The Japan Sumo Association has selling Hello Kitty Sumo limited edition merchandise at events, and the items became such a hit that they are now available on the Internet.

Among the goods available for purchase are mobile phone straps:

Hello Kitty is playing the role of the “Yobidashi-san”, or referee.

And here she is wearing the mawashi, the infamous diaper of the sumo wrestler.
Towels and mugs are also available:



To boost the massive PR effects of connecting Kitty-chan with the recently faltering sport of Sumo Wrestling, Osaka Prefecture has considered expanding the sales of the merchandise and even featuring it prominently in the awarding of the Governor’s Prize.

I wonder who would win in a fight, Hello Kitty or Gloomy Bear?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 8th, 2005 at 8:51 am and is filed under Fandom, Japan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.