A first time warrants a grand celebration, and that’s what Yokohama has done with an art event for the Pokémon trading card game. To celebrate it becoming the first Japanese city to host the Pokémon World Championships, the Tokyo-based port town is getting into the spirit early by displaying over 1,000 cards in various public places.
Both the interior and exterior of the Grand Mall Park and Mark Is, Landmark Plaza, and Queen’s Square shopping centers in Yokohama’s harborside Minatomirai district will welcome large-scale card displays from 1 August to 30 September. Another 1,000-plus pieces are set to grace the 10th floor of the Sky Building, located near Yokohama Station, as part of a special exhibition spanning 15 July to 30 September.
The star of the event, though, is the Pokémon Card Legendary Corridor, housed within Landmark Plaza. These massive Legendary Pokémon cards serve as a faithful recreation of the originals, right down to their holographic, glossy quality.
Elsewhere, the Pokémon Art Card Photo Spots will let fans step into the scene and become part of the artwork. Participating attractions include Yokohama’s Yamashita Park, Yokohama Park, Marine and Walk open-air shopping centre, Motomachi neighborhood, and the outdoor premises of Yokohama City Hall.
Making a return to its Gen 1 roots, the Pokémon Card 151 Illustration Collection at Mark Is is a welcome blast from the past for longtime enthusiasts. The gallery features the original 151 critters from Pokémon Red and Green, the first two games in the series, and is accompanied by the Pokémon Card Flower Carpet event, which will see fans placing artificial flowers, colored sand, and wood chips to create giant mosaics of past Pokémon cards. Charizard is the focus for Mark Is, while Landmark Plaza shines the spotlight on Pikachu.
The complete list of events is as follows:
- Pokémon Card Art Walk: 15 July to 30 September
- Pokémon Card Art Museum: 15 July to 30 September
- Pokémon Card Legendary Corridor: 15 July to 30 September
- Pokémon Card Flower Carpet Landmark Plaza: 22 July to 30 September
- Pokémon Art Card Photo Spots: 1 August to 30 September
- Pokémon Card Flower Carpet Mark Is: 19 August to early September
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
