Tōko Madobe (窓辺とおこ)
Tōko Madobe was a mascot designed by Windows Navi+ that represented Windows 10 in Japan.
History
First known ideas for a Madobe Family Windows 10 representative trace back to March 17, 2015 as Windows Navi+ revealed their new mascot project for the upcoming OS, who was featured at the Windows Spring Festival in Osaka event held on the 22nd at Anna Colors Coffe. Outline drawings and a silhouette were shown and the voice actress Ai Nonaka already decided, as well as the idea to let the public decide her name. The character was given the codename Tenko (テンコ). A clear file featuring Tenko could be obtained during the event.
Windows Navi+ then announced on May 26, 2015 the contest for the unnamed mascot, who was completely redesigned. Participants could choose her name starting from June 19, 2015. The announcement included an official and final artwork, and a bio.
In an event held on July 31 evening in Akihabara, her name was revealed to be "Tōko Madobe". It was first mistakenly announced as "窓辺とうこ" before being corrected to "窓辺とおこ" (both can be transcripted as Madobe Tōko), though the former spelling was actually the one used during the voting.
She was since then regularly featured in campaigns to promote Windows sales, and last appeared in 2021 in a Dospara campaign that distributed wireless speakers.
Profile
Nice to meet you, I'm a 17-year-old member of the Madobe Family from 100 years in the future. With the announcement of Windows 10, I'm interested in the year 2015, which is a technological turning point, and I have come to this era! I would like to help you further improve your technology literacy.
- Age: 17
- Origin: a girl of the Madobe Family from 100 years in the future
- Personality: talented girl with excellent grades, very knowledgeable about technology, enjoys supporting people who are working hard. A bit spontaneous, which often worries her store manager
- Hobbies: cheering, playing online games
- Part-time job: rookie at the Akibano Custom Computer Company
Trivia
- In the Akihabara Moe Characters Contests, Tōko ranked third in 2020, and fourth in 2015 and 2021.
- At some point during the naming contest, the following four names could be selected besides the user's own, with the given explanations:
- Tōko (とうこ): Japanese reading of 10.
- Anne (アン): pronounced similarly to 1 in French (un, /œ̃/), representing the pinnacle of Windows history.
- Neon (ねおん): Atomic Number 10. The word Neon comes the Greek word for "new", so it also includes the meaning of a new OS.
- Sora (そら): 10 (in English) can be written as てん, which can be a reading of the Kanji 天, meaning heaven, just like Sora (そら or 空).
- She has an alternate gamer design↗.
Sources/References
- Her Height is derived from her Digital DIY 3D Model, consistent with artworks representing her with Nanami who has the same height.
- Akiba PC Hotline: Windows Spring Festival in Osaka will be held on the 22nd↗
- Akiba PC Hotline: Supporting Character for DSP Windows 10 Officially Announced, Voice Actress is Aoi Nonaka↗
- Original Windows 10 mascot and naming contest announcement↗ (archive)
- PC Watch article about the announcement↗
- Windows Navi+ Campaign Page↗ (archive)
- Ascii.jp: We bring you the excitement at the Windows 10 DSP launch event in Akihabara!↗
- Naming contest result↗ (archive)
- Akiba PC article about the naming contest result↗
- Dospara Tōko Madobe Speaker Campaign Page↗
- Ascii.jp: Who Are the Godparents of Windows 10's Beautiful Girl from the Madobe Family?↗