Japan’s “Hello Kitty Airport” holds adorable opening ceremony
Oita Airport has officially embraced a new, heartwarming identity, with the airport set to be known as “Oita Hello Kitty Airport” until late 2025.
The renaming was celebrated through a joint ceremony at the airport, uniting officials from Oita Prefecture and representatives from Sanrio, the company operating “Sanrio Character Park Harmonyland” in Hiji Town, Oita Prefecture.
Adding to the fun of the event, Hello Kitty, My Melody and Kuromi made special appearances as honored guests.
These iconic characters participated in the festivities, which culminated in a traditional ribbon-cutting to officially mark the airport’s new name.
The opening ceremony began with welcoming addresses from key figures representing the involved organizations: Governor Juichiro Sato of Oita Prefecture; President and CEO Tsuyoshi Takahashi of Oita Air Terminal Co., Ltd.; and President and CEO Aya Komaki of Sanrio Entertainment Co., Ltd.
In his address, Governor Sato expressed his enthusiasm, stating:
“For the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Oita Hello Kitty Airport will be charmingly decorated with Sanrio’s characters, including the universally liked Hello Kitty. I sincerely hope visitors will also explore Harmonyland, the globe’s only outdoor theme park dedicated to Sanrio characters, and fully enjoy Oita Prefecture’s many attractions and unique appeal.”
President Komaki conveyed her gratitude, saying:
“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of Oita Hello Kitty Airport thanks to everyone’s continued warm support. Next year marks Harmonyland’s 35th anniversary, and we are truly grateful to the people of Oita Prefecture for all the wonderful memories shared. The current decorations thoughtfully incorporate Oita’s white and red colors, as well as Sanrio Entertainment’s blue. These decorations will evolve, and we warmly invite everyone to return and enjoy the changes. We hope this airport becomes a bridge of many smiles, allowing us to say ‘HELLO from Oita to the world.’ We look forward to your ongoing support for both Harmonyland and our company.”
President Takahashi commented:
“The large turnout at today’s opening ceremony has again highlighted the immense popularity of Hello Kitty and her friends. You’ll find these cherished characters playfully hidden throughout the airport building, so please take the time to discover them. Oita Airport is the gateway to Oita’s skies, and with Hello Kitty’s wonderful assistance, we will continue our efforts to promote Oita Prefecture’s many charms.”
Following the welcoming addresses, the official ribbon-cutting took place, with Governor Sato, President Takahashi, President Komaki, Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Kuromi all participating in this symbolic event.
The airport will officially operate under the name “Oita Hello Kitty Airport” from today, April 13th, until October 13th, 2025, coinciding with the dates of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.
To commemorate this special collaboration, Oita Hello Kitty Airport will offer limited edition merchandise for sale, including charming acrylic key holders and delightful stickers featuring the unique airport logo.
These exclusive collaboration goods will be available at the Oita Airport Domestic Terminal 2nd Floor Sky Station “Tabito” and at the Harmonyland Shop “Country Market”.
As a special treat for Harmonyland visitors, the theme park will distribute original novelty stickers to the first 200 customers each day, starting from Sunday, April 13th and continuing until Friday, April 25th.
Source: PR Times