Whether it's fried egg on toast in Castle in the Sky, or herring and pumpkin pie from Kiki's Delivery Service, there are many delicious-looking dishes in Studio Ghibli's films.

Known as ジブリ飯 (jiburi-meshi | Ghibli food) in Japanese, they've even inspired some fans to create their own versions.

Recreating an unusual food item from Spirited Away

In Studio Ghibli's 2001 film Spirited Away, all kinds of food items appear.

Whether it's the mysterious dishes ravenously consumed by Chihiro's parents at the food stalls, the opulent dishes served to guests at the bathhouse or the simple rice ball that Haku gives Chihiro, there's an astonishing variety of food items, some of them more likely to whet your appetite than others.

But if there's one food item that most people wouldn't normally think of reproducing, that would be the roasted newt!

Self-proclaimed Studio Ghibli film lover and illustrator 森野どんぐり Morino Donguri (@morino000) decided she would give it a try.

As fans surely know, the unusual item is considered a prized treat by the bathhouse workers. In spite of the dangers associated with helping a human, it's a sufficient reward for Lin when Kamaji asks her to help Chihiro. She also uses the newt to distract a spirit when he catches Chihiro's scent.

In the Edo period, roasted newt was a powerful drug with pseudo-magical powers. It was believed that sprinkling the powder from a newt that had been roasted until charred black on someone could make them fall in love with you. Today, you can't buy roasted newt but steamed newt is still used for medicinal qualities in traditional medicine stores.

As you can imagine, however, it's not very tasty.

Since it's impossible to prepare the real thing, Morino made her own version in cookie form!

According to Morino, she made a pattern and using it like a stencil, she cut them out one by one from the cookie dough.

The post elicited many comments such as, "Give it to me!" "It really looks like something roasted and charred" and "Top quality!"

Who knew there was such high demand for roasted newt?

For those in the Tokyo area, you can buy Morino's roasted newt cookies if you visit the "Toshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition (Tokyo)" currently being held at Warehouse TERRADA, Halls B & C" in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, until September 7th, 2022.

Why not stop by and buy a few. You'll surely be entranced by the taste!"