First Pokémon Center in Shikoku to Open in Kagawa in 2025

It has been decided that 'Pokémon Center Kagawa,' an official shop for Nintendo's popular game 'Pokémon,' will open around autumn 2025 at Marugamemachi Green in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. This will be the first directly managed Pokémon Center store to open in the Shikoku region.

According to information announced by the official Pokémon account (@Pokemon_cojp) on July 11th, the 'Pokémon Center Kagawa' logo will feature the familiar Pikachu alongside 'Slowpoke' (Yadon in Japanese), a Pokémon also known for serving as a PR ambassador for Kagawa Prefecture, dubbed 'Udon Prefecture.' This design, symbolizing the deep connection between Kagawa Prefecture and Slowpoke, has been met with delight from many fans.

Following this announcement, numerous excited comments such as 'No way! So happy!', 'This is the best!', 'Too hot!', and 'Been waiting for this!' were posted on SNS X (formerly Twitter), with related keywords trending on Yahoo! News. Particularly regarding the adoption of Slowpoke, which has strong ties to Kagawa Prefecture, unique reactions like 'Slowpoke's psychic powers must have pulled the Pokémon Center here' and comments praising the design as 'too cute' have been shared.

While locals welcomed the news with comments like 'Welcome, everyone from outside the prefecture!', some posts also highlighted the stark reality of commercial development differences between regions, remarking, 'This clearly shows the disparity in vitality between cities like Matsuyama and Takamatsu.'

Further details, such as the exact opening date and planned opening commemorative campaigns, will be announced at a later date. The establishment of the first Pokémon Center in Shikoku is drawing significant attention not only from local residents but also from Pokémon fans nationwide.

The context

Pokémon Centers are official retail stores and event spaces dedicated to the Pokémon franchise, offering a wide range of merchandise, from video games and trading cards to plush toys and exclusive collectibles. They are popular destinations for fans, known for their immersive themed environments and special events. Until now, the Shikoku region, one of Japan's four main islands, did not have a directly managed Pokémon Center, making this new opening a significant milestone for fans in the area. The choice of Slowpoke (Yadon) for the logo is a nod to its role as a PR ambassador for Kagawa Prefecture, which is famously known as 'Udon Prefecture' due to its renowned Sanuki Udon noodles. Slowpoke's association with the prefecture includes themed merchandise and local initiatives, making its inclusion in the Pokémon Center Kagawa logo a popular and fitting tribute.

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