India, Aug. 30 -- In November 2001, JR East introduced the world to the Suica Penguin, coinciding with the launch of the Suica IC card system. A quarter-century later, the beloved mascot is set to bid farewell to Japan's public transport landscape. Originally designed by Chiharu Sakazaki for the 1998 picture book Penguin Gokoro, the character was an attempt at popularising the then-new contactless IC technology. Over the years, the Suica Penguin became a cultural phenomenon, with its own merchandise line and even a dedicated live-action TV commercial featuring a costumed version of the mascot.

The Suica Penguin chapter is set to become history soon, with JR East retiring the character at the end of the 2026 fiscal year (March 31, 2027)....