Unleashing the Future of Sugamo through AI and AR: Meet Momomo-chan!

The Sugamo Otori Shrine Shopping District is set to host a captivating event, the Momomo Summer Festival, on August 24 from 11 AM to 4 PM at the south rotary of Sugamo Station. The festival promises an exciting intersection of tradition and technology through an interactive AI experience. Attendees can delve into the community’s aspiration to transform Sugamo into a vibrant “Children’s Town” by experiencing new features in development for the conversational AI character, Momomo-chan.

Exciting Festival Overview

The festival will kick off with limited distribution of 1,000 round fans; attendees are encouraged to collect stamps by participating in two main corners: the AR Pre-Experience Corner and the Design Contest Corner. Once stamps are collected, visitors can enjoy various traditional games at the Mini-Yen-nichi Corner, featuring activities like shooting games, snack grabs, and more!

Discover the AR Pre-Experience Corner

At the AR Pre-Experience Corner, festival-goers can directly interact with the Momomo AR prototype. This exciting feature, still under development with a target launch in 2026, allows visitors to converse with Momomo-chan, discovering the charm of Sugamo’s shops. Questions like, “What are the highlights of the Momomo Summer Festival?”, or “What’s the tastiest restaurant in Sugamo?” can be answered, offering an engaging way to explore the district’s offerings.

Visitors are invited to check out the “Ways to Enjoy” section for more details and tips on their adventure.

Engage in the Design Contest Corner

Creativity takes center stage at the Design Contest Corner, where attendees can showcase their artistic talent! Illustrated entries representing Momomo-chan will be judged by esteemed members of the Sugamo Otori Shrine Shopping District, including the president, vice president, and secretary. As part of an ongoing initiative, the winning design will be transformed into Momomo-chan’s costume, debuted in December 2025 alongside the Momomo AR launch.

Prizes include a Grand Prize for one artist, three Excellent Prizes, and five Honorable Mentions, all accompanied by exciting perks. Interested participants should refer to the “Entry Information” section for more details.

Fun Awaits at the Mini-Yen-nichi Corner

Building on the success of the Mini-Yen-nichi Corner, this year’s festival will enhance popular games such as shooting, snack grabs, and ring toss. The Momomo Birthday Festival holds the title of the most celebrated activities from January 2025, and attendees can enjoy these classic games at the festival. Each stamp obtained at the corners allows for one play across all three game types. However, visitors should anticipate a crowd, so following staff instructions for orderly lines is encouraged.

Meet Momomo-chan

Momomo-chan embodies the spirit of the Sugamo Otori Shrine Shopping District, promoting the area's charm through contemporary AI technology. The name reflects aspirations of being **