Overview: The behind-the-scenes tales of hit products and creations from Japan: this is Japan's Top Inventions. This time, the story behind the handheld digital pets known as Tamagotchi. Released by a Japanese toy maker in 1996, these toys let owners "raise" an on-screen digital pet, feeding it, putting it to bed, playing with it and more. We dig into the little-known story behind the creation of these handheld digital pets, a giant hit in some 30 countries and regions.