From Hello Kitty to Pikachu, the country changed what the world considers adorable. But do these characters represent joy — ...

TOKYO--Hello Kitty turns 50 on Friday. Befitting a pop icon at midlife, the bubble-headed, bow-wearing character's fictional birthday has brought museum exhibits, a theme park spectacle and a ...

Don’t freak out when you try to board a flight to this southwestern Japanese prefecture and the destination on the ticket says “Hello Kitty” — you’re definitely on the right plane.

It’s 50 years since the creation of one of the world’s most recognisable characters, Hello Kitty. In 1974, a 24-year-old Japanese illustrator called Yuko Shimizu put pen to paper to draw the ...