Sanrio, the global owner of Hello Kitty and Kuromi, is investigating whether a managing director who also led its U.S. subsidiary received hundreds of millions of yen in undisclosed compensation over multiple years. A special probe has been launched and the full-year earnings announcement postponed. The case exposes a structural gap in Japan's corporate governance: the parent's compensation committee never had jurisdiction over subsidiary CEO pay.
Sanrio pivots from licensing to in-house publishing with a new brand, Sanrio Games. First title Sanrio Party Land drops worldwide on Switch in fall 2026, with roughly 10 games planned by 2029. How it connects to the global cozy game boom.
Sanrio is converting Harmonyland in Hiji, Oita into a stay-and-play resort under its Sky Park plan, announced December 8, 2025: 10 billion yen in initial investment, tens of billions in total, more than a decade to finish. On June 15, 2026 it acquired 30.85 hectares, growing the site roughly fivefold. Targets: one million visitors, then two million.
Sanrio announces Hello Kitty's first designer change in 46 years. The iconic character's 3rd designer Yuko Yamaguchi passes the baton to 4th designer "Aya" in 2026. Explore the legacy of character succession and fan reactions from Japan.
