About SanrioCompany History

1960

1960
Established Yamanashi Silk Center Co., Ltd. in Tokyo with the aim of establishing a social communication business.
1962
Created the first original design "Strawberry" and launched gift products.
1966
Publication of poetry collection "Loving Songs". Started planning and sales of publications.
1969
Established Sanrio Greeting Co. Ltd. and began planning and sales of greeting cards.

1970

1971
Opened the first directly-managed Gift Gate store in Ad Hoc Building, Shinjuku, Tokyo.
1973
Company name changed to Sanrio Company, Ltd. Headquarters relocated to Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo.
1973
Opened the first restaurant, Sanrio Salon, in the Gotanda TOC Building in Tokyo.
1973
Merged with Sanrio Greeting Co., Ltd. to integrate the greeting card business.
1974
Created the characters Hello Kitty and Patty & Jimmy.
1974
Established subsidiary Sanrio Film Corporation of America (merged into Sanrio, Inc. in 1989) in Los Angeles. Sanrio begins film production and distribution in the United States.
1975
The first Hello Kitty product, Petite Purse, was launched.
1975
Established the Strawberry Newspaper.
1975
First animated film "Little Jumbo" was released.
1975
Created the characters Little Twin Stars and My Melody.
1976
Licensing of original characters begins.
1976
Established local subsidiary Sanrio, Inc. in San Francisco. Opened the first overseas Gift Gate, San Jose Gift Gate.
1978
Won a U.S. Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for the film "Who Are the DeBolts?"
1978
The 70mm animated film "Metamorphoses" (Japanese title: Orpheus the Star) was screened in the United States.
1978
Opened Hong Kong Gift Gate, the first gift gate in Asia (outside of Japan).
1978
The film “The Glacier Fox” was released in theaters.

1980

1982
Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1982
Local subsidiary Sanrio GmbH is established in Hamburg.
1983
Hello Kitty is appointed as a U.S. UNICEF Children's Ambassador.
1984
Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1984
Established Kokoro Company Ltd.
1985
The first animated TV series “Button Nose” begins broadcasting. 
1986
Established Sanrio Do Brazil Comercio e Representacoes Ltd.
1987
Head office relocated to Osaki, Shinagawa, Tokyo.
1987
Sanrio Communication World Inc. (now Sanrio Entertainment Co., Ltd.) is established as the operator of Sanrio Puroland.
1988
Participated in the establishment of Harmonyland Corporation (now Sanrio Entertainment Co., Ltd.) in Hijimachi, Hayami Town, Oita Prefecture.
1989
At the 29th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, a resolution was passed to change the fiscal year to the period from April 1 to March 31 of the following year.

1990

1990
Established Sanrio Far East Co.
1990
The first "Young Ambassadors Program" was held. (Eight junior high and high school students from Los Angeles visited Japan for a grassroots exchange to promote mutual understanding between Japan and the U.S.)
1990
Opened the theme park Sanrio Puroland in Tama City, Tokyo.
1991
Opened, Harmonyland, a theme park in Hijimachi, Hayami, Oita Prefecture.
1992
Established Sanrio Company Limited in Taiwan (reorganized from a limited liability company to a joint stock company and renamed Sanrio Corporation as of February 1, 2001).
1994
Hello Kitty appointed as a Children's Goodwill Ambassador by the Japan Committee for UNICEF.
1994
Established Sanrio (Hong Kong) Company, Ltd.
1998
Established Sanrio Korea Company, Ltd.

2000

2000
The trading unit of shares was reduced from 1,000 to 100 shares.
2001
Established Sanrio Wave Hong Kong Company, Ltd.
2001
Integrated and relocated the logistics division from Etchujima and Tachikawa to Machida City, Tokyo.
2001
Created the character Cinnamoroll.
2002
The first directly managed store in Europe is opened in Hamburg.
2003
Established Sanrio (Shanghai) International Trading Company.
2003
The first Sanrio store in Russia opens in Moscow.
2004
Created the characters Sugarbunnies.
2008
Hello Kitty appointed as "Visit Japan Campaign China and Hong Kong Tourism Goodwill Ambassador" by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
2009
Sanrio Entertainment Company, Ltd. established to integrate the theme park business.
2009
Held Hello Kitty art exhibition and hands-on event "Three Apples" in Los Angeles.

2010

2010
Exhibited Hello Kitty merchandise at the Japan Pavilion, Japan Industry Pavilion, and Osaka Pavilion to represent Japan at the Shanghai World Expo.
2010
Special sponsorship of "GREEN TOKYO HELLO KITTY & FRIENDS" as a 50th anniversary project.
2011
Acquired the characters Mr. Men Little Miss and established the subsidiary, Mister Men Ltd.
2012
Established Sanrio Global Asia Ltd.
2012
Head office operations relocated to 1-11-1 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo.
2012
“Jewelpet the Movie: Sweet Dance Princess”, the first Jewelpet movie, was released in theaters. 
2012
Established Sanrio Chile SpA
2012
Created characters SHOW BY ROCK!!, DreamtleKubear and Bonbonribbon.
2013
New area called Sanrio Town opens in Sanrio Puroland.
2013
Created the characters Gudetama, Kirimichan. and Kashiwankomochi.
2014
A special exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of Hello Kitty was held at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.
2014
HELLO KITTY CON2014, a fan convention celebrating Hello Kitty's 40th anniversary, was held in Los Angeles.
2014
Created characters Shinkaizoku and Hummingmint.
2015
Created characters Aggretsuko, Lilu Lilu Fairilu, Cogimyun, Hagurumanstyle and LittleForestFellow.
2015
Hello Kitty Park opened in Anji County, Zhejiang Province, China.
2015
Kirimichan. was appointed as the Eat Fish Ambassador by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
2015
Hello Kitty was appointed as a special ambassador for the Japanese Pavilion at the 2015 Milano International Expo.
2015
New parade "Miracle Gift Parade" rolled out at Sanrio Puroland.
2017
Created characters Mewkledreamy, Marumofubiyori, and Kabukinyantaro.
2018
A new musical incorporating kabuki, KAWAII KABUKIーMomotarō by the Hello Kitty Troupe, kicks off at Sanrio Puroland.
2018
Aggretsuko's original animated series realeased worldwide on Netflix.
2018
JR West Hello Kitty Shinkansen begins service.
2019
Announced Hello Kitty's first Hollywood movie.
2019
Hello Kitty promotes SDGs globally with the United Nations as part of the campaign #HelloGlobalGoals.

2020

2020
Tomokuni Tsuji is appointed President and CEO / Shintaro Tsuji is appointed Founder and Chairman.
2020
Celebrated 60th anniversary.
2020
Established joint venture SANRIO SOUTH EAST ASIA PTE.
2020
Created the character units Hapidanbui and Beatcats.
2021
Created the characters Maimaimaigoen and Bosanimal.
2022
Formed capital alliance with YARUKI Switch Group Holdings Inc.

Note: On April 4, 2022, the Company moved from the First Section to the Prime Market as a result of marketing restructuring of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.