Ohayo. Ohayo. New Jersey.

I just have to take a moment to point out something that I find quite remarkable.  Totoro.  He’s everywhere here.  He’s the title character from an anime movie by Hayao Miyazaki with Studio Ghibli.  It was released back in 1988 – twenty years ago, yet it is still ubiquitous here.  Over the last three weeks I’ve seen a Totoro themed float at the Pumpkin Parade, many of my students with their Totoro keychains or phone charms, the theme song was played at my junior high school’s brass band concert, and I’m playing part of the score in an orchestra I’ve just joined.  Pretty soon I’ll have Totoro themed cookware.  But, who can blame them/me…the little guy is adorable.