Category Archives: Pokemon

Vintage Finds: Talking Pikachu and… Rilakkuma?

I haven’t done a “Vintage Finds” post in quite a while, but that isn’t due to lack of awesome finds. In fact, I just scored a 50 cent grater the other day, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite kitchen utensils (freshly grated cheese! shredded vegetables!). But really, does anyone care? I figure this blog would be a lot more interesting to read if I had, at the very least, a hint of an overarching theme (it’s Japan-related stuff if you’re wondering). So no posts about cheese graters! But I did find some things yesterday that fit my self-imposed theme perfectly, so today marks the long-awaited return of the “Vintage Finds” series!

Let me tell you, there’s nothing better than walking 5 minutes down the street from your house to the local vintage shop to see what treasures it holds. I generally stop by once a week to see what new items they have, and every once in a while, I find something that I just have to have. Yesterday, Shaun and I ran into not one, but two items hailing from the land of the rising sun! 
You always have to wonder how a random Japanese toy such as a talking plastic Pikachu (above) makes its way to a moderately-sized suburb in Australia. And in such good condition! Interestingly, though it has a speaker on its back and a place to insert a battery, it doesn’t have any buttons or anything to indicate exactly how it works. I’m going to get a replacement battery soon so I can try it out and see if it actually works. But I wouldn’t be fussed if it was broken. That little pink poffin he’s holding is too cute! 
The next item we spotted (actually, though Shaun was with me, I’ll take all the credit for finding these treasures) was this handsome Rilakkuma doll. If you’re a frequenter of this blog, then you already know how much I adore Rilakkama (and if you don’t, now you do!). Funnily enough, it’s still got the tag, which indicates that the strap was manufactured in Japan in 2004. The previous owner took the liberty to blot out the suggested retail price, but I’m sure the $5 we paid for it is probably just as much, if not more, than what it cost originally. Honestly, though, it looks brand new! 
For now, these two fellows will join my other assorted treasures, but Shaun’s determined to put the Rilakkuma keychain on one of his bags, which I will begrudgingly allow when the time comes. Seriously, though, I kid. It’s nice to keep things looking pristine, but it’s also nice to use them as they were intended. 
Can you name all of the characters on my shelf? (two are duplicates, and the white rabbits and red thing between Pikachu and Rilakkuma don’t count) Hint: all are video game characters. First person to get them right gets a random sticker from my collection (hey, I’ve got some good ones!). 
Update: Ok, it’s come to my attention more than once that I’m losing serious Japanophile cred for not having any totoros in the above picture. But when did I ever say that was my whole collection? My totoros (oh yes, I have more than one) have a shelf of their own:

4 games I’m looking forward to in 2012

This post is coming a tad bit late, but who said I had to follow the herd, eh? As the title suggests, I’ve wrangled up a few games that I’m particularly looking forward to in this hopefully epic year of the dragon. It should come to no surprise to any of you that all of these are Japanese games. I am very predictable.

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance


Or Kingdom Hearts 3D, as it is also known… Get it?? Ahaha… Anyways, pretty much anyone save die-hard fans will tell you that Kingdom Hearts has been on a downward spiral littered with obsolete and downright unnecessary plot threads with still no true Kinghdom Hearts 3 (that 3D may be as close as we’re ever going to get). But I’ve been playing some Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep over the holidays and I have to say, its rekindled my Kingdom Hearts spark. And besides… The World Ends with You character appearances? A Hunchback of Notre Dame world? I was in before Disney could utter “Frollo.”

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom


Why look, it’s another predictable title on Anne’s list. I think all that needs to be said here is “first major English otome game.” If you want to read more about otome games, I’ve written plenty about it. Here’s a sample of what I’m looking forward to:

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy


Dream Drop Distance, Theatrhythm… Japan will never get over its absurd use of English in game titles. If you’re wondering, the official Japanese site states that “theatrhythm” is a combination of “theater” and “rhythm.” Well, it helped me remember exactly how to spell the title, at least.

As a fan of both rhythm games and Final Fantasy, this one is yet again another no-brainer for me. I am decidedly not a big fan of the cutesy art style used in the game’s character art, but I’d be willing to overlook that if the game plays as well as I’m hoping. And with three different modes to play all of my favorite Final Fantasy songs in, it should provide many hours of fun.

Pokémon x Nobunaga’s Ambition

Admittedly, I’m a bit of a shameless Pokémon fan. Okay, there’s not much shame in that, as most of my video game loves are based on silly reasoning, but here’s one to take the cake: After I saw these two character designs from Pokémon x Nobunaga’s Ambition, I was sold. Also, Pokémon combined with feudal Japan? A fresh take on the old Pokémon formula? Sign me up!

 

Of course, there are plenty of other great looking titles that I am very much looking forward to this year, including, but not limited to: Atelier Meruru: Apprentice of Arland, Final Fantasy Type-0, Rhythm Heaven Fever, and Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure. 2012 is looking to be a great year indeed!

Japan Envy: Pokémon x Famitsu for Game Dot Series

No matter how much I try to deny it, I’m a sucker when it comes to Pokémon. I only play the games so much (I’ve only ever beaten the Elite Four once!)… It’s the cuteness of the Pokémon themselves that gets me every time. Honestly, I’ll never pass up a chance to look at Pokémon merchandise.

So when I heard there was a special promotion going on combining the famous Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu and Pokémon, I had to know what it was all about. Well, in celebration of a new series of Pokémon merchandise titled “Game Dot Series” that is launching in December, Famitsu is holding a contest for its readers to determine the sweatshirt design that will be sold at Pokémon Centers across Japan. Cast your vote in, and if yours is deemed the most popular, then you have a chance to win a sweatshirt for yourself!

Lucky for me I have a host family who is extremely, er, tolerant of me, so I voted using their address. I doubt I’ll win since there’ll only be 10 individuals who score the sweatshirt out of all the entries, but I’d be happy enough to see my pick be the one that gets sold in stores. Unfortunately, as always, the contest is open only to residents of Japan.

Pictured below are the four sweatshirt choices. My favorite has to be #3 for both its color and the fact that there is a giant Pikachu made up of smaller Pikachu sprites on the back. Which would you choose?

Top right: “Pikachu looks cute hiding in the pocket!”

Top right: “The directional button has turned into Pikachu? Go anywhere together”
Top right: “Pikachu’s silhouette becomes one big Pikachu!”
Top right: “The hood takes center stage for an exceedingly cool style”

Zoroark Pokémon event starts in AU first

Well, now that my pageviews have settled down, back to our regularly scheduled programming!

Do you wish you lived in Australia? No? Well, did you know that the super special Zoroark Pokémon event, where you will be able to download a level 50 Zoroark that knows the move snarl, which is unobtainable in the game, will be starting in Australia a whole 2 days before the rest of the world (the rest of the world being the US, of course). So you want move to Australia now, right?

Ok, sure, it’s not that big a deal that we’re the first country outside of Japan to get this super-special Zoroark, but AU hardly ever comes first for anything, Aussies tend to like to shove it in everyone’s face when they actually do get something ahead of everyone else for once. I know, let’s celebrate with a a chain-smoking humaniod Zoroark in a vest! That sounds like a fabulous idea.

source

Here are the details to get your very own Zoroark: Aussies can head to Toys R Us, EB Games, or Game from September 16th to October 16th, and Americans will be able to download their own dark fox from Toys R Us on September 18th to the 25th. Unfortunately, those of you in the US have a much smaller window of opportunity, so you’ll have to be sure to get yours quick!

I know I for one am happy for an excuse to dust off my copy of Pokémon White. Perhaps I’ll finally get around to beating the Elite 4? Are you planning on getting a Zoroark of your own?

Japan Envy: Pokémon Center Limited Edition Merchandise

EDIT: Well, thanks everyone for all the page views! People seem to be taking my offhand Ruby/Sapphire remake comment and running with it. Honestly, I’m just saying that others have been speculating of a remake being in the works due to the new Pokémon time Hoenn series. You can read the post I referenced here at Pokémon Aus. If you’re interested in learning more about Pokémon time, please check out this fabulous Pokémon time fansite.

For a little background for those of you too lazy to go digging around over there, Pokémon time is a series of merchandise offered only at Pokémon Centers, and has been around since 2008. It originally started with only the first generation of Pokémon and coincided with Pokémon’s 10 year anniversary and has gradually grown to include more Pokémon from generation 1 and 2, so it’s very possible that the generation 3 Pokémon making an appearance in the 2011 collection are just part of the series’ natural progression and not a sign of a remake. Feel free to speculate as you will! If we were going to get any announcements, they would probably come from the Japanese magazine CoroCoro, where most Pokémon game reveals have been made in the past.

The Pokémon Center. A rare treat for any fan of the internationally adored Pocket Monsters, they are a rarity even in Japan, with only 6 locations in the whole nation. They have proved so popular, in fact, that according to a recent survey they are the 3rd most popular tourist attraction in Japan! Indeed, yours truly has even made her own pilgrimage to the Osaka Pokémon Center:

The Pokémon Center in Osaka, Japan
Pokémon Centers are famous for their exclusive merchandise as well as frequent Pokémon downloads, available only at centers for a limited time. It may be a bit early, but the Pokémon Center newsletter has already rolled out its line of holiday goods, which will include some adorable clear file folders and collectable plush toys featuring Pikachu, Oshawott, Audino, and Cubchoo in Santa hats, riding on a Pokémon-themed train. 
Detail of the illustration to be featured on the exclusive file folders. This Pikachu looks quite like the Pokemon Rumble Blast style Pikachu, if I may say.
Each plush will be sold separately for approximately $15, but will combine to form a complete train. 
And at the bottom of the announcement flyer, there is an interesting little reveal for a series called “Pokémon time.” Pokémon time will only contain Pokémon from the Ruby and Sapphire generation of games, but what kind of merchandise will be in the series isn’t detailed in the flyer. Of course, this has sparked whole new rumors that Nintendo will be revealing a remake of Ruby and Sapphire for the 3DS on September 13th, which is when when Nintendo will be holding their next press conference. 
The Pokémon time series
I actually like these Pokémon Time illustrations quite a bit! I love the pop art style and the color combos. How about that Torchic? (second from the right)
It’s really too bad Nintendo doesn’t distribute these goods outside of Japan. Those of us who don’t have access to a Pokémon Center will have to rely on proxies and eBay for now, unfortunately. 
Thanks go to Pokémon Aus for the info! 

Pokemon Battle Competition Brisbane

Today was the Queensland leg of the AU Pokemon Battle Competitions, so Shaun and I made the trek via public transport (a tiring endeavor, indeed) to the Chermside EB Games so we could catch a glimpse of the action! I originally had big hopes to participate myself, but though my love for Pokemon knows no bounds, I don’t think I’m cut out for competitive battling. I have too great a fondness for all of the immeasurably cute yet virtually ineffective Pokemon to stand any chance of making it past the first round. Still, I had fun watching the battles and StreetPassing with the other 3DS owners in attendance. Jamie, the friendly announcer, was even kind enough to do a shout-out about StreetPass Brisbane’s first meetup on the 14th!

The competition was fierce at EB Games Chermside

When I first heard that there was going to be an official Pokemon competition nearby, I thought for sure I would want to compete, so I began doing some research on what strategies/Pokemon were the most effective. I won’t go into much detail seeing as most of my readers aren’t big Pokemon fans (and those who are probably know more than me already, anyway), but needless to say, it’s a lot more complicated than one might think! Though we didn’t stay too long, I noticed an abundance of Jellicant, Amoonguss, Haxorus, Chandelure, Conkeldurr, Reuniclus, Gigalith, Thundurus, Tornadus, and Whimsicott. That may seem like a lot, but with the amount of people competing, you did start to see a lot of the same strategies (from what I’ve read of the coverage of other cities’ competitions, they’ve all seen many of the same Pokemon). I’m surprised I didn’t see any Excadrill, actually, and would’ve liked to have seen at least one Stunfisk.

It as fun to watch the battles up on the big screen!

One of the best things about having so many Pokemon fans together in one place was the fact that there were so many 3DS’s to StreetPass with! In the hour or so we were there over the course of the day, I got close to 25 StreetPass hits. I also had the chance to promote StreetPass Brisbane, and as I mentioned before, Jamie even made an announcement over the mic for me after I summoned up all my courage to go up and ask him. I met a few people from a forum I frequent and chatted with a guy who organizes Pokemon tournaments in Brisbane who seemed interested, so I hope to see some of them at our meet next weekend.

All in all, it was a very fun event, though it was a shame they held it in such a small store, as there was no space to move around and the room got very hot extremely quick. I hope to attend more events like these in the future, and maybe someday I’ll even compete, too!

Japan Relief: The Patchwork Pokemon Gym

Today I stumbled upon The Patchwork Pokemon Gym, a group of cross-stitching Pokemon fans who plan to make a quilt of all the original 151 Pokemon and gym leaders to raise aid for victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. They’re constantly updating with their progress, and it’s great to see all the patches as they’re finished, so check them out! And if you enjoy cross-stitching and would like to join their team, there are still some patches that have not yet been claimed.

Completed Aerodactyl patch by corbin