Ghibli brings Kiki tea blend and Hario glass mugs to Japan

A film keepsake becomes an everyday tea set

A red tin recalling the one Kiki packs before leaving home in Kiki's Delivery Service is at the center of a new tea release from Donguri Kyowakoku, the Studio Ghibli specialty chain. Priced at 3,080 yen, Kiki's Departure Original Tea Blend contains eight individually tagged bags of Ceylon and chamomile tea with a soft, fruity aroma.

Two companion glass mug sets, made by Japanese glass maker Hario, cost 2,860 yen each. One features Jiji surrounded by a bread wreath; the other pairs Totoro with soot sprites. Each comes with a removable metal strainer and a lid, bringing the equipment for brewing a single cup together in one compact setup.

The products are available through Donguri Kyowakoku stores across Japan and the chain's official online shop. The release arrives during cooler weather, when Ghibli often refreshes its range of goods for hot drinks. It also follows other additions to the chain's tea and tableware catalog during 2025, including floral Kiki glassware and Totoro ceramics made using Mino ware techniques.

The new items combine details from the films with practical uses. The transparent mugs let drinkers watch their tea deepen in color, while the tin can become a storage container after its eight bags are finished. For fans of the 1989 film, the canister also turns an object associated with Kiki's departure into something they can use at home.

What is inside Kiki's departure tin?

Kiki's Departure Original Tea Blend combines Ceylon black tea with chamomile. Ceylon tea tends to be brisk and fragrant, while chamomile contributes sweetness reminiscent of apples and a gentle, calming note. Together, they produce a fruity aroma and a soft finish suited to an afternoon break or an evening wind down.

Each of the eight bags has its own printed tag. A witch silhouette continues the imagery on the tin and connects the blend to Kiki's hometown and the household of her mother, Kokiri. The name Kiki's Departure echoes the film's opening story, in which a determined apprentice leaves home to find her place.

The red canister is designed to remain useful after the tea is gone. Its sturdy construction makes it suitable for tea refills, keepsakes or small pantry items. The appeal is therefore partly in the drink and partly in a container that carries a recognizable piece of Kiki's story.

The small film details around the tin

Kiki appears inside a round blue frame on the tin, recalling a bedroom scene. Around the sides are objects from her room, including stuffed toys, her knapsack and the red radio belonging to her father. Together, the illustrations give the impression of looking across a room filled with familiar belongings.

Jiji appears on a side panel with a curious expression. On the lid, a witch riding a broom sits between sun and moon symbols, recalling the day Kiki flies away to begin her independent year. The witch imagery continues onto the tea bag tags, tying the outside packaging and the contents together.

The tin's design draws its interest from these small references rather than a single large character picture. Fans can recognize the objects Kiki leaves among or takes with her, while the canister remains compact enough to hold in one hand. Its combination of artwork and storage space gives it a role on a shelf after the first round of tea breaks.

How the Hario mugs brew one cup

Hario, known for glassware that resists heat, makes both mug sets. Each includes a clear glass cup, a fine metal strainer that fits into its rim and a lid. Tea goes into the strainer, hot water goes into the cup, and the lid helps retain heat while the drink steeps.

The lid has a second purpose once brewing is finished: it becomes a stand for the removed strainer. Resting the strainer there keeps drips off the table and leaves the cup ready to drink from. The arrangement reduces the need for a separate teapot and suits home offices or compact kitchens where space is limited.

The clear glass makes the changing color of the tea visible. Black tea drinkers can watch an infusion grow darker, while herbal tea drinkers can follow a paler brew as it develops. Once both the lid and strainer are removed, the glass cup can go into a microwave for reheating.

The Kiki version stands about 4.2 inches high and holds about 200 milliliters. That capacity suits a single cup of black tea or an herbal infusion. Its removable strainer can hold loose leaf tea or keep a tea bag below the waterline for a stronger brew. The Totoro version uses the same clear glass construction and the same strainer and lid arrangement, allowing the two designs to work as a matching pair.

Jiji's bakery motif and Totoro's companions

Jiji is framed by a bread wreath on the Kiki's Delivery Service mug. The motif recalls the bread sign used for Kiki's courier business and the bakery that welcomes her. It connects the cup to the film's themes of work, community and daily care, rather than showing the character without a setting.

Totoro and the soot sprites decorate the second mug. The pairing brings together the forest spirit and the small creatures familiar from My Neighbor Totoro; soot sprites also appear in Spirited Away. Artwork appears on multiple sides, giving the cup a character detail to display whichever way it is placed on a shelf.

Both mugs keep enough clear glass visible for the tea itself to be part of the experience. Chamomile and fruit infusions can shift from pale gold toward rich amber as they steep. The designs translate familiar film symbols into everyday tableware without making the cups a crowded collage.

Prices, shopping and delivery beyond Japan

The tea tin costs 3,080 yen, approximately US$20 to US$21 at recent exchange ranges. Each Hario mug set is 2,860 yen, approximately US$18 to US$19. Shoppers can find the products in Donguri Kyowakoku stores across Japan and through its official online shop.

A tin and one mug together cost 5,940 yen, using the listed prices of 3,080 yen and 2,860 yen. Buying the tin and both mug designs brings the total to 8,800 yen. Those figures give shoppers a way to compare a single cup setup with a pair for sharing or display.

Shoppers outside Japan may find that the official online shop accepts delivery addresses only within Japan. Some fans arrange domestic delivery to a friend or use a forwarding service, which receives the parcel in Japan and sends it onward. That route adds fees and time. No exact launch date or delivery schedule was given.

Authorized retailers in other regions provide another possible route for licensed Ghibli goods. Prices outside Japan can vary because of import costs. Studio Ghibli and Benelic markings on packaging and paperwork offer an authenticity check when buying away from the chain's own stores, particularly on large marketplaces where unlicensed lookalikes sometimes appear.

Why an ordinary tea break fits these films

Studio Ghibli's stories often make room for small meals, shared breaks and everyday tasks. Those scenes give viewers a sense of care through ordinary actions. In Ponyo, a parent prepares honey tea and instant noodles after a drive through a storm. In My Neighbor Totoro, Satsuki and Mei settle into a new home through daily routines that bring warmth to the table.

Kiki's life at the bakery also follows a rhythm of work and rest. She learns how to live and earn her way in a new city, then pauses with a cup when the day slows. A tea tin based on something she packs before leaving home brings that larger story into a small domestic habit.

The mugs carry the same idea through their construction. Clear glass makes color and steam part of drinking tea, while a compact strainer keeps the brewing equipment together. The result fits the calm craft associated with the films and gives the character artwork a practical place in an everyday routine.

How the new release fits the 2025 home collection

Donguri Kyowakoku's tea related catalog expanded during 2025 through several different materials and styles. Earlier in the year, the Kiki Bouquet Series included a glass teapot with Jiji on its lid and a matching teacup and saucer set in purple and yellow tones. The teapot was priced around the middle of the 5,000 yen range, while the cup and saucer were in the 4,000 yen range.

The Bouquet Series used floral details linked to Kiki's mother's greenhouse. A Miss Witch emblem and sprigs of lavender were among its references. Where that collection focused on flowers and matching table pieces, the new release centers on a departure tin and a compact cup with its own brewing equipment.

During cherry blossom season, the chain restocked My Neighbor Totoro ceramics crafted using Mino ware techniques from Gifu Prefecture. The range included a teapot, Japanese style tea cups, a rice bowl that could also serve as an ice cream bowl, and plates sized for small sweets.

Most of those ceramic pieces cost between 2,200 yen and 2,970 yen, with the teapot around 6,270 yen. The Mino ware connection brings regional craft into licensed character goods, giving collectors an interest in both the artwork and the material.

The year's tea related releases and seasonal returns included:

• Earlier in 2025: the Kiki Bouquet Series paired floral glassware with references to Kokiri's greenhouse.
• Cherry blossom season: Totoro Mino ware ceramics returned, including cups, a teapot, bowls and small plates.
• Autumn: gobelin weave cloth coaster sets returned for Totoro, Kiki and Howl's Moving Castle.
• By October 15, 2025: the Kiki departure tea tin and the two Hario glass mug sets were available through Donguri Kyowakoku.

Coasters, travel mugs and quieter display pieces

Wool coasters shaped like Totoro, Jiji, soot sprites and Calcifer offered a soft place to set hot mugs during winter. Cloth coaster sets using gobelin weave returned for autumn, with designs covering Totoro, Kiki and Howl's Moving Castle. Each bundle of four cost 2,200 yen.

Drinkware also extended beyond the home. Stainless vacuum mugs featuring Totoro, Kiki, Porco Rosso and No Face were released to keep drinks hot during cold commutes. Their use differs from the clear Hario mugs, which make watching a tea infusion part of the experience.

Diorama hourglass pieces featuring Totoro and Jiji added another kind of object for desks and shelves. Together with the tea goods, they show the catalog's interest in warm, quiet scenes as well as items for serving food and drink.

Brewing the blend in a single cup

A simple brewing routine begins by warming the empty mug with hot water for a minute, then pouring that water away. Place the strainer in the rim and add the tea. For the Kiki blend, use about 200 milliliters of water just off the boil, around 95 to 100 degrees Celsius.

Pour slowly so the water wets all the leaves or the tea bag, then cover the cup with its lid. A steep of three to four minutes suits a brisk cup in which the Ceylon tea is more prominent. Five to six minutes draws more chamomile into the drink.

Lift the strainer out and rest it on the upturned lid to catch drips. Milk or sweetener can be added according to taste. Because the glass reveals changes in color, drinkers can adjust their timing over several cups to find the strength they prefer.

The same setup works with loose leaf tea and bagged herbal blends. Delicate green teas call for cooler water, around 70 to 80 degrees Celsius, to avoid bitterness. Avoid pouring boiling water directly into a cold cup. Briefly warming the glass first reduces stress from a sudden temperature change and helps the finished drink stay hot longer.

Keeping the glass, artwork and tin useful

Hand washing the cups and lids helps protect the printed artwork. Character prints generally last longer when they avoid repeated dishwasher cycles with strong cleaning products. Harsh scrubbing and metal scouring pads should also be avoided.

The metal strainer can be rinsed under running water and patted dry. After repeated black tea use, stains on the glass can be lifted with a brief soak in a mild baking soda solution. Sudden changes in temperature can stress glass, so careful warming and handling remain part of looking after the mugs.

The empty Kiki tin can hold replacement tea sachets, sewing notions, small stationery or a stack of favorite photos. Its artwork allows it to remain a display piece while its interior takes on a new storage role.

Collectors combining these products with older Ghibli tableware may also have fine porcelain cups made by manufacturers such as Noritake. Those bone china designs have a different weight and finish from Hario glass. Displaying both shows the range of materials used across the Ghibli catalog.

When shopping beyond official stores, look for the Studio Ghibli approval seal and Benelic branding on boxes or tags. Artwork that appears overly saturated, misaligned or printed on poor materials can be a warning sign. Authorized retailers often give capacities, dimensions and maker details, such as Hario for glass or Mino ware for ceramics. Those details help shoppers check what they are buying.

At a Glance

• Kiki's Departure Original Tea Blend costs 3,080 yen and contains eight individually tagged bags of Ceylon and chamomile tea.
• The red tin recalls Kiki's belongings and departure in the 1989 film, with Jiji, bedroom objects and a witch riding a broom among its details.
• Two Hario glass mug sets cost 2,860 yen each, featuring Jiji in a bread wreath or Totoro with soot sprites.
• Each mug set includes a removable strainer and lid. The Kiki mug holds about 200 milliliters and stands about 4.2 inches high.
• The glass cup can be reheated in a microwave after the lid and strainer are removed.
• The products are available through Donguri Kyowakoku stores and its official online shop in Japan; overseas shoppers may need domestic delivery arrangements or licensed retailers.
• The release joins a catalog that includes Kiki Bouquet glassware, Totoro Mino ware ceramics, seasonal coasters, vacuum mugs and diorama hourglasses.
• Hand washing protects the printed artwork, and the empty tin can be reused for tea, keepsakes or other small items.