Hamutaro Tottokouta (ハム太郎とっとこうた) is the opening theme song for the Japanese version of Hamtaro. The song was first composed in 1997 by Ritsuko Kawai, with a basic print of sheet music being featured in A Home for Hamtaro & Other Stories. It would properly debut as a fully performed song in 1999, as the opening theme to Tottoko Hamutaro Anime Dechu!. It would later be used for the main anime series, with its initial version being performed by the Ham-Hams.
There are two alternate versions of the song with unique lyrics: Tottokouta - Tsuzuki Dechu and Tottokouta - Mata Tsuzuki Dechu (effectively meaning "Tottokouta Continued" and "Tottokouta Continued Again", respectively). These variants (like their predecessor) were also performed by the Ham-Hams.
There were also two versions performed by Japanese tarento Chiaki, both of which used the original lyrics. The first is simply known as Tottokouta - Chiaki with Hamuchans, while the second is titled Tottokouta - Norinori Dechu. The "Norinori" version is much faster-paced than other releases of the song.
The final main remix of the song was Tottokouta 2005, which was used in the final season of the anime series. More alternate variants of the song would still follow, though, including versions in the Hai! and Dechu series.
In English (and most other overseas countries), a unique intro song titled It's Hamtaro Time! was used instead. Despite this, an English adaption of the song was written (as the sheet music in A Home for Hamtaro); but it was never actually performed in any official media.
Lyrics[]
Original Japanese[]
とっとこ はしるよ ハム太郎
すみっこ はしるよ ハム太郎
大すきなのは ヒマワリのタネ
やっぱり はしるよ ハム太郎
とっとこ まわるよ ハム太郎
かっしゃを まわるよ ハム太郎
大すきなのは ヒマワリのタネ
まわると うれしい ハム太郎
とっとこ ねむるよ ハム太郎
どこでも ねむるよ ハム太郎
大すきなのは ヒマワリのタネ
やっぱり ねむるよ ハム太郎
Romaji[]
Tottoko hashiru yo Hamutaro
Sumikko hashiru yo Hamutaro
Daisuki na no wa himawari no tane
Yappari hashiru yo Hamutaro
Tottoko mawaru yo hamutaro
Kassha wo mawaru yo Hamutaro
Daisuki na no wa himawari no tane
Mawaru to ureshii Hamutaro
Tottoko nemuru yo Hamutaro
Dokodemo nemuru yo Hamutaro
Daisuki na no wa himawari no tane
Yappari nemuru yo Hamutaro
Translated[]
Trotting, let's run, Hamtaro
Let's run to the corner, Hamtaro
I really like sunflower seeds
Indeed, we are running, Hamtaro
Trotting, let’s turn around, Hamtaro
Turning while painting, Hamtaro
I really like sunflower seeds
Turn around and be happy, Hamtaro
Trotting, let's sleep, Hamtaro
No matter where, let's sleep, Hamtaro
I really like sunflower seeds
Indeed, we are sleeping, Hamtaro
Lyrics (Tsuzuki Dechu)[]
Original Japanese[]
とっとこ かじるよ ハム太郎
なんでも かじるよ ハム太郎
はみがきしたら しあわせいっぱい
あしたも かじるよ ハム太郎
とっとこ もぐるよ ハム太郎
どこでも もぐるよ ハム太郎
くらやみのなか どこでもいける
もぐると おちつく ハム太郎
とっとこ ためるよ ハム太郎
ほっぺに ためるよ ハム太郎
だいすきなのは ひまわりのタネ
25こ はいるよ ハム太郎
Romaji[]
Tottoko kajiru yo Hamutaro
Nandemo kajiru yo Hamutaro
Hamigaki shitara shiawase ippai
Ashita mo kajiru yo Hamutaro
Tottoko moguru yo Hamutaro
Dokodemo moguru yo Hamutaro
Kurayami no naka dokodemo ikeru
Moguru to ochitsuku Hamutaro
Tottoko tameru yo Hamutaro
Hoppe ni tameru yo Hamutaro
Daisuki na no wa himawari no tane
Nijuu-go ko hairu yo Hamutaro
Translated[]
Trotting, I'm gonna bite, Hamtaro
By all means, I will bite, Hamtaro
I'm full of happiness when I brush my teeth
I'll bite tomorrow, Hamtaro
Trotting, I'm burrowing, Hamtaro
No matter where, I'll start burrowing, Hamtaro
I can go anywhere in the dark
When I burrow, I calm down, Hamtaro
Trotting, let's store, Hamtaro
I'll store it in my cheeks, Hamtaro
I really like sunflower seeds
I'm storing 25 snacks, Hamtaro
Lyrics (Mata Tsuzuki Dechu)[]
Original Japanese[]
とっとこ かくすよ ハム太郎
どこでも かくすよ ハム太郎
おちているもの たいせつなもの
かくして わすれる ハム太郎
とっとこ あらうよ ハム太郎
まえばで あらうよ ハム太郎
けなみはいつも つややかなのだ
ピカピカきぶんの ハム太郎
とっとこ いきるよ ハム太郎
じゆうに いきるよ ハム太郎
大すきなのは ヒマワリのタネ
どこかで あそんでる ハム太郎
Romaji[]
Tottoko kakusu yo Hamutaro
Dokodemo kakusu yo Hamutaro
Ochiteiru mono taisetsu na mono
Kakushite wasureru Hamutaro
Tottoko arau yo Hamutaro
Maeba de arau yo Hamutaro
Kenami wa itsumo tsuyayaka na no da
Pika pika kibun no Hamutarou
Tottoko ikiru yo Hamutaro
Jiyuu ni ikiru yo Hamutaro
Daisuki na no wa Himawari no tane
Dokoka de asonderu Hamutaro
Translated[]
Trotting, let's hide, Hamtaro
No matter where, let's hide, Hamtaro
Lots of things are falling, very important things
Thus, forgotten; Hamtaro
Trotting, let's wash Hamtaro
By the way, we are washing Hamtaro
Such beautiful fur, always so lustrous
So shiny, I feel great, Hamtaro
Trotting, I will live, Hamtaro
I will live life freely, Hamtaro
I really like sunflower seeds
Somewhere, I'll always be playing, Hamtaro
Lyrics (From English manga book)[]
Oh, watch him run, here and there, it's Hamtaro
He runs for fun in small, dark, places, my Hamtaro
Seeds are what he loves to eat, oh yummy sunflower seeds
Runs from the sun, oh yes he does, my Hamtaro
Oh, watch him go, round and round, my Hamtaro
A whiz-wheel pro, round and round he goes, my Hamtaro
Seeds are what he loves to eat, oh yummy sunflower seeds
He's running so; where will he go, my Hamtaro?
Oh, watch him doze, on and on, my Hamtaro
Anyplace goes for a little sleepy Hamtaro
Seeds are what he loves to eat, oh yummy sunflower seeds
Oh, yes, he knows how to sleep deep, my Hamtaro
Single and Album Releases[]
The majority of Japanese Hamtaro albums and singles included at least one version of Hamutaro Tottokouta. In the main Hamtaro albums, they were generally joined by their accompanying credits sequence and instrumental versions. Some notable albums with Hamutaro Tottokouta included are:
- Tottoko Hamutaro Theme Song
(とっとこハム太郎主題歌)- Original version. Included alongside 200% no Jumon
- Hamutaro Tottokouta - Tsuzuki Dechu/Te Wo Tsunago
(ハム太郎とっとこうた～つづきでちゅ/てをつなごう)- Tsuzuki Dechu version. Included alongside Te Wo Tsunago and Happy Ham-Ham Birthday
- Tottoko Hamutaro Opuningu Tema: Tottokouta - Mata Tsuzuki Dechu!
(とっとこハム太郎 オープニング･テーマ:ハム太郎とっとこうた またつづきでちゅ!)- Features original, Tsuzuki Dechu, and Mata Tsuzuki Dechu versions. Included alongside Lovely Summer Gift - Ham-Ham Holiday, Forever~
- Tottoko Hamutaro: New Theme Song
(とっとこハム太郎 新主題歌)- 2005 version. Included alongside Ham-Ham Train
- Tottoko Hamutarō Zenshudaika-Shū
(とっとこハム太郎 ソングコレクション全主題歌集)- Features all six main versions, though it does not have any instrumental tracks. Included alongside numerous other songs
Appearances in Video Games[]
Several video games - both directly Hamtaro-related and entirely separate works - feature Hamutaro Tottokouta, often as a special cover version. These are generally released under license from Shogakukan/JASRAC.
- Instrumental remixes of Tottokouta appeared in the Japanese versions of Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite!, Ham-Ham Heartbreak, and Rainbow Rescue. The Unite and Heartbreak renditions are closer in line to the 1999 Anime Dechu! version of the song, while Rainbow Rescue is more similar to the proper 2000 anime version. In overseas releases, it was swapped out for renditions of It's Hamtaro Time!.
- Another instrumental remix appeared in Hi! Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Challenge, regardless of the region. It sounds similar to the Tottoko Hamutaro Hai! version.
- The original version also appeared in the Japanese version of Donkey Konga; however, no Hamtaro songs were present in the American release.
- Various games in the Taiko no Tatsujin series feature Hamtaro Tottokouta; some installments have the original version, while other releases use covers.
- A cover of Hamutaro Tottokouta was released in the Ensemble Stars!! mobile game, performed by both Ra*bits and RYUSEITAI.
Languages[]
- Arabic
- Cantonese - original version performed by TWINS; Mata Tsuzuki Dechu version performed by Boy'z
- Finnish (only in the movie)
- French (post-episode 104; adapted from Mata Tsuzuki Dechu version)
- German
- Greek
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Mandarin
- Thai
The Mata Tsuzuki Dechu version of the song was also used in the Valencian dub, but was left untranslated from Japanese.
Trivia[]
- The name of "Tottokouta" is somewhat of a wordplay; building off of the "ō" (ou) sound at the end of "Tottoko" and the beginning of "Uta" (meaning "song").
- The Cantonese adaption of Tottokouta - Mata Tsuzuki Dechu received the third-place prize in the 2004 Children's Song Awards Presentation (an annual awards show that used to be held in Hong Kong). The first-place prize was awarded to Te Wo Tsunago.[1]
- Hamutaro Tottokouta was often performed at Mini-Moni concerts in the early 2000s, accompanied by mascot costumes of the Mini Hams (among other Hamtaro characters). While at least one of these concerts was televised, the Mini-Moni cover was seemingly never studio-recorded.[2]
- At the end of Kentaro Ito's Hyakka Seiran (百歌声爛) volume, there is a shortened cover of Tottokouta sung by Ito, using the same voice as he originally did for Boss in the anime.[3]
- Onxard even has his version of song, which he sings in the Japanese episode Tomy-T and Eggy-P!.
Videos[]
