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When it was announced last November that the Suica penguin would be ‘graduating’ as the chief mascot of JR East’s transportation cards at the end of fiscal year 2026, Tokyo was shocked, to say the least. Now, with the recent news that the cherished aquatic bird will leave us even sooner than that – due to the discontinuation of Suica cards featuring the character – here’s a round-up of all the Suica penguin-related events happening in Tokyo this autumn and winter.
But first, a small recap of the penguin’s time in the spotlight. Illustrator Chiharu Sakazaki’s creation debuted alongside the launch of JR East’s Suica contactless payment service in 2001 and has been beloved ever since for its adorable expressions and humorous appearances in TV commercials – like this one, in which the penguin gets a little homesick.
Through major milestones such as the launch of Mobile Suica in 2006, full compatibility between Suica and Tokyo’s private railway-run Pasmo networks in 2007, and nationwide interoperability with regional cards like Icoca and Toica in 2013, the penguin has been the literal face of all things IC.
But now, after a 25-year run, the short-legged star is calling it quits. JR East has somewhat confusingly designated fiscal year 2026 – which runs until the end of March 2027 – as the ‘Penguin Years’, celebrating the mascot’s history and looking back at its journey.
As part of the graduation celebrations, the train company has announced a host of campaigns and events, including a special penguin-wrapped Yamanote Line train running sometime in November, and a ‘Penguin Fan Appreciation Event’ at JR Ueno Station from October 30 to November 4 2026.
The latter event will take place in the Grand Concourse just outside the station’s central ticket gates. You can look forward to exhibition panels detailing the history of the Suica penguin, along with participatory booths where visitors can write ‘thank you’ messages to the penguin, photo spots with the mascot, and sales of original penguin merchandise. For a limited period, the large digital display above the JR East Travel Service Center at Ueno will also be decorated with the Suica penguin, who’s set to adorn various goodies to be sold at the station’s NewDays convenience kiosks and Nomono local goods store.
Furthermore, digital stamp rallies will be held via the Ekitag digital stamp app, allowing participants to collect penguin stamps at 20 stations on the Yamanote and Shinkansen lines from October 1 to December 25. Participants can exchange their collected stamps for exclusive prizes depending on the number of stamps they collect. The mascot will also make special in-person (in-bird?) appearances at select JR East Shinkansen stations from late November through December.
Meanwhile, a few stations south from Ueno at Tokyo Station, fans can look forward to a line-up of 14 only-here penguin items at Hobonichi Techo’s first flagship store, including a variety of notebook sleeves, pouches, keychains and stickers. Located on the basement floor inside the ticket gates near Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi exit, the flagship store is set to open on September 16. Check out the full line-up of store exclusives here.
Finally, at the end of March 2027, you can expect a baton-passing ceremony featuring the Suica penguin and its yet-to-be-announced successor. We’ll have to wait and see if the new mascot has what it takes to follow in a true Tokyo legend’s three-pronged footsteps.
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