Japan’s digital pet toy ‘Tamagotchi’ marks 30 years

A Tamagotchi exhibition opened in Tokyo on January 7, 2026, marking 30 years since Japanese toymaker Bandai introduced the pocket digital toys. They were a playground craze in the late 1990s, with virtual pets requiring “food” and attention all day to avoid potential death. Crowds of nostalgia-seekers queued to see the exhibition, which will be staged across Japan throughout the year.