Duolingo owl to face Sonic and Pac-Man in sumo showdown in Tokyo

Tokyo is set to host one of the most unusual crossover events in recent memory, as the Duolingo Owl prepares to compete in a live sumo wrestling tournament against some of pop culture’s most recognizable mascots.

The event, officially titled the Duo Dosukoi Sumo Tournament, will take place on September 6, 2025, at Lumine 0 in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Duolingo’s mascot, known for sending persistent reminders to language learners, will trade notifications for a sumo mawashi as it faces iconic rivals.

Confirmed competitors include Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog and arcade legend Pac-Man. Other mascots joining the tournament are Bub from Bubble Bobble, Apitan, Ponta, ZAQ, and Don-pen, the penguin mascot of Don Quijote.

The competition will follow a round-robin format with professional announcer Takeshi Yano providing live commentary. Due to high demand, only 150 fans, selected by lottery, will be able to attend the exclusive event.

In addition to the matches, Duolingo will honor its top three streak holders in an awards ceremony, highlighting users who have maintained the longest learning streaks. Limited-edition sumo-themed merchandise featuring Duo will also be available on-site.

While the Duolingo Owl is best known for its humorous reputation as a persistent reminder for learners, the mascot now faces an entirely different challenge: holding its ground against characters who have defined gaming and pop culture for decades.