Osaka –

Merchandise sales for Myaku-Myaku, the official mascot character of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, will continue through next March, after the end of the event Monday.

The sales period has been extended by over five months thanks to an unexpected surge in the popularity of Myaku-Myaku, which attracted a flood of negative responses when its design was shown to the public for the first time.

Myaku-Myaku is said to be an unidentified creature born through the fusion of cells and water in a small spring somewhere in the Kansai region, which includes Osaka.

When the design was unveiled in 2022, many people described it as "disgusting" and "scary." The Osaka prefectural and municipal governments received questions and complaints about the character's selection.

But after the Expo opened in April this year, the public perception gradually changed in line with an increase in social media posts on Myaku-Myaku merchandise by visitors.

Sales of official merchandise reached ¥80 billion by the end of August.

"Its popularity far exceeded our expectations," an official said.

Myaku-Myaku also shored up the performance of companies operating stores in the Expo venue.

A shop run by Kintetsu Department Store began selling on Sept. 22 a new Myaku-Myaku product that can be attached to steel with magnet. The product sold out every day as soon as the store opened.

In its financial report for the half year that ended in August, the company said its consolidated sales totaled ¥62.5 billion for the period, exceeding its forecast by ¥2.6 billion.

West Japan Railway, or JR West, enjoyed strong sales of Myaku-Myaku stuffed dolls at its store in the venue.

"Before the Expo opening, there were many negative comments about Myaku-Myaku, but we felt its popularity grew day by day," an official said.

A visitor from Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, said he bought about ¥47,000 worth of souvenirs, including stuffed toys for his five grandchildren.

For official merchandise, 6$ to 10% of the prices is paid to the Expo organizer, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, as licensing fees.

An estimate released by the association last week said that its revenue exceeded its initial projection by about ¥23 billion thanks partly to strong merchandise sales.

In response to this, the association has announced that some official stores will remain open after the end of the Expo.

Additionally, two large Myaku-Myaku statues near the venue gate are expected to be relocated to the Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, and featured in rotating exhibitions at various sightseeing spots in the prefecture.