National Pokemon Day

National Pokemon Day is an American holiday dedicated to Pokémon. This phenomenon of Japanese culture is popular not only in the United States but all over the world. Manga, anime, animated movies, toys—so much has been created based on these little creatures. The popularity of Pokémon cannot be described in words! The holiday is annually on February 27.

History

The National Pokemon Day celebration commemorates an event that occurred on February 27, 1996. On this day, Pokémon Red and Green were released, which now have the status of classic games. At one time, they were available for the Game Boy console.

The creation of Pokémon was made possible by a man from Tokyo named Satoshi Tajiri. He was born in 1965. As a child and teenager, he loved to study and collect insects. When video games began to appear, he ignited a new hobby. He had his own characters, which, thanks to his partnership with Nintendo, were turned into a full-fledged game.

In 1997, an anime series based on the universe came out. In it, the boy Satoshi, along with Pikachu, tries to become the greatest Pokémon master. In 2019, the first live-action Pokémon universe movie, “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu,” an American-Japanese co-production, was released.

Interesting facts

• In Japanese, the name “Pikachu” is a combination of two words: spark and squeak.
• Many of the Pokémon are based on real animals. For example, Poliwag is inspired by a tadpole, and the spiral on its belly represents the intestines. Tadpoles have very thin skin through which you can see their intestines.
• Originally in Japan, Pokémon were called Pocket Monsters. It was an abbreviation of this expression that gave the world the word “Pokémon.”

How to celebrate

On National Pokemon Day, play a Pokémon game, watch an anime or a movie. Find out more interesting information about the characters from the world of Pocket Monsters. You can also buy yourself a soft toy Pikachu or give it to your children.

Spread the word on social media. Ask other users when they were first introduced to the Pokémon universe.

When is National Pokemon Day in 2025?

National Pokemon Day is observed on February 27 each year.

Observations