Yumi Shida, a 15-year-old model for a popular teen magazine, never feels lonely, even when she has to work away from her family — if she has some Hello Kitty goods with her.
Hello Kitty is "even a god for me," said Shida, a first-year high school student, who calls herself "a kittyler" — an enthusiastic fan of the character created by the Sanrio Co.
From childhood, the native of Iwate Prefecture has surrounded herself with all kinds of Hello Kitty goods, including pajamas and towels.