Hello Kitty has been around for generations — what is one thing about her character that has changed over time, and one thing that remains the same to this day?

There is actually one thing about Hello Kitty that has changed and not changed at the same time — the ribbon on her ears. They once changed the ribbon into a strawberry, but decided to change it back into a ribbon. The ribbon has now become an iconic characteristic of Hello Kitty and left a deep impression on the public. During my design process, I once thought about what iconic motif could truly represent Hello Kitty; for Mickey Mouse it’s three circles, and everybody knows Snoopy. It seemed like Hello Kitty had nothing, but now, it is her ribbon. Everybody who sees the ribbon will think of Hello Kitty. 

Are there strict proportion requirements when drawing Hello Kitty?

I follow my heart and draw according to my feelings. I do not really follow the ratio while I design. 

Your style is very playful and largely compliments Hello Kitty’s character. Would you say she has influenced your style or is it the other way around?

I loved girly things when I was young, and I still love girly clothing. The dress that I am wearing today was designed by my friend; she has been designing for 40 years and has a shop in Harajuku. In Japan, it is very challenging to maintain a brand for such a long time. My friend and I share very similar thoughts and values; she wants everyone who wears her designs to look kawaii and there is no age restriction for her brand’s clientele. No matter what age you are, as long as you wear the designs, you are kawaii. Age does not matter at all. To me, the same goes for Hello Kitty fans — age does not matter as long as you love the character. Before I took on the role as Hello Kitty’s character designer, Hello Kitty only ever wore overalls. Since then, I have poured a lot of thought into Hello Kitty’s fashion and given her vibrant clothing with variety.

As her designer, do you see any similarities between yourself and Hello Kitty?

This is a little TMI… There are not many similarities between me and Hello Kitty, but I just like her, I have nothing related to Hello Kitty in my room. What I’m trying to say is, if I have a lot of Hello Kitty products in my own room, I feel like Hello Kitty is constantly reminding me to get up, work and produce designs for her. To design more clothes for her — it’s as if she’s asking me “What will my clothes look like?” I will not be able to sleep. So I have no Hello Kitty products at home, not even one. There are a lot in my office though!

In terms of personality, I am an optimist like Hello Kitty and have a positive mindset. However, I am human and humans have their troubles. When I have to make decisions, I sometimes ask around for other people’s opinions. 

What do you feel are the biggest reasons behind Hello Kitty’s success?

Hello Kitty is like a blank canvas. Artists can incorporate their own ideas into her and create different designs— this is also not limited by age. Hello Kitty is a success because she is ever-changing and offers the space and freedom for people to unleash their creativity. Hello Kitty is not just my character; she belongs to all of Hello Kitty’s fans, who bring her to life together. The reason why Hello Kitty is loved by so many is because she brings different cultures together. 

Are there any Hello Kitty designs that are particularly memorable for you? 

The design of Hello Kitty needs to keep up with the trends, but trends are challenging. The design that left the deepest impression on me was the Hello Kitty Monotone series from 1987 [created for Hello Kitty’s 45th anniversary]. Back then, monotone was a big trend in Japan and I thought, “If Hello Kitty fails because she does not adopt this monotone trend, then she cannot keep up with the times.” So I completed the monotone series. This left a deep impression on both me and Hello Kitty’s fans; it was even a shock for some because Hello Kitty has always had a very kawaii image. It was a stark contrast to her usual appearance. 

I have a lot of respect for the designer of Commes des Garçons. There are not a lot of fashion designers that I have this level of respect for, but I think that the CDG designer is outstanding. Their creations are very sensational. I hope to become a great designer like them, so I’m working hard to produce different designs for you all.