Go Tokyo Your Experience
Hello Kitty, the classic cartoon character from Japan’s Sanrio company, surprisingly “isn’t a cat”? As Hello Kitty celebrates her 50th anniversary this year, the company shocked fans by stating that Hello Kitty is not a cat, revealing a truth that left fans proclaiming “my childhood is ruined.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty, a classic cartoon character from Sanrio, Japan.
Misunderstood for 50 years! Jill Koch, Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management at Sanrio, revealed on the NBC show “Today” on July 18th that Hello Kitty is not a cat, but “a little girl with whiskers who grew up in the suburbs of London.”
Jill Koch disclosed that Hello Kitty is actually not a cat, but “a little girl with whiskers who grew up in the suburbs of London.” (Stock image)
Koch added that Hello Kitty has a dad and mom, and a twin sister and best friend named “Mimmy.” Hello Kitty owns a pet cat, enjoys baking cookies, and has a boyfriend named “Daniel.”
Hello Kitty has a dad and mom, and a twin sister and best friend “Mimmy.”
Hello Kitty owns a pet cat and has a boyfriend named “Daniel.”
Koch also revealed Hello Kitty’s “secret female measurements,” stating that Hello Kitty weighs the same as three apples and is as tall as five apples. According to official sources, Hello Kitty’s core messages of friendship, kindness, and inclusiveness are believed to be the reasons she transcends borders, languages, and cultures, making her universally relatable.
The revelation of “Hello Kitty isn’t a cat” has shocked fans worldwide, with comments such as “That’s terrifying,” “Is Hello Kitty trying to manipulate our emotions,” “I’ve never seen anyone in real life with cat whiskers and cat ears,” “Which little girl doesn’t have a mouth,” “You can’t change history, she is a cat,” “You might get away with calling her a cat girl, but saying she’s human is completely nonsensical,” and “It ruined my childhood.” However, some netizens claim they have always known that Hello Kitty isn’t a cat, saying “I’ve always known” and “She’s never been a cat; she has her own cat.”
Hello Kitty was born on November 1, 1974, and was designed as a children’s wallet in Japan the following year, quickly becoming popular and spawning a range of merchandise including toys, cartoon shows, theme parks, and clothing. Official records show that Sanrio clarified as early as 2014 that Hello Kitty is a little girl, not a cat.