The Pokemon Company and Japan Sumo Association announced a collaboration that will see Pokemon content showing up at upcoming Sumo events in Japan. It will begin with Pikachu and Makuhita’s mascot appearances in the forthcoming kids’ tournaments. Pokemon-related flags will also appear at the Grand Sumo Tournaments in November 2021 and January 2022.
The Wanpaku Sumo National Boys Tournament on October 31, 2021, will have a Pikachu mascot appear to cheer on the participants. The Sumo-themed Pokemon Makuhita will accompany Pikachu at the Wanpaku Girls Tournament on November 14, 2021.
The Pokemon Company will also set up flags related to the franchise at the professional Grand Tournaments. Flags decorated with box art of legacy Pokemon titles will appear on the final day of the Fukuoka Grand Sumo Tournament on November 28, 2021. The January 2022 Tournament, set to take place at Kokugikan in Tokyo, will see flags of more than 200 different Pokemon, including Pikachu and Makuhita.
Pokemon content has recently shown up in many real-life event collaborations, as the franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021. Universal Studios Japan will see Pikachu join Mario and other famous characters in the theme park’s parades in 2022. The U.S. will also get a new balloon featuring Pikachu and Eevee at the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
