Watching Spirited Away? You Need These Japanese Snacks

Nothing sets the scene for a good anime like pairing all the snacks perfectly with the film. In the case of Spirited away, finding authentic Japanese snacks that tie to these Studio Ghibli Characters may seem like a particularly challenging task because of the sheer amount of food present in the film.

We've compiled a tasty list that will have you ready to pop the film onto your tv and happily munch away while enjoying the story as it unfolds. Now, you can jump right to the fun part.

What Is Spirited Away?

 For those who haven't had a chance to watch this Studio Ghibli classic, here's a quick summary of the storyline. This film feature, created by Hayao Miyazaki, features Chihiro (a 10-year-old girl) as the story's main character. She visits a seemingly abandoned amusement park one day with her parents. This activity goes wrong quickly when her parents are magically turned into pigs.

She meets Haku (Spirited Away), a boy who is also the river spirit. He helps her on her journey to save her parents by feeding her restorative food and providing advice. He lets her know that this amusement park is a resting place for spirits who need a break from the human world. They meet many other characters along the way, including Yubaba, an evil witch, and No Face, a dark spirit who bonds with Chihiro.

Intrigued? Here are some snacks to enjoy while watching!

Authentic Japanese Snacks Inspired by the Spirited Away Characters and Film

Below are a few snacks that you can eat based on each character, starting with the main character first, Chihiro (Spirited Away protagonist).

Chihiro

Onigiri is a big food for Chihiro; it's seen throughout the movie with Chihiro enjoying these delicious rice balls with her parents in the beginning, to eating it later with Haku as comfort food. While you can make this snack from scratch, it's easier to enjoy the Masuya Onigiri Senbei: Ginshari (22 Packs). This snack is a culmination between a rice cracker (senbei) and a traditional onigiri for a delicious treat.

In the first section, Chihiro's parents consume large amounts of food found at the amusement park, including sticky glutinous rice cakes and delicious sausages. Nakajima Taishodo Yoshino Kuzu Mochi (2 Flavors, 9 Pieces) is a slightly different type of sweet, chewy rice cake that will provide a similar effect as you watch her parents enjoy their feast.

While her parents turn into pigs because of this action, you can be assured the only consequence of eating the traditional treats from this delicious Japan candy box is happy tastebuds. 

Haku

There are only a few circumstances where Haku consumes food throughout the movie. More often than not, he is feeding Chihiro to keep her strong enough to help her parents and keep her in the spirit world. However, there is an instance where Haku (Spirited Away) becomes weak, and Chihiro saves him by sharing a green medicine ball with Haku.

You can pay homage to this scene at home by trying Denroku Chocolate Azuki Beans: Uji Matcha (8 Packs). These magical red beans are covered in white chocolate then dusted with Uji matcha powder creating a delicious, green-colored snack. The Denroku Chocolate Azuki Beans: Uji Matcha (8 Packs) are mild, nutty, and sweet, making them the ultimate Japanese candy to enjoy.

No Face (AKA Faceless)

There is a famous scene in Spirited Away where Chihiro joins No Face and Zeniba (the good sister of Yubaba) to enjoy a tea party with a lovely spread of cakes and yummy snacks. You can replicate this scene at home by enjoying one of the best Japanese snack boxes, the Bourbon Mini Baked Cheesecake (12 Pieces). These individually wrapped Bourbon Mini Baked Cheesecake (12 pieces) are the perfect tiny Japanese sweets to accompany the movie and No Face (Spirited Away). 

Find additional snacks to pair with your other favorite animes on Bokksu Boutique! Try a Japanese snack subscription box if you're not sure what to purchase. These Japanese snack box options provide both savory and sweet treats for the ultimate Japanese subscription boxes. You can also try a Japanese candy box for a sweet-filled evening with exclusive Japanese candies.

By Krystina Quintana