Pokemon Time was the big release this past Saturday, followed by the second to last Monthly Pikachu plush and the Pokemon Sketch mini promotion.
First up, the star of the hour, Pokemon Time! This is the 9th iteration of the very popular series. Like all the most recent Pokemon Times, this round gave us figure straps of the featured Pokemon, along with towels of the main Pokemon (Pikachu, Piplup, and Lucario) as well as the usual blind packaged candy tins and rubber straps.
The inclusion of socks is a first for the Pokemon Time series (and quite possibly a first for Pokemon Center promotions in general). “But Miki,” I hear people saying, “there have been socks offered in the past.” True, but not exactly in the same way as in this promotion. For some reason in Japan, a lot of sock stores offer a deal that allows the buyer to select any 3 of a prespecified type of sock for $10. Why 3 and why $10 and where did this originate from, I’m not sure, but you’re saving money and you get 3 pairs of cute socks!
Unsurprisingly, the socks were the most popular item from the promotion. How do I know? Pokemon Time came out on Saturday and by Monday, when this picture was taken, 3 of the designs were already sold out (Lucario, Pikachu, and Shinx).
Perhaps the most surprising items from the 9th wave were these giant sized plush cushions. All three types of plush are incredibly soft and very huggable and also large. Very, very large.
Aside from the figure straps, always my favorite type of merch from Pokemon Time, these stickers deserve a shout out due to sheer adorableness.
The February Monthly Pikachu plush also came out on Saturday. The weather in Tokyo is finally getting cold enough to require extra blankets, and for those with limited heating options, one of the best ways to stay warm in Winter in Japan is with a kotatsu, which is what Pikachu is doing!
The pattern on the blanket includes Torchic, Substitute Plush, and Dedenne, among others.
The Pokemon Sketch promotion, although maybe not as exciting as Pokemon Time, still offered some cute usable items, such as sketchbooks, dice bags, handkerchiefs, and small storage boxes. All items were available with Pikachu
Mudkip
Eevee
and Lucario!
There was also two miscellaneous releases. First up, this clearfile featuring artwork from this year’s Game Freak New Year’s card.
Pokemon is also jumping on the Valentine’s Day band wagon with this heart shaped chocolate bar and mini individually wrapped chocolates. Buy them for someone you love, like yourself!
On a parting note, two new posters went up in the Pokemon Center on Saturday. First up, the last Monthly Pikachu of this current series, Graduation Chu, is set to be released February 20th.
We also got this new poster for the Little Tales promotion, coming out February 6th. Hopefully we’ll get more information on the actual line-up on Friday.
