Bulgaria’s “Lacto-Chan” won first prize in the Best Mascot competition at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) announced on its website following the World Expolympics Awards ceremony. The BSMEPA coordinated Bulgaria’s preparation and participation with a national pavilion at Expo 2025.
The agency said that Bulgaria’s victory comes amid strong competition and is a vivid recognition of the creativity and powerful message conveyed by our mascot’s name. “Lacto-Chan” symbolizes the bond between Bulgaria and Japan, combining science, culture, and friendship. “‘Lacto’ was inspired by Lactobacillus bulgaricus, the unique Bulgarian bacterium that goes into making the world-famous yogurt. This bacterium is not only part of Bulgaria’s heritage but also a hero in global science, promoting health and longevity. ‘Chan’ is a Japanese suffix used to express affection, typically added to children’s names or cute characters to make them more endearing and friendly,” the BSMEPA explained.
An international jury of 32 experts evaluated the originality, visual impact, and cultural value of the submitted mascots. Other nominees in the Best Mascot category included entries from Portugal, Czechia, Thailand, and the Baltic states.
The first-prize statuette was received by Konstantin Botev, Head of the International Exhibitions and Conferences Department at the BSMEPA.
/RY, VE/
AloJapan.com