To help drum up interest for the campaign, Studio Ghibli producer and co-founder Toshio Suzuki wrote this message, published on the campaign page.
Hayao Miyazaki has spent over US$2 million to save the forest where Totoro was born, but needs more help.
Contributions towards the campaign, which aims to raise a total of 25 million yen, are set at 25,000 yen ($178.04).
The campaign, which is part of the “Kitaakitsu/Kamiyasumatsu District Urban Green Space Conservation Project” currently being run by Tokorozawa City, aims to conserve the “Kaminoyama” green area and the “Akitsu no Mori” green area.