The character I propose as the mascot of the Centre for Japanese Studies is a cat named Daikichi 大吉 (lit. „great luck”). My intention was to keep, in his appearance, an element of Japanese culture that fascinates us all, so I started from the famous Japanese „maneki neko” figurine, of which I am particularly fond, in order to build a new, unique character that students and lovers of Japanese language and culture can identify with. Daikichi is a (more or less) „magical” cat who, as his name suggests, sets out to bring motivation, perseverance and plenty of luck to those who truly wish to explore the Japanese horizon. He is a keen reader — hardly surprising, since his multicoloured, lollipop-like eyes give him the special ability to memorise whatever he reads at a single glance. Even so, he is still learning Japanese himself, because he knows that however much you study it, it can never be exhausted. That is why he carries a Japanese book with him every day and encourages others to do the same. He is a clever, funny cat who knows how to entertain and lift someone’s spirits. That is why I believe he could be a fitting mascot for our centre of Japanese studies, where we are all encouraged to study Japanese and to take part in the cultural activities through which we discover Japan.