Tamagotchi Osutchi and Mesutchi

The Tamagotchi Osutchi and Mesutchi came out in December 1997. Made by Bandai, Osutchi and Mesutchi were the first Tamagotchis that could “breed” or have babies. Osutchi means “boy” and Mesutchi means “girl” in Japanese. These toys had 10 buttons to play with, which was more than other Tamagotchis at the time. This made them more fun and interesting to use than earlier Tamagotchis.

Design

The Osutchi and Mesutchi Tamagotchis were bigger and did more than older ones. They were about 5.6cm tall and 4.8cm wide. They had a cap on top that you could take off to show 2 small metal squares used for “marrying” two Tamagotchis. The screen on these Tamagotchis was taller but skinnier than other old Tamagotchis. Usually, you had to buy Osutchi and Mesutchi separately. This made people want to find friends with the other kind so their Tamagotchis could have babies when they grew up.

Before selling them to everyone, Bandai tested about 1,440 pairs in August 1997. These test ones only came in blue and pink. The box looked almost the same as the final ones, but had a red circle saying “Introducing!!” in Japanese. People who got these test versions filled out a survey about them.

Functionally, the test versions were nearly identical to the final release, with a few notable differences in animations and terminology. For instance, TMP was initially called “Kenami” (けなみ), a colloquial term for lineage. Disciplining involved a hammer animation, while administering medicine showed a syringe. During breeding, Ojitchi and Otokitchi characters would appear, providing a futon for the pet.

There was also a super rare version that only Bandai workers could use. These were just for testing how Tamagotchis could “marry” each other. They looked very plain and were never sold in stores.

Story

A woman named Mikachu studied Tamagotchis, which are little digital pets. She found out something cool: Tamagotchis only started having genders after they came to Earth.

When people started letting their Tamagotchis play together, new types showed up. These were called Osutchi (boys) and Mesutchi (girls). This was new and exciting because Tamagotchis on their home planet didn’t have boys and girls before.

Mikachu decided to study these new boy and girl Tamagotchis. Her friend, Professor Banzo, helped her but got embarrassed talking about love stuff. So Mikachu did most of that part of the research.

As they learned more, Mikachu and Banzo realized they had a problem. The old Tamagotchi homes weren’t big enough for Tamagotchi families. So they made 2 new homes: the “Osutchi HOUSE” for boy Tamagotchis and the “Mesutchi HOUSE” for girl Tamagotchis. These new homes showed how Tamagotchis were changing and getting used to living on Earth in ways no one expected.

Watch Osutchi and Mesutchi Commercial:

Play Video about Osutchi and Mesutchi Commercial

Timeline

Bandai started working on Osutchi and Mesutchi in early or middle 1997. They did this because the first Tamagotchi was a big hit, and they wanted to make something new and more interesting. The big new idea was to make boy and girl Tamagotchis. Osutchi was the boy one, and Mesutchi was the girl one.

This meant the Bandai workers had to think of different ways to take care of boy and girl Tamagotchis. They also made it so 2 Tamagotchis could have a baby together. This was hard to do because they had to make sure the 2 toys could talk to each other properly.

The workers also had to draw new characters and figure out how they would grow up. They tried out different ways to play with the new Tamagotchis to make sure it wasn’t too hard but still fun.

By the end of 1997, they were done making Osutchi and Mesutchi. They started selling them in Japan in November. Then they worked on making versions for other countries. They had to change things, like the language, so people in different places could understand it. They started selling Osutchi and Mesutchi in other countries in 1998.

Gameplay

The Osutchi and Mesutchi devices operate in a manner strikingly similar to the original Tamagotchi, but with several notable distinctions. These differences set them apart and add depth to the experience.

The Check meter, while functionally equivalent to its predecessor, presents information in a new order. Hungry leads, followed by Happy and Discipline, with age and weight bringing up the rear. This subtle change alters how users interact with their digital companions.

Food options in the Osutchi and Mesutchi vary cosmetically based on the Tamagotchi’s TMP (TaMagotchi Power) and character type. Each group, from TMP1 to Unmateable characters, enjoys unique meals and snacks. For instance, TMP1 creatures dine on rice and candy, while Senior characters feast on mushrooms and saké.

The game, Flag, challenges players’ reflexes. Tamagotchis alternate between white and black flags every half second. Users must press A for white or B for black to match the displayed flag. Victory requires at least 3 correct choices out of 5 turns, testing both timing and decision-making skills.

Tamagotchi Power (TMP), represented by the eighth icon depicting a smiling face wearing a crown, introduces a ranking system and tracks generations. Breeding 2 characters affects the offspring’s TMP, adding a layer of strategy. The generation counter, visible on the TMP icon’s second screen, increments with each successful breeding cycle.

The Breeding icon, ninth in the lineup, enables connections between 2 units for reproduction. This feature becomes available once a Tamagotchi reaches adulthood. The breeding process involves a delicate dance of timing and connectivity, resulting in identical babies on both devices.

Attention and discipline mechanics in the Osutchi and Mesutchi are more forgiving than in other vintage releases. Pets use unique animations and sounds to signal their needs, and users have ample opportunities to fill the discipline bar. Some Tamagotchis may continue calling for discipline even after their bar is full, while others might sulk if their calls go unanswered.

Sulking occurs when calls for hunger, happiness or discipline are ignored. In this state, Tamagotchis refuse meals but can be coaxed out of their mood with snacks or by winning games. However, these actions won’t increase their happiness.

Death in the Osutchi and Mesutchi world can result from various factors, including failure to breed within a Tamagotchi’s lifespan, significant care mistakes, or allowing non-breeding characters to live out their days. The death screen displays a poignant scene of tombstones, with ghostly Obaketchi appearing at night. Users can view their pet’s final age and generation before starting anew with a fresh egg.

Watch a video showing Osutchi and Mesutchi’s features:

Play Video about A video of Osutchi and Mesutchi unboxing

Trivia

1. The Osutchi and Mesutchi Tamagotchis had more characters than any other old Tamagotchi. The Osutchi had 31 different pets, and so did the Mesutchi. Together, that’s 49 different pets you could raise. This gave people lots of choices.

2. These Tamagotchis were really special because they were the first to have 10 buttons to press and let pets have babies. Later Tamagotchis kept using these ideas.

3. These Tamagotchis had a special feature on sound. If you pressed a button during certain times, like when your pet was changing or when the game was showing results, it would turn off all sounds until that event was over. This was good if you needed some quiet.

4. It looks like Bandai wanted to sell Osutchi and Mesutchi in other countries. They even showed them at a big toy fair in Germany in 1998. But they changed their minds and didn’t sell them outside Japan. Instead, the last old-style Tamagotchi sold in other countries was the Tamagotchi Ocean. In Europe, it was Tamagotchi Angel. After that, they didn’t make new Tamagotchis for a while until 2004.

Tips & Tricks

1. These Tamagotchis have something called TMP. If you take good care of your pet and help it have babies, the TMP goes up. This lets you get new kinds of pets. But if you don’t take good care, the TMP can go down and you might lose the new pets.

2. Osutchi and Mesutchi Tamagotchis start the same as babies and kids, but look different as teens, adults and old pets. There are 4 TMP groups. If 2 pets with the same TMP have a baby, the baby’s TMP is higher. If the parents have different TMPs, the baby gets one of them. If you don’t take good care of a child or teen pet, it might end up in a lower TMP group.

3. In the first generation, babies grow up after just 1 hour. But after that, including a special kind called Kuritchi, babies take 24 hours to grow up. These babies need attention like older pets do.

4. We’re not sure how long kids and teens take to grow up. But if you don’t take good care of a kid, it causes problems later. Teens who weren’t cared for as kids take longer to become adults. Even as adults, they sleep differently because of this.

5. You can give these Tamagotchis more snacks, but too much food is still bad. If they get to 99g, they turn into Debutchi. This is bad, and you can’t feed them normally until they get back to 89g. If they stay Debutchi for 24 hours, they might die.

6.The devices employ a category system for teens and adults, influencing evolution and sleep times. Interestingly, children also come in 2 types. Type 2 children are susceptible to TMP degeneration, requiring at least 3 care mistakes as babies, with discipline calls potentially increasing this threshold.

7. When your pet needs discipline, it makes a special beep. This happens more than you actually need. If you miss these calls, it might count as a mistake. If you make mistakes or don’t take care of your pet, it might get upset. You can make it happy again with snacks or by winning games without the usual “happiness” gain.

8. Natural illnesses tend to occur just before evolution. Adults can breed after their first post-evolution wake-up, but must spend at least 48 hours (twice their awake time) before leaving their offspring at midnight. The intricacies of cross-TMP breeding, particularly the role of gender in TMP inheritance, remain a subject for further investigation.

Characters

Baby and Child stages are identical across both units, but Teen, Adult and Senior stages differ. Characters fall into 4 distinct Tamagotchi Power (TMP) categories. When 2 adults with matching TMP tie the knot, their offspring emerges as a baby belonging to the subsequent TMP tier. If there’s a TMP disparity between parents, the little one could inherit either parent’s TMP. In the case of TMP2, the baby follows its lineage. Neglect a child or teen badly enough, and you might see their next evolution drop to a lower TMP.

TMP1

Gender Neutral

Name	Artwork	Sprite	Stage	Evolution Conditions
Kuritchi			Baby	Always pop up in the first generation. You’ll see them hatch when a TMP1 adult finds love with any higher TMP grown-up.
Mohitamatchi			Child	Always evolves from Kuritchi.

Osutchi

Name	Stage	Mesutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Obotchi	Teen	Ojyotchi	If you treat Mohitamatchi right, you’ll see it transform. But here’s the flip side: any TMP2 kid that’s been neglected might just devolve into this form. It’s like a lottery no one wants to win. Bad parenting equals TMP backsliding. Simple as that.
Hawainotchi	Teen	Hawaikotchi	Neglect Mohitamatchi and this is what you get. But it’s not just Mohitamatchi that can end up this way. Any TMP2 kid that’s been left in the lurch might devolve to this state.
Pyonchitchi	Adult	Pyonkotchi	Treat Hawainotchi or Obotchi like royalty and this is your reward. But life’s not all sunshine, any TMP2 teen who’s been dealt a bad hand might regress to this form. You need at least 75% discipline in the child stage or this evolution’s off the table.
Kiwitchi	Adult	Kikotchi	Give Hawainotchi or Obotchi some decent attention and you’ll end up with this guy. Any TMP2 teen who’s had a rough go of it might just devolve into this form, too.
Bunbuntchi	Adult	Bunkotchi	Hawainotchi or Obotchi get middling treatment? This is what you end up with. Any TMP2 teen that’s been left in the dust might backslide to this form, too.
Megatchi	Adult	Gankotchi	Slack off with Hawainotchi or Obotchi and this is what you’re stuck with. Any TMP2 teen that’s been left to fend for themselves might just devolve to this level.

Mesutchi

Name	Stage	Osutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Ojyotchi	Teen	Obotchi	Give Mohitamatchi some decent attention and you’ll end up with this little fella. Any TMP2 kid who’s had a rough go of it might just devolve into this form, too.
Hawaikotchi	Teen	Hawainotchi	Slack off with Mohitamatchi and this is what you’re stuck with. Any TMP2 kid that’s been left to fend for itself might just devolve to this level.
Pyonkotchi	Adult	Pyonchitchi	Treat Hawaikotchi or Ojyotchi like gold and this is your prize. Any TMP2 teen who’s been dealt a raw deal might backslide to this form. If that kid didn’t have their act together growing up, forget about it. You need at least 75% discipline in the child stage or this evolution’s off the table.
Kikotchi	Adult	Kiwitchi	Give Hawaikotchi or Ojyotchi some decent attention and you’ll end up with this one. Any TMP2 teen who’s had a rough go of it might just devolve into this form, too.
Bunkotchi	Adult	Bunbuntchi	Hawaikotchi or Ojyotchi get so-so treatment? This is what you end up with. Any TMP2 teen that’s been left in the dust might backslide to this form, too.
Gankotchi	Adult	Megatchi	Slack off with Hawaikotchi or Ojyotchi and this is your punishment. It’s not just those 2 that can end up in this sorry state. Any TMP2 teen that’s been left to rot might just devolve to this level.

TMP2

Gender Neutral

Name	Stage	Evolution Conditions
Tsubutchi	Baby	These little guys always pop up when Pyonchitchi or Bunbuntchi marries with Pyonkotchi or Bunkotchi. Throw Hiratchi or Piratchi into the mix with any adult from a different TMP and you might just end up with one of these.
Teletchi	Baby	You’ll always get one of these when Pyonchitchi or Bunbuntchi hooks up with Kikotchi or Gankotchi. Same deal if Kiwitchi or Megatchi gets together with Pyonkotchi or Bunkotchi. Throw Marumimitchi or Mimikotchi into the mix with any adult from a different TMP and you might end up with one of these little guys.
Kakutchi	Baby	You’re guaranteed to get one of these when Kiwitchi or Megatchi marries with Kikotchi or Gankotchi. Throw Billotchi or Billkotchi into the mix with any grown-up from a different TMP, and you might just end up with one of these as well.
Hyurutchi	Child	This one’s always gonna pop out of Tsubutchi. Once it’s evolved, it’s pretty much stuck that way. The only way it’s gonna backslide is if you royally screwed up from the get-go. We’re talking zero discipline, total neglect from day one. Other than that, what you see is what you get with this little fella.
Puchitchi	Child	This one’s always gonna pop out of Teletchi. Once it’s evolved, it’s pretty much locked in. The only way it’s gonna take a step back is if you totally dropped the ball from the start. We’re talking 0 discipline, complete neglect right outta the gate. Other than that, you’re stuck with what you get with this little dude.
Currypantchi	Child	This one always comes from Kakutchi. Once it’s evolved, it’s stuck that way. The only shot at backsliding is if you royally messed up from square one. We’re talking 0 discipline, total neglect from the get-go. Besides that extreme case, you’re pretty much locked in with this little guy once it shows up.

Osutchi

Name	Stage	Mesutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Hikotchi	Teen	UFOtchi	Give Hyurutchi some decent attention and this is what you end up with. Mizutamatchi can also turn into this if you slack off.
Moritchi	Teen	Morutchi	Treat Puchitchi right and this is what you get. Mizutamatchi can also turn into this if you drop the ball.
Pirorirotchi	Teen	Pirorintchi	Give Currypantchi some decent attention and this is what you end up with. Mizutamatchi can also turn into this if you slack off.
Hiratchi	Adult	Piratchi	Treat Hikotchi right and this is what you get. Propellertchi can also morph into this form if you drop the ball.
Marumimitchi	Adult	Mimikotchi	Give Moritchi some decent attention and this is what you end up with. Propellertchi can also turn into this if you slack off.
Billotchi	Adult	Billkotchi	Treat Piroriroritchi right and this is what you get. Propellertchi can also turn into this if you drop the ball.

Mesutchi

Name	Stage	Osutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
UFOtchi	Teen	Hikotchi	Give Hyurutchi some decent attention and this is what you end up with. Mizutamatchi can also turn into this if you slack off.
Morutchi	Teen	Moritchi	Treat Puchitchi right and this is what you get. Mizutamatchi can also morph into this form if you drop the ball.
Pirorintchi	Teen	Piroriroritchi	Give Currypantchi some decent attention and this is what you end up with. Mizutamatchi can also turn into this if you slack off.
Piratchi	Adult	Hiratchi	Treat UFOtchi right and this is what you get. Batabatchi can also morph into this form if you drop the ball.
Mimikotchi	Adult	Marumimitchi	Treat Morutchi right and this is what you end up with. Batabatchi can also turn into this if you drop the ball.
Billkotchi	Adult	Billotchi	Give Pirorintchi some decent attention and this is what you get. Batabatchi can also morph into this form if you slack off.

TMP3

Gender Neutral

Name	Artwork	Sprite	Stage	Evolution Conditions
PetitChocotchi			Baby	These little guys always pop up when 2 TMP2 adults get together. Throw Kabutchi or Pipotchi into the mix with any grown-up from a different TMP, and you might just end up with one of these.
Mizutamatchi			Child	This one always comes from PetitChocotchi. Once it’s evolved, it’s stuck that way. The only shot at backsliding is if you royally messed up from square one. We’re talking zero discipline, total neglect from the get-go. Besides that extreme case, you’re pretty much locked in with this little guy once it shows up.

Osutchi

Name	Artwork	Sprite	Stage	Mesutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Propellertchi			Teen	Batabatchi	Treat Mizutamatchi right and this is what you end up with. Harutchi can also turn into this if you drop the ball.
Kabutchi			Adult	Pipotchi	Give Propellertchi some decent attention and this is what you get. Kuribotchi can also morph into this form if you slack off.

Mesutchi

Name	Artwork	Sprite	Stage	Osutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Batabatchi			Teen	Propellertchi	Treat Mizutamatchi right and this is what you end up with. Harutchi can also turn into this if you drop the ball.
Pipotchi			Adult	Kabutchi	Give Patapatatchi decent attention and this is what you get. Pyukitchi can also morph into this if you totally slack off.

TMP4

Gender Neutral

Name	Artwork	Sprite	Stage	Evolution Conditions
PuchiTeletchi			Baby	These little guys always pop up when Kabutchi hooks up with Pipotchi. Same deal if ChoMametchi gets together with ChoHimetchi. Throw ChoMametchi or ChoHimetchi into the mix with any grown-up from a different TMP, and you might just end up with one of these.
Harutchi			Child	This one always comes from PuchiTeletchi. Once it’s evolved, it’s pretty much locked in. The only way it’s gonna take a step back is if you totally dropped the ball from the start. We’re talking zero discipline, complete neglect right outta the gate. Other than that extreme case, you’re stuck with what you get with this little dude.

Osutchi

Name	Stage	Mesutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Kuribotchi	Teen	Pyukitchi	Give Harutchi some decent attention and this is what you end up with. It’s like Harutchi’s reward for not being neglected.
ChoMametchi	Adult	ChoHimetchi	Treat Kuribotchi right and this is what you get. It’s like Kuribotchi’s way of saying thanks for not dropping the ball.
Ojitchi	Senior	Otokitchi	You gotta treat ChoMametchi like royalty, we’re talking perfect care. But there’s a catch – keep him single till he hits 13. And once he evolves? Forget about marriage.

Mesutchi

Name	Stage	Osutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Pyukitchi	Teen	Kuribotchi	Give Harutchi some decent attention and this is what you end up with.
ChoHimetchi	Adult	ChoMametchi	Treat Pyukitchi right and this is what you get. It’s like Pyukitchi’s way of saying “cheers” for not dropping the ball.
Otokitchi	Senior	Ojitchi	You gotta treat ChoHimetchi like she’s made of glass, we’re talking perfect care. But there’s a catch – keep her single till she hits 13. And once she evolves? Forget about marriage.

Special Characters

Gender Neutral

Name	Artwork	Sprite	Stage	Evolution Conditions
Debutchi			Any	Any of these can balloon into this form, except for those First Gen Kuritchis or adults playing parent. Hit 99 grams, and you’re in fatty territory. Wanna fix it? Gotta slim ’em down to 89 grams. But here’s the kicker – letting them get this chunky counts as screwing up. And if you don’t get your act together in 24 hours? Game over.

Osutchi

Name	Artwork	Sprite	Stage	Mesutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Sutebotchi			Unmateable	Tsuketchi	You gotta treat these little guys like royalty up until they hit their teen years. We’re talking perfect care, full discipline, the works. Once they’re teens, you drop ’em like a hot potato. This evolution can pop up at any TMP level, doesn’t matter. And forget about settling down – these digital weirdos are eternal bachelors. But here’s the real kicker: between 2 and 4 in the morning, they pull a Houdini. Poof! Gone. All that’s left is their futon.

Mesutchi

Name	Artwork	Sprite	Stage	Osutchi counterpart	Evolution Conditions
Tsuketchi			Unmateable	Sutebotchi	You gotta treat these pals like royalty until they hit their teen phase. We’re talking flawless care, full discipline, the works. Then you ghost ’em completely as teens. This evolution can happen at any TMP level, doesn’t matter. And forget dating – these digital oddballs are forever solo. But get this: between 2 and 4 AM, they pull a disappearing act. Poof! Vanished. All that’s left is an empty futon.

Growth Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

The Osutchi (male) and Mesutchi (female), released in December 1997, were groundbreaking in the Tamagotchi world. They were the first to introduce breeding between virtual pets, allowing for the creation of new generations of Tamagotchis. They also boasted expanded features compared to their predecessors, with 10 menu icons instead of the usual number.

According to Tamagotchi lore, gender was a new development observed by researcher Mikachu after Tamagotchis began living on Earth. The Osutchi and Mesutchi emerged when owners started sharing their pets, leading to these new, gendered characters. This phenomenon, never before seen on the Tamagotchi Planet, prompted research into these unique variations.

TMP stands for "Tamagotchi Power." It indicates your Tamagotchi's rank and generation, influencing the type of food they eat. You can increase TMP by breeding Tamagotchis of the same level.

No, not all characters can breed. While most adult Tamagotchis can breed after one day, certain characters like Sutebotchi, Tsuketchi, and seniors are unable to reproduce.

If breeding doesn't occur in time, your Tamagotchi will eventually pass away. Death can also occur from too many care mistakes or if a non-breedable character reaches the end of its lifespan.

While the core gameplay remains similar, there are key differences. These include a "Flag" mini-game, a more lenient discipline system, and a TMP level that dictates the type of food your Tamagotchi can eat.

While typically sold separately, encouraging users to find partners for breeding, anniversary editions of the Osutchi and Mesutchi were released as a pair.

These were new models developed by Mikachu and Professor Banzo to accommodate the needs of growing Tamagotchi families. They represent the evolving nature of Tamagotchi life on Earth and their adaptation to this new environment.