JASWDC is a non-partisan educational organization dedicated to promoting friendship and understanding between Japan and the six million people of the greater Washington D.C. area. Their annual event, the National Japan Bowl®, was founded in 1992 by JASWDC. It is the premier U.S. competition for high school students studying Japanese, bringing top participants to Washington, DC each spring. It challenges students’ language proficiency and cultural knowledge, with top winners earning a trip to Japan for immersive cultural experiences and meetings with distinguished figures.

Client reached out for an illustration and merchandising freelance project with their pre-existing mascot character Kanji-kun. Kanji-kun is the official mascot for the National Japan Bowl®. Following their brand and style guidelines,
I re-created their mascot in various poses based on
references and a design brief provided beforehand.

• Illustration files of Kanji-kun mascot in various poses
• Ukiyo-e illustration 3x2 sticker design
• Mockups (T-shirt, tote, sticker, and keychain)

Illustrator, Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint Pro
Google Workspace, Zoom