It’s like a fidget spinner, but amped up by about 1,000 percent.
As one of the world’s most popular Japanese characters, Hello Kitty has mountains of merchandise on the market. Between home and kitchen goods, fashion items, foodstuffs, and of course, toys and keychains, Hello Kitty fans are likely able to furnish and supply their entire house with Hello Kitty merchandise. And why not?
But with so many products coming out all the time, there are bound to be some strange items out there. Take the Hello Kitty Happy Morijo Set, which is a Hello Kitty decorated set of spiritually purifying salts. A little bizarre, but with a purpose, at least. What we can’t figure out the purpose of is this ridiculous Hello Kitty toy that author and netizen Souhei Wakusaka (@wakusaka) picked up in Vietnam:
▼ “Look! I bought this toy in Vietnam. I have no idea what they were thinking when they designed it. Sound is a must!”
「どんな企画書を書いて開発したんだ」という玩具をベトナムで買ったから、見て。必ず音アリで見て pic.twitter.com/eITGwhR89j
— ワクサカソウヘイ 新刊『出セイカツ記』(河出書房新社) (@wakusaka) March 4, 2019
The toy looks normal enough. It’s Hello Kitty’s usual cute face, with the red ribbon on her right ear. There’s some weird cylindrical thing coming out of her head, but it’s easily ignored. Then Wakusaka pushes a button at the top of the cylinder and Hello Kitty’s head launches onto the ground, transforming into some kind of spinning disco ball of flashing lights as it plays the synthwave intro to Axel F, the theme song to the 1980’s film Beverly Hills Cop.
Why? For whom? And for what purpose? That, we cannot say. Hello Kitty has been known to take on the role of a police officer, but a disco ball is probably something she’s never tried before. We can’t say we hate it, though. The ’80s synthwave played at super speed with its weird dubstep intervals, coupled with the spinning head’s bright flashing lights mysteriously make us want to party, in spite of the fact that any trace of Hello Kitty disappears once her head starts spinning.
Perhaps the best part is the end, when the spinning runs out of momentum, and the music just sputters out as the head slowly spins to a stop, once again returning to view the cute, innocent Hello Kitty features. We’re left feeling like we just experienced something inexplicably profound, while at the same time like something was taken from us when the music stopped.
It’s a deep experience, one also appreciated by Japanese netizens:
“What have they done to our Hello Kitty?”
“This is why people say that Hello Kitty can’t say no to a job.”
“Why is the ‘Beverly Hills Cop‘ theme song playing to a Hello Kitty toy?”
“All of my exhaustion from work seems ridiculous now. Thank you very much.”
“I think I want one.”
“I don’t understand why it’s Hello Kitty’s head.”
“Sanrio must be thinking, ‘What the heck is this?!'”
By the way, there is also a Doraemon version playing the same song, and a Pikachu version that sings its own catchy Pikachu techno rap, which should not, by any means, be missed. These were bought in Taiwan, and there were apparently other characters available too, so these little gems can probably be found across East and Southeast Asia.
https://twitter.com/Tenyearsgone03/status/864117368112283649Yes, it seems that Hello Kitty really can’t so no to a job, otherwise she might have said no to being subjected to this. Either way though, we’re glad it exists, and can’t wait to get our hands on one ourselves.
Source: Twitter/@wakusaka via Hamster Sokuhou
Featured Image: Twitter/@wakusaka

We get our paws on all 50 Hello Kitty Happy Meal toys at McDonald’s Japan!
Hello Kitty x Mazinger Z die-cast crossover toys unveiled with anime short
New Hello Kitty McDonald’s Japan Happy Meal toys are here, and Kitty’s sister is part of the set
Hello Kitty’s workload about to get even heavier with the introduction of Battleship Kitty
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Second-generation sumo burger coming to Burger King Japan with return of Baby Body Burger
Tokyo store makes you to pass a quiz in order to buy Pokémon cards as part of anti-scalper policy
Japanese freight container bento satisfies our hunger for unusual lunches
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Elephant nose ice cream: The treat with a trunk
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
“Bumping men” are a uniquely Japanese class of criminals that are hard to deal with
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
She doesn’t need beer goggles to look cute, but we try Hello Kitty Beer anyway
Hello Kitty would look cute even if you peeled away all her flesh, new toy line shows us【Photos】
Hello Kitty Now Serving Herself Up as Main Dish for Thanksgiving!
Canned cuteness as Hello Kitty and friends kick off Can Chara capsule toy line【Photos】
Suntanned Hello Kitty Happy Meal toys on their way to McDonald’s Japan【Video】
Do you need this unnecessary Santa disco light from Francfranc this Christmas? Yes, yes you do
Human knights who fight for Lords Hello Kitty and Cinnamoroll? Sanrio launches fantasy franchise
Hello Kitty adds Japanese exorcism to her work repertoire, Twitter baffled and amused
Puma teams up with Hello Kitty in Japan for limited edition sneakers and sportswear
Hello Kitty cosplays as gun-slinging schoolgirl from new “Sailor Suit and Machine Gun” movie
Hello Kitty/Yu-Gi-Oh crossover Happy Meal toys appear, but far, far away from Japan
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】