Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone

End of the line for JR East’s adorable mascot for its revolutionary train fare payment system .

For 25 years, a penguin has been the symbol of convenient train travel in Tokyo and east Japan.

In 2001, East Japan Railway Company/JR East revolutionized how commuters and travelers get about when it launched Suica , the country’s first major prepaid IC card for train fares, and from day one its mascot was the Suica Penguin, appearing right there on the card itself.

Suica caught on very quickly, especially when the system was expanded to let cardholders tap their card not only to pay for JR train rides, but for fares on lines operated by other rail companies and buses, plus purchases at vending machines, restaurants, and stores of all sorts.

So for the last quarter-century, many people in Japan have been seeing the Suica Penguin multiple times a day.

Back in November, though, JR East revealed plans to sever ties with the character , and now comes more sad news, as the company has announced that the final cards featuring the Suica penguin have already been produced and shipped.

In other words, once JR East stations use their current stocks of penguin Suica cards, that’s the end for them, and no more will be coming .

“Regarding the currently produced Suica cards printed with Suica Penguin illustrations, sales will be concluded once the inventory has been exhausted at each sales point,” says JR East in its statement.

“Subsequent Suica cards will bear no [Penguin] illustration.” In addition, the Penguin will be vanishing from Apple Wallet Suica users’ icon and in-app images, though the timing of its erasure hasn’t yet been specified.

A similar revision is likely for users of the Mobile Suica app and its on-screen virtual card representation. ▼ So if you like seeing this guy on your phone, now’s probably a good time to take a screen shot to remember him by.

JR East hasn’t said why it’s getting rid of the Suica Penguin, instead glibly framing it as the character “graduating,” borrowing a term from the Japanese idol/show business industry for when someone’s current role is coming to an end.

Whatever the reason is, it can’t be a lack of popularity .

Suica Penguin merch, such as stationery, hand towels, and plushies, have been consistently popular since the character’s debut, and Suica Penguin imagery regularly plays a role in JR East’s advertising and promotional materials.