A Nostalgic Toy Representing the Showa Era Gets Powered Up! "Ring-Ring!" A Thrilling Puzzle Game Where the Bell Rings
MegaHouse will release the 'Reiwa Evolution Version' of the classic 1981 puzzle game 'Chiku Taku Ban Ban' in late April 2026, featuring new elements like a cooperative mode and circular panels.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 20:01
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 20:25 (147h 49m after Collected)
MegaHouse Corporation (Bandai Namco Group, President and CEO: Akihiro Sato / Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) will release a "Reiwa Evolution Version" of the competitive puzzle game "Chiku Taku Ban Ban," which was released in 1981 and became popular as a masterpiece toy representing the Showa era, with new elements in late April 2026.
The main game of this product is a competitive puzzle game where players slide panels with paths on them to connect the paths so that the route for Chiku Taku (the alarm clock character) is not interrupted. Players take turns moving panels, and the player during whose turn Chiku Taku can no longer advance loses. It comes with a speed switch, allowing you to choose between two speeds: "fast" and "slow."
Although the rules are simple, the thrill of the game lies in the "thrilling and heart-pounding tension" of Chiku Taku approaching even while you are thinking about panel placement, and the "bargaining unique to a competitive game" where you think about panel placement to put other players at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, this product is a masterpiece toy representing the Showa era, originally released in 1981. In this renewal, goal parts and circular panels that did not exist previously have been newly added, expanding the game modes to two types. It has been reborn as a "Reiwa Evolution Version" that broadens the scope of play.
It is a product that will evoke nostalgia for those who remember its original release, and allow children to freshly experience the fun unique to face-to-face analog games.
Game ① "Competitive Mode with Everyone!" *Main Game
Place 15 panels with paths on the board, starting with 1 empty square. Chiku Taku advances along the path, passes between panels, and when the bell rings, it's the next player's turn. The player during whose turn Chiku Taku reaches a dead end and can no longer advance, or falls into a hole, loses.
Game ② "Cooperative Mode with Everyone!"
This is a cooperative game where you set up the included "Goal" on the board and all players connect the panels together aiming for the goal. When Chiku Taku arrives at the goal panel and the bell rings, all players clear the game. It can also be played by a single person.
[Power-up points for the Reiwa version]
● With the included goal parts, there are now 2 game modes!
In addition to the conventional "Game ① Competitive Mode with Everyone!", it is equipped with "Game ② Cooperative Mode with Everyone!". It can be played by 1 to 4 players.
● "Circular panels" make a new appearance!
The square panels (16 in total) advance by sliding, while the newly added circular panels (2 in total) are rotated within the square to create a path. Once placed, they cannot be moved, increasing the strategy and difficulty.
Product name: Chiku Taku Ban Ban
Set contents: ● Chiku Taku... 1 piece ● Boards... 2 pieces ● Goal... 1 piece ● Panels (square) 4 types... 16 pieces in total ● Panels (circular) 2 types... 2 pieces in total
Body size: (W) 400 x (D) 395 x (H) 15 mm Board size
Battery: Uses 1 AA dry cell battery (sold separately)
Release date: Late April 2026
Price: 6,578 yen (10% tax included) / 5,980 yen (tax excluded)
Product page: https://www.megahouse.co.jp/megatoy/products/item/5552/
Manufactured under license of American Plastic Equipment, Inc., of Miami, Florida, U.S.A.
Butaminton
Japan Toy Awards 2025 Game & Puzzle Category "Grand Prize" Winner
"Butaminton" is a sports-type action game where players use pig-shaped mascots as rackets to hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a net, trying not to let it drop, similar to badminton.
It is a hit product that was also released in 1987 (Showa 62) and 2004 (Heisei 16). The shuttlecock has been improved, and its airborne time is now longer than before.
Product name: Butaminton
Release date: Mid-April 2025
Price: 4,378 yen (10% tax included) / 3,980 yen (tax excluded)
https://www.megahouse.co.jp/megatoy/products/item/4908/
MegaHouse Showa and Heisei Masterpiece Games Collection
https://youtu.be/Ag8BYI7imXQ
The main game of this product is a competitive puzzle game where players slide panels with paths on them to connect the paths so that the route for Chiku Taku (the alarm clock character) is not interrupted. Players take turns moving panels, and the player during whose turn Chiku Taku can no longer advance loses. It comes with a speed switch, allowing you to choose between two speeds: "fast" and "slow."
Although the rules are simple, the thrill of the game lies in the "thrilling and heart-pounding tension" of Chiku Taku approaching even while you are thinking about panel placement, and the "bargaining unique to a competitive game" where you think about panel placement to put other players at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, this product is a masterpiece toy representing the Showa era, originally released in 1981. In this renewal, goal parts and circular panels that did not exist previously have been newly added, expanding the game modes to two types. It has been reborn as a "Reiwa Evolution Version" that broadens the scope of play.
It is a product that will evoke nostalgia for those who remember its original release, and allow children to freshly experience the fun unique to face-to-face analog games.
Game ① "Competitive Mode with Everyone!" *Main Game
Place 15 panels with paths on the board, starting with 1 empty square. Chiku Taku advances along the path, passes between panels, and when the bell rings, it's the next player's turn. The player during whose turn Chiku Taku reaches a dead end and can no longer advance, or falls into a hole, loses.
Game ② "Cooperative Mode with Everyone!"
This is a cooperative game where you set up the included "Goal" on the board and all players connect the panels together aiming for the goal. When Chiku Taku arrives at the goal panel and the bell rings, all players clear the game. It can also be played by a single person.
[Power-up points for the Reiwa version]
● With the included goal parts, there are now 2 game modes!
In addition to the conventional "Game ① Competitive Mode with Everyone!", it is equipped with "Game ② Cooperative Mode with Everyone!". It can be played by 1 to 4 players.
● "Circular panels" make a new appearance!
The square panels (16 in total) advance by sliding, while the newly added circular panels (2 in total) are rotated within the square to create a path. Once placed, they cannot be moved, increasing the strategy and difficulty.
Product name: Chiku Taku Ban Ban
Set contents: ● Chiku Taku... 1 piece ● Boards... 2 pieces ● Goal... 1 piece ● Panels (square) 4 types... 16 pieces in total ● Panels (circular) 2 types... 2 pieces in total
Body size: (W) 400 x (D) 395 x (H) 15 mm Board size
Battery: Uses 1 AA dry cell battery (sold separately)
Release date: Late April 2026
Price: 6,578 yen (10% tax included) / 5,980 yen (tax excluded)
Product page: https://www.megahouse.co.jp/megatoy/products/item/5552/
Manufactured under license of American Plastic Equipment, Inc., of Miami, Florida, U.S.A.
Butaminton
Japan Toy Awards 2025 Game & Puzzle Category "Grand Prize" Winner
"Butaminton" is a sports-type action game where players use pig-shaped mascots as rackets to hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a net, trying not to let it drop, similar to badminton.
It is a hit product that was also released in 1987 (Showa 62) and 2004 (Heisei 16). The shuttlecock has been improved, and its airborne time is now longer than before.
Product name: Butaminton
Release date: Mid-April 2025
Price: 4,378 yen (10% tax included) / 3,980 yen (tax excluded)
https://www.megahouse.co.jp/megatoy/products/item/4908/
MegaHouse Showa and Heisei Masterpiece Games Collection
https://youtu.be/Ag8BYI7imXQ