Japan’s JR East to retire beloved Suica penguin mascot, allow QR payments on transport card app
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The penguin has served as the face of Suica since its launch in 2001.
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TOKYO - The beloved penguin mascot of Suica smartcards used for public transportation and cashless payments in Japan will be retired in spring 2027, owner East Japan Railway said on Nov 11.
The penguin, which has served as the face of Suica since its launch in 2001, will be replaced with a new mascot in line with planned enhancements to the card’s functions from the autumn of 2026, according to the company.
Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, JR East President and CEO Yoichi Kise acknowledged that the character has “significantly contributed to Suica’s growth and widespread use”.
Around 120 million Suica physical and digital mobile cards have been issued to date.
The physical card can be purchased for a deposit of 500 yen (S$4.20) from ticket offices and some ticket machines at train stations. When charged with funds, it allows seamless travel across Japan’s array of transportation networks.
“It was joy to have been able to spend the past 25 years as the Suica penguin,” said Ms Chiharu Sakazaki, the illustrator who created the character.
JR East also announced that the Suica smartphone app will add barcode and QR-code payment functions.
Users will also be able to charge up to 300,000 yen to their cards, up from the current cap of 20,000 yen.
The number of Mobile Suica accounts has tripled over the past five years, reaching 34.22 million as of March. More than 2 million retailers across Japan accept Suica payments, and over 300 million transactions are processed monthly. KYODO NEWS
