Who Is the 'Hello Kitty Frog'? the Real Story Behind Sanrio’s Keroppi

Is who Is the 'Hello Kitty Frog'? the Real Story Behind Sanrio’s Keroppi something you want to understand? Find out the complete facts in our feature story.

Q1: What is the official name of the Hello Kitty frog?

A1: His official name is Keroppi, with the full Japanese character name registered as Hasunoue Keroppi (Kerokerokeroppi). He belongs to Sanrio’s broader character universe.

Q2: Is Keroppi related to Hello Kitty in the Sanrio lore?

A2: No. Keroppi is not related to Hello Kitty, nor is he her pet. He is an independent character who lives in his own setting called Donut Pond, though they frequently appear together as friends in ensemble media.

Q3: Who is the little ghost-like character next to Keroppi?

A3: That is Teruteru, a small companion based on the Japanese teru teru bōzu weather talisman. She is a cheerful weather-predicting charm rather than a ghost.

Q4: When was Keroppi first created?

A4: Keroppi was created by Sanrio designer Iwata Minoru and debuted in 1988, quickly winning first place in Sanrio’s official character ranking by 1990.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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