Mizuno turns Expo 2025 mascot into official trainers

Japanese sportswear company Mizuno has released a pair of official trainers for Expo 2025 Osaka that are informed by the event's mascot.

Released ahead of the expo's official opening this weekend, the trainers take their colour and googly eyes from the event's official mascot and logo.

The design was informed by Myaku-Myaku – the official mascot of Expo 2025, which is being held in Osaka, Japan.

Designed by illustrator Kouhei Yamashita, the mascot has a blue body with a head covered in a ring of red globes, some of which contain eyes.

Like the mascot, the shoes – named Mizuno Enerzy Osaka Expo 2025 – are blue and red.

While the upper was made from a blue breathable knit, the midsole appears to be covered in red bubbles, some of which are styled as eyes.

Along with incorporating the mascot's eyes into the bubbly midsole, a picture of Myaku-Myaku was placed on the insole, while Expo 2025 was stitched on the heel tab.

The trainers, which are available in the official Expo 250 store, are part of the merchandising for the international showcase.

The mascot and much of the merchandise is based on the expo's logo, which was created by graphic designer Tamotsu Shimada.

Unveiled in 2020, Shimada's design contains an irregular ring of red circles with five cartoon eyes roughly arranged in the shape of the city of Osaka.

The Expo opens to the public this week. It has been masterplanned by Sou Fujimoto Architects, which has created a vast wooden ring to encircle the national pavilions. Yesterday, US studio Trahan Architects unveiled the "grand yet minimalistic" USA pavilion ahead of the opening.

Expo 2025 will take place in Osaka from 13 April 2025 to 13 October 2025. For more fairs, events and talks in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.

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