What do you get a cat who has everything? The world's cutest airline, of course! Hello Kitty (which scored over $1 billion in sales every year outside of Japan, to which the NeatoShop duly contributed) has added another way for you to spend your money: the Hello Kitty Jet.

Hiufu Wong of CNN Go has the story:

The carrier has recently launched three Hello Kitty-themed aircraft [Chinese language], on which everything from the fuselage to the flight attendants to the food is kitted out in the kawaii cat brand's images.

Passengers have been purring with delight, according to Anna Wong, an EVA Air public relations officer in Hong Kong. [...]

The new Taipei-based Hello Kitty jets -- called Apple Jet, Global Jet and Magic Jet -- will operate for at least a year on different routes originating from Taipei. [...]

Passengers can also purchase limited edition duty-free products, such as Hello Kitty-shaped pasta, from flight attendants wearing Hello Kitty aprons.

View more pics and details at CNN Go: Link - Thanks Tiffany!

Hooters, the chain restaurant that is built around showing off women’s *ahem* assets, is getting an extremely unlikely crossover in their Japanese restaurants as they introduce Hello Kitty elements just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Apparently, the Japanese don’t feel like characters intended for children should be kept separate from adult and sexually suggestive merchandising, which makes me wonder-where do they actually draw the line?

And were those Hello Kitty “personal massagers” I saw online actually licensed by Sanrio? Ewwwww!

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There’s Hello Kitty restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and more, so why not a dentist office? For those that just can’t stand the sterile environment of the standard dentist clinic, the Hello Kitty dentist office is a welcome alternative…even if it means having to travel to Japan just for a teeth cleaning.

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There’s a Hello Kitty hospital and a Hello Kitty jet, so it was only a matter of time before Hello Kitty made her way into a restaurant theme. Hello Kitty seems to be something you either love or hate, so if you ended up in Beijing, would you take the time to dine in the sickly sweet pink dining room?

Link Via BuzzFeed

Hello Kitty Love Bandit

Has a lover of Hello Kitty stolen your heart? Capture your sweethearts attention by giving them something fabulous from the Hello Kitty Love Bandit collection from the NeatoShop. This dangerously cute collection includes something for every budget:

• Hello Kitty Love Bandit Key Cap – $5.95
• Hello Kitty Love Bandit Socks – $11.95
• Hello Kitty Love Bandit Coin Bag – $19.95 (shown)
• Hello Kitty Love Bandit Lunch Box – $12.95
• Hello Kitty Love Bandit iPhone 4 Case – $23.95
• Hello Kitty Love Bandit Tote Bag – $55.95

Items sold separately. Shower your valentine with a gift of all 6.

Don’t let Valentine’s Day sneak up on you. Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more purr-fectly adorable Hello Kitty items and fantastic Valentine’s Day gift ideas.

Link

Michele Chen of I Heart Baking made these adorable pocket pies shaped like Kitty White. At first, I thought that a pastry button would be a better nose than the punch out, but Michele explains that all of the holes serve as steam vents.

Link -via That’s Nerdalicious!

As Chewbacca once put it “Grrraaaaawhh wahhr!” Combining these two characters increases their cuteness exponentially. Fashionably Geek reader Jodi chose her design well.

Link | Previously: Hello Kitty Darth Vader Tattoo

Hello Kitty Patent Leather Bow Clutch – $39.95

Are you looking for a sophisticated gift for a Hello Kitty enthusiast? Get them the whimsical Hello Kitty Patent Leather Bow Clutch from the NeatoShop. This gorgeous red and black faux patent leather bag comes with a removable wrist strap. The receiver will love the beautiful quilted details.

Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more purr-fect Hello Kitty & Sanrio items.

Link

Hello Kitty Mustache Coin Bag – $16.95

There used to be a time when mustaches were only worn by the manliest of men. Not any more. Mustaches are now sported by the cutest of cats. Behold the adorable Hello Kitty Mustache Coin Bag from the NeatoShop.

Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more Hello Kitty and Mustache fun!

Link

]]> http://www.neatorama.com/2011/10/28/hello-kitty-mustache-coin-bag/feed/ 0 http://www.neatorama.com/2011/10/15/hello-kitty-ghostbusters-proton-pack/ http://www.neatorama.com/2011/10/15/hello-kitty-ghostbusters-proton-pack/#comments Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:33:19 +0000 John Farrier http://www.neatorama.com/?p=54469

Here’s a great find at the New York City Comic Con by Caleb Goellner of Comics Alliance. It’s a cyclotron of cuteness.

Link

Hello Kitty Sunglasses Tote Bag – $64.95

Attention Hello Kitty fans! Behold the incredibly adorable Hello Kitty Sunglasses Tote Bag from the NeatoShop. This eye-catching quilted bag features large sunglasses and 3-D red bow. This bag is kitty-tastic!

Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more Hello Kitty & Sanrio fun!

Link

Hello Kitty Flashlight Keychain – $6.95

Are you a fan of Hello Kitty and all things cute? You need to check out the Hello Kitty Flashlight Keychain from the NeatoShop. This adorable keychain will light up your life with it’s very useful LED lights.

Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more great Hello Kitty items!

Link

This is not a joke, Capcom, the company behind Street Fighter and many other video games, and Sanrio, the makers of Hello Kitty and all things minimalist cute, have formed a partnership in order to collaboratively release merchandise featuring characters from both franchises. Imagine what Keroppi will do when Blanka challenges him to a battle! How this crossover will affect your Street Fighter rep remains to be seen…

Link

Hello Kitty Nerds Face Clutch - $27.95

Are you looking for a wallet that expresses your adorable inner nerd?  You need the super cute Hello Kitty Nerds Face Clutch from the NeatoShop.  This great little clutch, with fantastic embroidered details, will have you purring with happiness.

Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more fabulous Hello Kitty & Sanrio items.

Link

Well, of course Kitty White was finally caught. Why? Because she was sloppy. And if you don’t listen to what I’m trying to teach you, you’ll get caught, too. So pay attention. Link -via Doobybrain | Photo by Seymour Templar used with permission

Are you ready for your next adventure?  Whatever your plans are this summer you are going to need a great backpack to carry all your stuff.  The Nerd Hello Kitty Backpack from the NeatoShop is there for you. This backpack is functional, unique, and super cute.

Angry Hello Kitty Backpack and original Hello Kitty Backpack also available. Be sure to check out all the awesome Hello Kitty items available at the NeatoShop!

We’ve posted clever Hello Kitty tattoos before, such as Hello Kitty Jesus, Hello Kitty Hannibal Lecter, and Hello Kitty Darth Vader. Here’s a unique take on the motif: the outline of famous cat as the canvas for a nautical scene. Link

I can’t find out any information about this picture, but I am a bit skeptical that this is an officially licensed product by Sanrio. Although I could certainly see how the Hello Kitty image could lead to a $200 markup. I mean, who wouldn’t be willing to pay out a little more for this adorable septic tank?

Link

I can’t imagine a better focal point for a tasteful dining room! Adam Wallacavage, noted for his tentacled chandeliers, made this Hello Kitty variant. It was featured in a themed art show hosted by Sanrio, the company that owns Hello Kitty.

Art Show Link -via Hello Kitty Hell | Artist’s Website | Photo: Sanrio

There are countless superstitions involving cats, most of them focused on the bad luck that they supposedly bring. In Japan and other Asian countries, however, the cat is a symbol of good fortune.

THE BECKONING CAT

If you’ve ever walked in to a Chinese or Japanese business and noticed a figure of a cat with an upraised paw, you’ve met Maneki Neko (pronounced MAH-ne-key NAY-ko). “The Beckoning Cat” is displayed to invite good fortune, a tradition that began with a legendary Japanese cat many centuries ago.

Naotaka Ii

According to legend, that cat, called Tama, lived in a poverty-stricken temple in 17th-century Tokyo. The temple priest often scolded Tama for contributing nothing to the upkeep of the temple. Then one day, a powerful feudal lord named Naotaka Ii was caught in a rainstorm near the temple while returning home from a hunting trip. As the lord took refuge under a big tree, he noticed Tama with her paw raised, beckoning to him, inviting him to enter the temple’s front gate. Intrigued, the lord decided to get a closer look at this remarkable cat. Suddenly, the tree was struck by lightning and fell on the exact spot where Naotaka had just been standing. Tama had saved his life! In gratitude, Naotaka made the little temple his family temple and became its benefactor. Tama and the priest never went hungry again. After a long life, Tama was buried with great respect at the renamed Goutokuji temple. Goutokuji still exists, housing dozens of statues of Beckoning Cat.

Gotokuji temple still has a calico cat, as well as many Maneki Nekos.

(Image credit: Flickr user Shoko Muraguchi)

LUCKY CHARMS

Figures of Maneki Neko became popular in Japan under shogun rule in the 19th century. At that time, most “houses of amusement” (brothels) and many private homes had a good-luck shelf filled with lucky charms, many in the shape of male sexual organs. When Japan began to associate with Western countries in the 1860s, the charms began to be seen as vulgar. In an effort to modernize Japan and improve its image, Emperor Meiji outlawed the production, sale, and display of phallic talismans in 1872. People still wanted lucky objects, however, so the less controversial Maneki Neko figures became popular.

Nang Kwak

Eventually the image of the lucky cat spread to China and then to Southeast Asia. How popular did the Beckoning Cat become? In Thailand, the ancient goddess of prosperity, Nang Kwak, was traditionally shown kneeling with a money bag on her lap. Now she’s usually shown making the cat’s raised-hand gesture and occasionally sporting a cat’s tail.

In Europe and North America, images of Maneki Neko can be found in Asian-owned businesses, such as Chinese restaurants. And back in Japan, a new cat icon adorns clothing, toys, and various objects: Hello Kitty -a literal translation of Maneki Neko, or “Beckoning Cat.”

MANEKI NEKO FACTS

* Sometime Maneki Neko has his left paw up, sometimes the right. The left paw signifies that the business owner is inviting in customers. The right invites in money or good fortune.

* Most Maneki Nekos are calico cats; the male calico is so rare it’s considered lucky in Japan. But Maneki Neko may be white, black, red, gold, or pink to ward off illness, bad luck, or evil spirits and bring financial success, good luck, health, and love.

* Maneki Nekos made in Japan show the palm of the paw, imitating the manner in which Japanese people beckon. American Maneki Nekos show the back of the paw, reflecting the way we gesture “come here.”

* The higher Maneki Neko holds his paw, the more good fortune is being invited.

___________________

The article above was reprinted with permission from Uncle John’s Unstoppable Bathroom Reader.

Since 1988, the Bathroom Reader Institute had published a series of popular books containing irresistible bits of trivia and obscure yet fascinating facts.

If you like Neatorama, you’ll love the Bathroom Reader Institute’s books – go ahead and check ‘em out!

As if Hello Kitty wasn’t creepy enough! Chris Myles made this personality sphere (that’s from Portal) as a baby shower gift.

Link via Super Punch

Are you a nerdy girl who loves Hello Kitty?  You need the Hello Kitty I Heart Nerds Clutch from the NeatoShop.  Show the world that you can be cute and smart. Everyone knows nerds have more fun.

Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more fabulous Hello Kitty & Sanrio items!

]]> http://www.neatorama.com/2011/05/11/hello-kitty-i-heart-nerds-clutch/feed/ 0 http://www.neatorama.com/2011/05/03/hello-kitty-flipper-toothbrush-holder/ http://www.neatorama.com/2011/05/03/hello-kitty-flipper-toothbrush-holder/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 03:17:11 +0000 Tiffany http://www.neatorama.com/?p=45587 Hello Kitty Flipper Toothbrush Holder – $5.95

Attention Hello Kitty lovers! Are you looking for a cute way to hygienically store and protect your toothbrush? Well, look no further! You need the Hello Kitty Flipper Toothbrush Holder from the NeatoShop!

Be sure to check out all the adorable Hello Kitty & Sanrio items available at the NeatoShop.

]]> http://www.neatorama.com/2011/05/03/hello-kitty-flipper-toothbrush-holder/feed/ 0 http://www.neatorama.com/2011/04/27/hello-kitty-angry-face-clutch/ http://www.neatorama.com/2011/04/27/hello-kitty-angry-face-clutch/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:51:40 +0000 Tiffany http://www.neatorama.com/?p=45254

Hello Kitty Angry Face Clutch – $27.95

Do you know someone who is cute, quirky, and has a slight anger management problem? Get them the Hello Kitty Angry Face Clutch from the NeatoShop. Remember, nothing softens a person up like a great gift from the NeatoShop!

Be sure to check out NeatoShop’sCute Store and Hello Kitty and Sanrio items for more adorable gifts.

The weather is still a bit frightful, but your girlfriend is so delightful.  Show her how much you care with the I Heart Nerds – Hello Kitty Scarf from the NeatoShop.  Seriously, if she didn’t love nerds you would be in so much trouble.

Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more fabulously fun accessories.

]]> http://www.neatorama.com/2011/02/24/i-heart-nerds-hello-kitty-scarf/feed/ 0 http://www.neatorama.com/2011/02/11/hello-dalek/ http://www.neatorama.com/2011/02/11/hello-dalek/#comments Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:52:38 +0000 The Dude http://www.neatorama.com/2011/02/11/hello-dalek/

Hello Kitty and Doctor Who – like beer and pretzels, two great tastes that taste great together! Of course, Joseph Senior has known for some time now that everything’s better when you add Hello Kitty, and proving it with amazing designs on his Flickr page.

This Hello Kitty Dalek mashup comes courtesy of user yodaflicker (Joseph Senior) and is part of the Hello Kitty Pop Culture series. For those unfamiliar with the “Doctor Who” series, the Daleks are a race of murderous mutants that utilize robot armor in order to destroy everything that is non-Dalek. The standard appearance of the mech suit appears almost exactly as the image above. The plunger can be used to suck out information or kill opponents, the right object is the death ray and the Daleks see via the optical lens sticking out of its forehead.

What makes this mashup amazing is the combination of two very dissimilar pop icons. The Daleks are a race that destroys everything in site, the Hello Kitty franchise is based on cuteness, cuddliness and overall friendliness. While the design keeps the original image of the Daleks, the pink paint job, light-up blue kitty ears, flower design on the chest and iconic Hello Kitty bow with the “Doctor Who” logo makes these kill-machines a lot less threatening.

Link | Image: Joseph Senior

Joseph Senior photoshopped Hello Kitty into a variety of pop culture crossover / mashup. Can’t beat the Darth Kitty with a ribbon bow helmet! Toysrevil has more: Link – via The Jailbreak

This mounted Hello Kitty trophy is for sale from Etsy artist datamafia. It is one of 12 Bizarre Hello Kitty Products That Sign The Coming Apocalypse collected by our own Jill Harness at Inventor’s Spot. Link

I can’t compete with John Farrier’s discovery of the Hello Kitty Ferrari, but how about this one instead? Behold, the incredibly cute Hello Kitty Mini Pizza by Flickr user LoveBones – via Hello Kitty Hell

Well, of course. What else would one put in a Hello Kitty Ferrari? This product is allegedly on sale in Japan for ¥2980. I hear that it improves cutepower by 12%.

Link via CrunchGear | Photo: New Launches

Adorable, isn’t it? Ah, but you haven’t what seen the interior of this Ferrari 360 Modena spotted in Jakarta looks like. It’s really cute/grotesque! More pictures at the link.

Link via Geekologie | Photo: Detikoto & GTSpirit

This photograph of a Hello Kitty tattoo inspired by the character Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs was discovered by the man behind Kitty Hell. That blogger writes:

Despite the terrible combo, I can understand why someone might think it is a good idea to place these two characters together. They both possess true evil that is unimaginable to most of us, and obviously the world would be a better place if Hello Kitty was restrained in this fashion. However, trying to equate Hello Kitty to Hannibal Lecter is just plain wrong because, quite frankly, the evil feline is so much worse.

Link via Albotas

The man behind the blog Kitty Hell (“one man’s life with cute overload”) has brought to our attention this marvelous/disgusting instrument of household utility. He writes:

While Hello Kitty fanatics may see something like this as cute (you have to seriously feel for the lumberjack significant other that has to carry this around at work), for the rest of us it pretty much exemplifies what any horror movie villain (or the evil feline herself) would undoubtedly use to dismember victims. In fact, The Hello Kitty Chainsaw Massacre is probably already in production and is guaranteed to be the most horrifying movie that you have ever seen.

Link via Albotas

EVA Airways launched the Hello Kitty Jet in 2005, with the blessing of Sanrio. Take a look at the biggest Hello Kitty tribute yet, and see the amenities inside the Airbus A330 in this set of photographs.

Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Ssquared22.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s inside Hello Kitty, we now know there’s a Valentine-shaped heart with a little bow as well as lungs that look at you and cute little intestines. Of course. Designer Dr. Romanelli made these for MediCom Toy Incorporated. Link -via Buzzfeed

Welcome to the Hello Kitty Castle in Taiwan. It can help take care of all of your cute needs. The gallery has some amazingly cute things in it, including food garnished with a Hello Kitty chocolate dusting.

Link Via Cute Overload

Cartoonist Neill Cameron is spending a month creating and presenting an A to Z list of things that are truly awesome, bringing together pop culture icons such as Hello Kitty, Optimus Prime, and Ironman.

Link via Popped Culture

Previously on Neatorama: The Periodic Table of Awesoments

For you who don’t know, Gloomy Bear is the creation of Mori Chack [Flash] as the antithesis of cuteness. The bear is violent and eats humans.

Steve Levenstein of InventorSpot explores this most unusual Hello Kitty product yet: Link – via Rue The Day

Whoa! How awesome is this: a Hello Kitty Zombie birthday cake, made by Debbie Goard of Debbie Does Cakes. See more of the cake at Kristin and Sean’s website: Link – via Hello Kitty Hell (More Cake Geekery at this Food Geekery post)

Previously on Neatorama, another creation by the ever-talented Ms. Goard: Yoda Cake 2.0

The hospital’s director Tsai Tsung-chi opened the £2m (T$100m) hospital in his hometown after obtaining authorisation from the fictitious cat’s Japanese parent company Sanrio Co Ltd.

Describing the objectives of the hospital, he said: “I wish that everyone who comes here, mothers who suffer while giving birth and children who suffer from an illness, can get medical care while seeing these kitties and bring a smile to their faces, helping forget about discomfort and recover faster.”

Link -via Shiny Shiny