Yuko Yamaguchi

Yuko Yamaguchi is a Japanese character designer and illustrator. She is well known as the third character designer of Hello Kitty.

Biography

Early life

Yamaguchi was born in Kōchi, Kōchi, Japan. She attended Joshibi [University of Art and Design] where she studied industrial design.

Sanrio tenure

Yamaguchi joined Sanrio in 1978. In 1980, Yamaguchi won an internal design contest with her design of Hello Kitty playing the piano, and would later become the third primary designer of Hello Kitty.
Aside from Hello Kitty, Yamaguchi has been designing Jewelpet since 2008. She also created the illustration for TV Asahi's official mascot, Go-Chan.