Whisky Brand Celebrates Japanese Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and Beloved Anime Classic ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ With Custom Label

Japanese whisky brand Kumesen Shuzo released a new rice-based whisky called Ukiyo, which features artwork from a producer at Studio Ghibli and other easter eggs for fans of Hayao Miyazaki. (Photo: PR Times/Kumesen Shuzo)

On Thursday, Sora News 24 reported that the Japanese whisky brand Kumesen Shuzo unveiled a rice whisky aged in American white oak casks featuring a label celebrating the art of the Japanese filmmaker and animator Hayao Miyazaki. The custom label features calligraphy artwork from Studio Ghibli producer, Toshio Suzuki.

Hayao Miyazaki’s company, Studio Ghibli, is known for animated films like “Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Princess Mononoke.” The film “Spirited Away” won the Academy Award for “Best Animated Feature” and was the first movie from an animation house not based in North America or Europe to win the award.

The rice-based whisky, named Ukiyo, is bottled at 50% ABV, and the brand describes its flavors as “smoky and spicy, with a hint of banana, giving way to notes of spearmint, cinnamon and bitter chocolate.” The whisky hosts a suggested retail price of 7,800 yen ($52).

But perhaps what stands out most is the distinctive packaging, which pays homage to Studio Ghibli and features the work of some of its creative talent. Suzuki painted calligraphy and a kanji-written character on the distinctive blue and gold packaging.

Savvy fans of Studio Ghibli will be able to spot the drawing of a small red creature on the label and recognize it as none other than Miyazaki’s drawing of the character of the forest spirit, Totoro, from the beloved Miyazaki classic, “My Neighbor Totoro.”

The small red drawing is engraved with Suzuki’s initials because it is an “inei,” or a seal with the artist’s initials.

Sora News 24 claims Kumesen Shuzo’s latest release is “a relatively affordable luxury.”

This is much welcome news as in November, it was reported Suntory will raise its prices in Japan. Some whiskies, like Hibiki 30 Year, Yamazaki 25 Year and Hakushu 25 Year, will jump up in price by as much as 125%. The brand claimed its reasoning for the price hikes stemmed from recent inflation in the country, and the whisky company’s drive to keep up with insatiable global demand.

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