Is there any connection between watermelons and penguins? In Japan there is, because the mascot of a very popular prepaid RFID smart card used in Tokyo is this cute penguin called Suica (スイカ), and in Japanese suica also means “watermelon".

But of course, the name actually comes from an acronym, Super Urban Intelligent Card. Another version is that the name means “Suisui ikeru card", meaning “card that lets you pass swiftly". The card was launched by the East Japan Railway Company in 2001, and its penguin mascot was designed by Sakazaki Chiharu, a well known illustration artist.

Suica

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: About Japan from… manhole covers, Ume blossoms of Mito