The doors open on Hello Kitty at the Japanese American National Museum

Opening night drew visitors in all kinds of resplendent Hello Kitty-Harajuku inspired fashion, such as Stephanie Yanez of Huntington Beach and Melanie Rayama of Glendale.   (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

The first gallery, containing items from the 1970s, drew lots of close examination as visitors recalled which bits of Hello Kitty merchandise they had acquired as kids.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

One of the things that makes Kitty merch stand above other character trinkets is the thought put into the designs: down to the tread of this bicycle.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

File these Japanese rice bowls under “Hello Kitty merchandise I wish I could find in the museum gift shop.”  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

These are also from Japan. It appears that the coolest Hello Kitty merchandise simply doesn’t make it stateside.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

The exhibition contained a room full of fashion, including Hello Kitty-themed outfits worn by Paris Hilton, left, and Katy Perry.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

A detail view of the halter dress worn by Paris Hilton.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

There were other numerous Hello Kitty fashion designs on view, including dresses worn by the contestants of the reality program “Top Model,” left, and a dress crafted entirely out of plush dolls, center, worn by Lady Gaga for a 2009 fashion spread.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

The fashion gallery was a favorite with attendees.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

In addition to merchandise and fashion, the exhibition featured Hello Kitty-inspired works commissioned especially for the show, including this kaiju doll created by Mark Nagata. It’s a perfect marriage of my two obsessions: Hello Kitty and Godzilla!  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

An installation by illustrator Tado consisted of a series of wooden puppets that were used to create an animated video, “Pomme Party!,” that is also displayed on site.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Designer Paul Frank, who has collaborated with Sanrio in the past on Hello Kitty merchandise, produced this sculpture, featuring Kitty and an array of character friends in a submarine.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

A collaged piece by Michael Courville titled “Hello Kitty in Bloom.”  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

A sculpture by Colin Christian titled “Super Space Titan Kitty” shows Hello Kitty as an anime-inspired figure. There was something slightly disconcerting about this...  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)