What Countries Are Pokémon In? Exploring the Real-World Inspirations
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The Pokémon world, a vibrant landscape populated by fantastical creatures, draws heavily on real-world inspiration. While the games and anime feature fictional regions with distinct cultures and geographies, these regions often mirror actual countries or parts of countries. So, what countries are Pokémon in? The answer is nuanced: Pokémon exists both in fictionalized regions inspired by real places, and the real world itself acknowledges the existence of the franchise. The series draws inspiration from countries like Japan, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Spain (Iberian Peninsula), Italy, Greece, New Zealand, and Mexico, among others. It’s essential to understand the distinction between the in-universe locations and the real-world places that influence them.
Pokémon Regions and Their Real-World Counterparts
The core Pokémon games typically take place within a specific region, each with unique Pokémon, landscapes, and culture. These regions are often heavily based on specific areas of the world:
- Japan: The earliest Pokémon regions, Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, are all inspired by different parts of Japan. Kanto is based on the real-world Kanto region, Johto draws inspiration from the Kansai region, Hoenn mirrors the island of Kyushu, and Sinnoh is influenced by Hokkaido. The significance of Japan is paramount in the franchise’s roots, as it’s where it was initially conceived and developed.
- United States: Later, the Pokémon world expanded its geographical influences. The Unova region is based on the New York City area, and Alola is inspired by the Hawaiian Islands. These regions brought the vibrancy of the US to the Pokémon universe.
- Europe: The series continued to look to Europe for inspiration. The Kalos region is based on France, capturing its unique architecture and culture. The Galar region takes cues from the United Kingdom, featuring landscapes reminiscent of England, Scotland, and Wales. Most recently, the Paldea region was inspired by the Iberian Peninsula, capturing the essence of Spain and Portugal.
- Future Regions: It is heavily speculated that the next region will be based on Italy, a potential location that would allow for diverse landscapes such as Tuscany, Sicily, and Sardinia. There are also fans who prefer the idea of an Australian-inspired region.
This shows that while Pokémon itself may not be “in” these countries in terms of geographical reality, they are heavily present in the game’s aesthetic and narratives. It’s important to also note that countries in the real world canonically exist within the Pokémon universe, as evidenced by references to places like Las Vegas, America, and China throughout the franchise.
Real-World Locations and Regional Pokémon
The real world also plays a significant role in Pokémon GO, a mobile game where players find and catch Pokémon in their own environments. Regional exclusive Pokémon, are a significant element of this game. These Pokémon are only found in specific real-world areas, encouraging exploration and travel. For example:
- Relicanth can only be found in New Zealand and its surrounding islands.
- Mr. Mime spawns across Europe.
- Hawlucha is exclusive to Mexico.
- Pom-Pom Style Oricorio appears within the continent of the Americas.
- Volbeat, Solrock, Zangoose and Farfetch’d have previously been exclusive to Asia.
- Corsola can be found in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.
- Lunatone is located east of Greenwich.
- Solrock spawns west of Greenwich.
- Tropius is found throughout Africa.
- Sigilyph is typically located around Greece and Egypt.
- Comfey is exclusive to Hawaii.
These regional exclusives illustrate that while the fictional regions are the main focus of core games, the real world actively participates in the Pokémon universe through Pokémon GO.
Countries and the Pokémon Franchise – A Complex Relationship
The relationship between real countries and Pokémon is not always straightforward. While many countries contribute to inspiration and are included in the Pokémon universe, there are also countries where the game has faced restrictions. Some countries have even banned or placed restrictions on Pokémon for various reasons, showcasing the complex, often political and cultural, interaction between the franchise and the real world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions that further explore the relationship between Pokémon and various countries:
1. Does the USA exist in the Pokémon universe?
Yes, America is canonically referenced in the Pokémon series. Furthermore, both the Unova region, inspired by New York City, and the Alola region, based on Hawaii, indicate the United States exists in the Pokémon universe.
2. Which country is Pokémon most popular in?
While Pokémon has a global fanbase, it remains most popular in Japan, where it originated. This is understandable given the country’s central role in its creation and its cultural significance.
3. Which countries have banned Pokémon?
There are certain countries that have banned or heavily restricted the franchise. These include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Indonesia, Kuwait, Israel, Turkey, and Russia at different periods. The reasons vary from concerns about gambling and Zionism to potential safety risks and geopolitical tensions.
4. Why was Pokémon banned in Japan?
The initial ban in Japan wasn’t related to the game, but to a specific episode of the anime, “Electric Soldier Porygon”. The episode caused seizures in some viewers due to high-frequency flashing lights, leading to its immediate removal and restrictions in broadcasting.
5. Does China exist in the Pokémon universe?
Yes, China is explicitly mentioned in the Pokédex entries for Arcanine, which is described as being a legendary Pokémon there because of its beauty and speed.
6. Is Pikachu from Japan?
Yes, Pikachu originated in Japan. It was designed by Atsuko Nishida and Ken Sugimori for the 1996 Japanese video games Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green.
7. Why is Pokémon Green only in Japan?
Pokémon Green was initially released in Japan alongside Pokémon Red. The game was later updated as Pokémon Blue in Japan, and Blue was used as the basis for the international release.
8. Does France exist in the Pokémon universe?
Yes, just as with other countries, France is canonically present in the Pokémon universe. More specifically, the Kalos region, itself, is inspired by France.
9. Why was Pokémon GO banned in China?
China banned Pokémon GO due to concerns about safety risks, data protection and exposure of maps to general public. However, the game is now available in China.
10. Does Las Vegas exist in the Pokémon universe?
Yes, there is a direct mention of Las Vegas in the original anime series, Episode #32, “The March of the Exeggutor Squad”, reinforcing the existence of real-world locations in their world.
11. What Pokémon are only found in Asia?
While this can change due to game updates, Pokemon that have been previously exclusive to Asia include Volbeat, Solrock, Zangoose and Farfetch’d.
12. What Pokémon are only found in Africa?
Corsola, Lunatone, Solrock, and Tropius are the regional exclusives you can find in Africa. The distribution of Lunatone and Solrock depends on whether you are east or west of Greenwich, and Tropius can be found anywhere in the continent.
13. What Pokémon are only found in Greece?
Sigilyph is the regional exclusive you will find only in Greece and Egypt.
14. Is there Pokemon in Hawaii?
Yes, the Alola region itself is inspired by Hawaii, and Comfey is exclusive to the islands in Pokémon GO.
15. Why did Turkey ban Pokémon?
Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog banned the Pokémon anime series after reports of children jumping from balconies believing they had superhuman abilities. This illustrates how misinformation can lead to misinterpretations of fantastical narratives.
Conclusion
The Pokémon universe is both inspired by and connected to the real world in numerous ways. From the real-world places that serve as the foundation for its regions, to the regional exclusives in Pokémon Go, and even controversies surrounding the franchise in specific countries, Pokémon is not isolated from the world we live in. As the series evolves, it is likely that we’ll see even more fascinating connections and interactions between the Pokémon world and the countries that have, directly or indirectly, influenced its journey.