This year, Hello Kitty is celebrating her 40th anniversary as a global icon! Hello Kitty products are recognized all throughout the world and are beloved by both children and adults alike. In order to help celebrate, The Japanese American National Museum has created the first large-scale Hello Kitty museum that will be held in the United States. The exhibit is entitled Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty. This exhibit is happening now until May 31st so if you or someone you know loves Hello Kitty and looking for something to do in downtown Los Angeles close to Little Tokyo, stop by the Japanese American National Museum to see this engaging exhibit today! Admission to the Hello Kitty exhibit is $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-17, and children 5 and under get in FREE. It is strongly encouraged that you get advance admission reservations, as it’s expected to be a popular event. For more information please visit the official museum website at www.janm.org
At the Hello Kitty exhibit, you will be able to learn more about the history of Hello Kitty and see the influence that she has had on pop culture. In addition, you will be able to look at rare, never before seen items that have been in the Sanrio archive. There will also be an array of contemporary artworks that were inspired by Hello Kitty and the Sanrio world. The exhibit will be curated by Christin Yano, PhD. Yano is the author of Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty’s Trek Across the Pacific. Also curating will be Jamie Rivadeneria, the founder and owner of the pop culture boutique, JapanLA. Hello Kitty was first introduced in Japan in 1974, and in 1976, she made her way across the pacific where she became extremely popular in US culture. In 2014, the Hello Kitty brand was worth $7 billion. Originally aimed at pre-adolescent young girls, Hello Kitty is now enjoyed by fans both young and older. Stop by the Japanese American National Museum to learn more about Hello Kitty!
