Pon-chan is a cute yellow dog with round eyes and high eyebrows that make him look alert all the time. His mustache under his nose makes his face stand out, and he even wears an orange beret that complements his ears, which stick out to the sides.

    Whenever he appears in comic strips, you'll see him pulling off deadpan humor while helping friends or strangers. Maybe that's why, even though Pon-chan is pretty quiet, he has a lot of friends. There's Pin, a bird who always flies by his side to keep him company, and Rodriguez, a kind-hearted flower who cheers everyone up with a smile.

    "Hello, I'm Makoto, a character designer. I'm so happy to meet everyone today. Please take care of me!" Makoto Kanazawa, the character designer behind OHIGE no Pon, greeted us with a warm and friendly smile, just like the character he creates.

    From a student in the judo club, to a packaging designer for sweets, and a part-timer measuring suits at a tailor shop, how did Makoto Kanazawa become the character designer behind the lovable and heartwarming world of OHIGE no Pon, which is loved by so many people? Let's take a look at his life journey and the creative process behind his character design.

    Makoto Kanazawa was born in Niigata Prefecture in 1982 and currently lives in Saitama, Japan. We asked him to share the story of how he became interested in drawing and art.

    "I was always in the judo club since I was a kid, and I decided to join a judo club in high school known for judo. In judo, there's always winning and losing, right? But when I was in my first year of high school, I met an art teacher who said, 'The world isn't just about winning and losing. There are many worlds, yours, theirs, and so many others.' I thought the teacher was so cool, and I was so impressed by that. That's when I started to get interested in art."

   When it was time to continue his studies at university, he chose to study in the Faculty of Liberal Arts, majoring in Fine Arts at Tokai University. He later pursued a master's degree in Visual Design at Tsukuba University where he focused his research on manga.

   He shared, "Before that, I wanted to be an illustrator. But after studying for a while, I realized I wanted to create characters that could embody many different things." However, it took him some time before he could finally do what he truly wanted.

    Although he graduated in design and knew what he was passionate about, he didn't immediately pursue his dream. His first job was at a packaging design company. "I worked on designing packaging, like snack boxes. Then, when I was 31, it felt like something was missing, like I had unfinished business. So, I decided to quit my job. After that, I worked part-time as a suit measuring assistant for customers while also drawing in my spare time."

    Kanazawa shared that during his part-time job, he had the chance to talk to many people. When he got home, he would draw a lot. He lived like this for four years. During that time, he worked on both illustration and character design. He became a character designer, creating mascots for NHK TV programs and many other companies before he eventually and seriously started designing his own characters.

    "I was doing both illustration and character design but over time the character design work started to outnumber the illustration. After six years, I decided to focus more on designing my own characters, which led me to Pon-chan."

   So, we can say that his journey as a character designer truly began when he was 31.

    While there are many characters in Japan, such as rabbits, fish, penguins, dogs, cats, monkeys, frogs, sheep, and even raw eggs, why did he choose to design Pon-chan as a young dog with a mustache?

    Kanazawa smiled and shared his childhood memory with us, "This character was created from something I wanted to be. What I love are dogs and mustaches." It's such an interesting combination, isn't it? "I wanted to have a dog since I was young, but my family couldn't have one. So, I kept that inside and created the character OHIGE no Pon. And no matter what, I had to add a mustache. The OHIGE, which means mustache, is like a symbol of humor — just like Charlie Chaplin's or Mario's mustache. I wanted to create something that could convey warmth and kindness to the people who see it. So, I added these qualities, along with happiness and humor, into the character. And I thought, if it were an old man, it might not be as loveable as a young dog."

    He stated that in Japan, mustaches are often seen as a fashion trend. "There are people with mustaches who look cool, and then there are those who look a bit funny. My mustache was more toward the funny side, so I ended up shaving it off," he said with a chuckle. But if he could choose, he'd probably sport a mustache just like Pon-chan's.

    Perhaps this is why the fanbase of OHIGE no Pon includes a wide variety of people — young adults, kids, and even men with mustaches, who often find themselves resonating with the character.

    We asked Kanazawa how he initially presented the stories of OHIGE no Pon. He explained that he started by creating silent comic strips.

    "At first, I began with single-panel comics, then moved on to two-panel and four-panel strips. When I worked with my latest publisher, I created a 16-page picture book. In the beginning, I wanted to tell stories in a way that didn't rely on words — just the expressions of the characters to convey the story. It's a kind of silent comedy, where readers can immediately see Pon-chan and think, 'Huh? How is he going to help?' This approach to storytelling is something I studied and specialized in: expressing emotions through visuals rather than relying on dialogue."

    The concept behind creating a kind-hearted character comes from something Kanazawa learned in his childhood, which has influenced how he conveys stories of OHIGE no Pon ever since. He explained, "The inspiration for my ideas comes from my elementary school teacher. The teacher taught us that when we give something good to others, we'll receive something good in return. This philosophy has been a fundamental principle in creating my books. So, for children who can't read yet, if they look at the pictures I draw, they'll still be able to understand the story."

    "The key message in the books I draw is that I want readers to adopt those qualities. For example, if the character likes to help others, the readers might feel inspired to help others too. If the book conveys warmth, the readers might feel a sense of that warmth too. These elements are essential and the main reason why I draw these books."

    Kanazawa's approach doesn't just work for kids who can't read yet — it works for adults too, including foreigners who don't understand Japanese.

    His ambition seems to come true. Pon-chan's acts of kindness continue to leave a strong impression on readers, and it doesn't stop there. Fans of Pon-chan happily share its cute and humorous stories with the next generation, allowing them to absorb the kind messages from OHIGE no Pon.

    "Pon-chan's picture books have a fanbase of young women in their 20s and 30s. What's interesting is that young people who liked Pon-chan often bought these books for their kids after they got married. I hear this story a lot. It seems that parents are passing on Pon-chan's stories to their children, so I even have little ones as fans now."

    Kanazawa smiled cheerfully and told us that knowing people enjoy his work, or seeing how much they love Pon-chan, is very important to him as a character designer. When he realizes that people appreciate what he creates, it truly makes his heart happy.

    After creating the fun stories of OHIGE no Pon in comic strips, which later expanded into picture books available in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, we also see a variety of products for purchase, such as figures, art toys, and stationery like notebooks, tear-off pads, stickers, letter sheets, etc.

    Undoubtedly, the cuteness of Pon-chan and friends has attracted several famous brands, leading to collaborations. For example, Niko and ... offers pillows, plush toys, bags, and clothing for fans to enjoy the cuddly softness. Pon-chan and friends are even featured on the Izumi train, bringing a cheerful atmosphere to passengers traveling toward Chiba Prefecture. OHIGE no Pon also makes an appearance on famous tea bottles in Taiwan, with a production of 1.2 million bottles in collaboration with FamilyMart Taiwan available in over 4,000 stores. Sometimes, you might even spot people using phone cases with OHIGE no Pon from Casetify walking by.

    OHIGE no Pon continues to meet fans through pop-up stores at locations like the Keio Department Store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Kingstone Bookstore in Taiwan, and art toy events in Taipei. The character is also featured in solo exhibitions at Omotesando Hills in Tokyo, Japan, and in Taiwan. Now, T.A.C.C., the official licensing representative of OHIGE no Pon, will bring Kanazawa Makoto to Thailand to connect with Thai fans. Popular merchandise will be available for purchase and the character mascot will make its debut at Bangkok Illustration Fair 2024 located at centralwOrld LIVE, 8th floor, CentralWorld, on 5-8 December 2024.

    Kanazawa mentioned the reason behind creating the mascot for this event. "It's not about making a mascot at all. It's because Pon-chan wants to meet Thai fans in person," he laughed shyly after speaking on behalf of Pon-chan.

    The heartwarming journey of OHIGE no Pon isn't a solo effort. Kanazawa spoke about someone very important to his creative process: "I only do the drawings. I can't do designing or creating the artwork for merchandise — that's all done by my wife. Sometimes, when I can't decide or choose something, I'll let her help me out."

    "Whether it's working on my own projects or collaborating with brands, both are enjoyable in their own way," Kanazawa said. "When I work on my own projects, I think about how people will feel when they see our products, or how I feel creating them — how fun it is making them. When working with others, I fully trust the product designers since they're in charge of the design. That makes me excited and curious to see how the final results will turn out."

    Kanazawa often travels to meet fans of OHIGE no Pon in person, allowing him to understand how people feel about his character truly. He shares these experiences with sparkling eyes and a wide smile.

    "Besides my love for drawing, meeting people through the things I've created from my drawings is another thing that makes me really happy. I've received many love letters from young fans. Not only gathering marketing feedback, but meeting the fans who like my character is also something truly special. It helps me think about what I can create next to make them happy through my work."

    He also shared how happy he feels when his work has reached different countries. "When my agent sets up pop-up stores in different places where people can interact with the actual products and artwork, it's very important to me. And seeing my books being sold overseas impresses me that the messages and stories of OHIGE no Pon I want to convey can reach people speaking different languages."

    Japan is known for its amazing cartoonists and character designers whose works are famous worldwide. Kanazawa grew up surrounded by memorable characters, just like everyone else.

   "Japan is often called the land of characters. Since I was a kid, I've grown up seeing many different characters. Now, people who couldn't afford those toys when they were young can buy figures or stickers of their favorite characters for collection, just like me. I also collect Gundam figures."

    Since his childhood memories, lessons, and dreams have already come to life through the warm and charming stories of Pon-chan and friends, what kind of future does Kanazawa envision for OHIGE no Pon among the rise of countless characters in Japan and around the world today?

    "I think Japanese characters have a big influence worldwide. Like, when we travel abroad and see foreign friends who know Naruto or One Piece, it makes us proud that they recognize Japanese characters. Even though the character industry is highly competitive, for OHIGE no Pon, I just want him to be a character that stays with the fans for a long time. It's not about whether it sells well or not."

    "At first, it was just my wife and me working together — I'd design and draw the characters and she'd design the products. Later, with the help of an agency, we started collaborating with brands and people from different countries which helped us expand our work on a larger scale. I hope that with the support and teamwork from everyone involved, OHIGE no Pon can grow internationally and stay with fans for a long time. As for Pon-chan's role, I'd love for it to become like Japan's Snoopy or Moomin."

    Now, the story of OHIGE no Pon is gradually being shared through books and various products, just as Kazanawa envisioned. Looking back to the beginning, his life has certainly changed a lot. "Meeting Pon-chan has made my life so much fuller. Pon-chan has taken me to different countries, just as he brought me to meet everyone today. Pon-chan has had a huge influence on me. His cuteness has spread its warmth over me and brought many wonderful things into my life"

    Not only has Kazanawa Makoto's life changed, but getting to know Pon-chan, this kind-hearted little mustached dog, also taught us how spreading love and best wishes in many ways can warm our hearts and mean so much to us. Once we receive it, we also want to pass the good things on to others.