A small, white cat with an over sized head and a simple, charming smile has remained a beloved figure in Japan’s gaming culture for over two decades. His name being Toro Inoue. And while he may not be as globally recognized as PlayStation icons like Kratos or Nathan Drake, his presence in Japan is nothing short of legendary.
A Cat with Big Dreams
Toro first appeared in 1999 as a character in the PlayStation title Doko Demo Issyo (or Together Anywhere). Doko Demo Issyo was a quirky, text-based chat game that was different from PlayStation-era action titles, where players conversed with Toro and instructed him in human language in order to form a bond.
Toro, from the start, was more than just a mascot and more of a character with personality. His dream being to become human. As gamers played and conversed with Toro, Toro’s personality developed to render him less of a character in a video game and more of a friend.
The Face of PlayStation Japan
While PlayStation’s Western campaign focused on big-screen action and cinematic storytelling, Japan embraced Toro as a smiling, everyman buddy. In the following years, he became the star of dozens of PlayStation ads, cell phone games, and crossover titles with other Sony properties.
He even appeared in Street Fighter X Tekken, Everybody’s Golf, and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, proof that, official or not, he was still the soul of PlayStation Japan.
A Hidden Gem Outside of Japan
Despite his popularity, Toro was never quite able to break into Western mainstream gaming. His Japan-only titles and token localization attempts gave him niche title status everywhere but his home country. Hardcore PlayStation enthusiasts remember him well, though, and the fact that he still shows up for special events and merchandise means Sony hasn’t forgotten about him.
Still Going Strong After 25 Years
In a corporation with a track record of moving on fairly quickly from their previous mascots, Toro’s long-standing presence is a testament to his enduring popularity. He continues to appear in one-off PlayStation advertisements, mobile games, and animated shorts to this day, and his popularity is evidently timeless.
