The Pokémon Company Just Matched Each of Japan's Top Professional Soccer Teams to a Pokémon

The Pokémon Company announced a collaboration contiguous with J League, Japan’s apical nonrecreational shot association. As portion of the Pokémon 30th day celebrations, each of the J League’s 60 teams is getting its ain Pokémon.

The featured Pokémon were picked to lucifer each of Japan’s pro shot teams. For example, Roasso Kumamoto is getting Ponyta arsenic its spouse Pokémon, which matches up with the club’s equine logo and mascot. Akita Blaublitz gets seahorse Pokémon Horsea, which arsenic Pokémon fans volition know, has Water/Dragon-type Pokémon Kingdra arsenic its last form. This meshes with Blaublitz’s mascot, which is simply a bluish dragon called Blaugon.

J League’s existent catchphrase is “Evolution! The J League is evolving,” and of course, Pokémon germinate excessively if you bid them up right. The collaboration officially launches connected August 7, with 1 cardinal Pokémon eco bags successful 60 antithetic designs to beryllium handed retired to attendees astatine each respective club’s location ground. On the beforehand of each container is the club’s spouse Pokémon, and connected the reverse is simply a peculiar Pikachu design. There are besides plans to merchantability collaboration merchandise, truthful shot and Pokémon fans should ticker this space.

After Japan's awesome showing astatine the World Cup, which ended aft the Samurai Blue conceded a 96th infinitesimal victor to Brazil successful the circular of 32, attraction successful the state turns to the adjacent play of the J League, which kicks disconnected successful August. Kashima Antlers are the defending champions, having won a record-extending ninth J.League rubric connected the past matchday of the 2025 season.

Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images.

Verity Townsend is simply a Japan-based freelance writer who antecedently served arsenic editor, contributor and translator for the crippled quality tract Automaton West. She has besides written astir Japanese civilization and movies for assorted publications.