Hello Kitty enlisted to promote Taiwan airline's flights to Japan
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Hello Kitty, Asia's can't-miss marketing symbol, has been enlisted once again -- this time by a Taiwanese airline eager to carry more passengers to Japan.
Eva Airways Corp., the island's second-largest airline, said an Airbus A300-200 painted with the yellow cartoon cat will be used on its daily Taipei-Fukuoka flight starting Saturday.
It said the Hello Kitty theme would extend to the plane's interior -- and to its cutlery, boarding passes, and even flight attendant uniforms.
"There is much interest in Taiwan in Hello Kitty," said Catherine Kuo, an Eva spokeswoman. "Our present load factor on the Fukuoka flight is 70-80 percent. We hope with the introduction of this campaign it will go even higher."
Kuo said the company would pay Japanese franchise holder Sanrio Co. a fee for using the Hello Kitty symbol, but declined to say how much.
Hello Kitty, created in 1974 by Japanese designer Yuko Shimizu, has an almost cult-like following across much of Asia, including the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and China.
There aren't many consumer sectors where the Kitty doesn't pop up. She adorns clothing, house wares, cosmetics, jewelry, toys of all sorts, stationery and electronics from waffle irons to computers.
Earlier this year, Taiwan's 7-Eleven chain began offering Hello Kitty tokens to customers making purchases of at least 77 New Taiwan dollars (US$2.50; euro2). Within weeks, the company said, its sales had jumped 20 percent.
The character's appeal spans all ages, especially among girls and women. But men buy Hello Kitty products too, often as gifts for daughters, wives or girlfriends. (AP)
October 21, 2005
----another article on this airline siad:
"The plane's interior will also feature Hello Kitty-related items, ranging from boarding passes, baggage tags, dining utensils, lavatory papers to duty-free collectables."
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." -- George W. Bush
posted on October 24, 2005 07:56:53 AM
Yes it has been a fad in Japan for a long time.
When my Japanese DIL and my son married five years ago...my husband and I were a little shocked as we walked into the wedding reception. There on either side of their signin book were a bride and groom 'Hello Kitty' stuffed dolls.
And this was an extremely posh wedding and reception at a golfing country club in Hawaii. Most of their Japanese guests appeared to be happy to see these little creatures included in their wedding and were giving them noticiable attention.
But I also remember that back in the '70's Hello Kitty items were very popular here in the US too. Most of my girlfriends very young daughters had all sorts of items with that logo on them.
