Pokémon Local Acts (ポケモンローカルActs)
Pokémon Local Acts aims to promote Japan’s various localities by highlighting their well-known and not so well-known charms. The fun activities and initiatives are designed to bring out the best in the partnering prefectures and municipalities, and involve help from “Ambassadorial Pokémon,” whose characteristics match those of their respective localities.
Table of Contents for Pokémon Local Acts:
Ambassador Pokémon for Localities:
Each region in Japan has been assigned an Ambassador Pokémon whose characteristics closely match the area.| Hokkaido | |
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Alolan Vulpix and Vulpix Appointed in November 2018 as the leader and deputy leader of the “Hokkaido Aficionado Expedition,” Alolan Vulpix and Vulpix have been promoting Hokkaido in their respective capacities. Alolan Vulpix is known as the Fox Pokémon and thrives in snow mountains. It was chosen to promote Hokkaido, one of Japan’s snowiest regions. Vulpix, also in the Fox Pokémon category, assists Alolan Vulpix with showcasing the best of what Hokkaido has to offer residents and visitors. Located on the northern tip of the Japanese archipelago, Hokkaido is the largest of Japan’s 47 prefectures, accounting for 22 percent of Japan’s total land mass. Its main draw is its natural beauty, evidenced in its magnificent mountain chains, vast wetlands and pristine lakes. Visitors also flock to Hokkaido for food harvested from its rich soil and ocean. It is one of the must-see places in Japan. |
| Iwate | |
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Geodude Geodude was appointed in May 2019 the Iwate Support Pokémon, put in charge of galvanizing support for the prefecture and its reconstruction efforts. Geodude is a Rock-type Pokémon, which is one of the 18 elemental types represented in various Pokémon. The prefecture name, Iwa-te (rock-palm), is a perfect match for the Pokémon with a boulder body with two sturdy arms extending from it. Iwate, the second largest prefecture after Hokkaido, faces the Pacific Ocean, with its coastal region stretching from north to south. It offers visitors a plethora of choices, from spring cherry blossoms to various indigenous forms of arts and crafts, as well as rich folklore traditions. Being a large prefecture, Iwate boasts a vast range of fresh seafood and delicacies for visitors to enjoy all year round. |
| Miyagi | |
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Lapras In July 2019, Lapras was appointed the “Miyagi Support Pokémon,” and has been making appearances at various events. Being the waterborne “Transport Pokémon,” Lapras evokes for many people the perfect image of breezy sails along the prefecture’s shores, which suffered extensive damage in the 2011 earthquake. This gentle Pokémon would have loved to boost Miyagi’s tourism by doing what it enjoys—ferrying people across oceans. Miyagi Prefecture, is about one and a half hour away from Tokyo on the Shinkansen bullet train. The prefecture’s coasts feature beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, and along its western edge, the prefecture borders with Yamagata, sharing the view of the Zao mountain chain. Miyagi is home to the Matsushima islands, touted one of the “Three Views of Japan,” as well as numerous hot spring resorts. Miyagi Prefecture is also famous for its rice production, as its central Sendai Plains is one of the leading crop farming areas in Japan. One of Miyagi’s biggest attractions is Zuiganji Temple, which was adopted by the famous feudal lord Date Masamune as his family temple in 1609. |
| Fukushima | |
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Chansey In February 2019, Chansey was appointed the “Fukushima Support Pokémon.” This Pokémon is said to bring happiness, so it echoes the etymology of Fukushima, as “Fuku” means luck. Just as Chansey’s delicious and nutritious eggs are part of its image as an auspicious Pokémon, Fukushima’s image is closely tied to its auspicious name and the many variety of fresh produce it offers to residents and visitors. Fukushima is the third largest prefecture in Japan, boasting its rich nature, local delicacies and unpretentious people. There are three distinctive areas with cultural, natural and climatic differences to note. The Aizu District is known for its scenic beauty and historic sites associated with warriors of the Aizu Feudal Domain, which fought civil wars in favor of the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate in the mid-19th century. The Naka-dori District is known for its flowers and fruit produce, while the Hama-dori District is better known for its magnificent landscapes and views of the Pacific Ocean. |
| Tottori | |
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Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew In December 2018, Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew were appointed the “Tottori Furusato Ambassador,” put in charge of promoting Tottori to prospective visitors from all over the world. They have made their appearances in scenic spots and events. Sandshrew is a desert dwelling Pokémon, a perfect fit for the prefecture known for its sand dunes. Tottori Prefecture is an undiscovered sightseeing destination of wonderous natural beauty, from the stunning coastlines to Daisen and other mountains of the Chugoku Range. The best known places to visit are the Tottori Sand Dunes, the largest dunes in Japan, the Sea scenery, and the prefecture’s quaint hot spring villages. It is also known for its fresh produce, such the green crisp “20th Century Pears,” seasonal seafood and delicacies of all kinds. |
| Kagawa | |
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Slowpoke Slowpoke’s involvement with Kagawa Prefecture dates back to 2015, but it was in December of 2018 that this Pokemon was officially charged with promoting the prefecture as a member of “Team Udon-ken PR.” The Pokémon’s name “Yadon” sounds similar to “Udon,” the noodle dish that has long been recognized as the prefecture’s iconic comfort food. Slowpoke, a Pokémon who is said to summon rain and has a tail that secretes sweet sap from the tip, is a perfect match for the prefecture, with its low precipitation and an institute that researches a substance called rare sugar. Kagawa Prefecture, the smallest among Japan’s 47 prefectures, packs in one small area all the enchanting scenery that visitors would expect out of the gateway to Shikoku Island, one of the four main islands of Japan. Kagawa benefits from the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, enjoying relatively mild weather and temperatures. Its famous udon noodles are popularly called Sanuki Udon, with various noodle shops attracting lovers of this chewy fare throughout the year. And for those who would rather not eat a full bowl of noodles, there is a grilled chicken delight called Honetsuki-dori (chicken-on-the-bone). Other attractions include Konpira Shrine, Ritsurin Garden, Shodo Island and other islets. |
| Miyazaki | |
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Exeggutor / Alolan Exeggutor Appointed in October 2020, Exeggutor is now the Support Pokémon of Miyazaki Prefecture. Also called the “Sunny Spot of Japan”, Miyazaki Prefecture is known for its yearly warm climate, and the official prefectural tree happens to be the “Phoenix” palm tree. It is for this reason that Exeggutor - which resembles a palm tree and is also known as “The Walking Jungle” - is the perfect match for the role of Support Pokémon. Miyazaki Prefecture takes advantage of its warm climate to grow Mangos, hyuganatsu, kumquats, cucumbers, green peppers, pumpkins and other agricultural produce - and going forward Exeggutor will optimize its synergy with Miyazaki Prefecture to make appearances and really get things rolling. |
| Mie | |
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Dragonite Appointed in December 2021, Oshawott is now the Support Pokémon of Mie Prefecture. The Japanese characters for Mie can also be read “Mijuu,” which fits with Oshawott’s Japanese name, “Mijumaru.” The yellow seashell Oshawott carries on its stomach, known as a “scalchop,” calls to mind Mie’s bountiful shellfish, including oysters like the Akoya pearl oyster. This makes Oshawott the perfect Pokémon to represent and support Mie Prefecture. Going forward, Mie Prefecture and Oshawott will be working together to showcase the very best of Mie for you to discover. |
| Fukui | |
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Dragonite On October 23, 2023, Dragonite was appointed as the 'Fukui Support Pokémon.' Fukui Prefecture boasts the highest number of new dinosaur fossil discoveries in Japan and is home to one of the leading dinosaur museums in the world. The Kuzuryu River, flowing through the Reihoku region, serves as a symbol of the prefecture, and there are numerous locations in its basin with names that are associated with dragons. When you think of dragons in Pokémon, 'Dragon-type' is the first that comes to mind. And that is why Dragonite, a Dragon-type Pokémon, is the perfect choice to represent Fukui Prefecture. |
Pokémon Utility Hole Covers
Poké Lids, artistic covers for utility holes, have recently started to be spotted in some cities. Who knows if they are of Pokémonopolistic nature? It seems that not all utility holes are man-made; rumor has it that Diglett may be responsible for digging large enough holes to be mistaken for utility holes and some artists took it upon themselves to “mark” the covers to differentiate them from ordinary ones. Where will the next “mark” be?
Event Info:
| Code F-9 - Fukushima | |
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From March 16th, 2019 until October 27th, 2019, search for Chansey in 25 areas throughout Fukushima Prefecture in Code F-9, the problem-solving and city-walking event! Code F started in 2011 as a treasure hunt event around Fukushima Prefecture and this is the ninth year. In 2018, more than 200,000 people participated. |
| The Go Sanriku Iwate Prefecture & Geodude Stamp Rally! | |
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The Go Sanriku Iwate Prefecture & Geodude Stamp Rally! Iwate Prefecture and Ishitsubute Rally was held from Saturday June 1st, 2019 to Wednesday August 7th, 2019, mainly in the coastal area of Iwate Prefecture. Collect the stamps of Ishitsubute placed in 26 locations such as "LINK SANRIKU Information Station" which is a project of "Sanriku Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Project 2019" implemented in the same period. If you collected all 26 stamps, 50 people by lottery would receive as a present: a specially made Issitubute Cap, a Issitubute A5 Clear File and Summer Limited Southern Chocolate for 10 people, and Ishitsubute A5 Clear File for 50 people. |
| Pokénchi #195 and Pokénchi #196 | |
  In Pokénchi #195 and Pokénchi #196, Abareru-kun showcased this event as part of his Pokémon Trade Journey in Iwate where he was searching for Pokémon with a Wild Ishitsubute. |
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| Sandshrew's Summer Vacation in Tottori Prefecture | |
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Sandshrew's Summer Vacation in Tottori Prefecture! Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew don straw hats and visit different places in Tottori Prefecture every week from July 20th, 2019 to August 24th, 2019.
July 20th, 2019 - Tottori Sand Dune Visitor Center July 21st, 2019 - Uradome Coast (Arasuna Shrine) July 27th, 2019 - Kaike Seaside Park August 3rd, 2019 - Amphitheater Kurayoshi Figure Museum August 10th, 2019 - Tottori Flower Park August 17t, 2019 - Tottorisakyu Visitor Center August 24th, 2019 - Chinese Garden Enchoen |
| The Fukushima & Chansey Peach Festival! | |
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The Fukushima & Chansey Peach Festival! Enjoy peach picking, eat peach sweets, and get Chansey merchandise! From July 22nd, 2019 to August 4th, 2019, a Pokémon GO AR Photo event took place in Fukushima Prefecture and also during that time Lucky (Chansey) was more likely to appear in game. An AR Photo contest was also held and the winners Fukushima Gourmet Peaches where given out as a present. |
| Udon Prefecture & Slowpoke Stamp Rally | |
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Win luxurious prizes in the Udon Prefecture & Slowpoke Stamp Rally covering th entire Kagawa Prefecture area. If you go around to sightseeing spots in Kagawa Prefecture and collect stamps of Yadon placed at specific locations in the prefecture, you can apply to a lottery to receive Yadon goods!
Stamp Rally 1: April 19th, 2019 to September 30th, 2019 Stamp Rally 2: October 1st, 2019 to January 31st, 2020 |
| Udon Prefecture & Slowpoke Stamp Rally | |
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Starting on July 10th, 2019, people could have great summer fun in Miyagi Prefecture out on the water with Lapras boats and floats! |
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Last updated 13 Apr 2021 08:31
by Sunain.
Revision #17
Revision #17
