Hamtaro, known in Japan as Trotting Hamtaro , is a Japanese children's manga and storybook series created and illustrated by Ritsuko Kawai about a hamster named Hamtaro. The manga was first published in Shogakukan's Shōgaku Ninensei magazine in April 1997; more Hamtaro stories would later be added into the other grade-level magazines, as well as in Ciao. The series focuses on a hamster named Hamtaro, who has a variety of adventures with other hamsters known as the "Ham-Hams". Viz Media published the manga adaptations and storybooks in English.