Ghibli Soot Sprite stickers use special Japanese washi paper for sticky realism

Called the Makkuro Kurosuke Washi Seal (“seal” in Japanese refers to “stickers”), these little Soot Sprites have been made with washi (traditional Japanese paper), which gives them a slightly furry texture.

That appears to be the case with the Soot Sprites, known as both “Susuwatari” and “Makkuro Kurosuke” in My Neighbour Totoro, which debuted in 1988.

That’s not the only fascinating feature of this product, because the Soot Sprites don’t act like ordinary stickers.