Sanrio Co., Ltd. (Kabushikigaisha Sanrio) is a Japanese corporation that designs, licenses and designs products concentrating on the kawaii (cute) segment of Japanese pop-culture. Their products include stationery, school supplies, gifts and accessories that are sold worldwide and at specialty brand retail stores in Japan. Sanrio’s best-known character is Hello Kitty, one of the most successful marketing brands in the world.
Besides selling character goods, Sanrio takes part in movie production and publishing. They own the rights to both the Peanuts and Mr. Men characters in Japan. Their animatronics branch, called Kokoro Company, Ltd., is best known for the Actroid android. They participate in the fast food industry, running a franchise of KFC in Saitama.
Sanrio develops, distributes and licenses gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. Sanrio founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a person of any age. Today, over 50,000 Sanrio-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO, character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 95 SANRIO boutiques.
