by ZombieMiki | Jan 12, 2016 | Pokemon, Pokemon Center Report, Pokemon Merch News
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.
by ZombieMiki | Jan 3, 2016 | gacha, Pokemon, Pokemon Merch News, TCG, UFO Catchers
January Release – Date Unspecified
[Gacha] Can Badge Collection XY&Z (Ash’s Greninja, Braixen, Chespin, Dedenne, Eevee, Mega Charizard X, Pikachu, Sylveon, Zygarde Core, Zygarde Perfect Form)
1.1
[Pokemon Center] New Years Monthly Pikachu Set (2 plush = 2,500 yen)
[Pokemon Center] Pokemon Market
[Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo] New Years Lucky Bags (5,000 yen)
[TCG] Pokemon XY Break Special Card Box (Pikazard X | Pikazard Y) (1 box = 2,500 yen)
[TCG] Card sleeves (Mega Lucario Chu | Mega Slowbro Chu | Mega Sableye Chu | Mega Audino, Mega Altaria, Mega Diancie) (1 pack of 32 sleeves = 362 yen)
[Kuji] Pokemon Card Game Kuji
[Campaign] Distribution start for the second set of Pikachu Mega Campaign illustration cards
1.7
[Banpresto] I Love Mew – Large Mew Plush
1.9
[Pokemon Center] February Monthly Pikachu
[Pokemon Center] Pokemon Time Part 9
[Pokemon Center] Pokemon Sketch
[Pokemon Center] 20th Anniversary Clearfile
1.12
[Collaboration] Its’Demo Valentine’s
1.16
[Gacha] Mega Pikachu Gacha Figures (Mega Altaria, Mega Audino, Mega Lucario, Mega Sableye, Mega Slowbro, Pikazard X, Pikazard Y) (1 try = 300 yen)
[Merchandise] Ash Plush
1.21
[Banpresto] I Love Mew – 4 Mew Plush
[Collaboration] Its’Demo Valentine’s (Pikachu Plush, Slippers, and Pair Mascot)
1.22
[Banpresto] Charizard Sleeping Bag Pikachu Plush
1.23
[MonColle] Reshiram (Overdrive), Zekrom (Overdrive)
[Collaboration] Its’Demo Necklace Restock
1.26
[Banpresto] We Meet Again Pikachu Plush
1.29
[TCG] Poke-Kyun Collection
[TCG] Premium PokeKyun Box Set
[TCG] PokeKyun Mini Binder Set (Pokemon Center | 7-11 Exclusive)
1.30
[Ichiban Kuji] Pikachu Sleeping Bag Collection – Nuku Nuku Style –
[Collaboration] Pre-sale of All-Stars Second Wave plush at Kiddyland starts
by ZombieMiki | Dec 25, 2015 | Pokemon, Pokemon Merch News, TCG
Welcome to the very last Pokemon Friday Announcements post in 2015! (applause, cheering, a little sadness)
Let’s start off with one of the biggest news: Pokemon Time Part 9! Our last Pokemon Time installment was only about 6 months ago, so it’s a little surprising they’re bringing out the next round so soon (January 9th), but otherwise, no complaints!
This set seems to have a clear focus on Piplup (and Lucario) for most of the items, including pouches
Bags, cups
Plates, and phone cases.
As usual there will also be clearfiles
All the clearfiles come in a set of 2
And feature 11 different Pokemon!
Of course, what is a Pokemon Time promotion without blind packaged something (at least they’re giving us a break from the summer when it seemed like half the items were blind packaged!)
Merch Line-Up
Prices do not include tax
Figure Straps – 11 types | 560 yen each (Budew, Buizel, Chimchar, Garchomp, Lucario, Piplup, Shaymin, Shinx, Starly, Togekiss, Turtwig)
Plush Cushions – 3 types | 4,800 yen each (Budew, Buizel, Togekiss)
A4 Clearfile Set – 11 types | 400 yen each (Budew, Buizel, Chimchar, Garchomp, Lucario, Piplup, Shaymin, Shinx, Starly, Togekiss, Turtwig)
Gold Lacquer Stickers – 6 types | 500 yen each (Budew, Lucario, Piplup, Shaymin, Shinx, Togekiss)
Masking Tape – 600 yen
Towel Handkerchief – 2 types | 1,500 yen each (Lucario, Piplup)
Pouch – 2 types | 1,850 yen each (Lucario, Piplup)
Tote Bag – 2 types | 3,000 yen each (Lucario, Piplup)
Melamin Cup – 2 types | 500 yen each (Piplup, Group)
Melamin Plate – 2 types | 700 yen each (Piplup, Group)
iPhone 6 / 6s Phone Case – 2 types | 1,880 yen each (Lucario, Group)
Rubber Strap Collection – 500 yen
Puchi Tin Collection – 380 yen
Pokemon Time Socks (3 pairs for 1,000 yen)
9 types | (Budew, Chimchar, Lucario, Pikachu, Piplup, Shaymin, Shinx, Togekiss, Turtwig)
Next up, Pokemon Sketch – another January 9th release!
This time, the Sketch series will focus on Mudkip, Eevee, and Lucario, and will include (unsurprisingly) sketch books
Train pass cases
Dice bags, in two different sizes
Pouches, mini hand towels
And the ever popular “free box”, which isn’t actually free.
Merch Line-Up
Prices do not include tax
6 Pocket Clearfile (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 470 yen each
Stickers (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 300 yen each
Sketchbook (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 400 yen each
Mini Dice Bag (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 400 yen each
Dice Bag (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 600 yen each
Pouch (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 1,200 yen each
Pass Case (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 930 yen each
Hand Towel (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 500 yen each
Free Box (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 1,000 yen each
Memo Stand (Eevee, Lucario, Mudkip) | 500 yen each
Coinciding with the official release of the 2DS console in Japan, there will be 4 special 2DS Pokemon Bundle Packs coming out February 27th.
Each pack will include:
1 2DS (clear blue, clear green, clear red, or clear yellow, depending on the game)
1 4GB Memory Card (with a virtual console version of Pokemon Blue, Green, Red, or Yellow)
1 Town Map
1 Mew Download Code
1 Mew Ticket
Stickers
The bundle packs will be available for pre-order from December 26th.
If the New 3DS is more your thing, we’ve got news for you as well! 2 New 3DS plates are coming out February 27th featuring generation 1 Pokemon sprites. Each set of plates retails for 2,000 yen + tax.
In TCG news, the next concept pack has been announced (Cute Pokemon Collection) and will come out January 29th.
Last but certainly not least, the ever popular Pokemon Little Tales collaboration series is returning for a third time on February 6th! More information coming soon ~
What was your favorite Pokemon Center promotion from 2015? What was your favorite piece of merch? Your favorite plush? What was your least favorite? What are you hoping to see in 2016?
—
Pokemon Time
Pokemon Sketch
2DS Pokemon Bundle
New 3DS Plates
Cute Pokemon Collection
Little Tales
