Hello Kitty cartoon characters wave to the audience at Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 1, 2013. A ball was held on Friday at the Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo to celebrate the upcoming 40th anniversary of Hello Kitty in 2014. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi and a Hello Kitty cartoon character pose for pictures at Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 1, 2013. A ball was held on Friday at the Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo to celebrate the upcoming 40th anniversary of Hello Kitty in 2014. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Hello Kitty cartoon characters pose for pictures at Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 1, 2013. A ball was held on Friday at the Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo to celebrate the upcoming 40th anniversary of Hello Kitty in 2014. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi and a Hello Kitty cartoon character pose for pictures at Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 1, 2013. A ball was held on Friday at the Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo to celebrate the upcoming 40th anniversary of Hello Kitty in 2014. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)