Omani Manga Artist Wins Top Helmet Design Award at Expo Osaka 2025

From manga panels to race tracks — Omani artist Zainab Al Lawati, better known as TaiGaBlush, has scored a major win at Expo Osaka 2025. Her helmet design earned the top spot in the “From Oman to the World… A Helmet That Tells a Story” competition, capturing the imagination of fans and judges alike.

The award-winning helmet is already turning heads on the track, worn by Omani endurance racing champion Ahmed Al Harthy at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka, and it’s set to appear in upcoming races.

From Last-Minute Entry to Winning Design

Al Lawati shared that the journey to Expo Osaka was intense — and very last minute.

“I saw the competition announcement on Instagram the day before the deadline,” she told Arab News Japan. “I only had a few hours to develop my concept. It was my first time designing something like this, and it was extremely challenging.”

Despite the pressure, she embraced the opportunity as a stepping stone toward her long-term goal: building a full-time manga career while creating something meaningful for Oman.

Her entry stood out, and the judges agreed. Ahmed Al Harthy, who also served on the jury panel, praised the design as “creative, simple, yet rich in detail, and professionally done.”

Manga Meets Motorsport

The helmet’s design draws heavily from Japanese manga aesthetics, featuring bold hand-drawn patterns rather than digital screentones to create depth and dimension. Rendered entirely in red, the helmet showcases cultural and historical motifs from both Oman and Japan.

A flowing water element connects both sides, symbolizing cultural exchange, while sakura blossoms meet Omani frankincense imagery on the top. According to Al Lawati, “The red color symbolizes strength and determination, and the white background represents purity, resilience, and continuity of heritage.”

A Dream Realized

For Al Lawati, the recognition is more than a trophy — it’s a personal milestone.

“I had dreamed of this moment for over a decade,” she said. “People see the success but not the setbacks, rejections, and struggles behind it. This makes every challenge worthwhile.”

The artist has been teaching anime and manga courses since 2014, previously won a design award at Middle East Film and Comic Con in Dubai, and self-published her manga Decalcomania 0202. She continues to expand her reach internationally through exhibitions, merchandise, and fan-art projects.

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Meta description: Omani manga artist Zainab Al Lawati, aka TaiGaBlush, wins the Helmet Design Award at Expo Osaka 2025 for a manga-inspired helmet celebrating Omani and Japanese culture.

Watch the Expo Osaka 2025 helmet reveal here: Trailer/Reveal Video