Watching the street corner: A tree of Totoro at a middle school

Translated from the original article at: http://www.ryoutan.co.jp/news/2011/11/22/004434.html

Picture: The shrub before the entrance of Nisshin middle school

In Maeda, Fukuchi City, before the entrance of Nisshin Middle School, is some rather interesting shaped shrubbery. Vaugely resembling Totoro, who appears in the animated movie (My Neighbor Totoro), it's a become a topic amongst students visiting the school.

The bush seems to have been planted in 1978, the approximate opening date of the school. Before, the height of the bush was short, and the trimming was the responsibility of the school staff. Each year during trimming time, the top portion of the foilage was left to stretch, as if ears were appearing. No one noticed that it was coming to resemble Totoro.

Now, it's grown to about 5 meters. At the area where a "face" would be, holes have been trimmed in at two points, resembling eyes.

Now, the resemblance is close. Staff members and others going up and down the stair landing find themselves looking directly into the eyes of Totoro.


Original text:
街角ウオッチング：中学校にトトロの木

写真＝日新中学校玄関前にある植え込み

福知山市前田、日新中学校玄関前に、おもしろい形をした植え込みがある。どことなくアニメ映画「となりのトトロ」に登場するトトロに似ており、来校者の話題となっている。

この木は、１９７８年の開校当時から植わっているらしい。以前は今より背が低かった。刈り込みは校務員が担当。毎年刈っていくうちに、上部の枝葉が耳のように伸び、いつしかトトロに似てきた。

今では高さ５メートルほどに成長し、顔の部分にあたる場所には、穴になるよう２カ所を刈り込んでいて、目のように見せている。

 近くでも良く分かるが、職員室などがある校舎の昇降階段の踊り場からだと、トトロの目が真正面に見える。