My Neighbor Totoro: Cast, Story, Characters, and Music Guide for Friday Roadshow Broadcast

On August 21, 2026, at 21:00, the beloved Studio Ghibli fantasy film My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro) will be broadcast on NTV’s Friday Roadshow. Written, scripted, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this timeless classic is perfect for families to enjoy during the final days of summer vacation. Here’s a handy guide to the film’s story, voice cast, characters, and music.

My Neighbor Totoro

Story

Satsuki is a cheerful sixth-grader who moves with her younger sister Mei and their father to a quiet countryside home, so their mother, who is in the hospital, can recover in an area with clean air. The new house is a ramshackle old building near a large camphor tree.

Upon arriving, Mei discovers small, dark, soot-like spirits called “Susuwatari” hiding in the house. A kind neighbor grandma tells them these creatures are harmless. Later, while playing in the garden, Mei encounters two strange creatures and follows them to the base of the camphor tree, where she meets the giant forest spirit, Totoro. When Satsuki tries to meet Totoro herself, she finds the hole at the tree’s base has disappeared…

Highlights

Set on a summer night, this masterpiece depicts the heartwarming interaction between the mysterious forest spirit Totoro and two sisters aged 12 and 4. The film follows Satsuki and Mei as they move to a suburban house with their father and discover a world of unseen creatures: playful Susuwatari that sneak into empty homes, Totoro who lives in the great camphor tree, and the Catbus that rides the wind to carry Totoro, Satsuki, and Mei across the sky.

Surrounded by these unique beings, the sisters spend a summer without their mother, growing up through tears and laughter. The moment they take flight with Totoro remains a fresh and moving experience no matter how many times you watch it. A beloved masterpiece that transcends time and generations.

Broadcast Information

Friday Roadshow broadcast: August 21, 2026, from 21:00 (JST)
Original theatrical release: April 16, 1988

Cast

Staff

(C)1988 Studio Ghibli

Characters

Satsuki (Hidaka Noriko) – A lively sixth-grader who efficiently handles household chores in place of her hospitalized mother.

Mei (Sakamoto Chika) – Satsuki’s 4-year-old sister. Curious but sometimes stubborn, and shy around strangers because of her age.

Father (Itoi Shigesato) – The girls’ gentle father. A part-time university lecturer specializing in archaeology.

Mother (Shimamoto Sumi) – The girls’ mother, currently hospitalized at Nanakuyama Hospital for treatment. A smart and intelligent woman.

Granny (Kitabayashi Tanie) – Kanta’s grandmother, who looks after the house the family moves into.

Kanta (Amagasa Toshiyuki) – Satsuki’s classmate and neighbor from a farming family. He likes Satsuki but struggles to show it.

Totoro (Takagi Jun) – A mysterious creature said to live in the great camphor tree near Satsuki and Mei’s home.

Catbus – A strange creature shaped like a bus, with the form of a cat and twelve legs. It runs swiftly anywhere, but is usually invisible to humans.

Music

Opening theme: “Sanpo” by Inoue Azumi

Ending theme: “Tonari no Totoro” by Inoue Azumi

Soundtrack album for My Neighbor Totoro is also available.