Tokyo’s Hello Kitty theme park closes after e-mail threat about ‘hazardous object’
Theme park authority receives mail about ‘hazardous’ objects in premises
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A Hello Kitty theme park in Japan was shut down temporarily on Saturday after it received a threat about a hazardous object on email.
"We will be temporarily closed today as we are unable to adequately ensure the safety of our customers, performers, and on-site staff at this time," the Sanrio Puroland park in Tokyo said on its website.
Sanrio Puroland in Tama informed the police around 9am local time, about the mail warning about “hazardous” objects in the premises of the park. However, police did not find any suspicious objects, public broadcaster NHK reported, without citing any source for its information.
Hello Kitty, created by Sanrio Co and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is one of Japan’s best known cartoon characters. The mouthless cat-like figure, used to market everything from plush toys to aircraft, has been deployed by Japan’s government to promote tourism and as an “ambassador of cute”.
While the character was created in 1974, the first item – a vinyl coin purse – was introduced in 1975. Though originally, Hello Kitty targetted only pre-teenage girls, but beginning in the 1990s, the brand found commercial success among teenagers and adults as well.
The indoor theme park featuring Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters opened in 1990.
Additional reporting by agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments