How has Hello Kitty charmed so many generations in so many places around the world? As we celebrate her 50th anniversary with her fans, here are some highlights. Published on By Let us take you back to 1974, 50 years ago. It was in the era of bleached jeans and Barbra Streisand, and convenience stores were starting to pop up in Japan.
Since then, despite many changes, one thing has stayed the same: Hello Kitty has been popular. In 2024, Hello Kitty is celebrating her 50th anniversary with fans worldwide. A special exhibition will be held at the starting on her birthday, November 1.
are being opened around Japan. Major fashion brands like are joining in the celebration with special edition goods. Sanrio has announced the theme for its 50th anniversary year as " ," expressing gratitude to fans and a desire to step into the future together.
To thank her fans directly, Hello Kitty is taking on the challenge of across Japan. Since her creation in 1974, Hello Kitty's cuteness has spread to virtually every realm worldwide. She has collaborated with countless companies, prompted animations and videogames, and inspired generations of people everywhere.
To better understand her incredible popularity, spoke to Dr Christine R Yano, an anthropologist who has researched Hello Kitty and pop culture extensively. "Whether for a preschooler, a teenager, a mother, or a punk rocker, Hello Kitty has different appeals. That kind of flexibility, of Hello Kitty as a symbol, an icon, is a kind of gen.