San Marino, March 4, 2025 – The official mascot of the San Marino Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka is called Libertas, and it was created by Italian artist Simone Legno, Chief Creative Officer of tokidoki, the globally recognized lifestyle brand he founded alongside entrepreneurs Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold.
Libertas is named after the iconic Statue of Liberty and wears a ‘cosplay’ armor that highlights the long history of San Marino and represents its resilience in defending its freedom and independence over the centuries. Legno chose to depict her as a child, connecting to the Expo’s theme, “Designing the society of the future for our lives,” as we must build a better future for children, and it needs to be done now.
Libertas incorporates elements from the Republic’s coat of arms: the towers, which are also reflected in her eyes, and the feathers. Her green hair represents nature and Mount Titano, where San Marino stands. The fan in her hand is a tribute to Japan, the host country of the Expo.
Libertas joins the ever-growing list of characters created by Legno, including ItaliaChan, the official mascot of Italy for Expo 2025, and Luce, the glowing mascot representing the Vatican for the Jubilee and Expo.
Simone Legno
Born in Rome, Simone started drawing at a young age. The broken, chewed, and worn-out pencil boxes he loved as a child marked the beginning of his passion for art, which led to the creation of his own brand. The tokidoki project started while he was living in Italy, using it as an online professional portfolio and artistic diary to showcase his illustrations and new media projects for various clients. The tokidoki brand was launched in 2005 and has grown into a global pop culture lifestyle symbol. Its extraordinary characters, creative partnerships, and wide range of products have built a loyal community of fans around the brand.
Tokidoki, which means “sometimes” in Japanese, is a clear reference to the artist’s love for Japan and world cultures. Legno chose this word because “everyone waits for the moments that change their destiny, whether they happen by chance or because we meet a special person.” Simone Legno’s special moment came when his designs caught the attention of entrepreneurs Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold, who, after browsing through his works on his website, invited him to collaborate with them in Los Angeles to create their own brand together. Since then, tokidoki has continued to grow, collaborating with major fashion, shoe, design, and cosmetics houses, as well as airlines, toy brands, and more.
As the creator of tokidoki, Simone Legno participates as a speaker at conferences and lectures at universities, museums, schools, and cultural centers worldwide.
