Amin Abbas
Omani manga artist Zainab Al Lawati, widely known by her artistic name TaiGaBlush, has won an award at Expo Osaka 2025 for creating the best helmet design in the competition titled “From Oman to the World… A Helmet That Tells a Story.”
The winning helmet design has already been worn by Omani endurance racing champion Ahmed Al Harthy during races at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka, with the driver expected to continue using it in upcoming competitions.
Al Lawati described her experience to Arab News Japan, explaining that she was invited to Japan in September 2025 by Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the Oman Pavilion team to attend the official unveiling of the helmet.
“I was deeply honored to be invited to Expo Osaka 2025 for the reveal of the new helmet design, which symbolized the long-standing ties between Oman and Japan,” she said. “Seeing Ahmed Al Harthy wear the helmet at Fuji Speedway was an unforgettable moment, and he will continue racing with it.”
According to Al Lawati, the project came together under intense time pressure.
“I came across the competition announcement on Instagram on the final day before the deadline,” she said. “I only had a few hours to develop my entire concept. It was my first time designing something like this, and it was extremely challenging.”
Despite the constraints, she embraced the opportunity.
“I am someone who typically spends a long time refining my work, but I am also drawn to challenges,” she explained. “I felt strongly that I had to participate. I hoped this project might become a gateway toward my long-term dream of building a full-time manga career and achieving something meaningful for my country.”
Al Lawati’s entry was ultimately selected as the winner. Ahmed Al Harthy himself served as a member of the jury panel and later shared his impressions with the artist.
“He told me he liked everything about the design,” she said. “He described it as creative, simple, yet rich in detail, and said it looked professionally done. That meant a great deal to me.”
Discussing the artistic approach, Al Lawati said the helmet drew heavily from Japanese manga aesthetics.
“My goal was to highlight my strengths in inking and bold yet clean detailing,” she said. “I was inspired by traditional manga techniques that rely on a single color. Instead of digital screentones, I used hand-drawn patterns to create depth, shading, and dimension.”
The design uses a panoramic visual concept rendered entirely in red. Each side of the helmet features symbolic elements representing Oman and Japan, including cultural and historical motifs. A flowing water element connects both sides, representing a bridge and cultural exchange, while the top of the helmet incorporates sakura blossoms alongside Omani frankincense imagery.
“The red color symbolizes strength and determination,” Al Lawati noted. “The white background represents purity, resilience, and continuity of heritage.”
Reflecting on her victory, the artist described the achievement as deeply personal.
“I had dreamed of this exact moment for over a decade,” she said. “People often see only the successes, but not the setbacks, rejections, and struggles behind the scenes. This recognition makes every challenge worthwhile.”
Al Lawati is a full-time freelance artist who has taught anime and manga art courses since 2014. She previously won a design award at the Middle East Film and Comic Con in Dubai and later released her self-published manga, Decalcomania 0202, a project she describes as a lifelong ambition.
She is currently focused on expanding the reach of her manga through exhibitions and international art events, while also producing original merchandise and fan-art creations.
AloJapan.com