Sanrio Co., Ltd. is a Japanese company responsible for creating the most famous kawaii characters in the world, such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamorrol, Pompompurin, among others.
This brand, with over 50 years of history, has left an indelible mark on popular culture.
It is estimated that the company’s total assets reached 156.1 billion Japanese yen as of 2023. Regarding operations, Sanrio employs approximately 1,300 people.
Sales by region show that Japan is the most important market, generating 66.54 billion yen, followed by Asia and North America. Revenue from product distribution reached 39.81 billion yen, while the licensing business generated 14.08 billion yen.
What type of company is Sanrio?
Sanrio is a Japanese company that designs, produces, and sells products and licenses focused on the “kawaii” aesthetic. This includes a wide range of items such as stationery, toys, clothing, accessories, and much more, all featuring their beloved characters.
In addition to producing consumer goods, Sanrio also manages theme parks like Sanrio Puroland in Japan, produces films and animated series, and licenses its characters for use in various products and media.
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Who owns Sanrio, the creator of Hello Kitty?
Sanrio was founded by Shintaro Tsuji in 1960. Originally named Yamanashi Silk, the company started by selling silk products. Over time, Tsuji transformed the business into what we now know as Sanrio.
The company remains family-owned, and in 2020, Shintaro’s grandson, Tomokuni Tsuji, took over as CEO.
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What does Sanrio mean in Japanese?
The name “Sanrio” is a combination of two words in Japanese:
- “San” (山): meaning “mountain”.
- “Rio” (リオ): an adaptation of the Spanish word “river”.
Why is Hello Kitty’s brand named Sanrio?
The choice of the name “Sanrio” reflects the company’s philosophy of connecting people like a river flowing from the mountains to the sea. Shintaro Tsuji, the founder of Sanrio, believed in the power of communication and friendship and wanted his company to be a bridge connecting people through products that convey positive emotions.
“Sanrio was established with the desire to build a peaceful culture on the riverbanks, where it is said humans first began to build their own homes. The hope was to create a community of people who could live in harmony and consideration for one another.
By offering a variety of social, communication, and gift products, including greeting cards, music, videos, books, and live entertainment to foster friendship, we hope to expand the circle of friendship and goodwill to every corner of the world like water flowing through the world’s rivers,” explains Shintaro Tsuji about Sanrio’s origin.
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What was Sanrio’s first character?
The first character from this brand was Coro Chan, a cute and relaxed bear, created in 1973. Although it did not achieve the global fame of Hello Kitty, this character paved the way for the brand’s later success in creating lovable characters.
Sanrio Characters
The company has created more than 450 characters since its foundation. While Hello Kitty is the most famous, the brand has also introduced other iconic characters like My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, and Gudetama. Each character has a unique personality reflected in products ranging from school supplies to fashion items.
What is kawaii?
“Kawaii” (可愛い) is a Japanese word that means “cute” or “adorable”. The “kawaii” aesthetic is characterized by the use of pastel colors, simple designs, and characters with childlike features such as large eyes and sweet expressions. Sanrio has been one of the leading companies in popularizing this aesthetic globally.
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Sanrio Character Ranking
Each year, this Japanese brand holds a ranking where fans vote for their favorite characters. In 2024, the winning character was Cinnamoroll, an adorable white puppy with long ears that has won the hearts of Sanrio fans.
- Cinnamoroll
- Pochacco
- Kuromi
- Pompompurin
- Hello Kitty
- My Melody
- Keroppi
- Hangyodon
- Tuxedosam
- Little Twin Stars
- Ahirunopekkle
- Cogimyun
- Bad Badtz-Maru
- Hanamaruobake
- Wish Me Mell
- Gudetama
- My Sweet Piano
- Kirimi-chan
- Corocorokuririn
- U-Sa-Ha-Na
- Gaopowerroo
- Show By Rock!!
- Marumofubiyori
- Marroncream
- Kabukinyantaro
- Yoshikitty
- Minnano Tābō
- Dear Daniel
- Charmmykitty
- Pokkyokuten
- Bonbonribbon
- Lloromannic
- Hello Mimmy
- Sugarbunnies
- Maimaimaigoen
- Jewelpet
- Peta-Petaminilian
- Nya-Ni-Nyu-Nye-Nyon
- Littleforestfellow
- Tiny Chum
- Cheery Chums
- Patty & Jimmy
- Osarunomonkichi
- Hagurumanstyle
- Aggretsuko
- Chococat
- Goropikadon
- Adorozatorumary
- PataPataPeppy
- Mewkledreamy
- Buddy Eddy
- Marshmallowmitaina Fuwafuwanyanko
- Ichigoman
- Beatcats
- Kashiwankomochi
- Paupipo
- Fresh Punch
- Rilu Rilu Fairilu
- Strawberry King
- Zashikibuta
- Hummingmint
- Caribadix
- Pankunchi
- Umeya Zakkaten
- Pokopon’s Diary
- Noranekoland
- Kumamilen
- Kusuri no Fukutaro
- Sugarminuet
- Bosanimal
- The Vaudeville Duo
- Rururugakuen
- We Are Dinosaurs!
- Mellotune
- Shinkaizoku
- Winkipinki
- Taraiguma No Landry
- The Runabouts
- Tenorikuma
- Bunny & Matty
- Nyokki & Penne
- Puwawa
- Seven Silly Dwarfs
- Tiny Poem
- Mr. Bear’s Dream
- Pannapitta
- Button Nose
- Risuru
- Sportingbears
- Littlelovin
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