TOKYO (AP) — Hello Kitty, whom many learned last week is a girl and not a cat, may be the queen of Japan’s cute characters, but she’s hardly the only one.

There are thousands, and they are ubiquitous: Long-time favorite Doraemon (who really is a cat) has a daily quiz in a national newspaper. Little monster Pikachu hosted a theme cafe in Tokyo this summer. Stress-relieving Rilakkuma (“relaxed bear”) dangles from teenage girls’ school bags.

Recommended Stories

The media doesn’t need to lie when it can just delete the truth

Will election security ballot measures throw Republicans a turnout lifeline in 2026?

Why Keisha Lance Bottoms is trailing Jon Ossoff in Georgia