On September 8, JR East launched a public vote to select a new mascot for the “Suica” transit IC card. The “Suica Penguin,” which has been a beloved fixture for 25 years since its introduction in 2001, will retire on March 31, 2027, and be replaced by a new character starting April 1 of that year.
Voting will be accepted on the special website from 3:00 p.m. on September 8 through 11:59 p.m. on September 23, with a limit of one vote per person. The nominees consist of three proposals selected by a selection committee—chaired by broadcast writer Kundo Koyama and including voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda—from concepts submitted by up-and-coming creators.
The character that receives the most votes will be announced on November 18, 2026—the 25th anniversary of Suica’s launch—at which time a public contest to select a nickname for the character will also begin. In addition, the company is currently running the “Penguin Years” campaign—which runs through the end of the fiscal year—to express gratitude to the “Suica Penguin” for its many years of service, and plans to hold a farewell event on March 31, 2027.
© Source travel watch