Guardian spirit meets flame in Honohon, mascot of the 2026 Asian Games

Honohon, the official mascot of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, brings together two symbols: Nagoya’s guardian shachihoko and the flame of athletes’ passion.

Most Summer Asian Games mascots have been real animals. From the elephant at the 1982 New Delhi Games through the mascots of the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, only two editions broke that pattern. The 2022 Hangzhou Games introduced three robot triplets, while Aichi-Nagoya has chosen a flame spirit.

The shachihoko has a tiger’s head and a fish’s body. This mythical Japanese creature decorates the ridge of Nagoya Castle and is known as a guardian that can spray water to prevent fires. For Nagoya residents, it represents prosperity and pride. The flame represents the intense passion burning inside athletes.

The name Honohon comes from “honōho,” a Japanese word connected to the origin of the word for flame. The organizers have given the character a playful profile to make it more approachable. Honohon was born in athletes’ hearts, has no gender, and is curious about everything. It works hard at anything it tries, although overexertion quickly makes it sleepy.

Its large eyes and ears are described as special features. The eyes watch athletes across Asia, while the ears hear the cheers directed at them. Honohon’s favorite phrase is also the Games slogan: “Let’s become one here.” The mascot’s form has changed from animals to robots and now a flame spirit, but the message of connecting Asia has remained since the first Games in New Delhi in 1951.

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Let’s become one here.