Toranoana Inc. partnered with Sanrio Company Ltd. began selling Sanrio character merchandise on the first floor of Tokyo’s Toranoana Akihabara store location B” from December 2019. The store is currently the only retailer in the Akihabara area selling official Sanrio character merchandise. The surprising idea for a collaborative shop between Sanrio Characters and Toranoana was influenced by the increasing number of tourists from overseas visiting Akihabara each year. In light of this, Sanrio, and Toranoana, partnered to open the only shop currently selling official Sanrio character merchandise in Akihabara on December 20, 2019. Sanrio, creators of a variety of characters, including the ‘Hello Kitty,’ specializes in the character business, and Toranoana, wishing to expand its presence and continue supporting creative activities worldwide under its corporate philosophy of ‘being a family to creators,’ came together to form the joint venture at the end of last year. Going forward, the companies plan to release original, collaborative merchandise, as well as to hold special events. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the Sanrio and Toranoana collaborative shop inside Toranoana’s Akihabara store location B the next time they are in the Tokyo/Akihabara area. Toranoana will continue to provide unique value by supporting all creators in a wide range of genres, and further promote the world-renowned "Akiba Culture," both domestically as well as abroad.