<p>Based on quick research in Japanese, <strong>there's no official statement about the book used as a reference for Susuwatari (or Makkuro Kurosuke).</strong></p>
<p>The only traditional Japanese legend mentioned on <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%B9%E3%83%AF%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Japanese Wikipedia</a> is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legendary_creatures_(K)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kesaran Pasaran</a>, which refers to the similarity to its form, but the similarity only goes as far as a fluffy furball (not even black).</p>
<blockquote>
<p>外観は、タンポポの綿毛や兎の尻尾のようなフワフワした白い毛玉とされる。</p>
<p>The exterior appearance looks like a white fluffy furball, similar to dandelions or rabbit's tails.</p>
<p><sup>(From <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B1%E3%82%B5%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%91%E3%82%B5%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Japanese Wikipedia - <em>Kesaran Pasaran</em></a>)</sup></p>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kG9uX.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kG9uX.png" alt="Alteil Online rendition of Kesaran Pasaran" /></a></p>
<p><sup><a href="https://alteil.fandom.com/wiki/Kesaran_Pasaran" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Alteil Online</a> rendition of Kesaran Pasaran</sup></p>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<p>Regarding the book which &quot;Makkuro Kurosuke&quot; appears, it's never been stated officially. However, according to <a href="https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1323098098" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Yahoo! Chiebukuro (Japanese)</a>, some Japanese fans speculated that it was based from <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/0907234135" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Little Nerino</em></a> (translated as <em>Makkuro Nerino</em> in Japan), a picture book by Helga Galler.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/f4lQ8.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/f4lQ8.png" alt="Book cover of &quot;Little Nerino&quot;" /></a></p>
<p><sup>Book cover of <em>Little Nerino</em></sup></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kIc8C.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kIc8C.png" width="300"></a></p>
<p><sup>Nerino, from <a href="https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/blueaidas/7807884.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">あっちゃんたかちゃん's blog on Yahoo! Blogs (Japanese)</a></sup></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-19T09:43:20.297Z
Thank you! The mentioned book predates the film 6 years, so it's at least plausible. I'll wait a couple more days and then accept your answer if nothing better shows up ;)
hiergiltdiestfu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-18T23:49:17.473Z
2019-04-18T23:49:17.473Z
2020-06-17T09:17:53.303Z
Aki Tanaka
<p>The anime <em>My Neighbour Totoro</em> introduces small black soot sprites, apparently called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susuwatari" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Susuwatari</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qDAwq.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qDAwq.png" alt="Mei and Susuwatari"></a></p>

<p>Around 8 minutes 42-45 seconds into the movie (German DVD edition), when the family checks out their new home and the girls ask their father about the spirits while they are looking around the bathroom, the father identifies them as "soot sprites" and in response the older girl asks whether they are the same like "in <em>the</em> picture book" (or storybook). </p>

<p>I'd like to know what book she's referring to. Does it exist at all, seeing that the sprites were - according to Wikipedia - invented by the story's author/director Hayao Miyazaki.</p>

<p>I'm mainly looking for canon answers, or answers referring to traditional Japanese legends.</p>

<my-neighbor-totoro>
Which book is referenced in My Neighbour Totoro, when the Susuwatari are introduced?
# Which book is referenced in My Neighbour Totoro, when the Susuwatari are introduced?
Posted by: username_0 on 2019-04-12
The anime *My Neighbour Totoro* introduces small black soot sprites, apparently called [Susuwatari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susuwatari).

[![Mei and Susuwatari](https://i.sstatic.net/qDAwq.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/qDAwq.png)

Around 8 minutes 42-45 seconds into the movie (German DVD edition), when the family checks out their new home and the girls ask their father about the spirits while they are looking around the bathroom, the father identifies them as "soot sprites" and in response the older girl asks whether they are the same like "in *the* picture book" (or storybook).

I'd like to know what book she's referring to. Does it exist at all, seeing that the sprites were - according to Wikipedia - invented by the story's author/director Hayao Miyazaki.

I'm mainly looking for canon answers, or answers referring to traditional Japanese legends.
**Tags:** my-neighbor-totoro
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2019-04-18. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
Based on quick research in Japanese, **there's no official statement about the book used as a reference for Susuwatari (or Makkuro Kurosuke).**

The only traditional Japanese legend mentioned on [Japanese Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%B9%E3%83%AF%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AA) is [Kesaran Pasaran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legendary_creatures_(K)), which refers to the similarity to its form, but the similarity only goes as far as a fluffy furball (not even black).

> 外観は、タンポポの綿毛や兎の尻尾のようなフワフワした白い毛玉とされる。
>
> The exterior appearance looks like a white fluffy furball, similar to dandelions or rabbit's tails.
>
> (From [Japanese Wikipedia - *Kesaran Pasaran*](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B1%E3%82%B5%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%91%E3%82%B5%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3))
>
> ---
>
> [![Alteil Online rendition of Kesaran Pasaran](https://i.sstatic.net/kG9uX.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/kG9uX.png)
>
> [Alteil Online](https://alteil.fandom.com/wiki/Kesaran_Pasaran) rendition of Kesaran Pasaran

---

Regarding the book which "Makkuro Kurosuke" appears, it's never been stated officially. However, according to [Yahoo! Chiebukuro (Japanese)](https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1323098098), some Japanese fans speculated that it was based from [*Little Nerino*](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/0907234135) (translated as *Makkuro Nerino* in Japan), a picture book by Helga Galler.

> [![Book cover of ](https://i.sstatic.net/f4lQ8.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/f4lQ8.png)
>
> Book cover of *Little Nerino*
>
> [![](https://i.sstatic.net/kIc8C.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/kIc8C.png)
>
> Nerino, from [あっちゃんたかちゃん's blog on Yahoo! Blogs (Japanese)](https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/blueaidas/7807884.html)
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2019-04-19): Thank you! The mentioned book predates the film 6 years, so it's at least plausible. I'll wait a couple more days and then accept your answer if nothing better shows up ;)  
---
