The music video of "1・2・3", which is the opening theme of the popular TV animation Pocket Monsters featuring the Karaage sisters Erika Ikuta and Sayuri Matsumura from Nogizaka46, has finally been released! The single will be available to download on Friday, February 19th, 2021.

The video was shot in late January 2021 at Toshimaen, an amusement park in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. The theme of the music video is the adventures of the Karaage sisters who came back after a long absence and "If we can meet Pikachu, we may be able to regain the facial expressions we've lost..."

They were excited to see Pikachu and said, "Cute! Cute!". They chatted with Pikachu a lot, and after the shooting, they were so happy to receive a monster ball-shaped cake to celebrate Ikuta's birthday! Also, the scene where they eat in the music video is also their actual lunch, and they really enjoyed it as their own meal!


In the personal PV of Erika Ikuta and Sayuri Matsumura, the "Karaage sisters" were born from the keywords: "No facial expression (表情がない)", "I like fried chicken (からあげが好き)" and "sisters (姉妹)". Video director Shigeru Tsukita, who directed at that time, also worked on this Music Video!! The costumes they wear are based on the girl scout/picnic girl who appears as an opponent in the Pokémon games.

Source: http://www.nogizaka46.com/news/2021/02/music-video-8.php

YouTube Clip - Karaage sisters (Erika Ikuta and Sayuri Matsumura from Nogizaka46) "1, 2, 3" PV

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThUatkJODZM

The Pokémon Company announced that they will be hosting a virtual music concert celebrating its 25th anniversary featuring Post Malone. They will also distribute a special password on February 25th, 2021 for players of the Pokémon video game franchise to add a special Pikachu to their Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games. High resolution images from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

POKÉMON UNVEILS VIRTUAL MUSIC CONCERT WITH POST MALONE TO CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Online Global Music Event to Take Place on Pokémon Day, February 27, as Part of P25 Music Program

Bellevue, Wash.—FEBRUARY 11, 2021— Pokémon unveiled plans today for a virtual music concert celebrating its 25th anniversary. The pop-culture brand broke the news with help from headliner and Pokémon fan Post Malone in a video that can be seen here: https://youtu.be/wtQx4R2M2iw/.

Taking place on Saturday, February 27—better known as Pokémon Day—the event will be an online party not just for Pokémon fans but for all music fans around the world. It will also serve as the launch activation for the franchise’s yearlong P25 Music program. The Pokémon Company International has teamed up with Universal Music Group to bring this concert and more music surprises to life throughout 2021 as part of P25 Music. P25 Music is a collaboration with some of music’s biggest names to create new songs, styles, and pop-culture moments, all through the lens of Pokémon. Pop icon Katy Perry was announced last month as the program’s premier artist.

“I’ve been a Pokémon fan for a long time, so the opportunity to headline the Pokémon Day concert celebrating 25 years is awesome,” said Post Malone.

The concert will be free to view on the official Pokémon YouTube channel, Pokémon’s official Twitch channel, and on Pokémon’s 25th anniversary website beginning at 7:00 p.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. PST on February 27. Pokémon will unveil more P25 Music details at the end of the concert, so fans will want to tune in for more upcoming collaboration surprises.


In anticipation of the concert, The Pokémon Company International will host several celebratory activations across the brand in the week leading up to the virtual music event. In addition to the previously announced Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event on Saturday, February 20, The Pokémon Company International will distribute a special password on February 25 for players of the Pokémon video game franchise to add a special Pikachu to their Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games. In keeping with the music theme for the year, this Pikachu knows the move Sing, which it can’t ordinarily learn. On February 27, fans can tune in to Pokémon TV, either on the web or by downloading the app, for a curated selection of music-themed episodes of the popular Pokémon animated series as they prepare for the big Pokémon Day concert with Post Malone in the evening. Fans can expect more announcements that week from across the franchise.

YouTube Clip - Get ready for the Pokémon Day Virtual Concert with Post Malone!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtQx4R2M2iw

To celebrate that the Pokémon the Movie: Coco was a big hit in Japan and to continue its promotion for theater viewership, the Number One Pokémon Movie Contest vote was held on the official Pocket Monsters movie website from January 26th, 2021 until February 4th, 2021. The official Pocket Monsters anime Twitter account reminded people about the vote during that period. Screenshots and images from this special have been added to an Imageboard thread.


Viewers were asked to vote for the number one most popular movie of the series. The first place winner of each series was broadcast on a special live stream on the official Toho MOVIE Channel on YouTube starting at 12:00 on Sunday, February 7th, 2021! The stream was region locked to Japan and was a live only broadcast, so it was not archived on the channel.

The special stream was hosted by Koichi Yamadera (山寺宏一), and a special segment was held in-between each movie to announce which movie won that series era vote and to also briefly give a summary of that movie. Also a cast or staff member from the Coco movie would discuss their role in the newest Pokémon the Movie: Coco film.

The winners of the vote were as follows:

• Original Series: Short 5 - Pikapika Starry Sky Camp and Movie 5 - The Guardian Gods of the Water Capital Latias and Latios
• Advanced Generation: Movie 8 - Mew and the Hero of the Wave - Lucario
• Diamond and Pearl: Movie 10 - Dialga VS Palkia VS Darkrai
• Best Wishes: Short 16 - Pikachu and its Eievui Friends and Movie 16 - Extremespeed Genesect: The Awakening of Mewtwo
• X and Y: Short 18 - Pikachu and the Pokémon Musicians and Movie 18 - The Archdjinni of Rings: Hoopa

Moka Kamishiraishi (上白石萌歌), Coco voice actress briefly talked about her character after movie 5. Tetsuo Yajima (矢嶋哲生), the Director of the Coco movie also talked about the Coco movie after movie 8 aired. Shoko Nakagawa talked about her role as Karen (カレン) during a segment after movie 10. Taiiku Okazaki (岡崎体育), the music producer for the Coco movie talked about the songs in the Coco movie in a brief segment after movie 16. Finally at the end of the stream, Koichi Yamadera, as a 'surprise', had a couple of minutes segment talking about the new Coco movie and thanked the viewers for watching and making it that far into the long broadcast. The special had a running time of about 8 hours and 10 minutes.

Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXia-WLV9N8 and https://www.pokemon-movie.jp/tohyo/

Kotobukiya has revealed the full details for the ARTFX J Yuri with Messon (ARTFX J ユウリ with メッソン) figure. It will be released in Japan in June 2021 for 9,800 yen excluding tax. An Imageboard thread has been added with pictures and artwork of this figure.

Yuri added to the lineup from Pokémon Sword and Shield!

Her gesture as she looks out over the vast landscape will remind you of her great adventure in the Galar region. Based on the illustration drawn by Hitoshi Ariga (ありがひとし), the texture of the leather Boston, the fluffiness of the knit hoodie, and the checkered pattern on the socks are all unique to this figure. The tears spilling from the anxious Messon's eyes are three-dimensional and the puddle made of tears is represented by a clear part. Please enjoy the attention to detail!

Source: https://www.kotobukiya.co.jp/product/product-0000004026/

Product Details:

Series: ARTFX J Pocket Monsters series
Release Month: Jun. 2021
Scale: 1/8
Product Size: Yuri: approximately 210mm in height (including base), Messon: approximately 60mm in height
Price: 9,800 yen (excluding tax)
Product Specifications: Complete painted PVC figure
Material: PVC (Non-phthalate) / ABS
Sculptor: Yuri: Kento Ogasawara (小笠原健人), Messon : Tobe (戸部)

YouTube Clip - ARTFX J Yuri with Messon

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGd1tIqOrXE

The Pokémon Company is launching a new weekly TCG Twitch and YouTube series called Top Deck Academy. It debuts February 4th, 2021, at 2 p.m. PST and each week it will introduce new decks, teach viewers how to create their own custom decks, offer tips to develop solid strategies, and much more.

Get Tips and Strategy with the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s Top Deck Academy

Learn everything you need to know to play the Pokémon TCG with a weekly Twitch and YouTube series launching February 4.

If you've ever wanted to get better at the Pokémon Trading Card Game, a new weekly series is here to help you learn and improve your game. Top Deck Academy debuts February 4, 2021, at 2 p.m. PST on Twitch and YouTube, featuring prominent members within the Pokémon TCG community. The series will introduce new decks, teach viewers how to create their own custom decks, offer tips to develop solid strategies, and much more.

While Pokémon TCG players of all experience levels can enjoy Top Deck Academy, the series offers beginning and intermediate players an excellent opportunity to dive into the nuances of strategy and deck building. New episodes stream every Thursday at 2 p.m. and feature Pokémon TCG experts who have been playing and commenting on matches for years.

Check out Top Deck Academy on Twitch and YouTube starting February 4!

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/get-tips-and-strategy-with-the-pokemon-trading-card-games-top-deck-academy/

The Pokémon Company has created a new YouTube channel dedicated to learning. It was activated on January 29th, 2021.

Channel Description

Welcome to the official Pokémon YouTube learning channel, where you'll find videos geared towards kids. We are your one source for Pokémon sing-along videos, popular nursery rhymes, and educational content designed to foster learning among Pokémon-loving children.

Pokémon Singapore Description

Good news to Pokémon trainers and family! “Pokémon Kids TV,” the official Pokémon Youtube channel for kids, is now available in English! The new channel features various English and non-verbal videos ranging from Pokémon songs, popular nursery rhymes to fun educational content for kids and parents to enjoy! So, check them out and share the fun with friends from all over the world!

Sources: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgbfG5HoczHIkpzxLYH-8Ww/ and https://www.facebook.com/Pokemon.official.Singapore/posts/2822516464741931

7-Eleven opened a new location on January 31st, 2021 in Fuzhong, New Taipei, Taiwan near the Banqiao Fuzhong MRT Station. It is the highly awaited Pokémon-themed store for Pokémon Trainers. The whole store is designed with cute Pokémon and it looks like a Pokémon Center. It is also an official Pokémon Game Gym location. High resolution pictures of the store have been added to an Imageboard thread.


The first thing you see outside the store is the most popular Pokémon Pikachu, as well as the fire breathing Dragon Charizard, and Lapras. Follow Pikachu's footprints on the ground into the store and you'll find:
• 808 Pokémon painted on the walls allowing fans to search for their favorite Pokémon.
• The glass tables as a seating area where there built-in displays of the Pokémon Cards from the past. The chairs are different PokéBalls.
• Looking up at the ceiling, you can still see the strongest Pokémon Eternatus.
• The floor of the overall seating area is designed to look like a large Pokémon Card Battle Mat.
• There are also popular Pokémon Ga-Olé and Nintendo Switch machines stations to immerse you in the world of Pokémon.
• The store also sells physical Nintendo Switch machines and games.
• The Pokémon Boutique Collection (寶可夢精品集點送) items are also available for purchase, be it a lunch box or a cold storage bag, they are popular with everyone!
• Walk along the footprints and you will see the shelf area where the starter Pokémon of each generation are on the wall. At the end of the footprints, you'll find a super cute Pikachu Forest mural.


Store Location:
Fuzhong Store (82 Fuzhong Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City) 府中門市(新北市板橋區府中路82號)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/711open/posts/10157679039827190

YouTube Clip - TVBS News

Original YouTube Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSQBkIHHfhc

Five new Pokémon Utility Hole Covers, PokéLids (Pokéfuta ポケふた), have been installed in Ikaruga Town, Nara Prefecture, Japan! A total of nine different Pokémon appear, including Entei, Dohtakun, and Baokkie! On Janurary 20th, 2021, an unveiling ceremony was held at the Horyuji i-Center (法隆寺iセンター). Pikachu appeared as a special guest to assist with the ceremony along with Mayor Nakanishi and Pago-chan (パゴちゃん), the Ikaruga Town Tourism Campaign Ambassador. More information about Pokémon Local Acts and PokéLids is available here. High resolution pictures taken from the unveiling event have been added to an Imageborad thread.


Each utility hole has its own original design, making it unique in the world, and the PokéLids will continue to be installed for years and decades to come. With the more than 140 PokéLids that have already been installed throughout Japan, they hope that these utility holes will provide an opportunity for many people throughout Japan and around the world to learn about the unique charm of Pokémon and Ikaruga Town. The PokéLids will gradually become Pokéstops in the location-based game Pokémon GO for smartphones.

Sources: http://www.town.ikaruga.nara.jp/0000001973.html and https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000248.000026665.html

YouTube Clip - TVN News - Pokéfuta appear in Ikaruga Town!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xhvr3FKmas

Casio has announced a new special collaboration BABY-G Pokémon watch which will be released in select Asian countries in February 2021 for 18,000 yen (19,800 yen with tax). Its product number is BA-110PKC-4A. An Imageboard thread has been created with pictures of this watch.

Product Description:

This model is a special collaboration between BABY-G and Pokémon featuring Pikachu, a beloved Pokémon all over the world! The theme of this second collaboration is "outdoors." Its camouflage pattern is based on a silhouette of Pikachu, with a heart at the tip of the Pikachu’s tail. The band ring is decorated with an image of Pikachu’s heart-shaped tail, and the back cover is also engraved with the image of Pikachu while the watch’s special packaging is inspired by a Poké Ball!

Product Details:

• Pikachu Collaboration Model
• Case / bezel material: Resin
• Resin Band
• Neobrite
• Shock Resistant
• Mineral Glass
• 100-meter water resistance
• LED:Amber
• LED light Afterglow
• World time: 29 time zones (48 cities + coordinated universal time), daylight saving on/off
• 1/100-second stopwatch - Measuring capacity: 23:59'59.99'' - Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
• Countdown timer: Measuring unit: 1 second - Countdown range: 24 hours - Countdown start time setting range: 1 minute to 24 hours (1-minute increments and 1-hour increments)
• 5 daily alarms (with 1 snooze alarm)
• Hourly time signal
• Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
• 12/24-hour format
• Button operation tone on/off
• Regular timekeeping: Analog: 2 hands (hour, minute (hand moves every 20 seconds)) - Digital: Hour, minute, second, pm, month, date, day
• Accuracy: ±30 seconds per month
• Approx. battery life: 2 years on SR726W × 2

Sources: https://babyg.casio.com/asia-mea/en/products/pikachu/ and https://baby-g.jp/pikachu/

YouTube Clip - CASIO BABY-G Pokémon Collaboration

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yzSsmbjhdA

The 51st Next-Generation World Hobby Fair was held online for the first time ever. Exhibitors from Shogakukan's Corocoro Comics, Shonen Sunday, Chao and other magazines gathered together to present games, hobbies, character bios and the latest information from various franchises.

Two Pokémon Stage segments were held on day 1 which was Saturday, January 16th, 2021, Pokémon Stage by Pokénchi and a Pokémon Mezastar stage panel. The stream was only available live on YouTube for the Pokénchi segment but Mezastar stage panel was also posted on the official MezastarTV YouTube channel after its live broadcast. High resolution pictures of the Pokénchi panel have been added to an Imageboard thread.

Pokémon Stage by Pokénchi (ポケモンステージ by ポケモンの家あつまる？)

The Pokémon Stage by Pokénchi panel featured Pokénchi hosts Shoko-tan, Rinka and Abareru-kun and they were joined by MC Kajisac Onashas. Hyadain was not in attendance.


To promote the Pokémon the Movie Coco, they started off by introducing the Coco TV Commercial (Theme Song Collection) which began being broadcast on Japanese television just before the movies premiere in December 2020. It is available on YouTube on the official Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel as of December 24th, 2020.

YouTube Clip - Official Pokémon the Movie Coco TV Commercial (Theme Song Collection)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN3m4DjhuM4

Abareru-kun then transitioned to promoting the Pocket Monsters 2019 anime by showing the latest trailer for the series that showcased upcoming scenes in 2021. The VTR video didn't play exactly on cue, which got him a laugh as he kept repeating himself for the video to start. The trailer originally aired as part of Pocket Monsters Christmas Special: "Battling & Getting! Mewtwo Comes Back" special on December 25th, 2020.


The stage show featured two Get a Flash of Inspiration! Let's PokéRiddle quizes which Abareru-kun presented and Shoko-tan, Rinka and Kajisac tried to solve along with the viewers watching the stream. The first hint to the puzzle was to use Flamethrower 「かえんほうしゃ」を使おう！ After a few seconds to figure out the hint, it was revealed that by melting the ice letters with Flamethrower and reading the remaining letters as they fell like Tetris pieces, it would reveal the answer. (「かえんほうしゃ」で氷の文字を溶かして残った文字を読んでみましょう)

Answer: Lizardon (セイカイハ リザードン)


The second puzzle was more difficult than the first one and they were given a board to write their answers down. Read the letters in order from the top left and follow the instructions to read the letters there. (左上から順番に文字を読んで指示に従いそこに書かれた文字を読もう). The Pokémon is hidden in the box third from the right, first from the top. (みぎからみっつめうえからひとつめにかくされているポケモンがにたえ).

Answer: Karakara (からから　カラカラ)


They then switched over to games where they announced that New Pokémon Snap would be available in Japan on April 30th, 2021. They showed the latest trailer to highlight their talking points. This trailer was also available on the official Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel as of January 14th, 2021.

YouTube Clip - New Pokémon Snap PV

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKzYOCXlR9s

To finish off the stage show, they highlighted the ICHIGEKI Master and RENGEKI Master TCG set and played a brief game to highlight the new Single Strike Style and Rapid Strike Style Battle Styles gameplay mechanic that will debut in the set.

Pokémon Mezastar Special Live Stage

Viewers on this event got a first-hand look at the Pokémon Mezasta Set 3 and got to hear Naomi Tamura (田村直美) and Tomohiro Hatano (幡野智宏) sing "Visit! Pokémon Mezastar! (見参!ポケモンメザスタ!!)" in a special live performance! The four Mezastar Navigators: Masato (マサト), Sakura (サクラ), Ai (アイ) and J where the hosts of the event which took place on January 16th, 2021 from 11:00 to 11:30.

YouTube Clip - Pokémon Mezasta Special Live Stage

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF02STw8mPs