COVID-19 pandemic
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The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing pandemic of the disease COVID-19 caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 that began in December 2019. Having spread worldwide, it has had a significant effect on the both the Pokémon franchise and the world as a whole.
Pokémon Center and Pokémon Stores
All Pokémon Center and Pokémon Store retail stores in Japan are closed as of April 17.[1] The Pokémon Center Online website remains operational.
Pokémon Centers Tokyo DX, Mega Tokyo, Shibuya, Skytree Town, Yokohama, Osaka DX, Osaka, and Fukuoka as well as the Pokémon Stores at Tokyo Station, Narita Airport, Itami Airport, and Kansai Airport were closed beginning on April 8, Pokémon Center Nagoya and the Pokémon Store at Chubu International Airport were closed beginning on April 11, Pokémon Center Kyoto was closed beginning on April 15, and the remaining stores were closed beginning on April 18. As of May 11, Pokémon Center Tohoku and the Pokémon Stores at Aeon Mall Okayama, Emifull Masaki, and Amu Plaza Kagoshima are scheduled to reopen on May 14, May 15, and May 15, respectively.[1]
On February 26, various events and in-store events were canceled or postponed and subsequently canceled as of April 15.[2] On February 27, the grand opening of Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo previously scheduled for March 6 was postponed.[3] On March 9, various health measures were put in place for employees and large events were canceled until May 6.[4] On April 8, due to the aforementioned store closures, customers with April birthdays will be able to receive Pokémon Center Birthday Pokémon, crown, card, and coupon promotion until May 31.[5]
In Singapore, several in-store events were suspended beginning on March 24.[6] On April 1, the store's anniversary celebrations scheduled for April 11 were postponed.[7] On April 4, it was announced that Pokémon Center Singapore would be closed from April 7 to May 4 under new regulations from the Singapore government.[8] On May 1, the closure was extended to June 1 to align with the extension of the circuit breaker period.[9]
In the United States, the Pokémon Center website began offering free shipping on April 8 for a limited time.[10]
Play! Pokémon and organized play
On March 6, the 2020 Pokémon Europe International Championships were canceled, and adjustments were made to the TCG ruleset to reduce player contact.[11] On March 13, the Regional Championships in Mississauga/Toronto, Charlotte, Joinville, and Salt Lake City were cancelled.[12] On March 17, all Play! Pokémon-sanctioned events in the Americas, Oceania, South Africa, and Europe were canceled through May 14.[13] On March 31, the 2020 North America International Championships and the 2020 Pokémon World Championships were cancelled. As a result, the 2020 Play! Pokémon Championship Series was suspended, including all sanctioned Play! Pokémon events. No Championship Points would be awarded for the rest of the season. It was also announced that the 2021 World Championships would be held in London in its place.[14][15][16]
In Japan, on February 14, the Asia Top League Kyoto event scheduled for February 23 and Elementary Gym Challenge events after February 29 were canceled.[17][18] On February 21, the Champions League Kyoto event scheduled for March 21 and Pokémon Game Gym events after February 29 were canceled.[19][20] On February 26, City League Season 3, Trainers' League, Gym Battle, Pokémon Card Weekend Limited Battle, Start Battle, Pokémon Card Game Classes, and First Battle events from February 29 to March 19, Extra Battle Day, Challenge from Pokémon Card, and the Pokémon Card Game Caravan event at the Geo Naha Shintoshin store in Okinawa scheduled for March 7 were canceled.[21] On March 13, cancellations of these events was extended until April 3.[22] On March 23, the Champions League Miyagi scheduled for April 29, City League Season 4, and Trainers' League events after April 4 were canceled. Gym Battle, Pokémon Card Weekend Limited Battle, Pokémon Card Game Classes, Start Battle, and First Battle events would resume on April 4.[23] Three campaigns were launched beginning on April 3, April 17, and May 1 to support Pokémon Card Gym-authorized stores affected by the cancellation of the 10,000 TCG events scheduled during March.[24][25] On April 22, the Pokémon Japan Championships scheduled for June 27–28 were canceled.[26]
In South Korea, on February 3, the 2019–20 Korean League Season 2 event scheduled for February 15–16 was postponed.[27] On February 22, operations of the Pokémon School were suspended.[28] On April 3, all 2019–20 Korean League events were suspended as a result of the cancellation of the World Championships. Mini League and Korean League competitions were also canceled in South Korea.[29]
In Taiwan, on February 13, the Taiwan Regional League in Taichung scheduled from February 29 to March 1 was canceled.[30] On March 20, the Taiwan Regional League in Taipei scheduled for April 18–19 and Taiwan Town League were postponed.[31] In Hong Kong, on March 28, Teaching Day, Card Day, and Gym Battle events scheduled from March 29 to April 11 were postponed by 14 days to comply with public health measures.[32] On March 31, the Taiwan Championships, Hong Kong Championships, Regional League, and Town League events were canceled as a result of the cancellation of the World Championships.[33][34]
In the games
Due to the cancellation of the 2020 World Championships, the 2020 International Challenge April and May Online Competition will neither award Championship Points nor the ability to participate in the Pokemon Japan Championships.[26]
Due to the postponement of advance ticket sales for M23, the corresponding Okoya Forest Celebi event has also been postponed.
In Taiwan, the launch of the Pokémon Tretta Championship Collection scheduled for April was delayed on March 11.[35]
From April 1 to May 3, Pokémon TCG Online players received additional rewards for logging in daily and participating in online matches, although this event has not been officially linked to the pandemic.[36]
In Pokémon GO
On February 28, Nidorino and Gengar Raid Day scheduled for March 1 was canceled in Japan, South Korea, and Italy.[37] It was also announced that March 15 Community Day and other limited-time events would be canceled in these countries.[38][39]
On March 12, the Abra Community Day scheduled for March 15 was postponed worldwide and various adjustments were made to the game.[40] On March 17, Raid Hour was canceled.[41] On March 18, the Safari Zone events in St. Louis, Liverpool, and Philadelphia were postponed.[42] On March 20, GO Battle League was changed to remove walking and PokéCoin requirements and to lower the Friendship level requirement for Trainer Battles with friends until May 1.[43] On March 23, Lugia Raid Week and Raid Hour were canceled.[44] On March 27, the Thundurus and Cobalion Raid Battle events were extended until March 31 and Raid Hours were canceled indefinitely until May 6, 2020.[45] On March 30, the The Shadow Threat Grows Special Research was extended through the end of April.[46] On March 31, the Gym interaction distance was doubled.[47]
On April 3, it was announced that the hatch distance for Eggs would be halved and that the Pokémon Spotlight Hour and Mystery Bonus Hour events would be combined for the month of April.[48][49] On April 16, it was announced that the Abra Community Day previously scheduled for March will be held on April 25.[50] On April 20, the Landorus Raid Battle event was extended until April 28.[51] On April 27, Remote Raid Passes were added, allowing players to play Raids at any Gyms visible on their screen.[52] On April 30, it was announced that no new Team GO Rocket Special Research tasks would be added from May to September.[53]
In the TCG
The Rebel Clash Build & Battle Box were released early to select retailers for sale on April 18 in place of being given to Prerelease Tournament participants.
Due to the cancellation of March 2020-May 2020 Pokémon Card Gym events, the S-P Promotional cards in the pack were not distributed until the resumption of events on April 4. On April 7, the name of Strength Expansion Pack World Down was changed to Infinity Zone, likely due to the negative connotations of the previous name.[54]
In the anime
On April 3, two Pokémon movies began to be added weekly to Pokémon TV as part of a Pokémon Movie Marathon.[55]
In Japan, from March 9 to April 5, the XY, Sun & Moon, and new series were made available for free on Prime Video to all customers with an Amazon account due to the closure of schools in Japan. It was subsequently extended indefinitely.[56][57] From March 18 to 31, April 8 to 30, and May 1 to May 31, all episodes of the new series were made available for free on the official Pokémon YouTube channel.[58][59][60] From April 17 to May 6, the cable channel Kids Station was made free-to-watch each day from 6:00 AM to 12:00 noon in response to the state of emergency declared on April 7.[61]
On April 3, the release of special advance tickets for M23 scheduled for April 17 was postponed. On May 13, it was announced that its Japanese theatrical release has also been postponed.[62]
On April 19, following the broadcast of SS022, it was announced that reruns would be aired in place of new episodes on TV Tokyo due to parts of production going on break, the only unplanned hiatus of the anime since the Porygon incident.[63] The following episodes were delayed as a result:
Code Japanese title Planned broadcast Actual broadcast SS023 大パニック！サクラギパーク！！ April 26, 2020 — SS024 休め！ロケット団！！ May 3, 2020 — SS025 命爆発バトルフェス！VSメガルカリオ！！ May 10, 2020 — SS026 はねろ！コイキング
かぶれ！ヤドキングMay 17, 2020 — SS027 英雄伝説！ダンデ最強バトル！！ May 24, 2020 — SS028 めそめそメッソン May 31, 2020 — SS029 パチパチやきもち！ワンパチのきもち June 7, 2020 —
In South Korea, the theatrical release of M22 was postponed on April 9.[64]
In Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, two episodes of Pokémon: Indigo League are being uploaded daily to the official YouTube channel for a limited time beginning on April 17 as part of the "Home Fun for Pokémon Fans" campaign.[65][66][67] In Hong Kong, two episodes of the Cantonese dub of Pokémon: Indigo League are being uploaded daily to the official YouTube channel for a limited time beginning on May 12 as part of the "Home Fun for Pokémon Fans" campaign.[68]
In New Zealand, TVNZ aired repeats of Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest from March 30 to April 27 in a late morning timeslot on TVNZ Duke as part of Duke Jr., a block of children's programming designed to keep children entertained during the day while they were stuck at home during the national lockdown imposed by the government in response to the pandemic.[69]
Other
In the United States, HBO made the Detective Pikachu movie available for free as part of a #StayHomeBoxOffice campaign from April 3 to the end of the month through the HBO NOW or HBO GO apps.[70]
In Japan, materials from the Pokémon Illustration Lab, which were previously only available for education, child care, public, and medical facilities, was opened to use for families with children of elementary school age and below beginning on March 6. On April 7, the Pokémon Card Game Support Desk and the Pokémon GO Special Dial were suspended beginning on April 8.[71] On April 8, it was announced that the Pokémon with You Train service would be suspended from April 10 to May 31.[72] On April 17, the hours of Pokémon Customer Support Center were reduced.[71] As of April 20, Creatures, Inc. ceased recruitment for new positions within the company, which at the time included several Pokémon game and TCG related positions.[73][74] On April 30, Pokémon Local Acts goods began being sold online due to the pandemic making it difficult to purchase the goods in-person while visiting the respective localities.[75]
In Thailand, beginning on March 26, the official Facebook page began a #FunFromHome campaign.
In Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, printable activity coloring pages were made available on April 17 as part of the "Home Fun for Pokémon Fans" campaign.[65][66][67] They were later made available in Vietnam on April 20 and in Hong Kong on May 12.[76][68]
Deaths
- Kumiko Okae, the Japanese voice actress of Jenny in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, was a victim of the coronavirus, passing away on April 23, 2020, at the age of 63.[77]
Kumiko Okae
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ポケモンセンター・ポケモンストアの営業時間及び休業に関するお知らせ｜ポケモンセンター（全店）
- ↑ 【お知らせ】2月29日（土）以降に開催予定のイベントについて｜ポケモンセンター（全店）
- ↑ ポケモンセンターメガトウキョーがさらにパワーアップして、3月にグランドオープン！ | ポケットモンスターオフィシャルサイト
- ↑ ポケモン関連店舗での感染症予防の取り組みにつきまして｜ポケモンセンター（全店）
- ↑ 緊急事態宣言に伴う、ポケモンセンターのお誕生日サービスについて｜ポケモンセンター（全店）
- ↑ Pokémon Singapore on Facebook
- ↑ Pokémon Singapore on Facebook
- ↑ Pokémon Singapore on Facebook
- ↑ Pokémon Singapore on Facebook
- ↑ Pokémon on Twitter
- ↑ Update for the 2020 Pokémon Europe International Championships | Pokemon.com
- ↑ For the Health and Safety of the Play! Pokémon Community, Some Events Have Been Canceled | Pokemon.com
- ↑ Important Update Regarding Play! Pokémon Events | Pokemon.com (archived)
- ↑ 2020 Pokémon Championship Series Canceled | Pokemon.com
- ↑ 2020 POKÉMON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES DIBATALKAN | The official Pokémon Website in Indonesia
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Thailand on Facebook
- ↑ 「Pokémon Asia Top League Kyoto 2020」の開催中止について | ポケカ公式
- ↑ 「小学生ジムチャレンジ」を開催！ みんなでポケモンバトルを楽しもう！ | ポケットモンスターオフィシャルサイト
- ↑ 「ポケモンカードゲーム チャンピオンズリーグ2020 京都」開催中止について | ポケカ公式
- ↑ 『ポケモン ソード・シールド』を持ち寄って遊ぶ「ポケモンゲームジム」、2月・3月のイベントを紹介！ | ポケットモンスターオフィシャルサイト
- ↑ 2020年2月29日（土）以降開催予定のイベントについて | ポケカ公式
- ↑ イベント中止期間の延長について | ポケカ公式
- ↑ 今後のイベントについてニュース詳細 | ポケカ公式
- ↑ ポケモンカードジム応援キャンペーン実施のお知らせ | ポケカ公式
- ↑ 今後のポケモンカードジム店頭キャンペーンについて | ポケカ公式
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 「ポケモンジャパンチャンピオンシップス2020」開催中止について | ポケットモンスターオフィシャルサイト
- ↑ 2019-20 코리안리그 시즌 2 | 포켓몬 공식 사이트
- ↑ 본사 포켓몬스쿨 운영 중단 안내 | 포켓몬 공식 사이트
- ↑ 포켓몬 월드챔피언십2020 개최 취소 안내 | 포켓몬 공식 사이트
- ↑ 寶可夢集換式卡牌遊戲 台灣 on Facebook
- ↑ 寶可夢集換式卡牌遊戲 台灣 on Facebook
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Hong Kong on Facebook
- ↑ 寶可夢集換式卡牌遊戲 台灣 on Facebook
- ↑ Pokémon TCG Hong Kong on Facebook
- ↑ SEGA Taiwan 卡片遊戲 on Facebook
- ↑ Spring Bonus Rewards! - Pokémon TCG Online
- ↑ "Nidorino and Gengar Raid Day has been canceled in Japan, South Korea, and Italy. Please stay tuned to our channels for updates." | Niantic Support on Twitter
- ↑ 日本・韓国・イタリア地域における3月のコンテンツについて - Pokémon GO
- ↑ 3月のゲーム内コンテンツの内容に関して - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Updates to events: Abra Community Day - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Updates to events: Raid Hour
- ↑ Pokémon GO Safari Zone Update - Liverpool and Philadelphia – Niantic
- ↑ GO Battle League temporary updates - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Updates to events: Lugia Raid Week - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Updates to events: Thundurus and Cobalion extended, Raid Hour canceled - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Shadow Entei still needs help, and Alolan Exeggutor appears in Research Breakthrough encounters - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Temporary changes to Pokémon GO: Gym interaction distance has been doubled - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Spring into spring with Pokémon GO! - Pokémon GO
- ↑ April Pokémon Spotlight Hours - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Abra Community Day rescheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2020 - Pokémon GO
- ↑ Updates to events: Landorus in raids - Pokémon GO
- ↑ New ways to raid, power up your Pokémon, receive Gifts to send out, and more
- ↑ May’s Research Breakthrough encounter and Pokémon Spotlight Hours
- ↑ ポケモンカードゲーム ソード＆シールド 拡張パック 「ムゲンゾーン」 BOX | Amazon
- ↑ Home Fun for Pokémon Fans | Pokemon.com
- ↑ Amazon Prime Video（プライムビデオ） on Twitter
- ↑ Amazonアカウントをお持ちならどなたでも│期間限定無料配信 | Prime Video | Amazon.co.jp
- ↑ アニメ「ポケットモンスター」公式 on Twitter
- ↑ アニメ「ポケットモンスター」公式 on Twitter
- ↑ アニメ「ポケットモンスター」公式 on Twitter
- ↑ 今月の無料放送 | キッズステーション
- ↑ 『劇場版ポケットモンスター ココ』公開延期のお知らせ
- ↑ アニメ「ポケットモンスター」公式 on Twitter
- ↑ 극장판 포켓몬스터 「뮤츠의 역습 EVOLUTION」 개봉 연기 안내 | 포켓몬 공식 사이트
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 Home Fun for Pokémon Fans | The official Pokémon Website in Malaysia
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 Home Fun for Pokémon Fans | The official Pokémon Website in Philippines
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 Home Fun for Pokémon Fans | The official Pokémon Website in Singapore
- ↑ 68.0 68.1 [https://hk.portal-pokemon.com/topics/event/200512120000_home_fun_for_pokemon_fans.html Home Fun for Pokémon Fans | The official Pokémon Website in Hong Kong
- ↑ Covid 19 coronavirus: TVNZ launches Duke Jr. and expands kids content on TVNZ 2 - NZ Herald
- ↑ HBO Encourages Viewers to #StayHomeBoxOffice with Hundreds of Hours of Free Programming | Pressroom
- ↑ 71.0 71.1 新型コロナウィルス感染拡大に伴う一部のお問い合わせ窓口閉鎖について
- ↑ 「のってたのしい列車」の運休について：JR東日本
- ↑ Creatures, Inc. recruitment page
- ↑ Robert Sephazon on Twitter
- ↑ コラボ商品のインターネット販売について｜ポケモンローカルActs - ポケモンだいすきクラブ
- ↑ Ở nhà thật vui cùng Pokémon | The official Pokémon Website in Vietnam
- ↑ Drama star Kumiko Okae, host of 'Hanamaru Market,' dies from coronavirus at 63
