Professor Banzo

	Professor Banzo (ばんぞー博士)
	Genders and Releases:
	Tamagotchi iD L 15th Anniversary Ver.; Tamagotchi m!x 20th Anniversary Version;
	Tamagotchi; Game de Hakken!! Tamagotchi 2; Game de Hakken!! Tamagotchi Osucchi to Mesucchi; 64 de Hakken! Tamagotchi Minna de Tamagotchi World; Hoshi de Hakken!! Tamagotchi; Tamagotchi Town;
	Tamagotchi Honto no Hanashi;
	Sprites:

Professor Banzo (ばんぞー博士 Banzo Hakase) is a professor who studies the Tamagotchi species of aliens at the Strange Biology Institute at Taitō, Tokyo with his assistant, Mikachu.

He and Mikachu were the main characters for presenting the Tamagotchi franchise in Japan during the 90s, and featured in the video games, on packaging, in guide books, and more. However, since the 2004 reboot, he has been completely absent aside from a few special appearances.

Despite being a prominent character for the franchise at the time, he was seldom used outside of Japan aside from in specific guidebooks and instruction manuals. His most prominent US appearance was in the Tamagotchi Game Boy game, where he gave in-game instructions include how to play. Curiously, he also appeared on the bags for US McDonald’s Tamagotchi Toyz Happy Meals alongside the international artwork.

History

One day, Banzo was sulking on a bridge over Sumida River after suffering a broken heart. As Mikachu attempted to cheer him up, a UFO crashed into the river. Realizing the creatures inside would drown, the two humans salvaged the ship, only to find the creatures inside could not survive in Earth's atmosphere. He built a small, egg-shaped device that allowed the creatures to live comfortably on Earth. He named the device the "Tamagotchi HOUSE" (たまごっちＨＯＵＳＥ) due to its function as both a clock and a home for the creature, and resembled an egg.

Now dubbing the entire race of aliens "Tamagotchi", Banzo and Mikachu began to research them to the best of their ability. They have even left Earth, visiting the Tamagotchi Planet itself and studying the life there.

On Virtual Pets

Tamagotchi iD L 15th Anniversary Version

On the Tamagotchi iD L 15th Anniversary Version, it's revealed that after 15 years, Banzo and Mikachu continue to research Tamagotchi. Visiting them enough times earns the Research Report item.