JAPAN: PLATINUM HELLO KITTY FIGURINE GOES ON SALE TO CELEBRATE THE CHARACTER'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Record ID: 862061

  • Title: JAPAN: PLATINUM HELLO KITTY FIGURINE GOES ON SALE TO CELEBRATE THE CHARACTER'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY
  • Date: 2nd February 2004
  • Summary: (L!2) TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 3, 2004) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TANAKA KIKINZOKU JEWELRY INSIDE OF SHOP CLOSE-UP OF HELLO KITTY MADE OF PLATINUM VARIOUS OF WOMAN HOLDING PLATINUM KITTY (SOUNDDBITE) (Japanese) KAYO ASANO, 29, SAYING: "It is much smaller than I'd expected. But it's just so beautiful with diamonds sparkling. I wish I could buy it," YUMIKO KAWANISHI, CHIEF MANAGER OF MAIL ORDER SECTION AT TANAKA KIKINZOKU JEWELRY, BRINGING PLATINUM KITTY IN BOX KAWANISHI OPENING UP BOX AND SHOWING PLATINUM KITTY PLATINUM KITTY KAWANISHI LOOKING AT PLATINUM KITTY THROUGH MAGNIFYING GLASS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) YUMIKO KAWANISHI, CHIEF MANAGER, SAYING: "We've received many inquiries from enthusiastic fans asking about when it will be on sale, how to buy it. Some of them said they wanted to buy faster than anybody else." PLATINUM KITTY (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) KAWANISHI SAYING: "I came to realise that Hello Kitty has such a strong impact on people," PLATINUM KITTY WITH PRICE TAG INTERIOR OF SHOP
  • Embargoed: 17th February 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • City:
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA8SM6PXWJNFBQTDRTYDFK0BOI2
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Platinum Hello Kitty figurine goes on sale to celebrate the character's 30th anniversary.
    Fans of Japan's ubiquitous "Hello Kitty" character can already surround themselves with products from pop-up toasters to bicycles adorned with the winsome cat's face.
    Now 30 of the wealthier followers of the puss with no mouth have an opportunity to go platinum.
    Three million yen ($28,380) will land them a three cm high platinum Kitty, her dress and trademark hair ribbon studded with 131 diamonds.
    "It is much smaller than I'd expected. But it's just so beautiful with diamonds sparkling. I wish I could buy it,"
    said Kayo Asano, 29, as she admired the figurine at the Tokyo jewellers shop where they are being sold.
    A limited edition of 30 platinum Kitty dolls is being offered by Tokyo jeweller Tanaka Kikinzoku Jewelry starting Monday (February 2) to celebrate this year's 30th anniversary of the country's most famous feline.
    "We've received many inquiries from enthusiastic fans asking about when it will be on sale, how to buy it. Some of them said they wanted to buy faster than anybody else,"
    said Yumiko Kawanishi, chief manager of mail order section at Tanaka Kikinzoku Jewelry.
    "I came to realise that Hello Kitty has such a strong impact on them," Kawanishi added.
    Hello Kitty, who turns over $500 million a year, is by far the most popular of a range of characters invented by Sanrio Co Ltd, with a substantial following among all age groups in Japan and 40 countries around the world.
    Like many an ageing star, Kitty is known to have undergone at least one facelift during her career, which brought her eyes and nose closer together for a "cuter"
    look.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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