Slowpoke might not be the most powerful or most useful Pokémon in battle, and it might not be quite as famous as critters like Pikachu and Charmander, but it's definitely won over the hearts of those in the Japanese prefecture of Kagawa.
Over the last few days, special manhole covers depicting Slowpoke have been installed across the prefecture as part of the region's ongoing partnership with The Pokémon Company. Slowpoke acts as an ambassador for Kagawa, and has technically done so since December last year, but this new set of manhole designs really puts Slowpoke on the Kagawa map - quite literally.
Apparently, part of the reason Slowpoke has been chosen as an ambassador for the prefecture is thanks to its Japanese name, 'Yadon'. Sounding similar to 'Udon', a noodle dish iconic to the region, the name is a perfect fit, but the match also works thanks to Slowpoke's ability to summon rain and the sweet sap that can be found on its tail; Kagawa is also known for its low precipitation and an institute that researches rare sugar.
If you happen to travel to Kagawa, make sure to keep an eye out for the manhole covers above.
We wish our town had a Pokémon ambassador.
[source soranews24.com, via local.pokemon.jp]
Comments 16
Cool! I'll look out for them in Kagawa!
Just when you thought you couldn't love Japan any more, this happens!
Off to Kagawa I go to give a lady in pink a Slowpoke.
Those better be authentic Slowpoketail noodles!
That is incredibly cute.
Loved the April Fools back then. Kudos to Kagawa Prefecture for allowing harmless fun into official matters (also, bonus tourist attraction)
Love this! Never change, Japan. ^_^
That is lovely
This is pretty cool. Plus the pictures on the manhole covers look really cute.
This is actually part of a nationwide project. There are different Pokemon manhole covers in different areas. Here's more info.
https://local.pokemon.jp/en/manhole/
whatever happen to Pikachu be the ambassador? of course then from what i remember Pikachu was named "honorary" ambassador of a different city
Japan:
A country where even the dumbest Pokemon gets groupies.
@Franklin - Amen!
One of the things I love about this country is its openness to "nerdy" things like this. Japan happily embraces its "otaku" culture as every bit a part of itself as all aspects of Japanese culture. It's a stark contrast to America as it was when I was growing up.
These are generalizations but growing up in America I always felt that everything I liked was shunned and looked down upon. Gaming, sci-fi, reading books, all the traditional nerdy things were bad a subculture that America tried to bury and ignore.
But I can comfortably say that Japan is quite different in that regard, happily embracing its "otaku" subculture as part of itself. Living here for close to 5 years now, I can say I've felt more at home here than I ever did in America!
I'm not trying to bash on the US, not really. It's just a different mentality. That's all.
Wish the USA showed this level of coolness
At times like this, I wish that instead of releasing Let's Go, Eevee, they had released Hurry Up, Slowpoke instead.
Geodude, Iwate’s Tourism ambassador.
Slowpoke, Pokémon ambassador of Kagawa.
Boy, Japan really does take pop culture very seriously. (I have no idea what I am talking about)
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