SoraNews24 —Japan News—

Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.

Featured

Weird
Studio Ghibli
Jobs

Pokemon (Page 63)

New Pokémon Center opens, resellers snatch up thousands of dollars of limited edition plushies

Casey Baseel
Dec 15, 2014
Tweet

For the most part, Japan does a pretty thorough job of separating its video games from reality. Even after decades of Super Mario Bros., the country isn’t beset with inhumane monsters stomping on box turtles for fun, and while some dude did once take a swing at me in Shibuya Station, Tokyo’s sidewalks are almost universally free of would-be street fighters.

One notable exception, though, is Pokémon, in that people who love hunting for the monsters in the game tend to also like searching for cool merchandise based on the series in real life. But while fans have a mutual respect for each other’s dedication and efforts to catch ‘em all in the game, some were a little less impressed when they showed up to shop at Tokyo’s newest Pokémon Center, only to find some covetous shoppers had bought up all of the store’s special stuffed animals, with one individual spending the equivalent of thousands of dollars on Pikachu plushies.

Japan
(anime • nintendo • Pikachu • Pokemon • toys • video game)

Pikachu meets Godzilla: 6 Pokémon get the kaiju movie monster treatment

Scott R Dixon
Dec 14, 2014

As two of Japan’s most well-known cultural ambassadors, it’s about time that the worlds of Pikachu and Godzilla collide. And we found some fake movies posters that do just that by combining the imagery of Japanese kaiju movie monsters with six classic pokémon. Click below to see Pikachu and five of his friends destroying cities, crushing buildings and causing quite a mess.

Japan
(cool • Godzilla • kaiju • mashup • mothra • movie • Pikachu • Pokemon • poster)

Hopping Bulbasaur! Pokémon favorite found squatting in the wild

Preston Phro
Dec 1, 2014

While Yo-kai Watch is basically the new Pokémon for the younger generation, it doesn’t mean that Pokémon is done and gone! While all the cool kids may be focused on Jibanyan, it looks like nature might be a bigger fan of Pokémon–just look at this photo of “Bulbasaur!”

Internet
(Bulbasaur • photography • Pokemon)

Gotta stack ’em all! Collect and play with these adorable stackable pokémon

Cara Clegg
Dec 1, 2014

With the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire you might be in the mood for some merch, so we’ve dug some out for you: Have hours of fun with these adorable stackable pokémon sets!

Japan
(Pikachu • Pokemon • Snorlax • toys)

8 surreal mash-ups by Pokémon fans who think Marshtomp is creepy

Fran W
Nov 30, 2014

If you’ve been playing Pokémon Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire, you’ll be familiar with cute little critter, Mudkip, one of the three starter Pokémon in the new game. Mudkip may start life as an adorable water-munchkin, but many Japanese fans felt that things take a turn for the worse when he evolves into Marshtomp.

Gone are the big doe-eyes and baby features, replaced by a glassy-eyed stare that Japanese Twitter users are calling “too scary for words”. Obviously, the only thing to do was to start Photoshopping Marshtomp’s head onto things. What else is the internet for?

Japan
(mash up • Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire • Photoshop battle • Pokemon • twitter)

Twitter artist reimagines 64 pokémon as “Substitute” plushies to adorable results

Preston Phro
Nov 28, 2014

If you ever played Pokémon as a kid (or even as an adult!), you’re probably familiar with the Substitute move and the adorable plush “decoy” your pocket monster could use to sop up some damage. But as cute as that little substitute was, didn’t you always kind of wish that it looked a little bit more like a plush version of the pokémon you were using?

Maybe not, but that didn’t stop one Japanese Twitter artist from drawing 64 Pokémon as Substitutes!

Internet, Japan
(cute • Migawari • Pokemon • twitter)

Casual cosplay: for those who want to dress the part 365 days a year【Photos】

KK Miller
Nov 27, 2014

With the recent release of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, people around the world are settling in for long gaming sessions of collecting and trading their favorite Pokémon. Playing the game on the Nintendo 3DS sometimes isn’t enough though, you want to live and breathe it wherever you are. But with Halloween and most of the convention circuit closing down for the year, how else do we cosplay our favorite characters and Pokémon?

Introducing casual cosplay!

Internet
(casual cosplay • colors • fashion • Pokemon • Polyvore)

Jibanyan, Japan chooses you! Pikachu trampled beneath paws of Youkai Watch mascot

Evie Nyan
Nov 27, 2014

Recently, we’ve brought you several articles detailing the meteoric rise of new franchise Youkai Watch as it continues to steal fans and attention away from the much-loved institution that is Pokémon. Die-hard Pokémon fans out there may feel safe in the assumption that Youkai Watch, being more traditionally “Japanese” in feel, will never match the success of Pokémon in the West. Be that as it may, we now have conclusive evidence that Pikachu’s time in the Japanese sun is well and truly over as new champion Jibanyan ascends his throne. Join us after the jump for proof!

Japan
(anime • Doraemon • jibanyan • manga • mascot • Pikachu • Pokemon • video games • whisper • Youkai Watch)

Artist creates “PokeMonstrosities” that are the stuff of nightmares

Jessica
Nov 27, 2014

Artist JR Coffron III has finally answered the question of what happens if you leave a Pokémon in its pokeball too long: they come out as undead ravening monsters.

Internet
(art • creepy • Pokemon)

Win an adorable Pikachu hooded blanket and more in upcoming Pokémon lottery campaign

Krista Rogers
Nov 19, 2014

Beginning on December 20, residents of Japan can participate in a special Pokémon-themed lottery campaign at participating stores throughout the country. Although the event is officially targeting young adult women, we don’t see how anyone could resist the cute goods that are just waiting to be snatched up!

What was that famous saying again? Oh yeah–“Gotta catch ’em all!”

Japan
(cute • lottery • Pikachu • Pokemon • prizes)

Fans on the floor create awesome anime and Disney carpet art in Japan【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Nov 18, 2014

Very few Japanese homes have installed carpeting. Older houses and apartments often have tatami reed mats, and in newer places you’ll usually find tile, wood, or rubberized flooring.

That’s not to say people in Japan can’t appreciate a nice bit of soft fuzziness between their toes, though. Even without permanent carpeting, many people will toss a carpeted mat on the floor to make their living or bedroom extra comfy, especially during the colder part of the year.

Of course, cold weather also means spending more time indoors, with extra time on your hands, and sometimes that patch of carpeting becomes a canvas for some seriously cool fan art.

Japan
(anime • art • cool • Disney • fan art • frozen • Naruto • One Piece • Pokemon • video games)

It’s Pikachu! No, it’s Jibanyan! No… what IS that?

Joan Coello
Nov 5, 2014

Rumored to be the new wave to take over the long-running multimedia kid’s series Pokémon, Youkai Watch and its various colorful characters can be seen all over the streets in Japan. Just as how Pokémon posters and merchandise used to be visible almost everywhere, the streets and shelves are now occupied by Jibanyan and his fellow youkai counterparts from the hit series Youkai Watch.

Pokémon has yet to back out from the race though, as loyal fans who loved the series since they were kids continue to shower their love (and money) on Pikachu and his hundreds of mystical friends. What are fans to do? Cling on to the old, or embrace the new? Check out the ingenious solution Twitter user @umeko_kj8 came up with after the break!

Internet, Japan
(anime • Pokemon • twitter • Youkai Watch)

Youkai Watch chosen for McDonald’s calendar, Pokémon fans sob into their fries

Evie Nyan
Nov 1, 2014

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past year or two, you might have missed a significant change taking place in Japanese popular culture. What are we talking about? Why, adorable collectible monster franchise Youkai Watch, of course! The Youkai Watch series, which comprises manga, anime and video games has been steadily and skilfully easing itself onto the comfy throne once monopolized by Pokémon. Kids are going crazy for it, adults are being driven crazy over it, and poor old Pikachu and pals are being seriously left in the dust. Now, Youkai Watch has pulled off another victory over Pokémon by stealing its role as McDonald’s go-to calendar star.

Japan
(jibanyan • McDonald's • Pikachu • Pokemon • Yo-Kai Watch)

When first-try character bentos go wrong 【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Oct 20, 2014

The culinary custom of bento, boxed lunches, goes back for generation in Japan. What’s a little less clear, though, is how long people have been dressing up their bentos to look like cute characters.

We’re sure some creative people with both artistic and culinary talents have been making character bentos, or chara-bens, for a long time. But recently, media coverage of chara-bens has gotten intense, and it’s inspiring a wave of newcomers to try their hand at making one for the first time.

But you know the saying, “The third time’s the charm?” People say that because you’re likely to screw things up the first two times, as this collection of first-try bentos shows.

Japan
(bento • cooking • cute • food • funny • Pokemon)

Celebrate New Years in Pokémon style — with a monster ball filled with traditional osechi food!

Kay
Oct 20, 2014

In Japan, when you start hearing about Christmas cake promotions, it also means you have to start thinking about New Year’s osechi food as well. Osechi consists of different traditional foods typically prepared for New Year’s to wish for luck in the coming year and are usually items that keep well so that you can have the pre-cooked foods throughout the New Year’s holidays without having to do much cooking during that time. You can, of course, choose to keep it simple and simply buy just a few of the key items like datemaki (sweet rolled omelette) and kuromame (black soy beans) at the supermarket, or go all out on a luxury osechi set from a famous restaurant or department store. Well, this year, it looks like a Pokémon osechi set is also an option, and it even comes in a unique container in a shape that fans will find quite familiar — a Poké Ball!

Japan
(food • New Year's • osechi • Pokemon)

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire demos are coming! Here’s how to get your hands on them!

Fran W
Oct 17, 2014

One month before the commercial release of ‘Omega Ruby’ and ‘Alpha Sapphire’, The Pokémon Company has announced demo versions – available next week!

To get your hands on that demo, you’ll need a special code – and depending on where you live, your options for getting hold of one are a little different. Join us after the jump to find out more!

Global
(CoroCoro Comic • Nintendo 3DS • Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire • Pokemon)

Zzz…zzz…pika…pika – The Pikachu bed is here!

Casey Baseel
Oct 14, 2014

Back in the summer, we spent a day chasing Pikachus around Yokohama as part of the amazing, multi-day Pokémon event held in the bayside city. The smile it put on our faces still hasn’t completely faded, but that year’s supply of cuteness came with a price. While we were there we got a hug from one of the Pocket Monster ambassadors, and we now know only too well just how fluffy a Pikachu is.

It’s thrown our whole baseline off for what constitutes cozy and comfy. Compared to a soft Pikachu coat, our blankets now feel like burlap, and it’s been keeping us up at night. Thankfully, there might be a solution, in the form of this awesome Pikachu bed.

Japan
(anime • awesome • cool • cute • nintendo • Pokemon • video games)

Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum is crazy strong, can easily carry creatures twice his body weight

Philip Kendall
Oct 14, 2014

No one really minds when the creators of movies and TV disregard the laws of the universe a little in the name of producing quality entertainment. Would the space battles in Star Wars have been anywhere near as fun if they had all taken place in complete silence due to the lack of air required to carry sound waves? Not a chance. Does anyone really mind that a lit cigarette doesn’t actually produce enough heat to ignite a puddle of gasoline if it results in those epic, “casually walks away from burning building” shots in action movies? Not in the slightest.

But sometimes such use of artistic licence can slip by entirely unnoticed, and it takes someone to point out a few key facts before the reality of the situation hits home. Case in point: Ash from hit anime series Pokémon seemingly possesses super-human strength, and is able to carry pokémon that weigh vastly more than he does without even breaking a sweat.

Global, Internet, Japan
(nintendo • Pokemon • Trivia • video games • wtf)

What? Pokémon Breeder Girl is evolving! Congratulations! She has evolved into a…

Master Blaster
Oct 13, 2014

Since the release of Pokémon X and Y a year ago, players in Japan were enamored by the comely pokémon breeder Tsuzumi. Her sparkling brown eyes, bright smile, and huge bucket of what appears to be crap had melted the hearts of many an aspiring pokémon master.

However, in an appearance in the anime version of Pokémon: XY Tsuzumi seems to have undergone an evolution of sorts. If the Twitter users who pointed this out are correct I’d have to tip my hat to the producers for adding a gritty touch of reality to an otherwise out-there plot.

Internet, Japan
(anime • breeder • Pokemon • video games)

Pokémon goes old-school cool with hanafuda playing cards, wall scrolls, and more

Casey Baseel
Oct 10, 2014

A few days ago, we took a moment to appreciate the amazing combination of Japanese digital entertainment and traditional clothing in the form of the Super Mario kimono. The platforming hero isn’t the only Nintendo character being reimagined along classical Japanese artistic principles, though, as now the creatures of Pokémon have been reborn as hanafuda playing cards, resulting in adorably old-school designs appearing on fans, towels, tea cups, and more.