Pokémon Center Tohoku
| Pokémon Center Tohoku | ||||
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| Location | PARCO Sendai, Sendai, Miyagi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | March 14, 2025 | |||
| Mascot(s) | Victini & Pikachu | |||
| Type | Permanent | |||
Contact details
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Pokémon Center Tohoku (Japanese: ポケモンセンタートウホク Pokémon Center Tohoku), officially known as Pokémon Center TOHOKU since March 2025, is a Pokémon Center store located in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. The store first opened in December 2011, before moving to it's second location in June 2017. In March 2025, the store moved to its current location in PARCO Sendai.
The store includes a Pokémon Card Station, and outside PARCO Sendai is the Pokémon Center Tohoku Garden.
History
Following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, The Pokémon Company launched the Pokémon with You campaign to support local people and raise money for the relief efforts. As part of this campaign, Pokémon Center Tohoku opened in the Shop and Wonder AER mall in Sendai on December 4, 2011.[1][2] It is the only Pokémon Center store named after an entire region of Japan, rather than the city or local area in which it is located. Upon opening, a notice was posted on the official Pokémon Japan website warning of queues of up to five hours to enter the store.[3]
To celebrate this opening a Snivy event Pokémon for Pokémon Black & White was distributed at Pokémon Centers nationwide, and those making purchases were given a special Pikachu promo card. Customers at Pokémon Center stores were able to write well wishes to the Tohoku region. Those that did received a memo pad depicting Victini wearing a Soothe Bell.[4] Also available from the store itself was a range of commemorative merchandise featuring Connected Smiles artwork.[1]
On December 1, 2012, to celebrate the one year anniversary of the opening, a variety of merchandise featuring Victini, Snivy and Pikachu holding a four-leaf clover was released,[5] and a Victini event Pokémon was distributed for Pokémon Black & White and Pokémon Black 2 & White 2.[6]
On June 30, 2017, the store relocated to the 8th floor of the PARCO Sendai mall. For this reopening, a Victini event Pokémon was distributed for Pokémon Sun and Moon,[7][8] and a Tohoku's Pikachu promo card was awarded for purchases made at Pokémon Centers and Pokémon Stores across Japan.[9] As the reopening coincided with the build-up to the Japanese festival Tanabata, from August 1, 2017, a Jirachi promo card was given to customers who purchased five or more Pokémon Trading Card Game booster packs at Pokémon Center Tohoku,[9] and a Tanabata Jirachi event Pokémon was distributed at the store from August 6 - 13, 2017.[8] Also available was a series of other Tanabata themed merchandise to celebrate the reopening.[10]
A Tanabata Jirachi event Pokémon was distributed at the store for the 2018 Tanabata festival.
On December 6, 2024, it was announced that Pokémon Center Tohoku would be relocating to the third floor of PARCO Sendai in Spring 2025, and the current store would be closing on February 16, 2025.[11] A pre-opening preview was held on March 13, 2025, with 120 pairs of people able to attend via a lottery.[12] The store officially opened on March 14, 2025, although admission was restricted via a numbered ticket system to prevent overcrowding until March 16, 2025. The new store was larger than the previous, and featured a Pokémon Card Station for the first time. Also with the reopening, in the plaza in front of the main entrance of PARCO Sendai, the Pokémon Center Tohoku Garden opened as well, which includes a Pikachu topiary and statues of other Pokémon.[13] A series of merchandise was released to commemorate the opening, and customers who spent over ¥6,000 at the store from March 13, to April 6, 2025 received an exclusive shopping bag.[14]
Timeline
- December 4, 2011 - Pokémon Center Tohoku opens in the Shop and Wonder AER mall in Sendai.
- December 1, 2012 - First anniversary celebrations begin.
- June 30, 2017 - Pokémon Center Tohoku reopens on the 8th floor of PARCO Sendai.
- March 14, 2025 - Pokémon Center Tohoku reopens on the 3rd floor of PARCO Sendai.
Exclusive merchandise
Opening day merchandise
The following Connected Smiles merchandise was made available for the grand opening of the store on December 4, 2011. Those purchasing commemorative items received a free postcard, and the proceeds from the sales were used "for support activities for children in Tohoku" that were affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.[1]
| Product list | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product | Japanese | Price |
| Napkins | ナフキン | ¥520 |
| A4 clear file | A4クリアファイル | ¥190 |
| Assorted rice crackers | アソートせんべい | ¥820 |
| Card sleeves | デッキシールド | ¥380 |
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Napkins -
A4 clear file -
Assorted rice crackers -
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Postcard (front) -
Postcard (back) -
Victini memo pad
First anniversary merchandise
To celebrate the first anniversary of the store, the following merchandise was released.[5]
| Product list | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product | Japanese | Price |
| Plush toy set | ぬいぐるみセット | ¥1,980 |
| Life-size Victini plush | 等身大ビクティニぬいぐるみ | ¥3,800 |
| Set of 3 metal charms | メタルチャーム3個セット | ¥420 |
| Water-repellent mugs (Pikachu/Snivy/Victini) | 撥水マグカップ（ピカチュウ／ツタージャ／ビクティニ） | ¥1,000 |
| Logo pin | ロゴピンズ | ¥630 |
| Logo keychain | ロゴキーホルダー | ¥630 |
| Card sleeves | デッキシールド | ¥380 |
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"Life-size" Victini plush -
Metal charms set -
Pikachu mug -
Snivy mug -
Victini mug -
Logo pin badge -
Logo keychain -
2017 reopening merchandise
- Main article: Pokémon Center Tohoku 2017 reopening merchandise
On June 30, 2017, the store reopened in a new location, and a series of merchandise was made available at Pokémon Center stores across Japan, as well as on Pokémon Center Online.
2025 reopening merchandise
- Main article: Pokémon Center Tohoku 2025 reopening merchandise
On March 14, 2025, the store reopened on a new floor of PARCO Sendai, and a series of merchandise was made available at the store and on Pokémon Center Online.
Promo cards
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Pikachu promo card -
Tohoku's Pikachu promo card -
Jirachi promo card
Iconography
The store opened as part of the Pokémon with You campaign, following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Prior to opening, well wishes to the Tōhoku region from around Japan were displayed on the hording around the under-construction store. Since opening, Victini has served as a mascot of the store, along with Pikachu. In June 2017, the store moved to the eighth floor of PARCO Sendai, and had a travel theme, with the exterior resembling the carriages of a train, and the checkout counters appearing like airport check-in desks.[15]
In March 2025, the store relocated, and the new store was "designed to evoke the vibrancy of festivals in the Tohoku region".[13] This included the opening of the Pokémon Center Tohoku Garden in front of PARCO Sendai.
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Hording around the yet-to-open store -
Well wishes to the Tōhoku region, displayed on the hording -
Connected Smiles key art
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Logo for the 1st anniversary celebration -
2017 store reopening key art -
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2025 store reopening key art -
2025 store reopening key art
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Previous logos
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Second logo featuring Victini, Pikachu and Chespin -
Third logo featuring Victini, Pikachu and Rowlet -
Fourth logo featuring Victini, Pikachu and Grookey -
Fifth logo featuring Victini, Pikachu and Sprigatito
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ポケモンセンタートウホク Pokémon Center Tohoku | |
| Mandarin Chinese | Pokémon Center TOHOKU* Pokémon Center Tohoku* 東北寶可夢中心 / 东北宝可梦中心SMUSUM 東北神奇寶貝中心* | |
| Korean | 포켓몬센터 도호쿠 Pokémon Center Tohoku | |
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Opening of Pokemon Center Tohoku is decided on Sunday, December 4! Opening commemorative goods also appear at all Pokémon Center stores! - Pokemon.co.jp (Japanese) (archived from the original October 30, 2011; retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ Pokémon Center to open in Sendai - Bulbanews (retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ Official Japanese Pokémon site posts notice regarding Pokémon Center Tohoku - Bulbanews (retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ Introducing three presents commemorating the opening of "Pokemon Center Tohoku"! - The Pokémon Company (archived from the original November 13, 2011; retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pokémon Center Tohoku 1st Anniversary Goods Released! - The Pokémon Company (archived from the original November 28, 2012; retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ Bringing smiles to children in Tohoku! This winter, at "Pokémon Center Tohoku" and "Pokémon Happy Christmas 2012", we will be giving away the mythical Pokémon "Victini" that will bring you victory! - The Pokémon Company (archived from the original December 24, 2012; retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ Victini to be available at Pokémon Centers, Stores in Japan - Bulbanews (retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Pokemon Center Tohoku Renewal Commemoration! Get “Victini” as a gift at Pokémon Centers and Pokémon Stores nationwide! - The Pokémon Company (archived from the original May 31, 2017; retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Get a special gift when you visit or make a purchase - The Pokémon Company (archived from the original September 2, 2017; retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ Goods commemorating the reopening of Pokémon Center Tohoku are now available at Pokémon Centers nationwide! - The Pokémon Company (archived from the original June 13, 2017; retrieved March 17, 2024)
- ↑ Pokémon Center Tohoku to reopen! - The Pokémon Company (archived from the original December 12, 2025; retrieved March 16, 2025)
- ↑ Pre-opening preview and advance lottery information - The Pokémon Company (retrieved March 16, 2025)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Pokémon Center Tohoku has reopened! - The Pokémon Company (retrieved March 16, 2025)
- ↑ Campaign underway! Receive an original shopper bag when you shop! - The Pokémon Company (retrieved March 16, 2025)
- ↑ A trip around the Pokémon Centers - Pokémon Daisuki Club (archived from the original April 9, 2022; retrieved April 28, 2024)
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This article is part of Project Real-Life, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on Pokémon activities and events experienced in the real world. |