The Japanese national ministry of tourism has selected the infamous feline diva of cute to represent the country in China and Hong Kong, two regions where the frisky mammal has been extremely popular.

The nation maintains a goal of attracting ten million overseas visitors each year under its "Visit Japan" campaign, and hopes that Hello Kitty will aid the country in its goals of making in-roads with its Asian neighbors, who appear quite fond of the pop icon.

The cat, designed by Sanrio, first appeared in 1974 on a plastic coin purse. On Sanrio’s official profile of Hello Kitty, it is stated that she lives with her family in London.

It should be further noted that I had a Hello Kitty push-cart as a lad in the mid-1980’s. It’s true.