Hamtaro Turns 25: Every Episode Streams Free on ABEMA, and New 'Rainy Day' Merch Arrives
Tottoko Hamtaro, the little hamster who charmed a generation of Japanese kids, is back in the spotlight. All 193 episodes of the original TV anime are streaming free on ABEMA's Family Anime 3 Channel from August 24 through September 3, 2026, positioned by the official team as end-of-summer viewing for families. For collectors, a nostalgia wave like this is exactly when quiet franchises get loud again — and Hamtaro is having its moment.
The series first aired on July 7, 2000, and crossed its 25th anniversary in 2025. A quarter-century on, its official site still calls it a defining anime of the Heisei era that remains popular today. That staying power is the whole story here: Hamtaro isn't a hype-cycle release, it's a comfort classic that keeps finding new fans.
A Franchise Bigger Than You Remember
If your memory of Hamtaro stops at the original run, the catalog is deeper than most people realize. Beyond the 193-episode first series there's a full sequel, Tottoko Hamtaro: Hamuhamu Paradise, running 103 episodes, plus four OVA works and four theatrical films. That's hundreds of hours of the Ham-Hams — Hamtaro, Bijou (Ribbon-chan), Boss (Taisho-kun) and the rest — built up over two decades.
For collectors, that depth matters. A franchise with this much screen history and a devoted adult fanbase tends to support steady merchandise: capsule toys, plush, acrylic charms and stationery keep cycling through rather than vanishing after one season. Nostalgia-driven lines like this often have more staying power on a shelf than tie-ins to a single airing anime.
Why the ABEMA Marathon Matters for Collectors
Free, high-visibility streaming does something predictable: it puts a character back in front of millions of eyes and reignites interest in owning a piece of it. The ABEMA marathon runs all 193 episodes over roughly ten days, completely free, which is the kind of accessible re-exposure that turns "I loved that as a kid" into "I want that little guy on my desk."
Hamtaro's design language is tailor-made for collectibles — round, expressive, mascot-friendly hamsters that translate beautifully into small figures, gashapon charms and plush. If you collect cute-mascot merch, this is a good window to grab pieces while attention is high, since nostalgia spikes can thin out availability of the more charming designs.
New 'Rainy Day' Goods on the Way
The franchise isn't only looking backward. A new merchandise line themed around "Rainy Day" (Ame no Hi), produced by Contents Seed, is slated for an October 2026 release via Anime Store.JP. It spans roughly ten item types — including clear cards, heart-shaped badges, umbrella markers, acrylic stands, clear files, flake stickers and canvas art — and features around fifteen characters enjoying gentle, rainy-day moments in a soft color palette.
It's a reminder that Hamtaro merchandise is still actively produced, not just resold. Between the streaming marathon and fresh goods, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the more active years the franchise has had in a while — a good cue for collectors to start (or restart) a Ham-Ham shelf.
Start Your Ham-Ham Shelf
Riding the nostalgia wave? Akibato ships Japanese Hamtaro collectibles worldwide — browse the Hamtaro collection at Akibato for capsule-toy charms and more. Love the small, blind-box thrill of Japanese capsule toys in general? The gashapon collection is a fun place to keep collecting after the marathon ends.
Sources
- Tottoko Hamtaro Official Site — Enjoy the anime for the end of summer vacation (ABEMA free marathon)
- Animate Times — Tottoko Hamtaro 25th anniversary year begins, ABEMA streaming announced
- Anime Anime — 'Tottoko Hamtaro' 25th anniversary year, first ABEMA distribution
- Collabo Cafe — Tottoko Hamtaro 'Rainy Day' themed new goods, October release