Pokemon Center Report – Japanese Style Pikachu Patterns

Hello everyone!

Along with Charm-mageddon and the Pokemon With You merchandise released Saturday March 11th, a small line-up of Pikachu dominated Japanese style items also were quietly released under the radar.

These microfiber clothes, available as a larger handkerchief and a smaller coaster, feature four different patterns based on the four primary seasons. Along with Pikachu, we also have Jirachi for summer, Cherubi for spring, and Vanillite for winter.

There was two different coin pouches (perfect for carrying around coins for use at game centers!) The bigger size had three designs: pink

yellow

and red.

The smaller sized ones were pretty much identical, but smaller

They included the same patterns as the larger size

Including this super cute sakura themed design

and Pikachu in spaaaace!

The Sakura and Space Pikachu designs were also available as foldable tote bags

(When you want to go grocery shopping in style but want to save the environment, too)

As well as cute pouches

Which are both made of a sort of soft crepe-y fabric, when you love pouches and soft materials.

I love these random releases. They are often overshadowed by the more prominently advertised and proper promotions but that doesn’t make them any less adorable (and often times useful in day to day life).

Until next time!

Unboxing – Package from Japan Stuffs

Hello everyone!

Today’s update is a new kind of blog post: unboxing! I originally had wanted to make a video, but my hair was super not good when my box arrived and I wanted to open it right away, so here is a bunch of photos instead. Note: when I say a bunch of photos, I mean a lot, so be warned before you read more!

This box is actually mostly filled of stuff for my girlfriend, Kerstin, who also placed the order, so a special shout out to her! And of course, shout out to Japan Stuffs for picking up all of these items from the Pokemon Center and being generally awesome.

Both my girlfriend and I generally stick to EMS shipping when sending things from Japan, because of the security (EMS automatically comes with tracking) and the speed (it generally takes between 3-5 days depending on how quickly the box is shipped out from Japan). The package was shipped out on a Wednesday and had already arrived by Saturday. For the most part, the box arrived intact, although there was a small hole on one side, which was the fault of the postal service, but it happens and it’s happened on multiple boxes of mine in the past. However, I will point out that Japan Stuffs individually wraps all items in the box in little bags, so even if the shipping box is damaged in flight, you don’t have to worry about items going missing.

Moving on to what everyone wants to see…what’s inside the box!
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Pokemon Center Report – Spring Time For New Years + Pokedolls: The Return

Welcome to the New Year everyone!

First of all, a semi big announcement. I have a new photographer for while I am in America: the amazing and super nice Jen from Japanstuffs! Not only does she take photos of plush, but she sells them, too (and other stuff). So if you’re interested in buying stuff from Japan, including anything and everything from this post and any of my future posts, check out her site.

Moving on: Pokemon!

The New Year is bringing the return of the Pokedoll series, which has been dormant for about two years or so. The first three Pokedolls of the new series were released early through the Tokyo Skytree Pokemon Center location only a day or two before January 1st, but if you missed out on this pre-release, do not worry as they will be available everywhere in Japan starting January 14th.

The three Pokedolls were I guess unsurprisingly the three starters: Litten

Popplio

and Rowlet!

The dolls seem to be a little bigger than the previous Pokedoll incarnation, and because of this, the price has once again increased (they are now 1,296 yen after tax).

Pokemon decided to change the tags once again, and “Pokedoll” is now “Pokemon Dolls”.

What do you think of the new Pokedolls? Are you happy with the changes or ambivalent? What Pokemon are you excited to see maybe in Pokedoll form?

The big promotion for New Years was…Spring! Spring! Spring! This series looked super adorable from the preview photos and the real items are somehow even more adorable.

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Merchandise Overview – January

1.1

[Pokemon Center] Special Skytree Center Moving Promotion
[Pokemon Center] Skytree Center Sun and Moon Pokedoll Pre-release (Litten, Popplio, Rowlet)
[Pokemeon Center] Spring Spring Spring! Promotion
[Pokemon Center] Pokemon Villains Part 2 – Gacha Figure Collection
[Pokemon Center] 2017 Lucky Bags

1.2

[Pokemon Center] 2017 Lucky Bags

1.7

[Pokemon Center] Monthly Pair Pikachu – February
[Pokemon Center] Pokeball Promotion

1.11

[Banpresto] Nebukuro Collection | Large Plush (Flareon, Vaporeon)
[Banpresto] Nebukuro Collection | Plush (Espeon, Sylveon, Umbreon)

1.14

[Pokemon Center] Sun and Moon Pokedolls Nationwide Release (Litten, Popplio, Rowlet)
[Pokemon Center] New Pokemon Center Exclusive Plush (Alola Ninetails, Alola Sandshrew, Fomantis)
[Pokemon Center] Original Phone Cases (Snorlax + Sleeping Pokemon, Alola Pokemon Collection, Mimikyu)

1.16

[Merchandise] MonColle Get Vol 4 | Electric Types (9 Varieties)

1.17

[Banpresto] Pokemon Tea Party | Pikachu Candy Plush (3 Varieties)
[Banpresto] Pokemon Tea Party | Large Pikachu Plush

1.19

[Banpresto] Kororin Friends | Electric Type Plush (Ampharos, Pachirisu, Pikachu)

1.20

[Banpresto] *NAMCO EXCLUSIVE* Large Pikachu Mascot Plush (3 Types)

1.23

[Merchandise] Pokemon Desktop Figures (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Gengar, Mew, Pikachu, Squirtle)

1.24

[Banpresto] Kororin Friends | Big Raichu Plush
[Banpresto] Nebukuro Collection | Large Plush (Leafeon, Glaceon)

1.26

[Banpresto] Large Rockruff Plush
[Banpresto] Rockruff Evolution Line Plush
[Banpresto] *NAMCO EXCLUSIVE* Magikarp Plush

1.27

[TCG] Sun & Moon Booster Pack
[TCG] Sun & Moon Special Set (Decidueye, Incineroar, Primarina)
[TCG] Sun & Moon special Set (Rockruff, Turtonator)
[TCG] Popular Card Sleeve Re-Release (Subway Bosses, Steven w/Metagross, Champion Steven, Chandelure, Eeveelutions)

1.28

[MonColle] Bewear, Zygarde Perfect Forme

Pokemon Merchandise Announcements – Vulpix Poncho Pikachu + New Sun & Moon Plush + Spring! Spring! Spring! + Pokeballs Galore + New Years Lucky Bags

Lots of announcements from today, so hold on to your butts and get ready for Pokemon merchandise!

The Alolan hype train continues with more Sun & Moon Pokemon Center exclusive plush! This next batch goes on sale at all Pokemon Centers and Stores across Japan on January 14th and will include Alolan Sandshrew, Alolan Ninetails, and Fomantis. Both Fomantis and Sandshrew will cost 1,620 yen after tax, while Ninetails will cost 2,160 yen.

Speaking of hype, get ready for a flood of Vulpix merchandise, starting with these adorable poncho Pikachus! This mini sized promotion is actually a part 2 to the Sapporo Center re-opening extravaganza but will focus exclusively on Vulpix and Alolan Vulpix.

Basically, this promotion is so adorable I can’t handle it, and also not something I was expecting! The promotion will go on sale at all Pokemon Centers and Stores across Japan starting February 1st, 2017.

Full Line-Up

Vulpix / Alolan Vulpix Poncho Plush – 2,160 yen
Vulpix / Alolan Vulpix Poncho Mascot Plush – 1,296 yen

Metal Charm Set – 648 yen

Pin Set – 680 yen

Vulpix & Alolan Vulpix Ponchos – 5,184 yen each

Not Pictured

A4 Clearfile Set – 540 yen
Gold Lacquer Sticker – 972 yen
Sticker Set – 540 yen
Pokemon Card Game Special Box Set – 1,944 yen

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