Let us create a culture of peace along the banks of a river.

The company name, Sanrio, is derived from the Spanish words San Rio, which literally mean “Saint River” in English. San meaning “Saint” just like in the place names San Francisco and San Diego, and Rio meaning “River”, as in the names of riverside cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande. So, the name Sanrio literally means “Saint River” or sacred river.

With this in mind, Sanrio was established with the desire to build a peaceful culture on the riverbanks, where it’s said that humans first began to make homes for themselves. The hope was to create a community of people who could live in harmony and with consideration for each other.

By providing a variety of social, communication and gift products, including greeting cards, music, videos, books, and live entertainment to foster friendship, we hope to expand the circle of friendship and goodwill to every corner of the globe like the water that flows through the world’s rivers.

Sanrio Founder and Honorary chairman