Kanto
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The Kanto region (Japanese: カントー地方 Kantō-chihō) is a large area located east of Johto, north-east of Hoenn, and south of Sinnoh. It is the first region to be introduced, explored in the Generation I games and in the Generation III games Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions. Kanto is also accessible in the Generation II games Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal and their Generation IV remakes after the quest in Johto is completed.
Most of the names of the cities in Kanto are the names of colors (Viridian, Lavender, Indigo Plateau, etc.). Professor Oak is the resident Pokémon professor and gives Pokémon Trainers a choice between Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle as their starter Pokémon, though in Yellow the only choice is a Pikachu that he recently caught, although he did have an Eevee. In the games, the player begins his or her journey in Pallet Town and ends it at the Indigo Plateau.
It is based on and named after the real Kantō region (関東, meaning "east of the barrier") in Japan. Unlike almost every other region, which are specific to their own generations, Kanto has been explorable in all generations of Pokémon games so far. However, it is not the primary region in the Generation II and IV games it appears in, in which players explore the neighboring Johto region before exploring Kanto.
The artwork of Kanto in Generation I and Generation II depict Kanto as grassland, with very few trees. In Generation III and Generation IV, Kanto is seen with more trees, making it less like grassland.
Locations
Cities/Towns
| Map | City/Town | Population | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pallet Town | 8 | A fairly new and quiet town. It's a small and pretty place. |
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Viridian City | 16 | A beautiful city that is enveloped in green year-round. |
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Pewter City | 31 | A quiet city nestled between rugged mountains and rocks. |
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Cerulean City | 26 | A beautiful city with flowing water and blooming flowers. |
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Vermilion City | 24 | A southern city that is bathed in orange by the setting sun. |
| File:HGSS Lavender Town.png | Lavender Town | 20 | A small town covered in a beautiful hue of purple. |
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Celadon City | 42 | A rich, rainbow colored city where people and Pokémon gather. |
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Fuchsia City | 23 | A historic village that has become new. |
| File:HGSS Saffron City.png | Saffron City | 66 | The biggest city in Kanto, shining with a golden light. |
| File:HGSS Cinnabar Island.png | Cinnabar Island | 0 | A town used to be here until it was swept away by an eruption. |
Anime Cities/Towns
Areas of interest
- Cerulean Cave
- Diglett's Cave
- Indigo Plateau
- Mt. Moon
- Pokémon Mansion
- Pokémon Tower
- Power Plant
- Rock Tunnel
- Celadon Game Corner
- Safari Zone
- Seafoam Islands
- Silph Co.
- Victory Road
- Viridian Forest
- Pokémon Stadium (according to its in-game location information in Super Smash Bros.)
Routes
Routes in Kanto began the numbering process, going from 1 to 25 in Generation I and Generation III, but adding three routes to connect to Johto (26, 27, and 28) in Generation II and Generation IV.
Indigo League
- Main article: Indigo League
In Generations I and III
Between Generation I and Generation III, Kanto is very much the same with some alterations in respect to the improved graphics and gameplay in the remakes. Additionally in FireRed and LeafGreen, the first three in a chain of islands known as the Sevii Islands, located east and southeast of Kanto, are unlocked once Blaine is defeated on Cinnabar Island. Becoming the Pokémon Champion and getting the National Pokédex unlocks the other islands which make up this archipelago.
Gym Leaders
| Indigo League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Generations I and III | Region: Kanto | ||
| Gym Leader Japanese |
Location Japanese |
Type | Badge |
| {{{size}}} Brock タケシ Takeshi |
Pewter City ニビシティ Nibi City |
Rock |  Boulder Badge |
| {{{size}}} Misty カスミ Kasumi |
Cerulean City ハナダシティ Hanada City |
Water |  Cascade Badge |
| {{{size}}} Lt. Surge マチス Matis |
Vermilion City クチバシティ Kuchiba City |
Electric |  Thunder Badge |
| {{{size}}} Erika エリカ Erika |
Celadon City タマムシシティ Tamamushi City |
Grass |  Rainbow Badge |
| {{{size}}} Koga キョウ Kyō |
Fuchsia City セキチクシティ Sekichiku City |
Poison |  Soul Badge |
| {{{size}}} Sabrina ナツメ Natsume |
Saffron City ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki City |
Psychic |  Marsh Badge |
| {{{size}}} Blaine カツラ Katsura |
Cinnabar Island グレンじま Guren Island |
Fire |  Volcano Badge |
| {{{size}}} Giovanni サカキ Sakaki |
Viridian City トキワシティ Tokiwa City |
Ground |  Earth Badge |
Elite Four
| Indigo League | |
|---|---|
| Generation I | |
| Member Japanese |
Type |
| {{{size}}} Lorelei カンナ Kanna |
Ice |
| {{{size}}} Bruno シバ Siba |
Fighting |
| {{{size}}} Agatha キクコ Kikuko |
Ghost |
| {{{size}}} Lance ワタル Wataru |
Dragon |
| {{{size}}} Champion Blue グリーン Green |
Various |
In Generations II and IV
In the Generation II games as well as HeartGold and SoulSilver, trainers may travel from Johto to Kanto and notice that changes have occurred as a result of three years having passed since the time of the Generation I games and FireRed and LeafGreen:
- The Safari Zone is closed (becomes Pal Park in Generation IV)
- Cerulean Cave has collapsed (and was rebuilt afterward in Generation IV)
- Cinnabar Island has been destroyed by an eruption of the volcano, and its gym was temporarily relocated to the Seafoam Islands.
- Viridian Forest has become smaller (untrue in Generation IV) and Mt. Moon has decreased in size due to rock slides.
- The Power Plant has become functional.
- The Pokémon Tower has become a radio tower.
- Blue has remodeled Giovanni's former gym and functions as the Gym Leader.
- Janine has taken over Fuchsia Gym, seeing as her father Koga has been promoted to the Elite Four.
- The Pewter City Museum is closed for renovations (untrue in Generation IV).
Gym Leaders
| Indigo League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym Leader Japanese |
Location Japanese |
Type | Badge |
 Brock タケシ Takeshi |
Pewter City ニビシティ Nibi City |
Rock | Boulder Badge |
 Misty カスミ Kasumi |
Cerulean City ハナダシティ Hanada City |
Water | Cascade Badge |
| {{{size}}} Lt. Surge マチス Matis |
Vermilion City クチバシティ Kuchiba City |
Electric | Thunder Badge |
 Erika エリカ Erika |
Celadon City タマムシシティ Tamamushi City |
Grass | Rainbow Badge |
 Janine アンズ Anzu |
Fuchsia City セキチクシティ Sekichiku City |
Poison | Soul Badge |
 Sabrina ナツメ Natsume |
Saffron City ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki City |
Psychic | Marsh Badge |
 Blaine カツラ Katsura |
Seafoam Islands ふたごじま Twin Islands |
Fire | Volcano Badge |
 Blue グリーン Green |
Viridian City トキワシティ Tokiwa City |
Various | Earth Badge |
Elite Four
| Indigo League | |
|---|---|
| Generation II | |
| Member Japanese |
Type |
 Will イツキ Itsuki |
Psychic |
 Koga キョウ Kyō |
Poison |
 Bruno シバ Siba |
Fighting |
 Karen カリン Karin |
Dark |
 Champion Lance ワタル Wataru |
Dragon |
Culture
Connection to Japan
- Main article: Pokémon world in relation to the real world
Regardless of their proximity, the people of Johto and those of Kanto are set apart by many cultural differences. Kanto is based on the real Kantō region in Japan. Compared to the traditional Kansai region (where Johto is based), Kanto is modern and technological, which is reflected in the look of the cities and the buildings like the Pokémon Lab of Cinnabar Island and the Power Plant. This fact is also reflected in Kanto being the only Pokémon region without any legends, myths, or traditions related to Pokémon, and being the centerpoint for innovation, with the Poké Ball's ultimate upgrade, the Master Ball, being recently invented by Silph Co. The soil of the Kantō region is volcanic, referencing the in-game Kanto region's inability to maintain a berry crop in Generation II, Generation III and Generation IV. People from Kanto are considered to be sophisticated, reserved and formal. Kansai and Kantō, however different, are the two most important areas of Honshū, the largest island in Japan, and, much like Johto and Kanto, represent a harmony of contrasting cultures living together. The cultural divide is most noticeable in the games, as the player talks to and learns about the denizens of both regions.
Tokyo, which the commercial Celadon City and the financial Saffron City are based on, is the most important commercial and economic center of Japan. Yokohama, which Vermilion City is based on, is the main and largest seaport of Japan.
Trivia
- Kanto's name was never revealed in the Generation I games outside of Japan, causing many fans to think the region was called Indigo (because of the Indigo Plateau). It was mentioned only once in the Japanese versions upon viewing the Town Map at the rival's house. The first mention of its name outside of Japanese context was in Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions. Despite this, its name is mentioned multiple times in the Generation III remakes, including but not limited to viewing the Town Map at the beginning of the games.
- Kanto is the only main region which has been featured in two separate anime series, once at the start of Ash's journey (in the original series), and once after Ash returned from Hoenn (in the Advanced Generation series).
- Until Platinum's release, after Ash defeated Maylene and Crasher Wake (not to mention just before Ash challenges Fantina), it was also the only region in the anime where Ash defeated the Gym Leaders in a different order from the games.
- Kanto is mentioned during the event in which players capture Shaymin in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Professor Oak states that somewhere in the Kanto region there is a white rock similar to the one at the north end of Route 224 in Sinnoh, although no such rock has appeared in past games taking place in Kanto. Despite the fact that Kanto appears in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, no white rock appears at all. This may have been a mistake however because there is a white rock in Hoenn outside the Space Center.
- If the Sevii Islands were considered part of Kanto, then Kanto would be the largest region in the games.
- Kanto is the only region that is accessible in every generation before Generation V (albeit not in every game in every generation): Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow in Generation I, Gold, Silver and Crystal in Generation II, FireRed and LeafGreen in Generation III, and HeartGold and SoulSilver in Generation IV.
- Kanto is the only region that shares its name with the region of Japan it is based on.
- In its Generation I and III appearances (i.e. the games in which it is the primary region), Kanto is the only region where the player doesn't need Waterfall to get to the Elite Four. Pokémon Trainers from Johto, however, do need Waterfall.
- It is the only region where the League is west of all of the Gyms. This does consider Johto, whose Gyms are all west of the Indigo Plateau.
- Kanto is the only region that does not have a Battle Frontier in the handheld games.
- However, it has one in the anime.
- Kanto and Johto are the only regions that are connected to each other by land, and are likewise the only regions to add additional routes in their second appearances.
- In Generation II, Kanto was tied with Johto for the fewest amount of towns/cities, with only 10. This changed however in Generation IV, due to the introduction of the Safari Zone Gate and the Frontier Access in Johto.
- In Generation I, Kanto was slightly redesigned twice, with the designs of signposts, doors and other minor details being changed, thus having 3 different designs through Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow. The original Red and Green design was updated to be fully colored and subsequently reused in Generation II, if not counting the changes in the areas of the region.
- Kanto has appeared in the most generations, having appeared in four so far.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | カントー Kantō | From 関東, the Kantō region in Japan. |
| English | Kanto | From the Japanese name. |
| Korean | 관동 Gwandong | Possibly from 關東 (관동), gwandong. |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 關都／关都 Guāndū | May be a misinterpretation of Kanto. Can either mean "closed capital" or "city of the pass". |
See also
- Pokémon Red and Green
- Pokémon Blue
- Pokémon Red and Blue
- Pokémon Yellow
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
| Regions in the Pokémon world | ||
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| Kanto | ||||||||
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