Hello Kitty throws out the first pitch before a game at Oracle Park on June 8, 2025 in San Francisco. With deep roots from San José to Santa Rosa, Sanrio’s prevalence in the Bay Area is stronger than ever. (Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)

Laura Chin walked into the Hello Kitty Cafe, dressed for the occasion.

Wearing a pink milkmaid dress adorned with sprinkles, the longtime Sanrio fan completed her outfit with black cat ears and various themed accessories. Greeted by cases filled with cute Hello Kitty-themed confectionery and employees sporting signature pink aprons, the experience elevated Chin’s love for the Japanese brand.

“Sanrio is often dismissed as just a cute pastel brand for children, or perhaps a nostalgic relic of Y2K,” Chin says. “But we overlook its cultural d

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