Toro Inoue is Sony Japan’s cat mascot, and he recently celebrated his birthday for the first time in four years. “Toro's Birthday Party 2023” fan event was held on May 6, 2023 to celebrate the creation of the mascot. Approximately 160 fans gathered at the event, and Toro and his partner Kuro themselves made an appearance. [Thanks, Famitsu!]
Toro Inoue, also known as the “Sony Cat,” first appeared as one of the Pokepi (short for Pocket People) in the first game of the Doko Demo Issyo game series, released in Japan in 1999. Toro has also appeared in plenty of mobile games, has had collaborations with other franchises such as Sanrio, and continues to be a popular character in Japan nowadays.
The latest birthday party for Toro was the first in-person event since the start of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Toro and Doko Demo Issyo merchandise, alongside select food items themed after the character were also sold at the venue. As is customary for the cat’s birthday, the venue also held a small altar for fans to display their Toro creations and memorabilia.
Cutting the cake was a challenge for Toro, so BeXide president Kazunori Nanji, the company that handles the Doko Demo Issyo series, helped cut it on behalf of Sony’s mascot. Additionally, Naoshi Horiguchi, character designer for the franchise, offered a 40-minute live drawing session. The event came to a closing with a commemorative photo of Toro and Kuro posing with 30 fans elected in a lottery.
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