Pokémon Fossil Museum

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Pokémon Fossil Museum

Location Japan / United States
Status Operating
Opened July 4, 2021
Operated by National Museum of Nature and Science and host museums
Website
Official JP website

Pokémon Fossil Museum @ Field Museum website

The Pokémon Fossil Museum (Japanese: ポケモン化石博物館) is a traveling paleontology exhibit themed around the Pokémon franchise, featuring artwork and sculptures of real-world fossils alongside various Fossil Pokémon. Created in partnership with several museums in Japan,[1] the exhibit offers a unique blend of real-world science and Pokémon lore. The exhibit began touring in 2021. On May 14, 2025, it was announced that the exhibit would make its North American debut at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois.[2]


History

The concept of the Pokémon Fossil Museum was initially conceived by Dr. Daisuke Aiba, former chief researcher and curator at Mikasa City Museum in Hokkaido. According to Aiba, his love of Pokémon was a leading factor to him becoming a scientist. He contacted The Pokémon Company with an idea for an exhibit that would showcase Fossil Pokémon alongside real fossils, using his own professional knowledge to help create the project.[3]

As of May 2025, the traveling Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition has received over one million visitors.[4]

Collaborators

The Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition is primarily organized by the National Museum of Nature and Science along with various host museums, with further cooperation with The Pokémon Company for production design of the exhibits. This collaborative project also includes partnership with the Mikasa City Museum, Gunma Museum of Natural History, Toyohashi Museum of Natural History, and The Shimane Nature Museum of Mt. Sanbe, with academic curation provided by experts from these Japanese institutions.[4]

Academic Curators (JP)

A list of academic staff and peer reviewers supporting the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition.[5] Several of these academic staff were given special artwork by Misaki Yoshikawa to appear as guides throughout the exhibit.

  • Dr. Daisuke Aiba (Chief Curator) (formally of Mikasa City Museum)
  • Yuuji Takakuwa (Gunma Museum of Natural History)
  • Daisuke Endou (formally of The Shimane Nature Museum of Mt. Sanbe)
  • Masahiro Ichida (Toyohashi Museum of Natural History)
  • Masashi Kubo (National Museum of Nature and Science)
  • Tatsuya Ogawa (National Museum of Nature and Science)
  • Masahito Inoue (The Shimane Nature Museum of Mt. Sanbe)
  • Tomoki Karasawa (Mikasa City Museum)

The Pokémon Company

In addition to museum staff, many staff members of The Pokémon Company assisted with the project.[5]

Other

  • Hitoshi Ariga (Freelance artist. Designed artwork for the Fossil Pokémon, Excavator Pikachu and prehistoric creatures)[6]
  • G. Masukawa (Freelance artist. Did artwork for skeleton diagrams)
  • Kohei Hashimoto (Employee at Chou Senden) (Production designer for exhibition)
  • Haruna Suzuki (Employee at Chou Senden) (Production designer for exhibition)
  • Ashoro Museum of Paleontology (Provided the Ammonite Anomalocaris fossil)
  • Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum (Provided the Archaeopteryx skeleton)
  • nobi Co., Ltd. and KYOWA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (Manufactured models for the Fossil Pokémon)

Academic Curators (US)

A list of academic staff supporting the North American debut of the Pokémon Fossil Museum.[7]

  • Arjan Mann (Assistant Curator) (Field Museum)
  • Akiko Shinya (Associate Curator) (Field Museum)
  • Jingmai O'Connor (Associate Curator) (Field Museum)

Venue

Art created for the exhibit by Hitoshi Ariga depicting the exhibit's mascot, Pikachu in a paleontologist outfit, and various Fossil Pokémon alongside their real-world extinct counterparts
Mikasa City Museum (Hokkaido)
The Shimane Nature Museum of Mt. Sanbe (Shimane)
National Museum of Nature and Science (Tokyo)
Toyohashi Museum of Natural History (Aichi)
Oita Prefectural Art Museum (Oita)
Niigata Science Museum (Niigata)
Gunma Museum of Natural History (Gunma)
Iwate Prefectural Museum (Iwate)
Kumamoto Mifune Dinosaur Museum (Kumamoto)
Gifu Prefectural Museum (Gifu)
Hofu Science Museum “Solar” (Yamaguchi)
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum (Fukui)
Benex Dinosaur Museum (Nagasaki City Dinosaur Museum) (Nagasaki)
Tokushima Prefectural Museum
Mie Prefectural Museum
  • Dates: January 17, 2026 - April 5, 2026
Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago)

Pokémon GO

For the exhibition at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum from March 8 to May 25, 2025, a collaboration with Pokémon GO was announced.[8] During this event, those using the GO Snapshot feature in-game, while in the area around the museum, could be photobombed by Tyrunt (between 7am - 1pm) and Amaura (between 1pm - 7pm) up to five times a day. Also, the following Pokémon appeared in-game with increased frequency:

Three PokéStops were added around the museum for the duration of the event, where players could obtain gifts with illustrations to share with friends, and two unique stickers.

Promotional Images

  • Official North American banner
    Official North American banner
  • Official JP banner of the Pokémon Fossil Museum
    Official JP banner of the Pokémon Fossil Museum
  • Artwork of "Excavator Pikachu"
    Artwork of "Excavator Pikachu"
  • Artwork of "Excavator Pikachu"
    Artwork of "Excavator Pikachu"
  • Artwork of Professor Fossil
    Artwork of Professor Fossil
  • Alternative artwork featuring every Fossil Pokémon.
    Alternative artwork featuring every Fossil Pokémon.
  • Comparison of Tyrantrum and Tyrannosaurus
    Comparison of Tyrantrum and Tyrannosaurus
  • Comparison of the skeletons of Tyrantrum and Tyrannosaurus
    Comparison of the skeletons of Tyrantrum and Tyrannosaurus
  • Skeleton image of Tyrantrum
    Skeleton image of Tyrantrum
  • Artwork of Professor Daisuke Aiba, Chief Curator of the Pokémon Fossil Museum
    Artwork of Professor Daisuke Aiba, Chief Curator of the Pokémon Fossil Museum
  • Artwork of Professor Ichida
    Artwork of Professor Ichida
  • Artwork of Professor Endou
    Artwork of Professor Endou
  • Artwork of Professor Takakuwa
    Artwork of Professor Takakuwa
  • Artwork of Masashi Kubo
    Artwork of Masashi Kubo
  • Artwork of Tatsuya Ogawa
    Artwork of Tatsuya Ogawa
  • Artwork of Arjan Mann
    Artwork of Arjan Mann
  • Artwork of Akiko Shinya
    Artwork of Akiko Shinya
  • Artwork of Jingmai O'Connor
    Artwork of Jingmai O'Connor

Merchandise

  • Stuffed Toy "Excavator Pikachu" (¥2,310)
    Stuffed Toy "Excavator Pikachu" (¥2,310)
  • A4 clear file folders (2 variants) (¥385 each)
    A4 clear file folders (2 variants) (¥385 each)
  • Rubber key chains (2 variants) (¥858 each)
    Rubber key chains (2 variants) (¥858 each)
  • Acrylic key chains (¥715 each)
    Acrylic key chains (¥715 each)
  • T-shirts (3 sizes) (¥3,300 for 130cm and 150cm, ¥3,520 for one size fits all)
    T-shirts (3 sizes) (¥3,300 for 130cm and 150cm, ¥3,520 for one size fits all)
  • Tote bags (2 variants) (¥1,980 each)
    Tote bags (2 variants) (¥1,980 each)
  • Bandanas (2 variants) (¥1,320 each)
    Bandanas (2 variants) (¥1,320 each)
  • Color-changing mug (¥1,980)
    Color-changing mug (¥1,980)
  • Blind box tin badges (12 variants) (¥495 each)
    Blind box tin badges (12 variants) (¥495 each)
  • General purpose notebook (¥330)
    General purpose notebook (¥330)
  • 4P memo pad (¥605)
    4P memo pad (¥605)
  • Rectangular magnet (2 variants) (¥440 each)
    Rectangular magnet (2 variants) (¥440 each)
  • Illustrated book (revised edition) (¥2,178)
    Illustrated book (revised edition) (¥2,178)
  • Drawstring pouch (¥550)
    Drawstring pouch (¥550)
  • Towel (¥550)
    Towel (¥550)
  • Postcards (6 variants) (¥220 each)
    Postcards (6 variants) (¥220 each)
  • Medal (¥1,100)
    Medal (¥1,100)
  • Sticker (winking Pikachu) (¥330)
    Sticker (winking Pikachu) (¥330)
  • Mini-notebook key chain (¥440)
    Mini-notebook key chain (¥440)
  • B5 desk pad (¥300)
    B5 desk pad (¥300)
  • Holographic sticker (¥385)
    Holographic sticker (¥385)
  • Acrylic stand clip (¥770)
    Acrylic stand clip (¥770)
  • Stationery set (¥550)
    Stationery set (¥550)
  • Mascot toy "Excavator Pikachu" (¥1,870)
    Mascot toy "Excavator Pikachu" (¥1,870)

UTme! Pokémon Fossil Museum Collection

Main article: Uniqlo →  UTme! Pokémon Fossil Museum Collection
Merchandise found at Uniqlo

The UTme! Pokémon Fossil Museum Collection was a Japan-exclusive collection of merchandise that served as a collaboration between the Pokémon Fossil Museum and the retail clothing brand, Uniqlo. Customers could customize their choice of t-shirt, sweatshirt, zip-up jacket, and tote bag with artwork seen at the museum. This collection released in Japan on May 20, 2022.


Related articles

References

  1. ↑ Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel officially shows off the Pokémon Fossil Museum in introduction video - NintendoWire (retrieved August 15, 2024)
  2. ↑ Pokémon Fossil Museum to Debut in North America at Chicago’s Field Museum - Pokemon.com (retrieved May 21, 2025)
  3. ↑ Unlimited Potential of the Pokémon Generation Pokemon Co JP. Posted May 11, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 What is the Pokémon Fossil Museum? National Museum of Nature and Science Official Website. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 POKEMON FOSSIL MUSEUM Exhibition Picture Book (Page 78-79).
  6. ↑ Tweet by ありがひとし (@ariga_megamix) Posted April 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2026. Web Archive
  7. ↑ Pokémon Fossil Museum - Field Museum Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Fossil Pokémon" appears at the "Pokémon Fossil Museum"!? A collaboration with "Pokémon GO" has finally come true! - Pokémon Daisuki Club (retrieved March 9, 2025)

External links

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.
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