"Small Gift, Big Smile"
"Small Gift, Big Smile"
It's more than just a catchy phrase; it's the foundation of everything we do, and we're proud to say we've been creating smiles for over 40 years. At Sanrio we believe that a gift is more than just a gift. Rather, a gift is a means of expressing our heartfelt feelings for others. This philosophy guides all Sanrio activities, whether we're designing a stationery set, a theme park, a retail store or an animated television series. From Sanrio boutiques showcasing the ultimate Sanrio collection to smaller assortments in other shopping environments, we invite all our friends and guests to experience the magic of these four simple words.
It's more than just a catchy phrase; it's the foundation of everything we do, and we're proud to say we've been creating smiles for over 40 years. At Sanrio we believe that a gift is more than just a gift. Rather, a gift is a means of expressing our heartfelt feelings for others. This philosophy guides all Sanrio activities, whether we're designing a stationery set, a theme park, a retail store or an animated television series. From Sanrio boutiques showcasing the ultimate Sanrio collection to smaller assortments in other shopping environments, we invite all our friends and guests to experience the magic of these four simple words.
What is Yoshikitty?
Not too many people in L.A., no matter how famous they are, can say there is a Hello Kitty doll patterned after their likeness. Yoshiki can. Yoshikitty, as the plush character is called, was a bit of an accident. As drummer and spokesman for the world-renowned Japanese rock band X Japan, Yoshiki was doing a press tour in Asia. Just to liven up the press conferences, he put an X Japan T-shirt on a Hello Kitty doll as a ‘half-joke’, he says. Sanrio, the toy company, caught wind of the incident and a proper collaboration developed.
Yoshiki about Yoshikitty
The idea started during our promotional tour in Asia, One day, before I went on stage, I felt a little uncomfortable not holding anything in my hands. I wanted to hold something to make me fell more relaxed, and so I asked a staff member if they can get me something. They began to search around and someone suggested a Hello Kitty stuffed toy. That was how it all started. As often as I carried around the ‘Kitty’ toy, I started liking it more and more. I occasionally put X Japan T-shirts on the Hello Kitty for fun. Sanrio, the manufacturer of Hello Kitty products, somehow heard about it and liked what I was doing. That’s how we started working together on this project. First, Mr. Yamaguchi, an illustrator of Hello Kitty, brought two different rough drafts of yoshikitty, the new character. One of them wears sunglasses, and the other one is the current model. I really thought they were very cute and so I said to him, “I think they are cool!”