Sanrio

Sanrio Co., Ltd. (株式会社サンリオ, Kabushikigaisha Sanrio) is a Japanese company that designs, licenses and produces products focusing on the kawaii ('cute') segment of Japanese popular culture. Their products include stationery, school supplies, gifts, and accessories that are sold worldwide, including at specialty brand retail stores in Japan. Sanrio's best-known character is Hello Kitty, a little anthropomorphic girl cat, and one of the most successful marketing brands in the world.

Besides selling character goods, Sanrio takes part in movie production and publishing. Sanrio has the license to produce Peanutsmerchandise for the Japanese market. Also, Sanrio owns the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters, having purchased the rights to them in 2011. Their animatronics branch, called Kokoro Company, Ltd. (kokoro being Japanese for 'heart'), is best known for the Actroid android. They even play a part in the fast food industry, running a franchise of KFC in Saitama Prefecture.