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Did you know Hello Kitty is the most lovable character in New York?

As the weather begins to warm and our thoughts turn to long strolls in the wilderness and backyard barbecues with friends, I bet you’re thinking: “Hey, Sid, how can I keep those pesky bugs away while at the same time looking as kawaii as possible?” You’re in luck.

Yesterday I got a press release from some Japanese company touting the latest Hello Kitty creation — the “Dokodemo Vape No. 1 Hello Kitty Odekake Set.” Basically, a bug repellant that kids can wear as a bracelet or necklace, kinda like a Hartz collar. A little fan sprays some unknown chemical into the air, ensuring insect-free smiles for you and yours.

The press release says it all:

Trouble? Gift for foreign trip and returning home
It is said that more person buy Hello Kitty’s goods for their gift for trip to New York and other foreign countries. A mother said to her son, who study abroad, “you should buy better gifts as you give them to grown-up persons” when she saw he bought. However, he said to his mother “As the character of Hello Kitty is so popular in New York, its character is well accepted.” and bought many items. Hello Kitty becomes a party of Japanese culture, judging by present situation, it is also penetrated into New York.

Not only lovely, but also help at Barbecue party
Hello Kitty’s goods are now sold in many articles from foodstuff to apparel and electric appliance. It is not only lovable, but also useful for daily life as they are superior articles. Specially, a barbecue party is a part of American standard life. It is good feeling to have a food outside. But, it is bad if unpleasant bugs come. So, now a handy bug repellent with no smell gets popular.

Hello Kitty is a great party of Japanese culture (Ain’t no party like a Kitty-chan party …), but I don’t think small children should be hanging out with someone who “penetrated into New York.” Not to mention the fact that Fumakilla, the company producing this “small, light, slim battery operated bug repellant which can be put in a pocket,” has a page on their English Web site where they list the products they make: Insecticide, industrial biocide, termiticide … lots of cides on there. Oh, and wood preservative. Buy one for your newborn now!

But hey — it will keep the mosquitoes away during summer barbecues, right? Well, we really aren’t allowed to say …

(Caution)
We appreciate your corporation that the word such as “repellent” and “repel unpleasant bugs”, etc. can be used on publicity, but the word or wording that imply “Effective for mosquitoes” or “itchy” and “mosquito”, etc. cannot be used. A conventional repellent is registered with pharmaceutical product and/or quasi-pharmaceutical product. However, this product is not yet registered as a wording of “Effective for mosquito”, etc. cannot be used.

Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.