In its first attempt ever to use a toy character for promotional reasons, the European Union delegation has decided to use the highly popular Hello Kitty cartoon character to publicize the Euro and promote friendship in Japan.
“We just want to convey a friendly, human face of the European Union,” said Etienne Reuter, head of the delegation’s press section. The EU wants to give “little presents to people so that they will remember the EU or be more aware of what the EU stands for,” Reuter said.
The delegation has already ordered 2,000 Hello Kitty cell phone straps and key rings and will buy more if the promotional items prove successful.
On the promotional material, the traditional pinks and reds Hello Kitty wears on her chest have been replaced with blue and yellow, the starry EU flag and the “€” logo to promote Europe’s new currency.
I’ve always loved “Hello Kitty” myself, and still have some old toys and bags of it 🙂