Only 500 copies of this coin will be produced and sold, and Sanrio will also encase each coin in a Shinkansen-themed acrylic stand. The Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Shinkansen Coin is available ...

Half a century since the “birth” of pop icon Hello Kitty, the cute character’s fame shows no sign of fading – and she’s still bringing in billions for parent company Sanrio. View on euronews ...

Hello Kitty turns 50 on Friday. Befitting a pop icon at midlife, the bubble-headed, bow-wearing character’s fictional birthday has brought museum exhibits, a theme park spectacle and a national ...

Oita, a scenic region known for its natural hot springs on the Japanese island of Kyushu, has recently renamed its air hub Oita Hello Kitty Airport to lure fans and tourists.

A gold coin pendant with the image of Hello Kitty holding the number 50 is selling for about 120,000 yen ($800), while a Casio watch costs 18,700 yen ($120). But first, more on the origin story.