Ritsuko Kawai

Ritsuko Kawai (河井 リツ子 Kawai Ritsuko; born March 3, 1964 in Toyonaka, Osaka) is the creator of the anime television show Hamtaro. Kawai originally created Hamtaro as storybooks for children first published in 1997 and then the anime came to Japan in July 2000.

Hamtaro is about a little hamster and his friends. Hamtaro has gained great popularity and has been made into an anime series and a line of merchandising. However, the animated show has since been canceled in the United States and now its popularity has fallen.

Kawai has had a say in the message that Hamtaro should keep promoting, which is non-violence, teamwork, cooperation and sharing. Hamtaro has also been made into many different games for Nintendo hand held systems such as the Game Boy Advance.

Other than Hamtaro, Ritsuko Kawai has created other shōjo manga, serialized in Ciao magazine.
 * ANN

Ritsuko Kawai 河井リツ子