Juno and the cats that need no names
No plot, no names, no face of the author — just fluffy cats in shark costumes. And one of the biggest kawaii phenomena of recent years.
In 2017 the Japanese illustrator Juno began posting drawings of cats in absurd costumes on social media: cats dressed as sharks, cats as fried shrimp, cats in fruit, vegetables, bread rolls. No names, no plot — just fluffy, faintly surreal little pictures that instantly took over Japanese platforms. That's how Mofusand was born, from “mofu mofu” (soft and fluffy) — today managed by the company Spiralcute.
The silent artist
Juno is one of the most distinctive figures in the kawaii world — because she's essentially absent. She never posts photos of herself, gives a minimal number of interviews and builds no personal brand. She lets the cats do the talking. Despite this anonymity, her style is instantly recognisable — pastels, round shapes, expressive eyes and that particular absurd humour that lets you love a cat in a shark suit for no reason at all.
Shark and shrimp
The two most famous designs are Same-nyan (the shark-cat) and Ebi-nyan (the shrimp-cat). Same-nyan — a white cat peeking out of a shark's jaws — became the brand's absolute icon and the starting point for pop-up stores at Tokyo Station. Ebi-nyan, with a perfectly composed shrimp tail between the cat's ears, is a masterpiece of absurdity and cuteness in a single image.
Collaboration with Sanrio
In 2022 and 2023 Juno teamed up with Sanrio and created a series that became an instant hit: Mofusand cats dressed as Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Kuromi, Pompompurin and Hangyodon. Something exceptional — the Sanrio characters kept their accessories and colours but were drawn in Juno's soft style. Two kawaii worlds joined into one.
In a world full of explanations, these cats simply are. Fluffy, absurd and completely enough.
Global reach
Mofusand has gone far beyond Japan. Uniqlo, KFC Taiwan, Monster Hunter — all wanted Juno's cats on their products. In Hong Kong, during Chinese New Year, shopping centres turn into Mofusand kingdoms, and in Europe and the US, Mofusand figures and plushies are one of the hottest topics in the blind-box communities.
Iconic series
The whole Mofusand collection is waiting here — fluffy and absurd.
See the collection →Follow: Mofusand Official · Juno
