Pokémon
Pokémon World Championships 2023 announces external events before and during the tournament
Yokohama, Japan, will be the center of this year’s biggest Pokémon celebration, and plenty of festivities will surround the tournament.
The Pokémon World Championships 2023 is just a few weeks away from taking place in Yokohama, Japan, marking the first time that the franchise’s premier tournament will be held in Japan. The tournament, which will be held at the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center from August 11-13, will also feature a number of events before and during the main event that promises to make this tournament a great Pokémon celebration.
Summer festival, cruises and more to be added to Pokémon World Championships 2023 activities
On the event’s official website, The Pokémon Company has announced the events that will take place as part of the tournament:
- Pokémon Matsuri Park is a summer festival with various yatai (“stalls”) themed around the Pokémon franchise, where we can “Catch Magikarps” or “Throw Poke Balls. The festival will also feature traditional Japanese dancing to the rhythm of Pokémon songs and taiko drum performances.
- “We Move!!!” will be a nightly show from August 8-14, where the night sky will be the main stage for a drone show that promises to “touch our hearts.”
- “Imagination! Into the Next!!!” will be a live show that brings together Pikachu, Lucario, Greninja and other Pokémon in a nighttime show full of effects, fountains and projection mapping. This live show will run from August 8-14, with two shows per day.
- “Let’s Celebrate! The Pokémon Parade!!!” is a parade that will end the Pokémon World Championships on August 14th with Pikachu, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly - and even some rare Pokémon.
- Pokémon Trainer Cruise as the name suggests, will take us to a luxury cruise ship that pays homage to Pokémon Red & Blue and the legendary SS Anne. Here, we will be able to battle and trade with other players using either our Nintendo Switch or the Trading Card Game. This will take place from August 11th to 13th.
In order to participate in these events, it is necessary to register for a lottery system where seats will be raffled off to receive an entry ticket. This will take place from June 19th to July 3rd on the event website.
A tournament on par with Pokémon
Last year, we had the opportunity to be a part of the return of this tournament, which was held in London, England to close out the Galar region before the release of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. In addition to the main game tournament, there were tournaments for everything Pokémon, from the Trading Card Game, Pokémon Unite, Pokémon GO, and the latest Pokken Tournament DX tournament. Just as in Yokohama, a number of activities were held in London in preparation for the event, including a screening of Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles and a small fair with activities.