A Comprehensive Recap of Sanrio Sakura Merch Through the Years

Sanrio, as a brand, has produced various merchandise throughout the years, ranging from iPhone case options to plushies, soft blankets, keychains, totes, and more. Each product features its beloved characters (like Hello Kitty and Cinnamoroll) in varied poses, interactions, and locations. As with many other Japanese companies, these adorable products get a makeover yearly to include the iconic Sakura (cherry blossom) theme.

This transition yields even more cuteness, as the items include design features like light pink colors and floral patterns. The Sanrio Sakura theme occurs each spring, providing even more cute designs to delight and satisfy the world of kawaii lovers.

Below, we explore Sanrio Japan Sakura merch through the years, showcasing various Hello Kitty characters, a brief company history, and where you can find your own adorable Sakura items to enjoy.

Sanrio Merchandise in the Past

Sanrio, founded in 1960, remains one of the most popular Japanese entertainment companies. Famous for providing products related to Hello Kitty and her friends, this company originally began as a silk product business. However, Sanrio quickly shifted gears to products with adorable characters as a marketing method for young adults and children. With this shift came character-based merch created by hired cartoonists.

The company has since expanded to additional mediums, including animated cartoons and books featuring Hello Kitty and her friends. Sanrio even has its own theme park, Sanrio Puroland, where guests can meet their favorite characters, enjoy rides, take photos, participate in events and parades, and leave with Sanrio products as souvenirs.

The Creation of Hello Kitty: Sanrio's Most Famous Character

After the transition to a company focused on creating adorable products, Yuko Shimizu, one of the hired cartoonists, invented Hello Kitty. This character was first released in 1974 on a single item—a coin purse featuring Hello Kitty sitting in the middle of a milk bottle and a fish bowl. A few years later, Hello Kitty was launched in the United States and quickly became a beloved global character.

Since the initial creation of Hello Kitty, Sanrio has created 450+ characters that appear in the anime and on various products and food items. Additionally, the Sanrio store in Japan continually adds new products featuring these beloved characters, which are especially popular during various holidays and seasons. As Sakura season is already a favorite time for many, it's no wonder the launch of spring Sanrio products is highly anticipated annually.

Sanrio's Previous Sakura Collections

In particular, Sanrio is known for its Sakura products, which focus on providing appreciation of the Sakura tree, a significant aspect of Japanese culture. Here, we explore various Sanrio Sakura products from previous collections.

2020 Sanrio Sakura Collection

For the 2020 Sanrio Sakura collection, the company focused on providing customers with even more adorable plushie options. This year's Sanrio plush category centers around Sakura mochi, a particular treat offered during cherry blossom season. These mochi are wrapped in Oshima cherry tree leaves, providing a distinct appearance. About these Sakura desserts, each of the 2020 mochi plushies is wrapped in a leaf.

2020 Stand-out Products

This collection includes My Melody, Hello Kitty, Pompompurin, and Cinnamoroll lying down in a Sakura mochi leaf. Additionally, the collection consists of the same characters in a Sakura-themed kimono, a nod to the kimonos which are typically worn right before the cherry blossoms bloom annually. The Sanrio Pompompurin Sakura Mochi Plushie and Sanrio Cinnamoroll Sakura Kimono Plushie, in particular, will provide a cuteness overload.

2021 Sanrio Sakura Collection

The 2021 collection focused on keychains, plushies, and mini towels with a Sakura floral pattern and light pink and white hues. However, a few different characters were included in this launch, including Kuromi and Pochacco. Adorable pink touches, floral themes on the character's clothes and accessories, and Sakura petals/leaves throughout the collections' designs help set this season's offerings apart.

2021 Stand-out Product

An adorable way to enjoy the Sakura collection from 2021 is with a Sanrio Sakura 2021 Hello Kitty Mascot Keyholder, which features Hello Kitty decked out in a cherry blossom outfit.

2022 Sanrio Sakura Collection

Sanrio's 2022 Sakura launch included a wide range of products, from hair ties to compact mirrors, mini towels, and more. A Sanrio launch wouldn't be complete without a line of plushies to cart home, which this year's collection brings to the table. With character plushies featuring a Sakura flower design on the eyes, it's clear the adorable characters were looking forward to the blooms.

2022 Stand-out Products

Crafted with holographic glitter in a shakeable container, this Sanrio Sakura 2022: Hello Kitty Compact Mirror is a unique offering that helps you stay fashionable on the go. While using the compact, consider adding a Sanrio Sakura 2022: Pompompurin Hair Tie to your purse for easy hairdos.

2023 Sanrio Sakura Collection

2023 was the year Sanrio Sakura products spanned quite a few categories, including Sakura-decorated candy tins, hair clips, and photo cases. Each option in this collection allowed you to enjoy the cute characters in various areas of your home and on the go.

2023 Stand-out Products

The limited edition Sanrio Sakura 2023 My Melody Acrylic Photo Frame allows you to enjoy beautiful views of cherry blossoms while revisiting memories. The Sanrio Sakura 2023 Candy Case My Melody features mouthwatering hard candies in a juicy peach flavor. These candies are packed in a collectible Sakura case featuring the adorable My Melody.

2024 Sanrio Sakura Collection

This year is perhaps the most exciting, with the launch of cutesy Sanrio Sakura products on February 14 2024. The current collection includes even more Sanrio character goodies than ever before. Expect an array of pink kawaii plushies, mesh pouches, keychains, and mini towels, each decked out in cherry blossom flowers and pretty pink hues. The 2024 collection features elevated products, which include appliqué and embroidery of top characters, like Pochacco and Kuromi.

2024 Stand-out Products

A few must-view items include the Sanrio Sakura 2024 Mini Towel Pochacco, which features a beautiful Sakura pattern and luxurious jacquard weave, and the Sanrio Sakura 2024 Mesh Pouch My Melody, an embroidered pouch sprinkled with Sakura petals and an adorable image of My Melody.

Sugoi Mart Sanrio Collection

Exciting news - Sugoi Mart has an impressive Sanrio Collection where you can get your fill of cute Sanrio character products. Here, you can explore items featuring your favorite Sanrio characters in a wide array of categories. Whether you're on the hunt for bubble head dolls, plushies, snow globes, totes, or other Sanrio items, you'll find them all at Sugoi Mart.

Don't fret if you haven't gotten your hands on any Sanrio Sakura products yet - you'll find an exciting selection on the website from the new 2024 launch. Supplement these Sakura products with other adorable Sanrio goodies from the collection, including holiday-themed products, blind boxes, figures, and more.

Sanrio Lucky Bag

Perhaps the many adorable Sanrio products make deciding which products to add to your cart challenging. If that's the case, let Sugoi Mart make the choice for you! With a Sanrio Lucky Bag, expect an array of items featuring beloved Sanrio characters like My Melody and Hello Kitty. With options ranging from plushies to stationery, snacks, and kitchen tools, you'll easily find new items to love. Each bag's contents are a mystery, so get excited to see which characters and goodies you receive in your shipment.

Get your Sanrio Lucky Bag today to add kawaii spice to your life!