Monchhichi facts for kids

A Monchhichi doll

Monchhichi (モンチッチ, Monchitchi) is a famous brand of stuffed monkey toys from Japan. These cute toys were first made by the Sekiguchi Corporation in 1974. They quickly became a big hit all over the world.

Monchhichis became so popular that they starred in their own television shows! Over the years, there have been several animated series about their adventures, made in Japan, the United States, and France.

The Story of Monchhichi

The Monchhichi toys were created by a well-known doll company in Tokyo, Japan, called the Sekiguchi Corporation. A designer named Yoshiharu Washino created the first Monchhichi on January 25, 1974. The company wanted to create a toy that would teach children and adults about love and respect.

What Does "Monchhichi" Mean?

The name "Monchhichi" is a fun mix of different words.

• "Mon" is the French word for "My." So it's like saying "my little friend."
• "Chichi" sounds like the noise a baby's pacifier makes in Japanese.
• When you put it all together, Monchhichi also sounds a lot like the English word "monkey"!

A Worldwide Star

Monchhichi dolls were a huge success in Japan. An animated TV show in 1980, called Futago no Monchhichi (which means Monchhichi Twins), made them even more famous there.

Soon, the dolls traveled to other countries. In 1975, they went on sale in Germany and Austria. In other places, they were sometimes given different names.

• In the United Kingdom, they were called "Chicaboo."
• In Italy, they were "Mon Cicci."
• In France, they were known as "Kiki."
• In Denmark, they were called "Bølle."

The toys were especially popular in Germany during the 1980s, where they sold even more than in Japan at the time.

Monchhichi in America

Monchhichi arrived in North America in 1980. The toy company Mattel started selling them. To help make them popular, the famous animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions (who made Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones) created an American cartoon series called Monchhichis in 1983.

After a few years, Mattel stopped selling the toys. But in 2004, for Monchhichi's 30th birthday, Sekiguchi brought them back. Since 2013, the company decided to use the name "Monchhichi" everywhere in the world to unite the brand.

Monchhichi Today

As of 2025, Monchhichi dolls are still loved, especially by people who remember them from when they were young and by collectors. You can find them in many different sizes, from small 10 cm dolls to giant 80 cm ones. There are also special editions where the Monchhichis wear different outfits or even carry a baby Monchhichi.

Monchhichi on TV

The Monchhichi characters have starred in several animated series around the world.

Monchhichi Twins (1980)

This was the first anime series about Monchhichi, made in Japan. It was about the adventures of a pair of Monchhichi twins. The show helped make the toys very popular in Japan.

Monchhichis (1983)

This American cartoon was made by Hanna-Barbera Productions and was shown on the ABC network. It introduced the characters to a new audience in the United States.

Other Shows

Monchhichi adventures continued in other shows, including:

• Kiki, le Kiki de tous les Kiki (2001): A French cartoon series.
• Monchhichi (2005): A Japanese series made with stop-motion animation.
• Monchhichi Tribe (2017): A modern French series made with CGI animation.