Shohei Ochiai's Special-Ediiton Tamagotchi Is Based on the OG '96 Model
A nostalgic ode to the Japanese mobile game’s cult-following and Ochiai’s distinct illustration style.
Japanese artist Shohei Ochiai has unveiled a special collaboration with Tamagotchi, releasing a reprisal of the first-generation model updated with his artwork nodding to the game’s origins. Offering a nostalgic nod to Tamagotchi’s 1996 release, this limited-edition device and its packaging are adorned with Ochiai’s hand-drawn work.
Coming at the height of Gen Z’s bag charm mania, the device comes with a ball chain that can be attached to keychains, bags, or clothing. The collaboration features a Tamagotchi Original housed in a translucent shell, emboldening the original Y2k aesthetic with an additional Tamagotchi UFO design in blue. Elsewhere, matching blue buttons and border accent the design.
On the other side, iconic characters from way back like Professor Banzo and Mikachu are pictured above an official Shohei Ochiai and serial number. Blending a unique mix of art, gaming, and fashion accessories, the collaboration fuses Ochiai’s artistic worldview and the nostalgic appeal of Tamagotchi.
Among Ochiai’s recent collabs are special caps produced with New Era. The artist modified the New Era logo through his unique lens, using a three-dimensional, overlapping embroidery for five caps and two t-shirt designs. Similar to his latest partnership with Tamagotchi, the artist’s distinct quality is evocative of childhood creativity and the poetry of imperfection.
Slated for delivery in August 2025, the Shohei Ochiai x Tamagotchi collaboration is available for pre-order now at the Beams web store.
