Cash-Strapped Kitty-Chan

[Captain Japan]

Hello Kitty sold for $100,000
BBC

A platinum, diamond-studded statuette of Japan's favourite cat, Hello Kitty, has sold for 10.5m Yen ($102,450).

The figurine, which was made specially for the cartoon feline's 30th birthday, had been on sale since August.

A spokesman at a Mistukoshi department store in Osaka, would only say that the 4cm (2 inch) figurine was sold to a local customer.

Sanrio to get Y20 bil aid
Kyodo News via Japan Today

TOKYO — Sanrio Co said Thursday it will issue about 20 billion yen worth of new shares to the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and other firms to prop up its capital base, which has been undermined by an expected 21.9 billion yen extraordinary loss on its theme park facilities in the first half of fiscal 2004.

Sanrio said common stock worth 500 million yen will be allotted to Mitsubishi Corp through the third-party allocation plan and the rest will be issued to the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi — Sanrio's main bank and a key unit of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc — as well as three other companies.

[Taro Toporific]

[Hello Kitty sold for $100,000 BBC
Sanrio to get Y20 bil aid

Gee they are claiming they got full retail price for it, 10 million yen. I was wonderingwhether they were gonna melt down or discount that piece of "art."

AFP / 31 August 2004 /TOKYO, JAPAN
World's most expensive Hello Kitty doll, priced at 10 million yen (91,900 USD), is displayed at Mitsukoshi department store as part of a celebration to mark Hello Kitty's 30th birthday ...the platinum made Hello Kitty, 41mm tall and weighing 75g, wears a cloak studded with 205 pieces 4.1 ct and a mace with 0.753 ct pink colored diamond.