Japan's Daily Sports newspaper announced on Friday, February 8th, 2019, that voice actor Kinryu Arimoto (有本欽隆) died on Friday, February 1st, 2019 from esophageal cancer. He was born on February 11th, 1940 in Tottori, Japan and was 77 years old.


Pocket Monsters anime fans will know him from his roles as Ford from the Orange Islands episode The Little Coil on the Prairie! and Denjirō from the Gold and Silver episode The Poppo Man and his Carrier Poppo!.

Source: https://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2019/02/08/0012049713.shtml

The 2019 Pokémon Oceania International Championships will be officially streamed by The Pokémon Company online at Twitch.tv/Pokemon on February 14th, 2019 through February 16th, 2019.

2019 Pokémon Oceania International Championships Stream Info

Battles in the Pokémon Championship Series will heat up as competitors head down under for the second of this season's four International Championships February 14–16, 2019 (in US time zones). You can watch the breathtaking action from home even if you can't make it to Melbourne, as we'll be broadcasting matches from each round of the 2019 Pokémon Oceania International Championships on Twitch.tv.

The event runs Friday through Sunday in Australia, but because of the time difference, each day of tournament play will start the previous afternoon in American time zones. Viewers in the US can tune in to catch TCG and VGC matches starting Thursday afternoon, while the Pokkén Tournament DX matches will kick off Friday afternoon. Each game will have its own stream, so make sure to tune in to your favorite game as competitors battle toward the 2019 Pokémon World Championships and thousands of dollars' worth of prizes.

The final rounds for the Pokémon TCG and VGC will be broadcast consecutively on Twitch.tv/Pokemon on Saturday starting at 2:30 p.m. PST, while the Pokkén Tournament DX finals will be broadcast on Twitch.tv/PokkenTournament at the same time. Don't forget to check out the winning teams and decks at Pokemon.com/EventResults once the tournament is complete.

What to Watch: Pokémon TCG

Pokémon TCG stream: Twitch.tv/PokemonTCG
Commentators: Joe Bernard, Cora Georgiou, Ellis Longhurst, Kyle “Pooka” Sucevich

Thursday, February 14: 2:30 p.m. – 2:15 a.m. PST (approx.)
Friday, February 15: 2:30 p.m. – 1:45 a.m. PST (approx.)

Pokémon TCG competitors will really have their mettle tested, as this tournament will be the first event outside Asia to permit the Sun & Moon—Team Up expansion and the many TAG TEAM cards it brings. Magikarp & Wailord-GX has already enjoyed success in the Expanded format, but you'll have to tune in to see if the other five TAG TEAM cards will be able to make their mark in Standard. Keep an eye out for a number of other powerful cards from Sun & Moon—Team Up, including powerful Trainer cards Erika's Hospitality and Pokémon Communication and a surge of Pokémon that have performed well in Asia: Zapdos, Jolteon-GX, Tapu Koko Prism Star, Absol, and Jirachi.

What to Watch: Pokémon VGC

Pokémon VGC stream: Twitch.tv/Pokemon
Commentators: Labhaoisa Cromie, Adam Dorricott, Duy Ha, Gabby Snyder

Thursday, February 14: 2:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. PST (approx.)
Friday, February 15: 2:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. PST (approx.)

Competitors in the Video Game Championships have become very familiar with Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, but they'll still have a new curveball in Melbourne as they take on the only International Championships featuring the Moon Series format. Trainers will still be able to include two of the most powerful Legendary Pokémon on their teams, but unlike at the last International Championships, they'll also be permitted to use Z-Moves. Making good use of these moves will be key—Trainers still won't be permitted to use Primal Reversion or Mega Evolution, so a good Z-Move can easily make or break a game. A variety of Legendary Pokémon have starred on teams so far in the Moon Series, with Groudon, Kyogre, Lunala, Xerneas, and Yveltal spending the most time in the spotlight.

What to Watch: Pokkén Tournament DX

Pokkén Tournament DX stream: Twitch.tv/PokkenTournament
Commentators: Michael “H2” Graf, Evan “WonderChef” Hashimoto, Michael “Midori” Tjong

Friday, February 15: 2:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. PST (approx.)
Saturday, February 16 (Finals): 2:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. PST (approx.)

The Pokkén Tournament DX season will be kicking off in Melbourne, and it, too, has a big change for competitors to adapt to. Matches this year will pit competitors head-to-head in the Team Battle format, where each player chooses their own team of three Battle Pokémon. The first player to knock out all three of their opponent's Battle Pokémon will win the game. Tune in to find out which competitors and Battle Pokémon will reign supreme in this exciting new format.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/internationals/2019/oceania/streaming/

The United States Pokémon Center online store has partnered with Funko to release a line of Pikachu figures called A Day with Pikachu that will be released through 2019 and into 2020.

Celebrate a Year of Pikachu with Funko

Pokémon Center and Funko team up to bring fans 12 new figures in the A Day with Pikachu collection.

Pokémon fans have a lot to get excited about in the coming months thanks to a special collaboration between Pokémon Center and the collectible-creating experts at Funko. February 13, 2019, will bring the launch of A Day with Pikachu, a new line of figures available at PokemonCenter.com. Then, each month for an entire year, a new themed figure will debut on the site. Each of the 12 figures celebrates the changing of the months and seasons with a unique scene featuring Pikachu. Look for the following figures throughout this year and into 2020:

• A Day with Pikachu: One Lucky Day
• A Day with Pikachu: Rainy Day Pokémon
• A Day with Pikachu: Blooming Curiosity
• A Day with Pikachu: Sweet Days Are Here
• A Day with Pikachu: Sparking Up a Celebration
• A Day with Pikachu: Splashing Away Summer
• A Day with Pikachu: Charged Up for Game Day
• A Day with Pikachu: Surprises to Fall For
• A Day with Pikachu: Completely Thank-Full
• A Day with Pikachu: A Cool New Friend
• A Day with Pikachu: Ringing In the Fun
• A Day with Pikachu: Surprising Weather Ahead

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/celebrate-a-year-of-pikachu-with-funko/

Niantic has announced that Shiny Meltan will be available for a limited time in Mystery Boxes from February 5th, 2019 at 1 p.m. PST until March 4th, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Players have a chance to get a Shiny Meltan and then put it in their GO Park or evolve it into Shiny Melmetal.

Shiny Meltan will appear for a limited time!

Trainers, We have exciting news! The Shiny version of the Mythical Pokémon Meltan has been discovered! Just in time to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Shiny version of Meltan will appear for a limited time.

A Mythical Pokémon, the mysterious and rare Meltan only appears when a Mystery Box is opened. If you’re lucky, you may encounter Shiny Meltan when you open the Mystery Box from February 5 at 1 p.m. PST until March 4 at 11:59 p.m. PST. During this special event, the time that you have to wait before you can open the Mystery Box again will be reduced to three days. Be careful, Trainer! If you open the Mystery Box before this event starts, you will have to wait the usual time period before you can open it again.

Date & Time

• Feb. 5, 2019, at 1 p.m. PST (GMT -8) to Mar. 4, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. PST (GMT -8)

Features

• When you open the Mystery Box, you may encounter the Shiny version of the Mythical Pokémon Meltan!
• The time you have to wait before you can open the Mystery Box again will be reduced.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to bring Shiny Meltan into your GO Park or evolve it into Shiny Melmetal! Best of luck in discovering a rare form of this recently discovered Mythical Pokémon.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/shinymeltan/

The 2019 International Challenge February online competition for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon has been announced on the Pokémon Global Link website. Full details are listed below and on our 7th Generation Online Competitions page which will be updated as new tournaments are announced.

2019 International Challenge February

Information
Region: International Registration Period: Thursday, February 14th, 2019, at 00:00 UTC, through Thursday, February 21st, 2019, at 23:59 UTC. Tournament Period: Friday, February 22nd, 2019, at 00:00 UTC, through Sunday, February 24th, 2019, at 23:59 UTC. Ranking Results Announcement: March 2019 Compatible Games: Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon Battle Type: Double Battle Banned Pokémon: • Eligible Pokémon are restricted to National Pokédex No. 001 through 807, excluding Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, Hoopa, Volcanion, Magearna, Marshadow, Zeraora, and Ash-Greninja. • You can register no more than two of the following Pokémon: Mewtwo, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Cosmog, Cosmoem, Solgaleo, Lunala, and Necrozma. • No two Pokémon on your team may have the same National Pokédex number. • You cannot use any Pokémon except those that can be obtained through regular gameplay (including the Pokémon Global Link and related functions of games released by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo) or that have been awarded as part of a public distribution or special event. • Pokémon may not know the move Dragon Ascent. Entry Gift: Qualified participants will be eligible to earn 50 Championship Points. All qualified participants will also receive a Shiny Tapu Bulu. To qualify, eligible players must complete at least three battles.
Description
In the 2019 International Challenge February Online Competition, Trainers create a team using Pokémon from National Pokédex No. 001 through 807, with the exception of Mythical Pokémon and Ash-Greninja. You’ll also only be able to include up to two of the most powerful Legendary Pokémon on your team (see the Pokémon VGC 2019 Moon Series distribution regulations for a complete list of eligible Pokémon). The competition features Double Battles with teams of four to six Pokémon, of which four will compete in each match. All Pokémon must have a black clover icon, meaning they were caught or hatched in Pokémon Sun, Pokémon Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun, or Pokémon Ultra Moon or obtained from an event distribution in these games. All Pokémon will be set to Lv. 50 for the duration of the battles. Z-Moves are permitted, but Ultranecrozium Z, the Blue Orb, the Red Orb, and Mega Stones may not be used. Other items are allowed, but Trainers may not have duplicate items in their Battle Team. You can also use the special Berries that are currently available in a Mystery Gift via Nintendo Network. There will be a 7-minute player clock, with 45-second turns. All qualified participants in the 2019 International Challenge February Online Competition will receive a Shiny Tapu Bulu. The top players will also receive Championship Points, which contribute toward earning an invitation to the 2019 Pokémon World Championships. Players must complete at least three battles to qualify.
Competition Rules
• Items are allowed, but Trainers may not have duplicate items in their Battle Team. • Ultranecrozium Z and Mega Stones are not permitted. • The Blue Orb and Red Orb items are not permitted. • All Pokémon in this competition will automatically become Lv. 50 for the duration of each match. • Four of the Pokémon you register to your Battle Team will be chosen to battle in each match. • A 7-minute time limit for each player will automatically be enforced in-game, beginning at the start of each battle. When a player’s time limit expires, that player will lose the game. • At the beginning of each battle, players have 90 seconds to select four Pokémon to battle with. • At the beginning of each turn, players have 45 seconds to select a move or change the Pokémon in battle. If a player’s selections have not been made by the end of this period, the game will automatically make selections for the player. • Players may battle up to 15 times per day of the competition. Any unplayed games will carry over to the following day. A new day begins at 00:00 UTC.

Source: https://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/information/f0d939c3-503d-48af-9bfa-0c2a9e42359f

Qiren Organization is running a 3-month island-wide campaign with Pokémon in Singapore. The campaign comprises of Pikachu parades and Meet & Greets in 10 shopping malls as well as Pokémon decoration within Qiren's offices. The Qiren Organization has become one of the fastest-growing agencies in Singapore with exceeding 200 Financial Services Consultants and appointed managers.

Venue:

Qiren West Hub
2 Venture Dr, level 21 Vision Exchange, Singapore 608526
Opening hours for the hub: 9am – 6pm daily

Qiren Tampines Hub
9 Tampines Grande, #02-11 to 22, Singapore 528735

Opening hours for the hub:
Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, Sunday, 9am – 7pm


Source: https://sg.portal-pokemon.com/topics/event/190125163806_post_12.html