![](https://tinyurbankitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IMG_11542.jpg)
Totoro rice is part of a larger Japanese character based meal titled "Kyaraben on Steroids" featured in August's Foodbuzz's 24-24-24. Click here to see the entire meal.
Here is the tutorial for Totoro Rice.
First, you must make the gray rice by mixing ground up black sesame seeds with rice. I typically use a small spice grinder and grind up about 2-3 T of black sesame seeds.
![](https://tinyurbankitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IMG_11491.jpg)
One you have made your gray rice, take a glob of the rice using plastic wrap, and form an oval out of it. You can also form the ears of the Totoro.
Next, make a mound of white rice and put another layer on as his belly.
![](https://tinyurbankitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IMG_11501.jpg)
I then cut out eyes with a straw using fish cake (kamaboko).
![](https://tinyurbankitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IMG_11461.jpg)
I cut out his eyeballs and the designs on his stomach from seaweed using a pair of scissors.
Next, decorate around Totoro using whatever you have. In this case, I used Korean Spinach Salad as the "grass" underneath him.
![](https://tinyurbankitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IMG_11511.jpg)
Finally, I cut out some carrot flowers and red bell pepper flowers. You can make the carrot flowers by cutting 3 notches into the side of the carrot and then slicing it.
![](https://tinyurbankitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IMG_11521.jpg)
With the tulips, you can cut with scissors the old fashioned way.
![](https://tinyurbankitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IMG_11552.jpg)
Definitely check out Anna the Red's Bento Factory for much more detailed tutorials on how to make Totoro bentos.