The annual Pikachu Outbreak event held in Yokohama, a Japanese city south of Tokyo, had extra significance this year with the release of Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! coming up on Nintendo Switch in November. It should come as no surprise then, that the games' mascots Pikachu and Eevee were front and centre, involved in a number of themed public parades, musical skits and plastered onto event-exclusive merchandise.
This year's centrepiece of the week-long festival was 'Synchronicity' - a multimedia presentation utilising the city's harbour and displaying cutting-edge digital technology. Things kicked off on Friday (10th August), and we were there to document festivities for your viewing pleasure.
First port of call was the Pikachu parade, as they marched in line going in and around one of the city's main shopping malls.
Next, it was a water and electronic music-themed 'Super Soaking Splash Show', featuring an augmented reality video wall, energetic dance routines and a few light showers to cool off.
It was then the turn of the Pikachu bus boats to do their rounds and greet the thousands of visitors around the harbour.
The Eevee parade came in the afternoon, and there was a wide open space for them to strut their stuff.
As dusk fell, a new gang of Pikachu donned their funky shades and neon-lit outfits for a dance show to old school electronica.
Finally, it was time for the night time show, featuring digital displays (including Yokohama’s iconic carousel showing various Pokémon themed designs), fireworks, some impressive water jet based acrobatics and cool futuristic light effects.
Despite the heat and the crowds, it’s difficult to not get taken in by the cuteness and grand spectacle of all things Pokémon, especially with the amazing atmosphere at an event like this.
How much Pikachu is too much?! Would you go to an event like this? Which other Pokémon deserve their chance in the spotlight? Let us know below!
Comments 23
Funny how stuff like this is the norm in Japan where as elsewhere this would be considered something only for kids...
It looks... beautiful!!!
........Yeeeaaaaah no thanks.
What's with that one Pikachu with the scheming expression? X-)
These parades always feel rather menacing to me, like some kind of saccharine army, a lullaby played at slow speed and off-key. Impressive logistics, though, and I suppose you really have to be there...
Wonder what Japan is doing for the Tokyo Olympic mascots. Japan is the king of mascots. We're going to get a Mario and Sonic game too, right?
I just don’t understand the enormous popularity of a single franchise on such a scale. Even the Macy’s Parade is all different things, and that’s the closest I can think of in the states. Or Fleet Week, but those are ships and not consumer products. Not knocking it as it looks very fun and festive, I just don’t understand.
That... is amazingly awesome.
Aw.... Thousand of Pikachus !
@AxeltheBuizel
Cuteness is an inherent part of Japanese culture. They actually adore things that are sweet and precious, unlike in America where such things are considered childish or effeminate.
This is epic.
Photos taken from Heaven (colourised)
Just once I'd like to see "Let's go on a parade with Pikachu in Belfast", lol Events like this are always in places too far away to travel to. Hopefully everyone that got to go had fun though.
I would love to go to one of these!
@TeslaChippie I seriously need to just move to Japan.
@Sakura I think they had three drafts for a set of three mascots, and left it up to elementary students to vote on which one to pick.
One trio is very Pokemon-like.
One trio is very Yokai-Watch-like.
One trio is kind of...sort of a Poke-Gundam-type-thing?
Weird?
Insert my usual "Japan gets the coolest things" line. The closest I've seen to this in the US (and only on TV) are the obligatory Pokemon blow-ups during the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.
Sometimes I wish I had been born in Japan, or at least was a military brat who had a parent stationed in Okinawa.
@Findonovan95 you always can honto the gay parade in Amsterdam if uou want to see a “lol” event ( i am straight as an arrow but it is actually a great parade to watch and last year i actually seen somebody dressed as pikachu)
@NEStalgia Thanks! I was a bit disappointed to find that they look rather generic. There is, of course, a ton of significance to the names and what the mascots represent. Maybe not as boring as they first seem.
https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/mascot/
I hope we get a lot of documentaries on Japan in the build-up. maybe even some gaming-related programmes.
@NewAdvent I've been twice in the past year and I swear nothing happens in Tokyo when I'm there.
Make sure you plan your trip!! So much too miss!
@Sakura Yeah, I love the Olympics in general, but being in Tokyo just makes it twice the fun it normally is (South Korea was fantastic as well.) I'll hit snooze on the LA Games....
When's charizard fest?
@AxeltheBuizel One of the things I like about Japan sometimes. You don't have to feel "childish" or similar for having fun with cute crap.
Everyone in Japan absolutely loves Pikachu, no matter how old. Its always nice to see those running around.
Problem is that sometimes this love over childlike things can go a bit too far in this country. But the above is what makes me happy living in this country.
Looks fun. But dude, those costumes must be stifling!
I was there too! But on the 10th most everything was cancelled due to the typhoon that had hit a day before
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