Hello Kitty (Haro Kiti) (real name Kitty White) is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio, first designed by Yuko Shimizu. She is a staple of the kawaii segment of Japanese popular culture and is portrayed as a female white Japanese bobtail cat with a red bow. Hello Kitty first appeared on a vinyl coin purse in Japan in 1975 and in 1976 made her way to the United States.

Although mainly aimed at the pre-adolescent female market, the Hello Kitty product range goes all the way from purses, stickers and pen sets to toasters, televisions, clothing, massagers, and computer equipment. It has a cult-like following, especially in Asia, where Hello Kitty adorns cars, keychains, purses, bags and many consumer products. A Hello Kitty anime, targeted towards young children, has also been produced. Examples of products depicting the character include dolls, stickers, greeting cards, clothes, accessories, school supplies, dishes and home appliances.