the image to the right the family is visibly praying to the tree
The girls are able to interact with the spirits through the tree because of their pure nature, which is why the father is unable to see the spirits. This relates to the Shinto concept of kokoro. Kokoro is the conception that, in order to view Kami, one must have a pure heart, spirit and mind.
In the image where the family is seen praying, there is a rope around the tree. This rope is called Shimenawa which is a marker for marking of sacred areas. The rope/string is also shide which helps Kami find the places of worship.
