Japanese characters conquer global markets

Japanese characters like "Opanchu Usagi" and "Chiikawa" are gaining significant global popularity, expanding their markets beyond Asia and North America. "Opanchu Usagi" has secured North American distribution rights, while "Chiikawa" achieved ¥160 million in sales at a Shanghai pop-up store, demonstrating strong international appeal. This trend follows the success of manga and anime, with characters like Hello Kitty paving the way for international character business since the 1970s.