World | Hello Kitty Hello, China: Meet Japan's New Envoy Japan tabs pop icon to bring in visitors from China By Nick McMaster Posted May 19, 2008 8:00 PM CDT Copied Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba shakes hands with kimono-clad Hello Kitty as South Korean singer Younha looks on at his office in Tokyo Monday, May 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Hello Kitty has been tapped as Japan’s cultural envoy to China, the AP reports. Japan’s ministry of tourism chose the über-popular icon to represent the country in its drive to attract 10 million annual visitors to the islands. Last year, tourists from China and Hong Kong made up 16.5% of Japan's 8.35 million overseas visitors. Read These Next President Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah next. Trump's jokes to 'people I hate' aren't all hits. A new 'No Kings' protest is on the calendar. Why Catherine O'Hara's death feels like a 'gut punch.' Report an error