Cartoon cat to be ambassador for Japan

TOKYO, May 18 (UPI) -- Japan is set to have its first-ever cartoon goodwill tourism ambassador, as Hello Kitty has been chosen to take the job in China, officials said.

Hello Kitty will be appointed to her new position as part of the Japanese government's 2003 "Visit Japan Campaign," which is aimed at attracting 10 million overseas visitors every year by 2010, Kyodo News Agency reported Sunday.

Hello Kitty will have 11 other goodwill tourism ambassadors to help her do the job, officials said.

The cartoon feline was chosen because of its popularity in China, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism officials said.

Starting in June, Hello Kitty will have a blog about tourist attractions on the campaign's Chinese-language Web site.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International