Tough ex-cop Hello Kitty’s biggest fan
A 67-YEAR-OLD former policeman with the world’s biggest Hello Kitty collection has become the envy of little girls everywhere, with a quarter of a million dollars’ (R3.3- million) worth of moon- faced memorabilia.
Masao Gunji, who spent his working life on the trail of criminals, now spends his retirement tracking down pink and white soft toys to keep in a Hello Kitty-themed house, which he built specially and has become a magnet for tourists.
“Kitty has been like the love of my life,” he said at his one-storey property.
“I love Kitty,” he said, calling her adorable, “especially her facial expressions”.
Hello Kitty, Japan’s global icon of cute, was introduced in 1974 and is now one of the country’s most famous exports, on everything from pencil cases to pyjamas.
To the surprise of fans, brand owner Sanrio said in 2014 the feline-inspired character was not actually a cat but a “happy little girl”, sparking uproar from internet users who spluttered: “But she’s got whiskers!”
Gunji was recognised in November by Guinness World Records for his collection. More than 5 000 items he owns bear Kitty’s iconic red bow, propelling Gunji past the previous record holder, also Japanese.
Gunji’s wife, Yoshiko, says she fully supports her husband’s passion.