Sanrio Co Ltd is a Japanese company that designs, licenses and produces a wide range of products focusing on the kawaii (cute) segment of Japanese popular culture. The company is best known for creating and licensing characters that have become popular worldwide, such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Little Twin Stars, and more.
Founded in 1960 by Shintaro Tsuji in Tokyo, Japan
Originally started as a silk wholesale company and later changed into a gift shop
Introduced the character Hello Kitty in 1974
Expanded its product line to include plush toys, stationery, fashion accessories, and more
Currently has retail stores and licensing agreements in over 190 countries and territories worldwide
A leading entertainment company known for its theme parks, movies, and popular characters such as Mickey Mouse and Elsa from Frozen.
A global character brand that started as stickers in the Line messenger app and has expanded to include merchandise, theme parks, and more.
A digital cartoon cat character created by Claire Belton and Andrew Duff that has become popular for its cute and relatable expressions.
A white cat character with a red bow and no mouth that has become a global icon and appears on a wide range of merchandise.
A pink rabbit character with a hood and floppy ears that has become popular for its cute and whimsical design.
A pair of twin star characters named Kiki and Lala that are known for their pastel colors and dreamy designs.
The name 'Sanrio' is a combination of the Japanese words 'san' (meaning three) and 'rio' (meaning river). The three rivers in the name represent the three founders of the company.
Hello Kitty doesn't have a real name. She is simply known as Hello Kitty.
Sanrio has retail stores and licensing agreements in over 190 countries and territories worldwide.
Sanrio sells a wide range of products including plush toys, stationery, fashion accessories, home decor, and more featuring their popular characters such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Little Twin Stars.
Sanrio is a global brand that originated in Japan but has become popular worldwide especially among fans of kawaii or cute culture.