WCH Tokyo 25 Official Mascot
Today, the Local Organising Committee for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 (WCH Tokyo 25) unveiled the official mascot and general ticket sales guidelines for the 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships taking place later this year.
Created in collaboration with World Athletics media partner and WCH Tokyo 25 principal supporter, TBS Television, the mascot was developed alongside local elementary school students. It represents both the excitement of athletics and the charm of Japan. Students took part in a workshop where they contributed multiple different designs, aiming to create a mascot that would resonate with people across the world.
The mascot, a Shiba Inu, is one of Japan’s most beloved dog breeds and was chosen to embody the spirit of WCH Tokyo 25, connecting the Championships with a global audience. The mascot’s name will be decided through a nationwide voting campaign, which kicks off today with three ‘paw-some’ pre-selected name options. The life-sized mascot will be revealed in late February, alongside the announcement of their final name!
WCH Tokyo 25 Official Mascot
Mascot profile
Get ready to meet the adorable mascot of WCH Tokyo 25! Inspired by the Shiba Inu, one of Japan’s most iconic and loved dog breeds, this energetic character embodies the true spirit of sport - courageous, determined, and always pushing to reach their goals. With a heart as warm as their fur, the mascot makes friends everywhere they go. Full of life, they generate energy through moving their body and burst into an adorable little dance when fully charged! A big fan of Tokyo’s festivals, this mascot is especially excited to have the World Athletics Championships return to their beloved home city after 34 years.
- Likes: running around Tokyo’s famous sightseeing spots (especially the WCH Tokyo 25 marathon course)
- Special skills: sprinting
- Favourite colour: Edo Purple
- Favourite expression: “Fast as Lightning”
- Favourite food: meats, fish, fruits and vegetables from Tokyo (especially Japanese mustard spinach)
- Daily motivation: relaxing in bathtubs made from local hinoki (Japanese cypress) from Tama City, as well as visiting public bathhouses.
Vote for the mascots' name
To help the mascot connect with a wide range of people, WCH Tokyo 25 will hold a national vote to decide the mascots' name. Three potential names were selected during the workshop phase and people from across the country can vote for the name they feel best represents this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Name selections:
A. Sorashiba
Inspired by the image of athletes from around the world coming together, this name evokes the vast sky (sora), symbolising freedom and the ability to run endlessly. It’s also influenced by the musical scale ‘Do-Re-Mi’ (Sora-Shi-Do), adding a sense of joy and fun.
B. Pochichi
A playful twist on the beloved Japanese dog name ‘Pochi’, with a cute and charming sound.
C. Riku One
This name combines ‘riku’, the Japanese word for athletics, with the concept of ‘one’ — symbolising first place, a single second, a single step, a single throw, a single jump, and the ‘all for one’ spirit of athletics. It also reflects the unity of the stadium and represents the sound of a dog's bark, ‘one’ or ‘wan’ in Japanese.
Voting period: Friday 17 January 14:00 – Tuesday 11 February 23:59
How to vote: Participants can access the voting website and choose one of the three names. Please note that the voting website is only available in Japanese.
Name announced: Late February.
Present: After participating in the naming vote, those who also join the gift application will have a chance to win exciting prizes through a lottery, including tickets to the WCH Tokyo 25 and mascot plushies. Don’t miss this opportunity! For more details, please visit the naming vote site.
‘Making-of’ video
Watch the ‘making-of’ video below to see the workshop where the children contributed their own unique mascot designs.
