Tokyo International News Agency

To celebrate the 55th anniversary of McDonald's Japan and the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, a massive collaboration campaign called "Pokémon Summer Mac" is set to launch sequentially starting tomorrow, Friday, July 10. This campaign, marked as one of their largest-ever tie-ups, will span four categories: the "Summer Chance Bag," "Tokuninarudo" (special promotional offers), "Burgers," and "Happy Meals." Key visuals showcasing Pikachu alongside the beloved original first-generation starter Pokémon—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—have already been released, igniting a massive wave of excitement across social media. The details for "Pokémon Summer Mac" will be unveiled gradually starting from mid-July. The current release schedule is as follows: Friday, July 10: Announcement of the "Summer Chance Bag" and "Tokuninarudo" details Thursday, July 16: Announcement of the "Burger" lineup Friday, July...

Pokémon GO and the Japan AED Foundation have officially entered into a partnership to promote the awareness and accessibility of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Starting May 1, 2024, AED installation sites are being sequentially added to the game as "PokéStops." The initiative aims to utilize the game’s popularity to help the public identify the locations of AEDs, which are critical in medical emergencies. The rollout began with approximately 1,000 locations in Tokyo and is scheduled to expand to about 13,000 sites nationwide by mid-July. To further emphasize the lifesaving theme, Pawmot—the "Hands-on Pokémon" known for its resuscitation-themed moves—is featured as a primary motif for the collaboration. The announcement has been met with widespread acclaim on social media, with many calling it a "revolutionary" and "wonderful social contribution." Experts hope that by having a wide demographic of daily players recognize where AEDs are l...