Hello Kitty (Japanese：ハローキティ；Chinese：堤提貓) (full name Kitty White (キティ・ホワイト, Kiti Howaito)) is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio, created by Yuko Shimizu and currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi. She is depicted as an anthropomorphic white Japanese Bobtail cat with a red bow.The character's first appearance (on a purse) was introduced in Japan in 1975, and brought to the United States in 1976.