A 12-foot-tall fiberglass statue of Hello ... Kitty was conceived in 1974, but the enterprise got going in 1975 with the release of a small plastic coin purse — slightly bigger than an Oreo ...

Following the previously teased McDonald’s Japan collaboration with Hello Kitty, we now know what this Happy Meal toys crossover has in store for the Sanrio mascot’s 50th anniversary.

The Japanese company set the record straight about Hello Kitty's true identity Leon Neal/Getty Japanese company Sanrio is setting the record straight about their beloved character, Hello Kitty ...

Japan is known for its kawaii culture, which is often associated with the country's countless cute characters and mascots, most notably Sanrio’s beloved Hello Kitty. Everyone is familiar with ...

Dressed in a kimono, Hello Kitty performs a classical Japanese dance at a Tokyo shopping center event in 2007. Once a symbol of rebellion and girlhood, the cartoon cat has become a cultural ...

But the popularity of Hello Kitty had a profound impact in introducing the rest of the world to Japanese culture — though her London-based backstory reflects the popularity of British culture in ...