'SHIRO-I' CLOUDS

I took this outside my window on 30 June. The whiteness of the clouds caught the corner of my eye - I like photographing sunsets too. They remind me of the giant clouds hiding the floating castle in Studio Ghibli's 'Laputa: Castle in the Sky'. It also looks like someone nuked us!

If you enlarge the picture you can see wispy streams of clouds which makes it look like it's spinning =) It didn't rain though and the clouds morphed into something less fluffy in a few moments. I recall riding at the back of my brother's pick-up truck just after this and spotted the most glorious halo peeking out above a sheet of low lying clouds. Unfortunately I was unable to photograph it.

Laputa: Castle in the Sky or Tenkuu no Shiro Rapyuta.

Made in 1986, written and directed by Miyazaki Hayao of Studio Ghibli.

The protaganists may be children but adults will enjoy it all the same. I thought the movie was sophisticated and well-crafted; visually appealing and no atmosphere was lost even though there were many moments of no dialogue (original Japanese dub). Recommended movie if you haven't seen it yet!

STOP # 7 ACEO

A retro twist after seeing the Sesame street psychedelia videos (in the previous post)! Also "Stop # 7" means "Train Stop #7". Available in my Etsy shop here: Stop Number 7
The title came about while my itunes played this instrumental:

It also is my favourite scene in the Studio Ghibli's film 'Spirited Away'. So surreal! Oh yes she stops at train station number 6 (Swamp), so mine's number 7. You guys have to watch this film (academy award winning) even if you dislike anime, because this is not really the anime-anime that may get very annoying sometimes (too much exaggeration and noise).

SAKUMA SHIKI DROPS COMMEMORATIVE TIN

I blogged about the Sakuma Shiki Drops in March and look what I saw in my neighbourhood store! The commemorative tie-in with Studio Ghibli's 'Grave of the Fireflies' (Hotaru no Haka) design! More expensive but the movie is one of my faves, I just gotta collect it... I still have a tin of candy from my last purchase so not opening this for now.

If you haven't watched the movie, and am in the mood for a poignant historical film, check this one out. Produced in 1988, it is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka about 2 siblings who struggles to survive near the end WWII in Japan.

SAKUMA SHIKI DROPS

I collect pretty tins and have been eating these since small - Sakuma Shiki Drops. I believe Sakuma Confectionary releases a new design every now and then, so some people collect them. Aren't they eye-catching and retro! This design features Sakuma's 100th Anniversary (since 1908, that is: Meiji Year 41) with vintage fonts. They cost quite cheap, mine is between S$1.80-$2.00 which is about US$1.50; I always grab a pack when I see it (tho not often). Unfortunately someone always throws my stuff away!

I almost forgot to mention yes, this is the same candy drops featured in Studio Ghibli's movie 'Hotaru no Haka' 火垂るの墓 / 'Grave of the Fireflies' where 2 sibling orphans struggle to survive through WW2 in Japan. Little Setsuko's only luxury during that period was this candy. After she died her brother put her ashes into the tin. After he died, well the tin was thrown out by the trainstation cleaner. This is the most tragic animation I've ever seen, but one of my faves.

I remember having difficulty opening the lid too!

Characters read right to left.

Real life version, this is a modern reproduction, Sakuma also produced a commemorative design with Setsuko on it, picture from wikipedia.

There is another similar tin candy called Sakuma Drops but does not come with 'Shiki 式' in its title and is manufactured by 'サクマ製菓株式會社' instead of '佐久間製菓株式会社' both also read as Sakuma lol. Don't get confused now! See what I mean here.

やさしさに包まれたなら COVER

I discovered a wonderful video of my favourite band Yuzu, covering a song I like which was on a movie by an animation studio I love!

やさしさに包まれたなら Yasashisa ni tsutsumareta nara

This is the ending song for the popular Studio Ghibli movie "Majo no Takkyuubin (Kiki's Delivery Service)"(1989). Originally sung by Arai Yumi in 1974. This song is quite lovely! I love Studio Ghibli's films, my club at deviantArt: studioghibli.deviantart.com

Here is a video (with subtitles to the lyrics). It is the ending credits to the film.