Sanrio, the Japanese entertainment company behind Hello Kitty, made a surprising revelation on July 18th during celebrations for the character’s 50th anniversary. In an appearance on the Today Show, Jill Koch, Sanrio’s director of retail business development, clarified, “Hello Kitty is not a cat.”
Contrary to long-held beliefs, Koch described Hello Kitty as a young girl who was born and raised in the suburbs of London. She has a family—a mother, a father, and a twin sister named Minnie, who is also her closest companion. Koch detailed Hello Kitty’s interests, noting she enjoys baking cookies and making new friends. Additionally, Koch provided physical dimensions, stating Hello Kitty stands five apples tall and weighs as much as three apples. She also disclosed that Hello Kitty has a pet cat named Charmmy Kitty.
The revelation sparked a range of reactions from fans, from denial and shock to confusion. On social media platforms, users expressed disbelief, with one user on X (formerly known as Twitter) stating defiantly, “Hello Kitty is a cat in my eyes.” Another added, “It’s a girl cat and nothing will ever change my mind.”
Sanrio employee Yuko Shimizu originally created Hello Kitty in 1974, and the character debuted on a children’s coin purse in 1975. Since then, Hello Kitty has evolved into a globally beloved figure known for her gentle demeanor. The character’s popularity has also translated into significant financial success, generating over $80 billion for Sanrio to date.
Christine R. Yano, a Hello Kitty scholar, uncovered the truth while preparing for a Hello Kitty retrospective at the Japanese American National Museum. Yano, who dedicated her studies to the cultural phenomenon, initially referred to Hello Kitty as a cat in her script. However, Sanrio corrected her, emphasizing that Hello Kitty is a cartoon character and not a feline. Yano noted, “She’s a little girl. She is a friend. But she is not a cat. She’s never depicted on all fours. She walks and sits like a two-legged creature.”
Further details about Hello Kitty emerged through Yano’s research, including her full name, Kitty White, and her astrological sign, Scorpio. Yano added, “She’s a perpetual third-grader who lives outside of London. A lot of people don’t know the story and a lot don’t care. But it’s interesting because Hello Kitty emerged in the 1970s, when the Japanese and Japanese women were into Britain.”
The revelation has brought a new dimension to the beloved character, challenging long-standing perceptions and prompting a reevaluation of Hello Kitty’s identity in popular culture.
