Mofusand: Japan's Cats in Funny Costumes

Soft, round cats in shark suits and fried shrimp hats have become one of Japan's most recognizable modern character brands.

Published October 26, 2026 at 9:20 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Mofusand is a Japanese cat illustration series by an artist known as Juno, who began posting the characters online in 2017. The cats are unnamed and fluffy, and they wear costumes such as sharks, fruit and fried shrimp. The name echoes mofu mofu, the Japanese sound word for soft and fluffy, and the cats now appear on stationery, clothing and capsule toys.

If you have seen a small orange cat wearing a shark hood, you have met Mofusand. The characters spread from social media to stickers and then to shops, cafes and books, and many visitors to Japan now look for them in stores. This guide explains who created them, what the name means, which costumes are best known, what kinds of products exist and how to look for them during a trip.

What Mofusand is

Mofusand is a series of cat illustrations that feature soft, round cats in everyday scenes and playful costumes. Instead of one famous mascot with a single name, it is a rotating cast of cats, each with its own look. The cats are drawn as different breeds, and they often appear in cozy settings or in funny poses.

The humor comes from the contrast between a calm, sleepy cat and an absurd outfit. A cat dressed as a shark looks serious about the role, and a cat wearing a fried shrimp hat looks perfectly at ease. Fans enjoy the gentle surprise, and the artwork is simple enough to be printed on small items without losing its charm.

The series is part of Japan's wider character culture, where a simple idea can grow into a full brand. It sits alongside long-standing favorites in the kawaii, or cute, tradition, but it started as an independent illustration project rather than a toy or company mascot.

The creator and the name

Mofusand was created by a Japanese illustrator known as Juno. According to Anime News Network, Juno began posting cats in costumes and everyday scenes on X, formerly Twitter, in 2017. The characters then gained fans as messaging stickers and eventually appeared in many product collaborations.

The name comes from mofu mofu, a Japanese sound word that describes something soft and fluffy. The second half of the name, sand, is generally treated as a cute addition without a specific meaning.

Because the artist works under a pen name, details about the person behind the brand are limited. What fans do know is the style itself, a clean, friendly look that makes the cats easy to recognize even in a very small size.

The best-known costumes

The most famous mofusand cat is the one in a shark costume. Fans know the shark cat as Shark Meow in English, and in Japanese the name Same-nyan combines same, the word for shark, with a cat sound. A small kitten character called Little Meow also appears in the anime and related media.

Another favorite is the cat wearing a fried shrimp hat, called ebifurai in Japanese. Other costumes include fruits, sweets, sea creatures, bears, rabbits and strawberries. Each cat in costume looks a little different, so collectors often choose their favorites by theme.

Because the cats do not have fixed names, new outfits can appear at any time. That flexibility is one reason the brand keeps producing fresh designs, and it gives seasonal items a natural theme such as strawberry sweets in spring or cozy bears in winter.

Books, manga and anime

The success of the cats has led to publications and screen projects. Kadokawa published the first illustration book, titled Falling in Love with a Traveling Cat, in August 2022, and Udon Entertainment released an English edition in October 2024. Shogakukan Creative published the first volume of a manga about the shark cat, called Same-nyan, in April 2024.

A short anime adaptation has also been announced. According to Anime News Network, it follows Shark Meow and friends, including a rescued kitten named Little Meow, and it is described as a soft and snuggly kitty anime that brings joy to everyday moments. The production company is QTORY, and the short episodes are released on its YouTube channel and other streaming platforms.

These projects show how a social media illustration series can grow into a multimedia franchise while keeping its simple, friendly look.

Products and collaborations

Mofusand merchandise covers stationery, plush toys, pens, clothing, cosmetics, snacks and blind box toys. Reports from Japanese toy news sites describe collaborations with Sanrio, Uniqlo and other brands, and the cats have appeared in a range of limited editions.

One popular example is a series of capsule toys in which the cats are dressed as Sanrio characters. The site Toy People reported a second series of Mofusand and Sanrio figures from the maker Kitan Club, with a suggested price of 500 yen per capsule and figures measuring about 40 to 55 millimeters tall. Prices and releases change, so check the capsule machine itself for the current price.

Collaboration items are usually limited in quantity. If you see something you like, it is wise to buy it when you can, as shelves may change from one visit to the next.

Where to find Mofusand in Japan

Mofusand items can be found in character shops, department stores, stationery stores, capsule toy corners and game centers in major cities. Large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka usually have the widest selection, and special events appear from time to time.

Pop-up cafes and exhibitions have taken place in cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, with themed menus and exclusive art. Because these events run for limited periods, confirm dates and any reservation rules on the official channels before you go.

For visitors, small items are the easiest to bring home. Stickers, notebooks, pouches and capsule toys are light and inexpensive. Look for official tags and well-known retailers to avoid imitation products, which exist for popular characters.

Tips for collectors

Start by picking a theme, such as the shark cat, food costumes or seasonal outfits. This keeps a collection focused, and it also helps you notice when a new release matches your interest.

Capsule toys are a fun way to collect because the contents are a surprise. If you want a specific figure, look at the lineup shown on the machine and read the leaflet to see which designs exist. Trading with other fans is part of the hobby in many places.

Store the figures away from direct sunlight and keep small parts away from young children. Many collectors also keep the leaflet from the capsule, which often shows the whole set and helps with tracking what is missing.

Why the cats connect with people

Mofusand works because it combines simplicity with a gentle sense of humor. A fluffy cat is a universal comfort, and a costume turns it into a small joke that anyone can enjoy. The characters do not need a long story to be appreciated, and that makes them easy to share across languages.

They also reflect a Japanese love of cats and of small, collectible objects. From lucky cat figures to cat cafes, felines have long been part of everyday culture. Mofusand is a modern, playful chapter in that tradition and a lively example of how a character can grow from a single online drawing into a worldwide favorite.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japanese Capsule Toys (Gachapon) is available on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does mofusand mean?

The name comes from mofu mofu, a Japanese sound word that describes something soft and fluffy. The ending sand is generally regarded as a cute addition rather than a word with a specific meaning. Together they suggest a gentle, fluffy cat character, which suits the soft look of the illustrations.

Who created Mofusand?

Mofusand was created by a Japanese illustrator known as Juno. Juno began posting the cat illustrations online in 2017, and the characters later became popular as messaging stickers and merchandise. The brand has since grown to include books, manga, a short anime and collaborations with companies such as Sanrio and Uniqlo.

Are the Mofusand cats named?

Most of the cats are not given fixed individual names. Fans often describe them by their costumes, such as the shark cat or the fried shrimp cat. The shark cat is called Shark Meow in English versions and Same-nyan in Japanese, and a kitten character called Little Meow appears in the anime.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Chiikawa: The Little Character Taking Over Japan, Gachapon: Japan's Capsule Toy Culture and Kawaii Culture and Sanrio: Japan's Cute Universe.