Pokémon world in relation to the real world: Difference between revisions
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==Side regions== | ==Side regions== |
Revision as of 19:33, 8 March 2013
Shortcut PKWorld |
This article is a featured article. This means that it has been identified as one of the best articles produced on Bulbapedia. |
This article contains fan speculation. There is no solid evidence for or against some parts of this article. |
The designs of five of the major Pokémon regions—Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova—are strikingly similar in geography and demographics to regions in the real world, and sometimes even officially stated to be based on certain locations. The first four regions are based on smaller regions in Japan, while Unova is based on the New York metropolitan area.
Main regions
Kanto
The Kantō region of Japan is not only identical in name to Kanto in the Pokémon world, it is also very similar geographically; however, the western part of the game map corresponds to eastern Chūbu.
Pokémon world | Specific location | Prefecture | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pallet Town | 下田市 | Shimoda City | 静岡県 | Shizuoka | Pallet Town is based on Satoshi Tajiri's hometown Machida City in his boyhood, abundant in nature. |
Viridian City | 箱根町 | Hakone Town | 神奈川県 | Kanagawa | |
Viridian Forest | 奥秩父山塊 | Okuchichibu Mountains | 埼玉県、山梨県、長野県 | Yamanashi, Saitama, and Nagano | |
Pewter City | 前橋市 | Maebashi City | 群馬県 | Gunma | Maebashi is the capital of the Gunma prefecture. The famous Iwajuku archaeological site and the Iwajuku Museum are located in the city of Midori. |
Mt. Moon | 赤城山 | Mount Akagi | 群馬県 | Gunma | Mt. Akagi features a crater lake near the summit |
Cerulean City | さいたま市 | Saitama City | 埼玉県 | Saitama | Saitama is bordered in the west by the Arakawa River. |
Vermilion City | 横浜市 | Yokohama City | 神奈川県 | Kanagawa | Yokohama is the largest seaport in Japan. |
Power Plant | 東海発電所 | Tōkai Nuclear Power Plant | 茨城県 | Ibaraki | The first commercial nuclear power plant in Japan. |
Lavender Town | 成田市 or 佐倉市 | Narita City or Sakura City | 千葉県 | Chiba | |
Celadon City | 新宿 | Shinjuku | 東京都 | Tōkyō | Shinjuku is the commercial center of Tokyo. |
Saffron City | 丸の内 | Marunouchi | 東京都 | Tōkyō | Marunouchi is the business center of Tokyo, as well as all of Japan. |
Magnet Train station | 東京駅 | Tōkyō Station | 東京都 | Tōkyō | The Tokyo Station is a train station located in Marunouchi. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen bullet train line runs from Tokyo to Osaka through here. |
Fuchsia City | 館山市 | Tateyama City | 千葉県 | Chiba | |
Kanto Safari Zone | 富士箱根伊豆国立公園 | Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park | 山梨県、静岡県、神奈川県、東京都 | Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Kanagawa, and Tokyo | |
Cycling Road | 東京湾アクアライン | Tōkyō Bay Aqua-Line | It connects Kawasaki City and Kisarazu City over Tokyo Bay. It was under construction when Pokémon Red and Green were released. | ||
Cinnabar Island | 伊豆大島 | Izu-Ōshima | 東京都 | Tōkyō | Oshima is famous for Mt. Mihara, an active volcano. |
Sevii Islands
The Sevii Islands are based on two archipelagos off the coast of Tokyo: the Izu Islands (伊豆諸島) and the Bonin Islands (小笠原諸島).
Pokémon world | Specific location | Subprefecture | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Knot Island | 新島、神津島、式根島、利島 | Niijima, Kōzushima, Shikinejima and Toshima | 大島支庁 | Oshima | |
Kindle Road | 新島 | Niijima | |||
Treasure Beach | 神津島 | Kozushima | |||
Mt. Ember | 利島宮塚山 | Mt. Miyatsuka, Toshima Island | |||
Boon Island | 三宅島、御蔵島 | Miyakejima & Mikurajima | 三宅支庁 | Miyake | |
Kin Island | 八丈島、八丈小島 | Hachijōjima & Hachijōkojima | 八丈支庁 | Hachijō | |
Berry Forest | 八丈小島 | Hachijōkojima | |||
Three Isle Port | 底土港 | Sokodo Port | |||
Floe Island | 青ヶ島 | Aogashima | 八丈支庁 | Hachijō | |
Chrono Island | 聟島列島 | Mukojima Islands | 小笠原支庁 | Ogasawara | All are uninhabited. |
Water Labyrinth | 西之島 | Nishinoshima | |||
Resort Gorgeous | 中ノ島 | Nakanoshima | |||
Lost Cave | 笹魚島 | Sasauojima | |||
Memorial Pillar | 媒島 | Nakoudojima | |||
Fortune Island | 父島列島 | Chichijima Islands | 小笠原支庁 | Ogasawara | The small islands to the north of Chichijima include Anijima (兄島) and Otōtojima (弟島), among others. |
Ruin Valley | 父島 | Chichijima | |||
Green Path | 兄島 | Anijima | |||
Outcast Island | 弟島 | Otōtojima | |||
Quest Island | 母島列島 | Hahajima Islands | 小笠原支庁 | Ogasawara | The small islands to the south of Hahajima include Anejima (姉島) and Imōtojima (妹島), among others. |
Navel Rock | 鳥島 | Torishima | 八丈支庁 | Hachijō | Known as the habitat of albatross. |
Birth Island | 南鳥島 | Minami Torishima | 小笠原支庁 | Ogasawara | The easternmost island belonging to Japan. |
Johto
In Japan, the Kanto region is often contrasted with Kansai, which is like Johto, to the west. However, Johto is geographically more similar to Kansai and western Chubu combined.
Pokémon world | Specific location | Prefecture | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mt. Silver | 富士山 | Mount Fuji | — | ||
New Bark Town | 静岡市 or 浜松市 | Shizuoka City or Hamamatsu City | 静岡県 | Shizuoka | |
Cherrygrove City | 名古屋市 | Nagoya City | 愛知県 | Aichi | Nagoya is the third largest city in Japan. |
Violet City | 奈良市 | Nara City | 奈良県 | Nara | Nara is where Japan was founded as a state. Kyoto City is nearby and home to a number of prestigious universities. |
Sprout Tower | 法隆寺五重塔 | Hōryū-ji Five-story pagoda | 奈良県 | Nara | Hōryū-ji Pagoda and Kondō are the oldest wooden structures in existence in the world. |
Ruins of Alph | 明日香村 | Asuka Village | 奈良県 | Nara | There are many archaeological sites in Nara such as Ishibutai Kofun (石舞台古墳) and Takamatsuzuka Tomb (高松塚古墳). |
Azalea Town | みなべ町 | Minabe Village | 和歌山県 | Wakayama | Minabe is famous for its high-quality Japanese apricots, known as ume, and high-quality charcoal, known as Binchōtan. |
Goldenrod City | 大阪市 | Ōsaka City | 大阪府 | Ōsaka | Osaka is the most populous city in the Kansai region. |
National Park | 明治の森箕面国定公園 or 万博記念公園 | Meiji no Mori Minoo Quasi-National Park or Expo Memorial Park | 大阪府 | Ōsaka | In the Expo Park is a famous monument called the Tower of the Sun. |
Goldenrod Radio Tower | 通天閣 | Tsutenkaku | 大阪府 | Ōsaka | Tsutenkaku is one of the most popular landmarks in Osaka. |
Ecruteak City | 京都市 | Kyōto City | 京都府 | Kyōto | Kyoto was formerly the imperial capital. |
Burned Tower | 金閣 | Kinkaku-ji | 京都府 | Kyōto | Kinkaku-ji was set on fire by a monk in 1950 (金閣寺放火事件). The wall is covered with gold leaf. Atop the Kinkaku temple sits a golden statue of a rooster or phoenix (Ho-Oh). |
Bell Tower | 銀閣 | Ginkaku | 京都府 | Kyōto | Ginkaku is not covered with silver leaf. Atop the Ginkaku temple rests the likeness of a bird (Lugia). |
Olivine City | 神戸市 | Kōbe City | 兵庫県 | Hyōgo | Kobe is the major port city in the Kansai region. Kobe is also well known for wagyū, or Kobe beef. |
Glitter Lighthouse | 和田岬 | Cape Wada | 兵庫県 | Hyogo | |
Whirl Islands | 淡路島 | Awajishima | 兵庫県 | Hyōgo | The Naruto Strait between Awajishima and Shikoku is famous for the Naruto whirlpools. |
Cianwood City | 鳴門市 | Naruto City | 徳島県 | Tokushima | Naruto is where Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. began. |
Mt. Mortar | 比叡山 | Mount Hiei | — | ||
Mahogany Town | 甲賀市 | Kōka City | 滋賀県 | Shiga | Kōka is where the famous Kōga ninja were born and educated (Kōga-ryū, 甲賀流). |
Lake of Rage | 琵琶湖 | Lake Biwa | 滋賀県 | Shiga | Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan. |
Blackthorn City | 白川郷 | Shirakawa | 岐阜県 | Gifu | Shirakawa is known as a hidden region, relating to Blackthorn's Japanese name, Fusube, which roughly means "hidden area." |
Dragon's Den | 伊吹山 | Mt. Ibuki | "Ibuki" is also the Japanese name of Clair. |
Hoenn
Hoenn is based on the southernmost parts of Japan—Kyūshū and surrounding islands.
Pokémon world | Specific location | Prefecture | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Littleroot Town | 伊万里市 or 佐世保市 | Imari City or Sasebo City | 長崎県 | Nagasaki or Saga | The United States Navy has operated a base in Sasebo since the end of World War II. |
Oldale Town | 佐賀市 | Saga City | 佐賀県 | Saga | |
Petalburg City | 福岡市 | Fukuoka City | 福岡県 | Fukuoka | Fukuoka is the biggest city on Kyushu. |
Rustboro City | 北九州市 | Kitakyushu City | 福岡県 | Fukuoka | Kitakyushu's main industry is steelmaking. It is also home to Zenrin, a company specializing in navigation software. |
Dewford Town | 対馬島 | Tsushima Island | 長崎県 | Nagasaki | The entire island is considered a city. Before the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910, the island was ruled by Korea, and known as Daemado. |
Slateport City | 長崎市 | Nagasaki City | 長崎県 | Nagasaki | During the Edo period, among Europeans, only the Dutch and the Portuguese were allowed into Japan, and then only at Dejima, Nagasaki. The main industry is shipbuilding. |
Mauville City | 熊本市 | Kumamoto City | 熊本県 | Kumamoto | |
Verdanturf Town | 菊池市 | Kikuchi City | 熊本県 | Kumamoto | |
Mt. Chimney | 阿蘇山 | Mount Aso | 熊本県 | Kumamoto | Mt. Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan. |
Lavaridge Town | 阿蘇町 | Aso Town | 熊本県 | Kumamoto | Aso is home to seven onsen, or hot springs (阿蘇温泉郷). |
Meteor Falls | 羽門の滝 | Udo Falls | 大分県 | Ōita | There is a legend of a white dragon here. |
Fallarbor Town | 大分市 | Ōita City | 大分県 | Ōita | |
Fortree City | 小林市 | Kobayashi City | 宮崎県 | Miyazaki | |
Scorched Slab | 天岩戸 | Amano-Iwato | 宮崎県 | Miyazaki | In Japanese mythology, Amano-Iwato is where Amaterasu hid from her brother Susanoo, who had gone on a rampage. |
Mt. Pyre | 桜島 | Sakurajima | 鹿児島県 | Kagoshima | Sakurajima is an active volcano, formerly an island. The continuous volcanic activity drops large amounts of ash in the region. |
Lilycove City | 鹿屋市 | Kanoya City | 鹿児島県 | Kagoshima | |
Mossdeep City | 種子島 | Tanegashima | 鹿児島県 | Kagoshima | |
Mossdeep Space Center | 種子島宇宙センター | Tanegashima Space Center | 鹿児島県 | Kagoshima | |
Sootopolis City | 硫黄島 | Iōjima | 鹿児島県 | Kagoshima | The landscape of Sootopolis City is based on Santorini, Greece. |
Ever Grande City | 屋久島 | Yakushima | 鹿児島県 | Kagoshima | The mountainous terrain and location seem to point to this island, though the shape and city could be based off of Naha. |
Mirage Island | 八重干瀬 | Yaebishi | 沖縄県 | Okinawa | Yaebishi appears above the sea on March 3 by the lunisolar calendar. |
Pacifidlog Town | 八重山諸島 | Yaeyama Islands | 沖縄県 | Okinawa | Ishigaki Island, located in the Yaeyama Islands, contains rare blue corals. The islands of Okinawa Prefecture are home to many coral reefs. Its location and shape are based on Koshikijima. |
Sealed Chamber | 与那国島 | Yonaguni | 沖縄県 | Okinawa | Underneath the water's surface, natural rock formations were thought to be artificially created. |
Sinnoh
Sinnoh has been said to be an island like Hoenn, rather than a peninsula. It is based on the northernmost major island of Japan, Hokkaido. Part of Sakhalin (Japanese: 樺太 Karafuto) and Kunashir Island (Japanese: 国後島 Kunashiri Island), territories which are in dispute between Russia and Japan, are also included.
Unova
Unova has been said to be significantly distant from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. Instead of being based on an area of Japan, Unova is based on the Manhattan area of New York City, and also parts of eastern New Jersey.
Pokémon world | Specific location | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nuvema Town | Coney Island | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumula Town | Marine Park | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Striaton City | Canarsie, Brooklyn | Striaton makes a multitude of references to the glaciers that formed Long Island, including its location compared to the central land. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nacrene City | DUMBO, Brooklyn | DUMBO, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in Brooklyn. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Skyarrow Bridge | A hybrid of the Brooklyn Bridge and Rainbow Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Castelia City | Lower Manhattan | Lower Manhattan is the business center of New York City, as well as the United States. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nimbasa City | Midtown Manhattan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gear Station | 59th Street - Columbus Circle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Driftveil Drawbridge | George Washington Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Driftveil City | Union City, New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mistralton City | Teterboro, New Jersey | The Mistralton City Airport's real-life counterpart is the Teterboro Airport. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Icirrus City | Ridgefield, New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opelucid City | Harlem | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Village Bridge | Robert F. Kennedy Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lacunosa Town | Flushing, Queens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Undella Town | Jamaica, Queens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Undella Bay | Jamaica Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marvelous Bridge | Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Entralink | Central Park Manhattan | The Entralink also draws inspiration from the Tokyo Imperial Palace. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liberty Garden | A hybrid of Liberty State Park and Liberty Island | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tubeline Bridge | Forth Railway Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unity Tower | United Nations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aspertia City | Elizabeth, New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Floccesy Town | Newark, New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virbank City | Jersey City | Virbank Complex bears some resemblance to the oil refineries and tanker area located along the New Jersey Turnpike. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marine Tube | Ocean Parkway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Humilau City | Babylon, New York | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lentimas Town | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Black City | East New York, Brooklyn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
White Forest | Spring Creek Park |
Side regions
Landscape
While the above locations are meant to correspond to the different regions of Japan, great liberties were taken with the design of their landscape. Some of the designers have admitted to drawing inspiration from real-world locations outside Japan, especially with locations shown in Pokémon movies.
Real-world locations mentioned
Real-world people and cultures mentioned
Other references to the real world
References |