Strawberry News

What is Strawberry News? 

Strawberry News, also known as Ichigo Shimbun, is a newspaper by Sanrio that is published only in Japan. 2025 marks 50 years since the first publication! 

It all started with the Strawberry King wanting to convey his wish that everyone in the world should get along and cherish compassion.

Who is Sanrio’s Strawberry King?

The Strawberry King is the peaceful king of the Strawberry Kingdom and is known for being gentle and kind to everyone. 

In the Strawberry Kingdom, there are also seven Strawberry Angels, each with a unique personality! Their names are: Dandy, Tommy, Taffy, Candy, Socrates, Crybaby, and Stinky.

Strawberry King Fun Facts

• His dream is for everyone to get along and for the world to be at peace, which he is always thinking about

• His treasured strawberry stick allows him to fly in the sky

• He shares a birthday with Sanrio’s founder, Shintaro Tsuji, on December 7th

• He debuted in 1975 

Sanrio and… Snoopy? 

The very first edition of Strawberry News was published in April 1975 and featured Snoopy.

Sanrio had adopted overseas characters as part of its licensing program for popular creators and they chose the Snoopy stuffed animal to help convey their message of “everyone living in harmony.”

Strawberry News Fun Facts

• The first publication was 12 pages long and cost 100 yen (>$1 USD)

• It was published twice a month until 1982 when they started publishing on a monthly basis

• They include freebies from wrapping paper and memo pads you could cut out from the cover to erasers and file folders

• You can check out their previous issues on Sanrio’s Japanese website!

The Strawberry Mates 3 Promises

In the pages of the Strawberry Newspaper, the Strawberry King calls on his Strawberry Mates (Strawberry News readers) to follow three promises:

1. Let’s greet each other with energy in a friendly way

2. If someone does something for you, always say thank you

3. Do small acts of kindness

Will you keep the Strawberry Mates promises?