I had a girlfriend in high school I bought that frog stuff for. This was very popular where I was in the 90’s. There were stores dedicated to this at the shopping malls. Backpacks, pens, erasers, notebooks, etc etc. I feel like I remember the store having a particular smell to it.

Most of them look like fever dreams.

Fun fact, "Hello Kitty" is the chibification of "maneki neko" (招き 猫) or "Lucky Cat" (beckoning cat) - those cats with the moving paw you seen in establishments that are of Asian origin or theme.

Badtz-Maru the penguin has been used on rubbers.