Hamtaro

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title: "Hamtaro" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["hamtaro", "2000-japanese-television-series-debuts", "2006-japanese-television-series-endings", "2000s-fads-and-trends", "animated-television-series-about-rodents", "hamsters-in-popular-culture", "shogakukan-franchises", "shogakukan-manga", "shōjo-manga", "tms-entertainment", "tv-tokyo-original-programming", "viz-media-anime"] description: "Japanese manga series and its franchise" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamtaro" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Japanese manga series and its franchise ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox animanga/Header"]

Field	Value
name	Hamtaro
image	Hamtaro cover.jpg
caption	Cover of the first book featuring the titular protagonist, Hamtaro
ja_kanji	とっとこハム太郎
ja_romaji	Tottoko Hamutarō
genre
::

::callout[type=note] the manga and storybook series ::

| name = Hamtaro | image = Hamtaro cover.jpg | caption = Cover of the first book featuring the titular protagonist, Hamtaro | ja_kanji = とっとこハム太郎 | ja_romaji = Tottoko Hamutarō | genre = | type = manga | author = Ritsuko Kawai | publisher = Shogakukan | imprint = | magazine = Ciao | first = 1997 | last = 2000 | volumes = 3 | volume_list = | type = ova | director = Tomomi Mochizuki | producer = | writer = Tomomi Mochizuki | music = Motoyoshi Iwasaki | studio = TMS-Kyokuichi | licensee = | released = 15 September 1999 | type = tv series | director = Osamu Nabeshima | producer = | writer = | music = | studio = TMS Entertainment | licensee = {{English anime licensee | CA = Alliance Atlantis | NA = Viz Media | NL = Bridge Entertainment Group | network = TXN (TV Tokyo) | network_en = {{english anime network | AU = Network Ten, Cartoon Network | CA = YTV | HK = TVB | NZ = TV3 | PH = GMA Network, TV5 | UK = Fox Kids | US = Cartoon Network (Toonami) | first = 7 July 2000 | last = 31 March 2006 | episodes = | episode_list = List of Hamtaro episodes | type = ova | director = | producer = | writer = | music = Motoyoshi Iwasaki | studio = TMS Entertainment | licensee = | first = 6 August 2001 | last = 6 August 2004 | runtime = | episodes = 4 | episode_list = List of Hamtaro episodes#OVAs | type = film series | director = Osamu Dezaki | producer = | writer = | music = Motoyoshi Iwasaki | studio = TMS Entertainment | licensee = | first = 15 December 2001 | last = 23 December 2004 | runtime = 50 minutes each | episodes = 4 | episode_list = List of Hamtaro episodes#Films | type = tv series | title = Trotting Hamtaro Hai! | director = Osamu Nabeshima | producer = | writer = Yoshiyuki Suga | music = Motoyoshi Iwasaki | studio = TMS Entertainment | licensee = | network = TXN (TV Tokyo) | network_en = | first = 5 April 2006 | last = 26 March 2008 | episodes = 77 | episode_list = List of Trotting Hamtaro Hai! episodes | type = tv series | title = Trotting Hamtaro Dechu! | director = Osamu Nabeshima | producer = | writer = | music = | studio = TMS Entertainment | licensee = | network = TXN (TV Tokyo) | network_en = | first = 2 April 2011 | last = 30 March 2013 | episodes = 103

Hamtaro, known in Japan as Trotting Hamtaro, is a Japanese children's manga and storybook series created and illustrated by Ritsuko Kawai about a hamster named Hamtaro. The manga was serialized in Shogakukan's Shōgaku Ninensei (Second Grade) magazine in April 1997; more Hamtaro stories would later be added into the other grade-level magazines, as well as in Ciao. The series focuses on a hamster named Hamtaro, who has a variety of adventures with other hamsters known as the "Ham-Hams" ("Hamuchans" in the Japanese version). Viz Media published the manga adaptations and storybooks in English.The Adventures of Hamtaro, Vol. 3: Jealous Hamtaro and Other Stories Amazon.com

Multiple anime adaptations were produced by TMS Entertainment and aired on TV Tokyo. The first series was dubbed in English by The Ocean Group.

Plot

Main article: List of Hamtaro characters

The series revolves around a hamster named Hamtaro, who is owned by a young girl named Laura Haruna (Hiroko Haruna in the Japanese/Original version). Curious by nature, he ventures out each day to make friends and go on adventures with a clan of fellow hamster friends known as The Ham-Hams. The Ham-Hams meet at a special clubhouse built by Boss ("Taisho").

Media

Manga

There are three manga about Hamtaro, A Home for Hamtaro, Hamtaro Gets Lost, and Jealous Hamtaro. In the first two, Hamtaro's owner is named Yukari while in the latter, her name is Amy.

Anime

Main article: List of Hamtaro episodes

In Japan, Hamtaro aired three anime series, released four films, several specials, many video game/DVD releases, and merchandise. By 2002, the franchise had generated $2.5 billion in merchandise sales. The success was not paralleled in the United States, however, with only the first series, some special episodes, three video games (though two others were released in Europe), and limited merchandise. On 23 February 2011, it was announced that Hamtaro would be receiving a series titled Trotting Hamtaro Dechu!.

Games

Main article: Hamtaro (video game series)

The Hamtaro franchise has multiple video game titles with independent storylines. These titles include adventure and educational games that can be found for PC, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance (GBA), and the Nintendo DS consoles.

::data[format=table title=""]

Title	Platform	Release date
Tottoko Hamtaro: Tomodachi Daisakusen Dechu	url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201810/21165560.html	title=【GBC20周年企画(2)】いちばん売れたゲームボーイカラー専用ソフトは『遊☆戯☆王DM4』！ では2位は？ GBC専用ソフト販売ランキングTOP10！ - ファミ通.com
Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite!	Game Boy Color	JP: 21 April 2001
NA: 28 October 2002
Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak	Game Boy Advance	JP: 3 May 2002
NA: 7 April 2003
Hamtaro: Wake Up Snoozer!	PC/Mac	1 October 2003
Hamtaro: Rainbow Rescue	Game Boy Advance	22 May 2003
Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games	Game Boy Advance	26 July 2004
Tottoko Hamtaro: Nazo Nazo Q Kumonoue no ? Jou	Nintendo DS	1 December 2005
Hi Hamtaro! Ham-Ham Training	Nintendo DS	JP: 15 March 2007
Hi Hamtaro! Little Hamsters Big Adventures	iOS	12 April 2011
::

In popular culture

On 26 July 2020, a group of more than 2,000 protesters in Bangkok called the Free Youth Movement led a protest against the government of Thailand which involved singing the theme song for Hamtaro with modified lyrics to say "The most delicious food is taxpayers' money. [...]Dissolve the parliament! Dissolve the parliament! Dissolve the parliament!" Other student protests during the same week continued to use Hamtaro as a symbol for the government's "feasting on taxpayer's money," and have involved groups running in circles, as if in hamster wheels, while singing the modified version of the jingle.

Reception

In TV Asahi's poll of the Top 100 Anime, Hamtaro came in 68th.

References

References

1. Clements, Jonathan. (2006). "The Anime Encyclopedia". Stone Bridge Press.
2. "テレビ東京・あにてれ とっとこハム太郎". tv-tokyo.co.jp.
3. [https://sho.jp/hamutaro/yomimono/16611 よみもの「ハムスターが やってきた」（とっとこハム太郎・連載一回目）] {{Webarchive. link. (20 September 2021 (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 September 2021.)
4. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1569318174 Hamtaro Gets Lost and Other Stories (The Adventures of Hamtaro, Vol. 2)] Amazon.com
5. Macdonald, Christopher. (20 May 2002). "Hamtaro Launch Event".
6. (24 May 2024). "Tottoko Hamtarō Dechu TV Anime to Premiere in April".
7. (21 October 2018). "【GBC20周年企画(2)】いちばん売れたゲームボーイカラー専用ソフトは『遊☆戯☆王DM4』！ では2位は？ GBC専用ソフト販売ランキングTOP10！ - ファミ通.com".
8. "Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak (2002) Game Boy Advance release dates - MobyGames".
9. (2020-07-26). "'Delicious taxes': Thai protesters use Japanese cartoon hamster to mock government". Reuters.
10. (2020-08-01). "Hamster hero? How a Japanese cartoon became Thai youth protesters' symbol". Reuters.
11. Tan, Yvette. (2020-08-01). "Why young people are protesting in Thailand". BBC News.
12. Macdonald, Christopher. (2005). "TV Asahi Top 100 Anime". Kadokawa Corporation.

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