When I think of Nordic characters that are well known in Japan, trolls immediately come to mind. And when I think of a Japanese character that is well known in Sweden, I think of Monchhichi.
With these two in mind, I decided to create my own Nordic × Japanese character design!
I named these little trolls Mossa Trolls!
The name comes from the Swedish word mossa, meaning “moss.”
Moss in the Swedish forest
Whenever I take a walk through the Swedish forest, moss is always my favorite plant.
It’s so soft, fluffy, and incredibly cute!
Japanese Kokedama 🌿
Kokedama is a Japanese gardening style where the roots of a plant and soil are shaped into a ball and covered with moss.
Instead of using a traditional plant pot, the moss-covered ball itself becomes part of the display. It’s like having a tiny piece of nature in your home. As a plant lover, I absolutely adore them!
I sometimes make Kokedama here in Sweden too.
Outside Japan, they are known as “Kokedama” or “Japanese moss balls.”
And it was these little moss balls that inspired the Mossa Trolls!
They spend most of their lives with their eyes closed, enjoying the scents of the forest and feeling the breeze around them as they happily go about their days.
They spend most of their lives with their eyes closed, enjoying the scents of the forest and feeling the breeze around them as they happily go about their days.
For now, I’ve created three Mossa Troll characters!
Mossi – Big and gentle, and surprisingly strong!
Mori – Easygoing and always sleepy, but never too sleepy for fika!
Mimi – Small and mischievous, and always ready for a new adventure!
Everyone gathers together for a cozy fika.
From now on, I’m planning to explore Swedish fika, cafés, and some of my favorite Swedish pastries together with these little characters.
💁🏻♀️🎨 Looking for a Character Designer?
I also create custom character designs for brands, products, shops, events, and more, as well as original characters like the Mossa Trolls.
If you have an idea and find yourself thinking, “I’d love to turn this into a character!”, feel free to get in touch.
I’d love to help bring your idea to life and create a whole new world together through character design!
Interested in working with me? Start here 👇
Japanese Graphic Designer & Illustrator Based in Sweden | Now Accepting Logo, Packaging, and Character Design Projects
This is how we make our Nordic Life Colorful! Enjoy your day!