Is Mofusand a fruit, a shark, a bear, or a cat? The answer might surprise you! Mofusand is actually a group of playful cats from Japan who are dressed in the cutest costumes. What started as a cute illustration from Juno on social media became a huge kawaii icon not just in Japan but across Asia. Mofusand cats are often seen in fun outfits, from fruit slices, sea creatures, fried shrimp, and even the Sanrio Characters! Ready to learn more about these cute and fluffy cats? Let’s explore the purr-fect world of Mofusand!
- Japanese name: モフサンド (Mofusando)
- Species: Cat
- Debut year: 2017
- Hobbies: Traveling, eating, and dressing up
- Fun fact: Each Mofusand cat has no name!
WHAT IS MOFUSAND CAT?
Mofusand is a group of charming cats, the cutest and fluffiest kitties you could ever meet! They started as cute illustrations of cats that Junko Noji posted on social media and quickly became a big hit. They became so loved all over Japan that you can find them stamped on a lot of Japanese stationery and kawaii merchandise. (See our Mofusand merch here!)
What makes Mofusand unique is that it’s comprised of different breeds of cats and each of them has no specific name. You can usually see them doing all sorts of cute things like playing, eating, and even working. They love to wear different costumes, such as fruits, desserts, animals, and even other kawaii characters. But the most famous ones are the shark and the ebifurai (fried shrimp) headgear!
WHO IS THE CREATOR OF MOFUSAND?
The talented artist behind Mofusand is Junko Noji, more popularly known as Juno. She has an intriguing twist to her story—she doesn’t post her own pictures, just her charming illustrations! This Japanese artist began sharing her designs in 2017 under the name “Mofu_sand,” featuring cats in funny hats and even cats enjoying Japanese curry. These designs became popular digital stickers and soon became managed by the Japanese company Spiralcute.
WHAT DOES MOFUSAND MEAN IN JAPANESE?
In Japanese, "mofusand" is inspired by the onomatopoeic phrase "mofu mofu," which means "soft and fluffy." This phrase is the perfect description for the cute and cuddly Mofusand cats. As for the “sand” part, it doesn’t have a specific meaning in Japanese, but it may have been used to make the name sound cute and playful. It’s just like adding a touch of fun to the name to make it sound more endearing, which is what the Japanese usually do!
MOFUSAND IN THE DIGITAL WORLD
There might be plenty of Mofusand merchandise available for everyone, but as we’ve mentioned above, Mofusand started and is very popular in the digital world, especially in social media and messaging apps like LINE, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Who could resist sending kawaii cat stickers to their friends?
MOFUSAND’S FIRST ILLUSTRATED BOOK!
The cute cats have conquered not just the World Wide Web, but also the real world! Juno’s first art book called “Tabi Suru Nyanko ni Koi o Suru” or “Falling in Love with a Travelling Cat” is an art book that features the Mofusand cats taking a trip! You can see them in the aquarium, amusement park, and hot springs, all enjoying the great outdoors!
MOFUSAND x ART COLLECTIONS
How about transforming iconic Japanese artworks into something more kawaii? That’s exactly what Mofusand did with its “Mofusand x Art Collections” series. The illustrations show Mofusand cats surfing the “Great Wave off Kanagawa,” climbing Mt. Fuji in the “Fine Wind, Clear Morning” artwork, and crossing the Nihonbashi or “bridge of Japan.” These special illustrations were used as decorations for Mofusand file folders.
ENJOY MORE MOFUSAND ARTWORKS!
If collecting cute Mofusand goodies isn’t enough, here’s some good news—Mofusand often holds special exhibitions for Japanese fans! The Mofusand exhibitions in Japan are super fun events where you can see lots of artwork featuring the cute cats created by Juno, especially the “sharknyan” (shark cat) and the “ebinyan” (shrimp cat). They were held in places like Nagoya, Matsuya Ginza, and Kashiwa City in the years 2023 and 2024.
In these exhibitions, you'll find plenty of photo spots and many illustrations that bring Juno's playful and slightly surreal cats to life. One of the special highlights is the limited edition "Teddy Bear Meow" cat, specially drawn by Juno for these events. Its plump and fluffy appearance is absolutely adorable!
VISIT THE MOFUSAND CAFE!
As with most characters that go viral in Japan, Mofusand kitties have also been featured in themed cafes. The Mofusand Cafe was opened in Osaka and Tokyo in 2022. It was the perfect location for enjoying kawaii-looking food and drinks while being surrounded by adorable Mofusand cats. Another special cafe in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka was the Mofumofu Marche Cafe. In this farmers market-themed cafe, the Mofusand kitties were dressed as fruits and veggies!
But that’s not all! Mofusand also joined the fun at the Kyoto International Manga and Anime Fair, where the cats had a cute Mofusand Coffee Stand selling fresh yatsuhashi and castella cakes (Kyoto’s famous sweet souvenirs). They even gave out special coasters with the coffee, and the sweets were packed with Mofusand stickers in really cute wooden boxes!
YUMMY MOFUSAND TREATS
Didn’t get to visit those limited-time cafes? Don’t worry! You can still enjoy delicious Mofusand treats! Every so often, the adorable cats are featured in popular Japanese snacks. Examples are Morinaga Milk yogurt and Bandai Namco’s sweets. Additionally, Mofusand collaborated with the Japanese convenience store Family Mart to create cat-shaped and cat-printed sweets.
MOFUSAND IN HONG KONG
Adding to their cuteness, Mofusand is extra popular because of how lucky cats are believed to be! That’s probably why these kitties have also become a kawaii sensation in Hong Kong. Mofusand celebrated two consecutive Chinese New Years (in 2023 and 2024) at three of Hong Kong’s biggest commercial centers.
At Langham Place shopping mall, there were giant Mofusand figures and a cute mini-Japan-themed popup store that sold Mofusand merchandise and traditional Chinese New Year items. The cute cats also took over The ONE and turned the mall into a giant cat house. Even the atrium of Windsor House became a kawaii cat cafe!
Mofusand kitties were really the star of Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year celebration. In fact, drugstore brand Watsons and retail company Tempo worked with the adorable cats and got them featured in their limited-edition products. Hongkongers couldn’t get enough of Mofusand!
JOIN THE MOFUSAND RUN!
The Mofusand fever is really widespread in Hong Kong. That’s why in September, the first-ever Mofusand running event will be held at Science Park. This exciting event is perfect for fans of Mofusand cats. There will be fun activities, cool Mofusand goodies, and yummy snacks to enjoy after the race. It’s a great way to have fun and stay active!
MOFUSAND X SANRIO CHARACTERS
Proving to be a kawaii sensation, Mofusand teamed up with the famous Sanrio Characters like Kuromi and Cinnamoroll for a super cute collaboration! They’ve actually been doing collabs for quite some time now, with several collections being released more than once a year. You can find all sorts of cute Mofusand x Sanrio items, from stationery and toys to lunch boxes and bags.
You can buy all their collaboration items from Sanrio stores or online, but did you know that there was a special pop-up store that was dedicated to all Mofusand x Sanrio Characters merch? It was an absolute kawaii dreamland! But that’s not all. The cute team also had a pop-up cafe in Tokyo back in 2023. The themed cafe featured the Mofusand cats with Sanrio front liners Pompompurin, Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Kuromi, and Hangyodon.
CUTE COLLABS WITH MOFUSAND
Speaking of collaborations, Sanrio isn’t the only company that took an interest in working with Mofusand. The popular video game Monster Hunter featured Mofusand, with the kitties wearing monster costumes. Other Japanese brands, from stationery to cosmetics, featured the cute kitties as well! Fans of Mofusand can enjoy lots of cute items from fun collaborations.
You can write with adorable Mofusand-themed Pilot Pens and protect your phone with cool cases from Devil Case and Casetify. You can also keep your lips and hands soft with sweet Mofusand lip cream and hand cream made by Shobido. They come in super cute tubes decorated with fluffy cats! Plus, there’s colorful Mofusand makeup from Pon de Couleur. These cute items add a touch of fun to your day with your favorite Mofusand cats!
MOFUSAND IN THE FASHION WORLD
Mofusand also conquered the fashion industry, adding charm to popular Japanese fashion brands like Dazzlin, ELOV, Suzuri, Marathon Sports, and even the globally known Uniqlo. Each brand released a special collection of shirts, bags, and even shoes all decorated with the cute Mofusand cats! Little girls also joined in the kawaii fun with Mofusand accessories and clothing from Any FAM!
INTERNATIONAL MOFUSAND COLLABORATIONS
With their irresistible charm, it should come as no surprise that the Mofusand charm has been spreading in neighboring Asian countries. We’ve already talked about how popular Mofusand is in Hong Kong, but did you know that it’s also loved in Taiwan and China? KFC Taiwan treated chicken lovers to Mofusand-themed boxes and China’s Naixue Tea offered strawberry-flavored drinks in cute Mofusand cups. Pretty soon, the Mofusand cats will be all over the world!
TIME TO COLLECT MOFUSAND GOODIES!
Don’t miss out on the Mofusand fun! Collect all kinds of Mofusand merchandise, from train-shaped Mofusand cats from the Tokaido Shinkansen to the super cozy pet beds that are decorated with cat prints. Plus, check out the Mofusand blind boxes for a surprise every time. These adorable items make collecting Mofusand goodies a delightful adventure!
WHERE TO BUY MOFUSAND MERCH
Now that you’re ready to get whisked away by the Mofusand sensation, you might be wondering where you can get these cute Mofusand items. Wonder no more! If you’re in Japan, you’re lucky to grab these kawaii items in the official Mofusand shop or by ordering in the Mofusand online store. Sometimes, there are even special pop-up shops abroad where you can find unique Mofusand goodies.
What’s more, online shops like Blippo have lots of cute Mofusand merchandise, too! From Mofusand pouches to Mofusand notepads, you’re sure to complete your big Mofusand collection!
That’s a wrap! These charming Mofusand kitties really have a lot in store for us. Are you excited for more Mofusand events and collaborations? We definitely are! Which Mofusand goodies would you like to snag? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to follow the latest Mofusand adventures!