Hello Kitty!

By Eric Norcross ©1999

Before Pokémon
(Pokémon are small monsters that can be captured and tamed to become pets, guardians, or companions. Pokémon is a creation of Nintendo and can be found in video games, on playing cards, in books, an animated series, etc.)

Before Tamagotchi
(Tamagotchi is [was...?] a "Virtual Pet" which you kept with you at all times in case it needed care -- feeding, medicine, "waste" removal, etc. Without proper care, you would end up with a Tamagotchi "angel.")

... there was another Japanese-created pop-phenomenon: Hello Kitty®.

Kitty's History: Birthdate: November 1 Birthplace: Suburban London, England Weight: The same as 3 apples. Likes: Small, cute things. Candy, stars, goldfish, etc. Personality: A very energetic little girl, Kitty loves to play outdoors, in the park or forest. But you can also find her happily practicing on the piano or baking a cake, too!

Twenty-four years ago Kitty first appeared on a little plastic purse made for girls in Japan. Her simple lines and colorful graphics were a hit and twenty-one years ago she was given a history (see box on left) and a name: Kitty.

Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty®, was founded in 1960 and has created many colorful and memorable characters over the years including: Keroppi, Pekkle, Pippo, Spottie Dottie, Tabo, Winki Pinki, Picke Bicke, Purin, My Melody, Chococat, and Monkichi.

Well, the little girls who bought those first Hello Kitty® purses have now grown up and are having children of their own -- and what better way to share the joy of their own childhood with their kids than to serve up Hello Kitty® toast each and every morning?

The Sanyo electronics company has made this dream possible with the Hello Kitty® toaster. Cut-outs of Kitty's head are welded to the inside of the toaster so that when toast is made, Kitty doesn't get as toasted as the rest of the bread (just the opposite of the illustration on below).

Unfortunately, this toaster is not being sold in the United States* -- but thanks to our friend Kintaro, who generously sent us a Hello Kitty® toaster from Japan, The Toaster Museum will have one on display!

Sanyo is making a Panda toaster and a friendly Dinosaur toaster for American breakfast tables -- so we, too, can enjoy a cartoon face on our toast.

*When this article was written in 1999, no Hello Kitty® toaster was available in the United States. Now, however, in 2002 there are at least a couple models of Hello Kitty® toasters that you can purchase in the U.S. Check out Sanyo's online store or even eBay.