A new commercial for Pokemon GO’s second ‘Let’s GO to the Hills’ campaign is now airing nationwide, calling on all players of the smartphone game to work up a sweat while exploring new scenery around Japan. Set in the Fukiya district of Takahashi, Okayama, the ad stars the popular actress Mitsuki Takahata. The ‘Let’s GO to the Hills’ campaign focuses on hills and slopes, and players might find some fun new Pokemon on their travels.

The new commercial began airing nationwide on January 20, and its setting–the Fukiya district of Takahashi, Okayama–has flourished since the Edo period as a leading copper and red ocher producer. Red ocher is a byproduct of copper production and is used in many traditional Japanese crafts, even called Japan Red by some.

Several popular Pokemon appear alongside Takahata in the ad, including Chimchar, Fletchling, Hisuian Voltorb, Nyabby, Darumaka, and Charizard. Be sure to listen out for Takahata’s Okayama accent!

From January 20 until July 19, a 4-meter-high real-world PokeStop will appear at the former Fukiya Elementary School in Fukiya Furusato Village. Yes, it will be linked to the game as well!

Curtains and tapestries featuring Pokemon silhouettes and dyed Japan Red will also appear in the village, and each will point the way to real PokeStops. While it might be a little off the beaten path, come enjoy Fukiya and see what kinds of Pokemon you can find!

©2023 Niantic, Inc.
©2023 Pokémon. ©1995-2023 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.
ポケモン・Pokémon は任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの登録商標です。

U-Treasure, a company offering proper jewelry inspired by pop culture, has announced a Pikachu engagement ring! The item was made available on December 13 and can hold large diamonds from 1-1.999 carats. Each ring features a male and female Pikachu, perfect for the Pokemon master in your life. Along with this, a silver version made from cubic zirconia featuring the same design is available to pre-order until January 31, 2023.

[Pokemon] Pikachu Carat Solitaire Ring

On December 9, Original Japan released 32 new patterns for the popular Pokemon Shirts line, this time from Pokemon Diamond & Pearl.

With the addition of these new designs, customers can choose from a total of 493 patterns. These patterns can also be used in masks and bandanas.

32 New Patterns from Pokemon Diamond & Pearl!

The new patterns were inspired by ‘Evolution and Legends.’ Fans can find popular Pokemon like Giratina, Rotom, and Weavile, so be sure to check out the website for more details. 

Dark Ball and Quick Ball Buttons are Now Available!

To celebrate these new patterns, new buttons inspired by the Dark Ball and Quick Ball are now available. Fans can also choose from the traditional Pokeball, Great Ball, Hyper Ball, Premier Ball, Moon Ball, and Dive Ball. 

Puma and Pokemon are joining forces for the first time. The Puma x Pokemon collection officially went on sale on November 12, offering fans a collection of sneakers, bags, apparel, and more.

The playful new collection incorporates iconic images of popular Pokemon like Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. The shoe lineup includes popular models like the Slipstream, Suede Classics, and Rider FV. Pokemon can be found hiding on the shoe’s tongue, insole, and heel, and fans are sure to love these stylish kicks. For apparel, customers can grab cotton T-shirts, crew-neck sweatshirts, hoodies, sweatpants, and more. Complete your look with a beanie or messenger bag. 

The Puma x Pokemon collection is on sale at Puma Store Harajuku Cat Street, Puma Store Osaka, Puma Store Odaiba, Puma Store Fujimi, Puma Store Kyoto, Puma Sapporo Factory, Puma Store Fukuoka, and the official Puma online store. 

Mister Donut has revealed its annual Pokemon Christmas collaboration. This marks the 5th year that the popular sweets chain is teaming up with the legendary franchise, and starting on November 9, fans can find themed sweets and merchandise for a limited time. 

Pikachu Snowman Donut

Christmas Collection Donut Set

New to the lineup in 2022 is the Pikachu Snowman Donut. This will be sold alongside the always-popular standard Pikachu Donut which will be sold in a cute Christmas sleeve. Customers can also look forward to the sleepy Pikachu Donut and the fluffy Jigglypuff Donut this holiday season.

Mister Donut Blanket (White)

Mister Donut Glasses (Set of 2)

The Christmas Set will include the Mister Donut Pokemon Blanket, which is available in two patterns, as well as a pair of Pokemon glasses. Fans are sure to enjoy these new illustrations of Pikachu and Jigglypuff made exclusively for the collaboration. 

Pikachu Donut

The popular Pikachu Donut is back! The fluffy yeast pastry is filled with whipped cream with a pudding flavor and chocolate coating. 

Pikachu Snowman Donut

Also filled with whipped cream, the Pikachu Snowman Donut is coated with white chocolate.

Be sure to check out this exclusive collection of sweets and goods before they’re gone!

©2022 Pokémon. ©1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.

ポケットモンスター・ポケモン・Pokémonは任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの登録商標です。
Nintendo Switchのロゴ・Nintendo Switchは任天堂の商標です。

Pokemon and Original Inc. are back with some new Pokemon Shirts in collaboration with the popular visual artist Yu Nagaba! Customers can head onto the official Pokemon Shirts website now to grab one of these cute new Pikachu-inspired designs. 

The apparel brand Original Stitch was created by an engineer working in Silicon Valley who wanted to make it easier to shop for clothes. After launching a test service in 2013 and establishing the brand’s parent company, Original Inc., in 2015, the company began developing its custom shirt service. Those buying from the site can customize every detail of their shirt and order in as little as five minutes. These shirts are carefully tailored by craftsmen at a factory in Japan.

Two New Designs Made in Collaboration with Popular Artist Yu Nagaba

Two printed patterns and one unique embroidery have been added to the collection for a limited time. Yu Nagaba’s designs can be used to cover entire shirts or can be used as accents on collars and sleeves. Customers can even use the embroidery on a plain shirt to make something more subtle. 

Yu Nagaba’s casual depiction of Pikachu shows why his art is so beloved. Silly and subtle, both Pokemon fans and fans of Nagaba’s art are welcome to snag one of these shirts before they’re gone. Check out the website for more details.

Pattern: Yu Nagaba (White)

Pattern: Yu Nagaba (Black)

Embroidery: Pikachu (Yu Nagaba)

Despite being on hiatus, Mafumafu has released a new song titled Shitsurakuen (Paradise Lost). The track will serve as the theme song for the Plantopia multimedia project which began this July, and a new animated music video has also been released.

Plantopia is an original anime and figure collaboration between Good Smile Company, Max Factory, and Twin Engine. It tells the story of a human girl and a flower-based lifeform on a mysterious planet covered by unique plants. The project was spearheaded by Nozomu Kuoka (TECHNOROID), LAM (takt op.), and Kukka (D_CIDE TRAUMEREI). A line of figures inspired by LAM’s illustrations are scheduled to be released.

The Shitsurakuen music video, directed by Yuki Igarashi, has been released, with animation production by OUTLINE. It shows the story of Haru, a human girl, and Alpha, a cherry blossom Flowerian. The track is now streaming and available for download.

A light novel for Plantopia written by Kuoka has been published on Kakuyomu. A number of other projects are being funded on Kickstarter, so be sure to check them out!

Comment from Mafumafu

“I’m Mafumafu and I wrote the theme song for Plantopia, Shitsurakuen (Paradise Lost). 

It’s always been a very precious experience in my life as an artist to write a song for a story that will come to be in the future, and I’m very excited to see what kind of images will be created and what stories will be told.

As more and more creators participating in the project hear this song, it might be transformed into something beyond what I could have imagined. This will serve as the gateway to new forms of entertainment!

Although I’m currently on a hiatus, I’d still like to enjoy the world of Plantopia with you all. 

Thank you so much.”

The theme song for the ongoing anime series Play It Cool, Guys–which began airing in Japan on October 10–will be available to stream on October 26, 2022. Mafumafu’s Seishun Kippu is already proving popular, especially after the artist announced his hiatus in June 2022. The track’s cover art has also been revealed along with the announcement.

Play It Cool, Guys is a comedy series following a group of high school boys who seem incredibly cool but are actually a bunch of dorks in disguise. Nata launched the manga series in June 2019 on the Gangan pixiv website, where it is ongoing. 

The track has a fresh and fast-paced feel, and was written and arranged by Mafumafu before he announced his hiatus. The jacket photo was created by filmmaker and illustrator Tsuda. Are you watching the anime this season?

Monpoke, the official Pokemon baby brand, has released the lookbook for its 2022 Autumn/Winter collection! New items include pajamas, jackets, and other apparel and sundries for infants and toddlers. Monpoke, which launched in 2019, has added two new familiar Pokemon to the lineup this time around–Gengar and Mimikyu. 

Nighttime-only Diapers featuring Sleepymon Design

Pikachu and the Nighttime Adventure, the Second Book in Rikako Matsuo’s Monpoke Picture Book Series

The adorable diapers will help keep babies dry all night, and these helpful products will be released nationwide in early November 2022. The new picture book will be released on September 21, so be ready to add it to your nighttime reading routine.

©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.

Mafumafu’s new song Seishun Kippu (Youth Ticket) will serve as the opening theme for the upcoming anime series Play It Cool, Guys, scheduled to air in October 2022. The artist went on hiatus after holding a two-day solo concert at Tokyo Dome in June 2022.

Play It Cool, Guys is a comedy series following a group of high school boys who seem incredibly cool but are actually a bunch of dorks in disguise. Nata launched the manga series in June 2019 on the Gangan pixiv website, where it is ongoing. Along with the announcement that the anime series would begin airing in October 2022, a key visual showing each of the hilarious characters was also revealed.

The opening theme, Seishun Kippu, was written by Mafumafu before he announced his indefinite hiatus. The track has a fresh and fast-paced feel, and it can be heard in the newest trailer for the series. Be sure to give it a watch!

Play It Cool, Guys Trailer

https://youtu.be/f4Onn1yQGUA

Comment from Mafumafu

“I was so honored to be asked to sing the theme song for this series. 

These boys seem cool, but they’re actually total airheads.

I think that the gap between who we are inside and who we pretend to be can be a really fascinating thing. 

I think that watching the daily lives of these adorable and suave high school boys is something that will bring some joy to people today. It’s a rare sight, after all, and I know it will be a pick-me-up for everyone feeling stressed out.

I love comedy anime!

I’m looking forward to seeing it!”

©那多ここね／SQUARE ENIX・「クールドジ男子」製作委員会

Starting September 2, customers will be able to snag some new customizable shirts from Original Stitch featuring embroidered silhouettes of popular Pokemon!

Fans will be able to add these silhouettes to the left chest, right hem, or left cuff of their shirt. 25 different Pokemon are available to choose from, all from the original game titles, Red and Green. 

Light Blue Dungaree / Navy Oxford / Gray Navy Dungaree / Black Checkered Gingham / Gray Kanoko

Poke Ball / Great Ball / Ultra Ball / Premier Ball / Dive Ball / Moon Ball

Customers can choose from six fabrics, including dungaree in light blue and gray-navy, black checkered gingham, white herringbone, and more.

For shirt buttons, customers can also choose from a collection of Poke Balls from the series. These customizable shirts are available to order globally. 

To celebrate six years of Pokemon Go, an incredible drone show was held during the Akagawa Fireworks 2022 presentation in Yamagata Prefecture on August 20, 2022. 

The presentation sought to get audiences excited for summer fun, with the phrase “let’s go on an adventure this summer” appearing in the air above the huge audience of 40,000. The Pokemon GO logo and popular Pokemon were recreated by around 700 drones.

Music from the mobile game played during the impressive show, as Pikachu and a 100-meter-tall Charizard moved across the sky. Alolan Exeggutor, Gengar, Wailord, and Rayquaza also appeared, creating a night to remember for Pokemon fans in the town of Tsuruoka. 

Pokemon GO Special Drone Show at Otaru Ushio Matsuri

The show itself was a surprise for the audience, with applause and excitement instantly palpable as it began. After the drone presentation concluded, the Akagawa Fireworks display began.

The Pokemon GO Special Drone Show was first held at the 56th Otaru Ushio Matsuri in Otaru, Hokkaido on July 24. Watch it in full above!

©2022 Niantic, Inc.
©2022 Pokémon. ©1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc. ポケモン・Pokémon は任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの登録商標です。