CommoditiesRising prices spur appetite for Hello Kitty and 'Chiikawa' charmsThese gold accessories on display at a Shanghai shop are designed to resemble the well-known Sanrio character Kuromi. (Photo by Tomoko Wakasugi)MIKI KAMIYAMA and TOMOKO WAKASUGIFebruary 22, 2026 08:07 JSTTOKYO/SHANGHAI -- As the price of gold soars in an uncertain world, it is not just central banks and institutional investors who are stocking up on the precious metal.Read NextMedia & EntertainmentCringy bags serve as 'digital ibuprofen' for stressed-out Chinese youthBusiness trendsChina's anime fans express devotion with custom gold charms, notebooksCommoditiesVietnam tackles gold fever with black market crackdownCommoditiesOlympic gold medal costs $2,200, driven up by speculative moneyCommoditiesChina state gold miner Zijin eyes global top 3 as geopolitical risks growCommoditiesChina money rattles gold market in volatile weekCommoditiesChina buys gold, sells Treasurys as investment options narrowCommoditiesGold sees investment demand grow 80%, hitting 60% of mining outputLatest on CommoditiesCommoditiesAustralian workers vow strike at world's largest iron ore bulk export portCommoditiesChina buys 15 tons of gold in June as central banks build up reservesCommoditiesJapan's Itochu and Daikin to recover aluminum from air conditioners