Photos: Hello Kitty

Items are on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo this month.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

The first coin purse featuring Hello Kitty is on display at the Japanese American National Museum in downtown Los Angeles.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A Hello Kitty figurine is one of many on display at the Japanese American National Museum in downtown Los Angeles.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Backpacks featuring Hello Kitty are on display at the Japanese American National Museum in downtown Los Angeles.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Pieces of the Hello Kitty family are on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Hello Kitty notepads are on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty watch is on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

“Hello Kitty Hello,” by artist Becca, is on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Hello Kitty calculators at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

“Super Space Titan Kitty,” by Colin Christian, at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty calendar is on display with other pieces at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Hello Kitty pens are on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Pieces on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Pieces on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty hair curler is on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty face mask and orthodontic piece are on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty hat on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty cane on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Hello Kitty menswear on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty item on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Hello Kitty outfits are on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty lunchbox is on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty piece on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A map is on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Hello Kitty wine is on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

“Up! To the Sky,” by Nina Jun, is on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

A Hello Kitty item is on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Artwork on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

“Kittypatra,” by Simone Legno, on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)

Artwork on display at the Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  (Jenna Schoenefeld / For The Times)