Setsuko’s precious tin of candy drops, known as Sakumashiki Drops, from Studio Ghibli’s film Grave of the Fireflies will no longer be available for purchase.
As reported by SoraNews24, the manufacturer of the candies, Sakuma Seika, announced that the company will be shutting down on Jan. 20, 2023, marking the end of a 114-year legacy. Sakuma Seika began selling Sakumashiki Drops in 1908, but it wasn’t until the release of the 1988 Ghibli film that sales began skyrocketing. The company attributes the bankruptcy to rising energy and ingredient prices, labor shortages and lack of demand. In its 2021 fiscal year, Sakuma Seika reported a loss of over 151 million yen, approximately $1.02 million.
The History of Sakumashiki Drops
Sojiro Sakuma, an entrepreneur hailing from Chiba Prefecture, wanted to create a Japanese version of the popular fruit candies imported from abroad, thus founding Sakuma Seika. The flavors include grape, apple, lemon, strawberry, pineapple, Japanese peppermint, chocolate and orange. Since 1908, Sakumashiki Drops have remained a beloved candy in Japanese households. Following the premiere of Grave of the Fireflies, the company has taken to printing commemorative tins with Setsuko on them.
The company first shut down during World War II before reopening in 1948. When it did, it branched out into two separate manufacturers, both called Sakuma Seika and located in Tokyo but with differing Japanese characters. Aside from sharing the same predecessor, the two operated independently. While Sakumashiki Drops, known for its iconic bright red tin, will not be sold after January 2023, the hard fruit candies will still be sold by the other Sakuma Seika, albeit in a green tin under the name Sakuma Drops.
Sakumashiki Drops rose in popularity after the release of Grave of the Fireflies, written and directed by Isao Takahata and based on a semi-autobiographical short story by Akiyuki Nosaka. Grave of the Fireflies follows two siblings, Seita and his younger sister, Setsuko, who struggle to survive in the last few months of the Second World War after a firebombing raid destroys their home. As a source of comfort, sweetness and a bit of hope amidst a world that only knows pain and suffering, Seita feeds the Sakumashiki Drops to Setsuko. When they run out, he fills the tin up with water, using the residual sugar to create sweetened water for her to drink. Shortly after, Setsuko dies as a result of malnutrition. Seita cremates his sister’s body, pouring her ashes into the empty candy tin and carrying it with him until the day he dies.
Grave of the Fireflies is available on Hulu. Other Studio Ghibli films are available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: SoraNews24
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