Who owns Hello Kitty?
Hello Kitty is owned by Sanrio (Japan, TSE: 8136).[1]
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Evidence: Sanrio Company, Ltd. — Company Profile. Last checked .
Key facts
- Current owner
- Sanrio Company, Ltd. reported
- Owner HQ
- 🇯🇵 Japan, Tokyo
- Origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- Founded
- 1974
- Category
- Media & entertainment › Franchises & parks › Entertainment franchises
- Parent ticker
- TSE: 8136
- Last verified
- · 3 sources
About Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty is the character Sanrio created in 1974, the same year as Patty & Jimmy. The first product to carry her, a small coin purse, went on sale in 1975, and Sanrio began licensing its characters to other manufacturers the year after that. She has been appointed a children's ambassador by UNICEF in the United States and by the Japan Committee for UNICEF, and Sanrio marked her fiftieth anniversary in 2024.
Ownership timeline of Hello Kitty
Where Hello Kitty sits in Sanrio
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Sanrio ownership tree →
See the full Sanrio brand portfolio (10) →
Other brands owned by Sanrio
Sanrio controls 10 brands on Brandtree, 10 of them in media & entertainment.
Also in media & entertainment
- Aggretsuko (2015)
- Cinnamoroll (2001)
- Gudetama (2013)
- Harmonyland (1991)
- Kuromi (2005)
- Little Twin Stars (1975)
- Mr. Men and Little Miss (1971)
- My Melody (1975)
- Sanrio Puroland (1990)
Other brands in entertainment franchises, and who owns them
Sanrio has more brands in entertainment franchises on Brandtree than any other owner: 8 of 18.
| Brand | Owner | Owner based in |
|---|---|---|
| Degrassi | WildBrain | 🇨🇦 Canada |
| Disney | Disney | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Gundam | Bandai Namco | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Kakao Friends | Kakao | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
| Godzilla | TOHO | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| DC | Warner Bros. Discovery | 🇺🇸 United States |
| In the Night Garden | WildBrain | 🇨🇦 Canada |
| Strawberry Shortcake | WildBrain | 🇨🇦 Canada |
About the owner: Sanrio
Sanrio is a publicly listed company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1960. Brandtree records 10 brands under its control, and it is listed as TSE: 8136.
Sanrio was established on 10 August 1960 as Yamanashi Silk Center and took its present name in 1973, after it had started selling gift products carrying its own designs. Its business is the creation and licensing of characters, together with gifts, greeting cards, publishing, recorded music, musicals, theme parks and digital content. Founder Shintaro Tsuji is honorary chairman and Tomokuni Tsuji is president and chief executive. It reported consolidated net sales of ¥194,088 million for the year to 31 March 2026 and employed 1,423 people.
🇯🇵 Hello Kitty and other Japanese brands
Brandtree records a controlling owner for 437 brands that began in Japan. 21 of them (5%) are now controlled by a company headquartered in another country; Hello Kitty is not one of them.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Hello Kitty?
The parent company of Hello Kitty is Sanrio, a publicly listed company headquartered in Japan.
Is Hello Kitty Japanese?
Yes. Hello Kitty originated in Japan in 1974 and its owner, Sanrio, is also headquartered in Japan.
Is Hello Kitty still owned by Sanrio?
Yes. As of 26 September 2026, Hello Kitty is still owned by Sanrio. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (3) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Sanrio Company, Ltd. — Company Profile — Sanrio Company, Ltd., Official document; retrieved 26 September 2026.
- [2] Sanrio Company, Ltd. — Our Brands — Sanrio Company, Ltd., Official document; retrieved 26 September 2026.
- [3] Sanrio Company, Ltd. — Company History — Sanrio Company, Ltd., Official document; retrieved 26 September 2026.
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