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The anime _My Neighbour Totoro_ introduces small black soot sprites,
apparently called [Susuwatari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susuwatari).

[![Mei and
Susuwatari](https://i.stack.imgur.com/qDAwq.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/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.


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question
my-neighbor-totoro
Which book is referenced in My Neighbour Totoro, when the Susuwatari are introduced?


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.stack.imgur.com/kG9uX.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/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 "Little
> Nerino"](https://i.stack.imgur.com/f4lQ8.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/f4lQ8.png)
>
> Book cover of _Little Nerino_
>
>
> [![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/kIc8C.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/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)


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