Hello Kitty Designer Steps Down

Yuko Yamaguchi, the designer behind Hello Kitty, is stepping down after 46 years. During this time, she oversaw the character achieve world wide recognition. She took over design duties in 1980, just five years after Hello Kitty was launched. Yamaguchi, now 70 years old, “has grown Hello Kitty into a character loved by everyone.” Another designer in the Sanrio Company has been working with Yamaguchi, and will be ready to take over later this year.

The Hello Kitty character has appeared on clothes, accessories, video games and has even been a Macy’s Thanksgiving parade balloon. There are Hello Kitty cafes and a theme park. According to Sanrio, she was born in London, and has a twin sister Mimmy, and a boyfriend named Dear Daniel. All this and she doesn’t even talk. Sanrio says she speaks from the heart. 

Japanese Proverbs Featuring Cats

Being both a cat lover and a student of language, I found this list of cat proverbs interesting. (source nippon.com)

猫に小判 — Neko ni koban. The koban was a gold coin in the Edo period (1603–1868), and “giving koban to a cat” means providing something to someone who does not understand or appreciate its value, and thereby cannot benefit from it.

猫に鰹節 — Neko ni katsuobushi. katsuobushi are dried bonito (fish) flakes. This phrase, meaning “placing katsuobushi alongside a cat,” imagines placing the tempting fishy treat next to the animal, and represents a dangerous situation or one where a high level of vigilance is needed.

猫の手も借りたい — Neko no te mo karitai. To say that one “even wants to borrow a cat’s paws,” despite knowing this feline companion is not going to help out very much, is a way of describing how extremely busy one is.

猫の額 — Neko no hitai. A “cat’s forehead” is used to refer to something that is extremely small, such as, commonly, a garden or plot of land.

猫をかぶる — Neko o kaburu. To metaphorically “put on a cat” or act like the animal is to pretend to be quiet and harmless, hiding one’s true nature. It also describes someone putting on an air of innocence.

猫も杓子も — Neko mo shakushi mo. When saying that all kinds of people were present at an event, one English phrase is “Every Tom, Dick, and Harry.” The Japanese equivalent is to say that “even cats and ladles” were there. 

Do you know any cat proverbs or sayings in any other language?

The People's Choice - Series of Designs

                          

 

Every month, on the first Saturday, Jo at Serendipidous Stitching hosts a Stitch A Long, with the topics chosen by her readers. This month's topic is Series of Designs. 

Blackwork Birds - from Tanja Berlin

Cat Calendar - from Happiness is Cross Stitching

December ornament - Lizzie Kate 

I only stitched one in the series.

Dragons - from Dorothy Lesher

Flapper Ornaments

June - Sunflower Diaries

I only stitched one in the series.

Miniatures - from Janet Granger

Pears - from Samplers and Santas

Mediteranean Cruise Ornaments - Sandra Arthur

Top Cat Names 2022

This sweet cat is no longer with us. Her name was Monica, which is my favorite cat name.

I'm always interested in what people name their pets.  In Japan, the Japanese pet insurance company, Anicom, announces the top names each year.  Of the 55,000 cats less than one year of age, they have compiled these listings for cats from the last 12 months. 

Overall top ten names

10. Moka (“mocha”): 245 cats

9. Maron (French for “chestnut”): 252 cats
8. Momo (Japanese for “peach”): 260 cats
7. Runa (Luna): 266 cats
6. Kinako (Japanese for “roasted soybean flour”): 289 cats
5. Rin (Japanese for “bell”): 298 cats
4. Koko (“cocoa”): 323 cats
3. Reo (Leo): 327 cats
2. Sora (Japanese for “sky”): 376 cats
1. Mugi (Japanese for “wheat” or “barley”): 479 cats

The top four are the same as last year.  The only new name this year is Moka (Mocha). 

Top ten names for male cats

10. Ten (Japanese for “dot” or “heavens”): 138 cats
8 [tie]. Reon (Leon): 140 cats
8 [tie]. Fuku (Japanese for “good fortune”): 140 cats
7. Maru (Japanese for “circle,” also a common suffix in Japanese names): 143 cats
6. Kotetsu (Japanese for “small iron,” also a classical masculine given name in Japan): 150 cats
5. Maron: 152 cats
4. Kohaku (Japanese for “amber”): 158 cats
3. Mugi: 269 cats
2. Sora: 287 cats
1. Reo: 319 cats

Leo (Reo) has been the top name for the fifth year in a row. The second and third place names stayed the same as last year, but the fourth place Kohaku, meaning Amber, is new. 

Top ten names for female cats

10. Beru (“bell”): 137 cats
9. Moka: 158 cats
8. Hana (Japanese for “flower”): 166 cats
7. Mei (Japanese for “brightness”): 175 cats
6. Kinako: 203 cats
5. Mugi: 210 cats
3 [tie]. Runa (Luna): 233 cats
3 [tie]. Rin: 233 cats
2. Momo: 234 cats
1. Koko: 242 cats

The name Koko moved from last year's third place to first place this year.  The only new name in this year's top ten is Beru. 

Do you have a favorite cat name?

Most Popular Cat Types and Names in Japan

Are you a cat lover? You might find this information interesting.

It is estimated that 99.5% of Japanese cats are exclusively indoor pets. (Source Anicom Pet Insurance). I sometimes see cats without owners, but not as often here as in the US or other countries.  Kittens are very expensive at the pet store. 

The most popular cat breeds in Japan in 2020 are - - - 

1. Scottish fold 18.1%

2. Munchkin 11.2% 

3. American shorthair 9.9%

4. Mixed breed 9.4%

5. Norwegian forest cat 7.3%

6. British shorthair 6.5%

7. Ragdoll 5.0%

8. Bengal 4.5%

9. Maine coon 3.4%

10. Russian blue 3.3%  

The Scottish fold was the most popular breed in Japan for the twelfth year in a row.  The top three: the Scottish fold, Munchkin, and American shorthair are so popular that they account for almost 40% of all cats owned in Japan. 

The overall top five cat names in Japan are Mugi (wheat), Leo, Sora (sky), Maru, and Coco.  For female cats the top five names are Momo (peach), Mugi, Coco, Rin, and Kinako.  For male cats, the top five names are Leo, Sora, Maru, Kotetsu, and Mugi. 

What are popular names for cats in your country?

Shimzaki Nishinomiya Shrine

This small shrine is near the JR train station and I have passed it many times without stopping to look. It was about time I did stop to look.  Two pretty little cats appeared to be living here.

The People's Choice SAL - Cats

Jo at Serendipidous Stitching is hosting a Stitch A Long the first Saturday of the month, with the topics chosen by her readers.  This month's topic - Cats.

These cats are available as free charts at Happiness is Cross-Stitching.

Scrappy Cats Quilt

I made this cross stitch cat afghan in 1995, and keep it on the back of my chair for cool evenings.

This is my cat Monica, who liked to sit with me as I stitched when she was alive.

The People's Choice - Freebies

Jo at Serendipidous Stitching is hosting a Stitch A Long the first Saturday of the month, with the topics chosen by her readers.  This month's topic is Freebies. 

You can click the links for my original post about the finish or the freebie chart.

The Pears - charts found here

Cupid Heart Ornament - chart found here

Happy Snowman Ornament - chart found here

Jingle Bell Ornament - chart found here (scroll down)

Noel Ornament - chart found here

Baby It's Cold Ornament - chart found here

Cardinal Snowflake Ornament - chart found here

Spring Chickadee Ornament - chart found here

Christmas Heart Ornament - chart found here

 Bargello Bell Ornaments - chart found here

BeeKeeper Fob - chart found here

Kogin Needlebook - chart found here

Aztec Stitch Bookmark - chart found here

Box of Delights - charts found here

Calendar Cat Wallhanging - charts found here

A big thank you to all those who shared their charts freely for the rest of us to use!