Hello Kitty named Japan’s tourism ambassador: Mariah starts looking for apartments in Tokyo

Yes, it’s true. Today the tourism board selected Hello Kitty to rep Japan in an attempt to up their overseas visitors. Let us admit, we have loved the adorable mouthless cat since we were little girls (she was designed in 1974 by Sanrio), but even we find this news completely absurd. Sure Hello Kitty may have some pull—she adorns approximately 50,000 products in 60 countries—but wouldn’t hiring, maybe, a real life person be a little more proactive? AP reports that, “Although this is the first time the tourism ministry has tapped a fictional character for the role, the foreign ministry in March inaugurated blue robo-cat Doraemon as Japan's anime ambassador.” Even more startling, the feline isn’t even a Japanese native! “According to her official profile from Sanrio, Hello Kitty lives with her family in London. It does not mention how often she visits Japan.”

What does this mean for us? Will Hannah Montana and Dora the Explorer start promoting the U.S.? [Yahoo]