Who is only five apples high and has no mouth ¡ª yet is one of the country¡¯s biggest cultural ambassadors? None other than the reigning feline queen of kawaii (cute) herself, Hello Kitty.
With the creators of Hello Kitty celebrating the iconic cat¡¯s 40th anniversary on Nov. 1, it seems an appropriate time to examine the evolution of a feline who started out life known only as ¡°the white kitten with no name¡± (¡±namae no nai shiroi koneko¡°) and has since gone on to establish an international following that is as red-hot as the bow on her left ear.
Although the country¡¯s pop culture is garnering interest worldwide through the increasing popularity of manga and cosplay, Hello Kitty is one icon that trumps all in terms of visibility.
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