Started in Tokyo, we are a husband-and-wife team that brings our real, lived experience in Japan into our original designs in hopes of spreading a love and understanding of Japanese culture through the joy of cuteness.

All of our items are lovingly designed by the two of us, and by purchasing you are supporting our small business and tiny family.

Our Journey

Literally meaning “Tokyo girl”, Iris started posting art under the name Tokyo Shojo while living in Tokyo, with her partner Yu. She found that through her art she was able to share her experiences living in Japan and being immersed in Japanese culture. Using animal characters as subjects, her designs center around Japanese cultural traditions. These characters would later be fleshed out in detail and become the Pon Pals.

Their journey has now led them back to Canada, although they still visit Japan frequently. Yu has now taken a more active roll and has become the brand’s secondary artist, while also ensuring that everything produced is accurate and authentic. Maple the bobtail has also accompanied them from Tokyo to Toronto and has been promoted to CEO of cuteness.