Takara Tomy to release original 'Chunkachu' Pikachu plush in Japan

Kotaku reports that toy maker Takara Tomy is releasing a plush based on Mitsuhiro Arita’s original 1996 Pikachu card design, the chubbier rendition often called Chunkachu, and that the product is currently being sold only in Japan.

The plush measures 40 cm tall and is priced at 7,480 yen (about $47). It is not produced by The Pokémon Company and is not available through Pokémon Center stores. The article notes Chunkachu has appeared in Pokémon history before, including as a VMAX design and in updated artwork for the series’ 25th anniversary.

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the first Pokémon games (February 27, 1996) and the first Japanese TCG cards (October 20, 1996), and celebrations are expected to run through the year. At the time of writing the Takara Tomy listing was sold out on the company’s site, though higher-priced listings were appearing on Amazon Japan; the report does not say whether the plush will be restocked or offered outside Japan.

Key Topics

Culture, Takara Tomy, Pikachu, Chunkachu, Mitsuhiro Arita, Pokémon Tcg