Tane-chan Mascot Design

Mascot design for the Japanese branch collaborating with the EU on their global campaign: Enjoy, it’s from Europe

The birth of Tane-chan

In 2023, the Japan branch collaborating with the EU on their "Enjoy, it's from Europe" campaign asked me to create a cute mascot for their social media platforms. The goal was to design a character that would help inform viewers about EU products. The final approved character was a small seedling I doodled, wearing a sash reminiscent of a boy/girl scout's—but instead of badges, it featured stars like those on the EU flag.

More social media posts here

From social media to in-person events

Because Japan is a mascot-loving country and Tane-chan's popularity continued to grow, the decision was made to bring them to life. Partnering with a third-party company, I designed a full-body suit for Tane-chan to personally promote EU goods at social events. Tane-chan will be attending Japan Expo 2025 in Osaka, alongside the kitchen car I also helped refine.