World’s 1st Pokemon-Themed Airport Emerges in Ishikawa Pref.

Wajima, Ishikawa Pref., July 7 (Jiji Press)–A celebration ceremony for an airport named after blockbuster Japanese animation series Pocket Monster, or Pokemon, was held in the city of Wajima in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on Tuesday. Noto Airport in the city was given the nickname “Noto Satoyama Pokemon with You Airport” the same day. Over 100 Pokemon characters are painted on walls and other parts of the airport, and limited-edition merchandise and meals are available at shops and restaurants. According to the Ishikawa prefectural government, the airport is the first in the world to bear “Pokemon” as part of the name. It will retain the nickname until the end of September 2029. The prefectural government promoted the nickname project in cooperation with a Tokyo-based foundation that engages in activities contributing to society through Pokemon. “The Pokemon airport is expected to help speed up” the region’s recovery from a powerful earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in the prefecture in January 2024, Ishikawa Governor Yukiyoshi Yamano said at the ceremony, held at the airport’s terminal building. “I will work to turn the excitement from the new nickname into the power to advance the reconstruction efforts,” he added. A large airplane-shaped balloon straddled by Pikachu, one of the main Pokemon characters, is hung from the atrium ceiling on the second floor of the airport terminal. A painting of many Pokemon characters relaxing in natural scenery of the peninsula is placed on the arrival lobby of the first floor as an encouragement for the reconstruction efforts. “I was happy to see Pikachu,” said a 5-year-old boy from the city of Takaoka in neighboring Toyama Prefecture. The Ishikawa Prefecture-run airport opened in 2003. It suffered damage from the 2024 temblor, such as cracks on its runway. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]