Japan is famous for its fun and quirky mascots, and few are as iconic as JR East’s beloved penguin, found on the handy Suica IC transport card. In surprising news, the railway company has announced that the beloved aquatic bird will retire at the end of the next fiscal year.
Though the character never had an official name, it has represented Suica for 25 years, becoming a familiar sight on transport cards and smartphone apps. Over the years, the penguin has assembled a legion of fans, with JR East creating merchandise such as plushies, accessories, stationery and other souvenirs adorned with its adorable likeness.
While many people have expressed shock at the ‘graduation’, it seems like fans can look forward to a new character soon. The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that the penguin is set to be replaced, and JR East has stated that the selection of the new character will involve participation from passengers and other Suica users. However, details on how to participate have yet to be shared.
In other Suica-related news, The Mainichi has reported that JR East plans to add barcode and QR-code functions to the smartphone app, as well as raise the card's balance cap from ¥20,000 to ¥300,000, giving Suica more power to compete with other cashless payment options.
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