PokePark Kanto, the first permanent facility based on the popular Pokemon game and anime, held its grand opening on February 5th at Yomiuriland (Inagi City, Tokyo).
Kenjiro Ito, CBO of Pokemon and Chairman of PokePark Kanto LLC, said in his opening remarks, "We hope that Pokemon Trainers from all over the world will be able to have an experience that can only be had here, and we have come to this day imagining the joy they will feel as they interact with Pokemon. We will continue to work hard to produce Pokemon that will provide experiences that truly bring joy to everyone."
PokéPark Kanto President Retsu Mizoguchi commented, "The 27th of this month marks exactly 30 years since Pokémon was born into the world. In this memorable year, we are very pleased to be able to open Pokémon's first permanent outdoor facility, PokéPark Kanto, in the forests of Yomiuriland. All of us at Yomiuriland would like to welcome Pokémon fans visiting from all over Japan and around the world with the utmost hospitality, so that their experience with Pokémon will be a precious treasure."
Pokémon Chief Creative Fellow Junichi Masuda said, "The very first thing I thought of was to create a world where Pokémon actually exist. I thought up a story for each one and imagined what kind of life they lead, where they live, and what they eat. I hope that everyone will come and see what a world with Pokémon is like. I hope that while imagining the story, you will find your favorite Pokémon and go on an adventure with your favorite Pokémon."
PokéPark Kanto allows visitors to walk through a world where over 600 Pokémon live. It is made up of three areas: the PokéPark Entrance Plaza, which is home to art objects and shops; Pokémon Forest, a forest area that makes use of the lush Tama Hills; and Kayatsuri Town, where visitors can purchase merchandise, food, and drinks.
Pocket Monsters, Pokémon, and Pokémon are trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak.
