Studio Ghibli Returns Howl’s Moving Castle Tote Bag to Official Store After 2 Years

by

The beloved 2004 Studio Ghibli film, Howl’s Moving Castle, features Sophie and the wizard Howl alongside a charming old hound dog named Heen (sometimes spelled Hin). Heen is known for his droopy eyes and raspy bark. For Spring 2026, Donguri Sora is celebrating this adorable character with a re-release of its popular “Embroidered Canvas” tote bag series.

Ghibli recently released a collection of tote bags featuring designs from their beloved films, including My Neighbor Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle. Out of the three original designs, only the canvas bag with the “Flying Heen” embroidery has been re-released as of 2026.

The bag’s front is decorated with a fun, pop-art-style image of Heen happily jumping. The movie’s title is stitched underneath, and a smaller picture of Turniphead the Scarecrow is also on the front. You can see official photos below.

Studio Ghibli’s ‘Flying Heen’ Tote Bag Brings Home the Magic for Howl’s Moving Castle

As a huge Howl’s Moving Castle fan, I was so excited about this tote bag! It’s perfect for everyday use – big enough to comfortably carry A4-sized documents, which is great for work since that’s the standard size in Japan. It’s amazing to finally have a way to show off my love for Heen while I’m out and about or even at the office. Plus, the inside is really nicely lined and padded, so my stuff stays protected. And the best part? It’s only 4,400 yen, which works out to about $27.57 – a total steal!

Directed by , Howl’s Moving Castle is based on a beloved fantasy novel of the same name. The story centers on Sophie, a young woman who lacks confidence, and takes place in a world where magic and everyday life coexist.

When Sophie accidentally angers the powerful Witch of the Waste, she’s magically turned into an old woman. Humiliated and seeking a solution, she goes to Howl’s castle and begins working as a cleaner. There, she gets to know Howl’s young apprentice and .

Heen doesn’t become part of Sophie’s unique group until she faces off against the formidable sorceress, Madame Suliman, while trying to help Howl. He initially acts as Madame Suliman’s assistant, guiding Sophie to the witches’ rooms. Once Sophie learns about Howl’s commitments to the army, Howl steps in, and they both make a thrilling escape.

Heen unexpectedly joins the pair as they escape from Suliman’s castle. Though he starts as a spy for Suliman, he ultimately stops working for the witch and becomes part of their group. Over time, Studio Ghibli has honored Heen with various special products. For example, in 2022, Donguri Sora released an item that cost around $345 when it first came out.

Donguri Sora, the official Ghibli store, only ships within Japan. But you can still easily find their merchandise through international retailers. Online, Meccha Japan and Sugoi Mart are two popular options that ship globally. If you’re in the U.S., you can also find licensed Ghibli products at stores like Hot Topic, Box Lunch, Barnes & Noble, and Kinokuniya Books USA.

You can watch Howl’s Moving Castle on Max or Netflix, depending on where you are located.

Read More

2026-04-08 23:54