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Library/Product/Tamagotchi
Grade B24 sourcesHIS-01222

Tamagotchi

Product · 1996 · Notable

48Editable slideCertificate

Bandai’s virtual pet reached 40 million reported sales after queues and school bans.

Original Tamagotchi models, Bandai
Bandai / WiZ
An original Tamagotchi on its key chain
Tomasz Sienicki / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
A Tamagotchi device photographed in 2009; public domain.
David / Wikimedia Commons
Boxed Tamagotchi releases at The Strong National Museum of Play
The Strong National Museum of Play
Tamagotchi illustration, The Ringer
The Ringer
Bandai Brings Back Tamagotchi Using '90s Nostalgia
AListDaily

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagion35Breadth60VelocityNo data yetLongevityNo data yet48

Numbers

Peak proxy date
Jun 1997
Oct 10 ’96 to Jun 1997
Platforms
3
Started on Retail
Origin
Mixed
Toys & collectibles

Mechanics

  • Scarcity dropPrimary
  • Visible in use
  • Controversy
  • Platform jump
  • Dupe economy

How it spread

Trace the origin

Bandai test-sold Tamagotchi before its general Japanese release, then expanded to the US amid sell-outs. Fan websites and school restrictions made news. TIME reported 40 million sold by October 1998; Bandai recorded that many original-run shipments through March 1999.

Proxy date; not a directly measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Sep ’95Dec ’96Jun ’97Jul ’98May ’00Jun ’03Feb ’08Feb ’13Jun ’17Feb ’20Oct ’23RetailPressOpen web
RetailPressOpen web

13 more events on this chart

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Timeline (16)

  1. October 1996

    Bandai / WiZ seed · Oct 10 ’96

    Bandai began test sales of Tamagotchi before its general release.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. November 1996

    Bandai / WiZ commercial · Nov 23 ’96

    Bandai released Tamagotchi for general sale in Japan.[2][3]

  3. January 1997

    Reuters / CNNfn press · Jan 22 ’97

    Reuters reported that buyers included schoolchildren, office workers and middle-aged men.[4]

  1. commercial · Jan 27 ’97

  2. platform jump · May 1 ’97

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Why it worked

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Origin
Mixed
Sector
Toys & collectibles
Region
JP
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

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