On July 7, 2026, Noto Airport became the world's first airport to carry the Pokemon name. All 111 Flying-type Pokemon and a giant Pikachu now anchor a recovery push for the quake-hit Noto Peninsula. We unpack the airport's own damage-and-revival story, Japan's distinctive model of rebuilding through beloved characters, and how to visit.
We converted all 32 World Cup 2026 knockout teams into Dragon Ball power levels, One Piece bounties, Pokemon base stats and Forbes billionaires, using each team's pre-tournament FIFA ranking. Here is the full Round of 32 bracket and its most absurd matchups.
A free Pokemon footbath opened in May to help quake-hit Noto recover. Less than two months later, three of its seven statues (Vaporeon, Psyduck and Gyarados) are damaged, and one has prompted a police report. A look at what happened and how Japan is reacting.
Mitsui Fudosan, Canada's Moment Factory, and The Pokémon Company International unveil a touring immersive experience that casts visitors as real Pokémon Trainers, debuting in Europe in spring 2027. Here's how it differs from Pokémon Centers and PokéPark, why it starts in Europe, and what fans hope for.
INSOMNIA, an esports club in Tokyo's Sumida ward, has launched INS×LAB, a joint research project with the University of Tokyo and other institutions. It pairs gaze-tracking cognitive science with sleep-log and acupuncture-based conditioning to make winning scientifically repeatable.
From August 2026, The Pokemon Company will require Japan's My Number national ID card to verify identity for Pokemon Center Online lotteries and select official tournaments. It's a hard counter to scalpers and impersonators — and an unintended wall against overseas collectors who have long worked around the system. Here's what changes.
Esports expands to a record 11 disciplines and 13 titles at September's Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. With KONAMI just signed as an official supplier, here's the full lineup—Pokémon UNITE, eFootball, Gran Turismo 7, the SF6/Tekken/KOF team event—plus why the IOC's 2027 Olympic Esports Games just unraveled.
Koei Tecmo Holdings reports record-breaking FY2026 results with revenue of ¥88.3B and ordinary profit of ¥57.0B. Of that, roughly ¥16.4 billion ($105M) came from financial market operations—an investment income stream that rivals many companies' core business profits. Nioh 3 (now at 10M cumulative series sales), Pokémon's hidden hit Pokopia, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment drove the gaming side. Yet the company forecasts a 27.6% net income decline next year due to expanded human capital investment.
Game Freak's first AAA title outside of Pokémon, 'Beast of Reincarnation,' launches August 4 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Set in post-apocalyptic Japan of AD 4026, this 'one person, one dog' action RPG fuses real-time combat with command-based strategy. Day-one Xbox Game Pass. Inside the hype from r/JRPG, ResetEra, and Japan.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's US patent for a 'sub-character summoning and battle system' has been rejected by the USPTO after a rare director-ordered reexamination. All 26 claims were denied based on prior art from Konami and Bandai Namco. Analysis of implications for the Palworld lawsuit and the gaming industry.
Yamada Heiando, a 107-year-old lacquerware maker that supplies Japan's Imperial Household, collaborates with Pokémon to create handcrafted bowls featuring Ponyta in traditional makie gold-dust technique. Discover how Japan's ancient craft meets pop culture in this 'Only in Japan' fusion, priced at around $110.
Hands-on report from the Pokémon Champions preview event, held ahead of its April 8 launch. The removal of IVs, PP adjustments, Mega Dragonite's Multiscale, Mega Froslass's Snow Warning, and producer Hoshino's plan to preserve Pokémon battles forever.
Bloomberg reports Nintendo is cutting Switch 2 production from 6M to 4M units this quarter after weak US holiday sales. We analyze the gap between booming Japanese software sales and slowing American demand, plus the semiconductor and tariff headwinds reshaping gaming's supply chain.
PokeMiku, the Pokémon x Hatsune Miku collaboration, released "Crossroad" by kz and TAKU INOUE on Miku Day, March 9, 2026, with three Nijisanji VTubers on the chorus. Eleven days later, VOLTAGE Live! ran six shows at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY, drew more than 50,000 people, and performed all 27 originals with a live band.
Pokémon GO's largest-ever real-world event "GO Fest 2026: Tokyo" is coming to Odaiba this May. Tokyo Governor Koike made headlines by catching a Pokémon live during the press conference. Discover the world-first "City Exploration Ticket," event details, and what makes this 10th anniversary celebration truly historic.
The Pokémon Company's licensing division has no sales targets. Decisions rest solely on whether an idea is "interesting," sometimes greenlit regardless of profitability. Discover how this brand-first philosophy, prioritizing 30-year longevity over short-term gains, built the world's highest-grossing media franchise, worth an estimated $90 billion.
UNIQLO releases Pokemon 30th anniversary UT collection in late March 2026, featuring original watercolor artwork from Pokemon Red and Green. The lineup includes starter Pokemon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle), Pikachu, and more across 10 designs. Men's items at ¥1,990, kids' at ¥990.
LOGOS launches its Pokemon Design Series of 19 outdoor items on March 19, 2026, marking Pokemon's 30th anniversary. It features a Pikachu sunshade, starter-Pokemon chairs and more. Online pre-orders opened December 22, 2025. What's your favorite Pokemon merchandise?