US EditionHello Kitty designer steps down after 46 years
Yuko Yamaguchi ends 46 years shaping Hello Kitty’s design, with new designer Aya set to start by end of 2026 as Yamaguchi stays on to advise, Sanrio said.
- Yuko Yamaguchi, Hello Kitty designer, is stepping down after 46 years and has passed the baton to the next generation, Sanrio announced on its website Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
- Yamaguchi took over design duties in 1980 and Sanrio credited her with collaborating widely and listening to fans, which helped Hello Kitty grow into a globally loved character.
- Originating as a coin-purse illustration, Hello Kitty first appeared in 1980 and now features on tens of thousands of products with partnerships including Adidas and Balenciaga.
- Sanrio said one of its other designers, known only by the pseudonym `Aya`, has been working alongside Yamaguchi, who will remain to advise during the handover.
- Looking ahead, Hello Kitty has a Warner Bros film planned for 2028, and a new Hello Kitty theme park is due next year on China's Hainan island, continuing the brand's expansion.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Yuko Yamaguchi, the designer behind Hello Kitty, has stepped down after 46 years in the role of nurturing the adorable character into one of the world's highest-grossing franchises.
Yuko Yamaguchi, who has been responsible since 1980 for the design of Hello Kitty, a Japanese character who has become a world-famous brand, announced that she is passing the torch to a new designer.
Yuko Yamaguchi, the eccentric designer of Hello Kitty, the lovely Japanese character that has become a world brand, will be present after more than four decades controlling every detail of its characteristic appearance. Kurt Cobain's death: A new private analysis answers official praise and points possible murder Video: Rapper makes a baricade, has Tesla 'arranged' inside a garage by the police and ends up in the US The artist is responsible, si…
Often dressed in dresses inspired by Kitty and wearing hair raised in buns, Yuko Yamaguchi wishes "to pass the torch to the next generation".
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