Candidates to succeed Suica smartcard penguin mascot unveiled in Japan

TOKYO – East Japan Railway on Sept 8 unveiled three character designs as candidates to succeed the beloved penguin mascot of Suica, the smartcard used for public transportation and cashless payments in Japan.The new mascot will be chosen from three characters – a squirrel, a rabbit and an orange creature carrying a crossbody bag with a mole on it – via online voting from Sept 8 to Sept 23.The penguin is set to retire at the end of Japan’s 2026 fiscal year in March 2027.The voting results will be announced on Nov 18 to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Suica’s launch.JR East will then begin accepting suggestions for the new mascot’s nickname.The penguin was based on a character from a picture book by Chiharu Sakazaki and has served as Suica’s mascot since the smartcard was launched in 2001. KYODO NEWS