Five new Pokémon manhole covers were laid in Japan’s Nara Prefecture on Wednesday (January 20) as part of the Poké Lid  project to place Pokémon-design manhole covers across the country. There are now a total of 148 lids in 13 locations in Japan.

Nara’s 5 new Poké Lids

All of the Poké Lids placed across Japan feature completely original Pokémon designs making each individual one the only one in the world. The Pokémon Company is also working to make each one of them PokéStops for Pokémon GO.

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, be sure to check if there are any Poké Lids at your destination.

©2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
Pokémon, ポケットモンスター, and ポケモン are registered trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and GAME FREAK inc.

Japanese electronics giant Casio has announced its second collaboration with The Pokémon Company to release a Pikachu design watch as part of its BABY-G shock-resistant line of wristwatches. The Pikachu BA-110PKC watch will drop worldwide via G-SHOCK’s official website on February 5, 2021.

The watch comes as part of BABY-G’s 25th anniversary celebrations as Pikachu is number 025 in the Pokédex. It features classic Generation I inspired artwork of Pokémon’s leading mascot.

BA-110PKC | ¥19,800 (Tax Included)

Casio describes the watch: “This second collaboration is an analog-digital watch with an outdoor theme, representing the active image of the BABY-G brand. The entire BA-110PKC band showcases a camouflage pattern and female Pikachu with a heart-shaped tail. The Pikachu design is infused with subtle details like the silhouette of the pink tail on the strap keeper and the Pikachu image etched on the case back. The hour and minute hands also evoke the face of Pikachu, a playful touch that will delight the wearer whenever they check the time.”

The watch is boxed with a Poké Ball inside which Trainers will find their trusty new Pikachu watch companion.

© 2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
Pokémon, ポケットモンスター, and ポケモン are registered trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and GAME FREAK inc.

This year marks the 10th anniversary since Japanese pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu made her debut, and to kick off 2021, she has announced the release of a new single titled GUM GUM GIRL which will hit music streaming and download platforms on January 29, 2021.

The GUM GUM GIRL single artwork painted by Kyary

The cover art for GUM GUM GIRL was painted by Kyary herself on a canvas using acrylic paints. Kyary painted with passion for her 10th anniversary year.

The singer also unveiled a new look which features metallic silver paper to represent the inside of gum packaging. Her magical makeup sees her face lined with rhinestones, serving stylish, futuristic vibes.

Kyary has been involved in the promotion of the Nintendo Switch title Ninjala, and in the game’s latest commercial, she makes an appearance alongside Japanese comedy trio Yonsen Toshin to play the game. You can also hear a snippet of GUM GUM GIRL in the commercial. Check it out below.

Ninjala Commercial feat. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Ninjala is a popular title across the globe having been downloaded over 5 million times. In June 2020, a remix of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s hit song Ninja Re Bang Bang was released by Steve Aoki in collaboration with the game. The song was also made available in-game in October.

Kyary is once again teaming up with Ninjala to feature her new single GUM GUM GIRL in-game, and a special GUM GUM GIRL T-shirt is being released for player avatars. These will be available from January 29 to February 18. Ninja Re Bang Bang Steve Aoki Remix, the clothing item, and dance emote released for that song will also be re-released during this time.

Kyary will premiere a brand new music video for GUM GUM GIRL on her YouTube channel at the stroke of midnight (JST) when January 28 turns to January 29. In the meantime, fans can check out Kyary discussing ideas for the music video with Yasutaka Nakata and her team. The can be watched in Japanese below.

The Making of “GUM GUM GIRL”

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu shows her gratitude for her 10th anniversary year with the release of GUM GUM GIRL which is sure to brighten up anyone’s day who has been feeling down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for the official release.

The official Twitter account for the association football game Captain Tsubasa: Rise Of New Champions announced the release of a free demo which hit PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5 and Nintendo Switch™ on Thursday (January 14). The demo offers a chance for players to experience the Tutorial and Versus modes.

Tutorial Mode

Versus Mode

The game is based on the popular sports anime and manga series Captain Tsubasa and features anime-style graphics. It features familiar faces and high-speed action from the series. It also comes as the series’ first ever action soccer game.

Tutorial Mode teaches players the basics of the game while Versus Mode allows them to play a match with one of the four teams including a 4-player online mode. This is a great opportunity for football lovers who have yet to play the game to try it out.

©高橋陽一／集英社·2018キャプテン翼製作委員会
©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

Tokyo Banana World recently added its special Dengeki Box (Electric Box) of Pikachu Tokyo Banana confections to its official website which is available to order in Japan until January 30, 2021 at 17:00 (JST).

Tokyo Banana is Tokyo’s official souvenir sweets brand and it launched its new Pokémon Tokyo Banana series of confections in November last year with the first catch being Pikachu. It subsequently added Eevee to the collection in December. The Pikachu confections are also available to buy at Tokyo Station.

Pikachu Tokyo Banana – Dengeki Box | Box of 12 Packs (24 Confections) | ¥3,456 (Tax Included)

The limited-time addition of the Dengeki Box to Tokyo Banana’s official website means that anyone in Japan can get a taste of the electrifyingly delicious sweet fluffy custard-filled sponge cakes without having to travel to Tokyo.

Waiting inside the Dengeki Box are 12 packages each with two cakes in and each in one of six different Pikachu designs to greet hungry Trainers, all of which are positively kawaii. The box itself also features these adorable illustrations.

Left: Front of Box | Right: Back of Box

The box even has a handle attached to it so you can reuse it after to store all your bits and bobs.

©2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
Pokémon, ポケットモンスター, and ポケモン are registered trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and GAME FREAK inc..

Pokémon Shirts released three new shirt designs on Friday (January 15) of Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble from Pokémon Sword and Shield. These new designs are currently only available in Japan but Pokémon Shirts has stated that they will be made available worldwide at a later date.

Pokémon Shirts was launched back in February 2019 by American custom shirt brand Original Stitch—which offers over one billion design customisations—and the Pokémon franchise. Pokémon Shirts ships worldwide including Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Japanese designer Minami Kitamura designed the Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble shirts, adding her iconic pop colours and style to the line-up.

Have you shopped on Pokémon Shirts yet? Which Pokémon designs are you looking to catch?

Season 4 for the Nintendo Switch™ title Ninjala finally dropped on January 7, 2021.

In the colourful world of Ninjala, players blow bubble gum to craft different weapons and fight using the fighting style of ninjutsu. Players can also transform into nearby objects, and they must use parkour to traverse different landscapes while aiming to take down their opponents. Released on June 25 this year, the game has been downloaded over 5 million times.

Season 4 brings a new wintery theme with plenty of avatar items for players to enjoy. It also introduces two new weapons—the Scrap Saber and Chewing V—as well as a new stage called Fort Riverdale that features a gorgeous clock tower that glows beautifully against the night sky.

Adjustments have also been made to make battles smoother like shortened loading times, various UI improvements have been implemented, and new features have been added such as Ninjala Collection Cards.

A new episode of the Ninjala 2D Cartoon Anime entitled You’re the Star! was released on PlayNinjala’s official YouTube channel last Thursday (January 7) which can be enjoyed in English above.

© GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.

JINS is teaming up with The Pokémon Company to release a special collection of glasses at JINS stores and their official online shop on January 1, 2021.

Your Pokémon partner with you wherever you go

The glasses come in four different models – Pikachu, Snorlax, Eevee, and Mew – so your favourite can set out on your Pokémon journey with you and be there wherever you go.

Completely original models capture the Pokémons’ designs

The JINS Pokémon Model collection feature original designs and come with an original glasses case. There are plans to launch the glasses globally at JINS stores in the US, China, and elsewhere in the future.

Flagship Model | ¥12,000 (Before Tax)

All the glasses come in four different models: Flagship, Kanto Region, Johto Region, and Kids. The flagship model frames capture the colours of Pikachu, Snorlax, Eevee, and Mew, and each features pixel art of the respective Pokémon. The inner part of the frames also have silhouettes of the Pokémon along with the logo.

Pokémon Trainers will find their stylish glasses cases with a Poké Ball in the front, and inside, Pokémon pixel art.

Kanto Region Model | ¥8,000 (Before Tax)

The Kanto models are based on the Pokémon found in the Kanto Region of the Pokémon world, with Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander, and Pikachu featured on the inner side of the left temple. On the inner right are the same Pokémon including Pikachu not wanting to go into its Poké Ball. This story woven into the glasses is sure to have long-time fans feeling nostalgic.

The top of the grey case has our four pixel friends, and they’re featured on the inside too in silver leaf. The glasses cloth has designs of the original 151 Kanto Pokémon.

Johto Region Model | ¥8,000 (Before Tax)

Fans of the Johto Region Pokémon will enjoy these models which are metal combination frames featuring Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile.

The white glasses case features a sleek design with the logo on it while the cloth has alternating silver and gold Poké Balls.

KIDS MODEL | ¥5,000 (Before Tax)

On the inner part of the frames you’ll find Pikachu, Eevee, Mew, Lucario, and Cinderace, as well as Poké Balls on the ends of the temple parts.

Kids Anti-Allergy Models | ¥3,000 (Before Tax)

The anti-allergy models have Pikachu designs and are equipped with hoods that protect the wearer from pollen. A special laser is used to make the hoods to that the glasses feel natural and not uncomfortable on the face.

These last two glasses cases are compatible with the kids models and include a Poké Ball design and Rotom Phone.

Limited-Edition Bag

Glasses come in a special limited-edition bag. These are limited in stock.

© 2020 Pokémon. © 1995 – 2020 Nintendo/Creatures lnc./GAME FREAK inc.
TM, ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.

Tokyo Banana World has revealed that its next sweet treat in its Pokémon Tokyo Banana series will be Eevee which Pokémon Trainers can expect to catch up and down Japan from January 2, 2021, including at the store itself as well as at 7-Eleven branches.

Pokémon Tokyo Banana Welcomes Eevee as Entry #2

Tokyo’s official souvenir sweets brand Tokyo Banana launched its new Pokémon Tokyo Banana series of confections in November with the first catch being Pikachu. Now Eevee is being added to the collection.

The fluffy sponge is a delicious caramel macchiato flavour and is filled with sweet banana custard cream. It can be eaten as it is, refrigerated, or even baked to create completely different flavour experiences.

6 Designs Including a Lucky Heart-Shaped Tail

The sponge cakes come in six different designs, all of which are adorable. The one to look out for though is the one with a cute heart-shaped tail.

Fluffy Eevee Design Packaging

Eevee Tokyo Banana Caramel Macchiato (Contains 2) | ¥291 (Tax Included)

The packaging features fluffy artwork of Eevee in six different designs, such as a waving Eevee and winking Eevee.

Where Can You Catch Eevee Tokyo Banana?

Eevee will roll out at 7-Eleven stores across Japan (excluding Okinawa) at the dates listed below. Each branch will have a limited stock so don’t miss out.

January 2, 2021 Release
Tokyo/Kanagawa/Chiba/Saitama

January 16, 2021 Release
Hokkaido/Aomori/Iwate/Akita/Miyagi/Yamagata/Fukushima/Ibaraki/Tochigi/Gunma/Niigata/Fuji/Ishikawa/Fukui

January 23, 2021 Release
Yamanashi/Nagano/Shizuoka/Aichi/Gifu/Mie/Okayama/Hiroshima/Tottori/Yamaguchi/Tokushima/Kagawa/Ehime/Kochi

January 30, 2021
Osaka/Kyoto/Hyogo/Shiga/Nara/Wakayama/Fukuoka/Saga/Nagasaki/Oita/Kumamoyo/Miyazaki/Kagoshima

©2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 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。

Japanese luxury loungewear and sleepwear brand gelato pique will open online orders for an additional stock of its Animal Crossing: New Horizons collection on December 22, 2020 at 12:00pm (JST).

Original pre-orders for the collection will begin over on Gelato Pique’s official website on November 18. They will subsequently be released at the official Nintento TOKYO store as well as select Gelato Pique stores in Japan on January 13, 2021. Before that, they are also lining the shelves of a Gelato Pique pop-up store called “Gelato Pique Christmas Town” in Omotesando Hills which is running until December 25.

ABOUT COLLECTION

The collection is a collaboration with the Nintendo Switch™ title Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It captures the warm, cosy, laid-back life of the game in the form of comfortable loungewear so you can feel as soft and relaxed as the characters in the game.

Line-Up (Excerpt)

Jacquard Pullover ¥5,800

A Timmy & Tommy knitted jacquard pullover with a simple yet design.

[Colours: Brown/Cream/Grey] Hoodies ¥6,800 | Short Pants ¥4,200 | Set ¥11,000

Become your favourite character with a cosy ear-topped hoodie and pants.

Left: Fruit Pullover ¥5,400 | Fruit Long Pants ¥5,200

Left: Character Pullover ¥5,400 | Character Long Pants ¥5,200

Cut and sewn pyjamas with mini character designs and fruit patterns.

Left: Blanket ¥5,800 | Right: Jacquard Blanket B ¥5,800

Stay warm with these Timmy & Tommy blankets.

Additional Stock Orders

Additional stock orders will take place on gelato pique’s online store and USAGI ONLINE. It will run through a lottery system with random people being chosen. You will also need a Japanese address to receive the items.

Running: December 22, 2020 at 12:00 (JST) – January 17, 2021 at 23:59 (JST)

Product Delivery: January 23, 2021

Stay cosy and warm this winter with the critters of Animal Crossing.

© 2020 Nintendo

Japanese regional airline company Solaseed Air Inc. has partnered up with Pokémon, creating an Exeggutor-themed plane.

In October 2020, Exeggutor was labelled as Miyazaki prefecture’s favourite Pokémon. This selection is due to Miyazaki being commonly associated with its warm and sunny climate. Exeggutor also resembles Miyazaki’s famous Phoenix palm trees, making it the perfect Pokémon ambassador.

Solaseed Air Exeggutor decal sticker on the right side of the plane

Solaseed Air Alolan Exeggutor decal sticker on the left side of the plane

Solaseed Air has decorated the outside of their planes with large Pokémon decal stickers of approximately 9m long by 3m wide. Exeggutors can be seen on the right side whereas Alolan Exeggutors can be seen on the left.

Once you enter the aircraft, you will discover original Exeggutor headrest covers. The cabin crew will also be serving passengers while wearing original Exeggutor-themed aprons.

Solaseed Air Commemoration Gifts

A celebration was held at Miyazaki Airport on December 19, 2020 to commemorate the launch of the first Pokémon aircraft Solaseed Air 54, which departed Miyazaki at 10:05am and arrived at Tokyo Narita Airport at 11:40am. The passengers aboard were given Exeggutor-themed gift bags which contained sweets, an original Miyazaki prefecture ballpoint pen, coaster, magazine, commemoration certificate and more.

Solaseed Air Ceremony

Exeggutor also managed to make it to the ceremony to deliver happiness and express gratitude towards Solaseed Air passengers.

Enjoy the wonders of Miyazaki prefecture with Exeggutor and hop on the plane for an unforgettable adventure.

Back in November, Sega Toys released a new Pikachu plush toy as part of its “WHO are YOU?” surprise toy series which reveals what character it is after being washed. As the series became more popular than expected, Sega Toys is continuing sales of the adorable anonymous balls of fluff.

Overwhelming Success

Since being launched in 2018, over 10 million WHO are YOU? toys have been sold worldwide. As a result, WHO are YOU? Pokémon was added to the collection, becoming a bigger sensation than ever imagined when it launched in November 2020. Pictures of the toys flooded social media and reservations were overwhelmingly high. As a result of its popularity, the WHO are YOU? Pokémon series is making a comeback and will be available to purchase online, at toy shops in Japan and elsewhere.

A Mysterious Pokémon Appeared!

WHO are YOU? Pokémon: ¥3,800 (Before Tax)

The WHO are YOU? series has plush toys taking the form of a fluffy ball to conceal the identity of the character. To evolve your mysterious Pokémon and discover its identity, it needs to be washed. In addition to the standard facial expression, there is also a smiling face and winking face. The winking Pokémon is the only female Pokémon and its tail is heart-shaped!

Give Your Pokémon Berries To Become Friends

After carefully coaching your Pikachu out of hiding, you will be rewarded for your efforts with delicious berries for your Pokémon. There are five different types of berries available including Pecha berries, Sitrus berries, Oran berries, Pomeg berries, and Lum berries. Your Pokémon will be clutching two to three of these berries and they will only be accessible when you successfully evolve your Pokémon. Use the berries to take your friendship to the next level. This toy is the perfect way to interact with Pokémon in a brand new way.

This is the perfect Christmas or New Year’s gift for any Pokémon fan.

©2020 Pokémon. ©1995-2020 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. ©2019 Moose Group ©SEGATOYS
セガとセガロゴは株式会社セガまたはその関連会社の登録商標です。
SEGA and SEGA logo are registered trademarks of SEGA Co., Ltd. or its affiliates.