Pokemon Day 2023 – Let’s Celebrate Together

Updated: 23/02/2023
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The Pokémon phenomenon never dies. Nor does it fade away. Just a few years after the Pokémon craze came and supposedly went, it’s still going strong. So much so that it now has its own day. Get to know all about Pokémon Day 2023 - what has been announced so far and what fans are expecting to see as we get closer to “Gotta catch them all!” day. 

Get ready to celebrate with authentic Pokémon cards, merchandise, and more from official Pokémon stores. Sign up with forward2me, get a free shipping address, and start shopping exclusive items at the biggest Pokémon retailers. Stock up on cards, plushies, figurines, pins, clothing, and even home decor. Or why not a new video game? However you decide to celebrate this year, there are no limits to the ways you can treat yourself or the Pokémon geek in your life. 

When Is Pokémon Day?

Since 2016, Pokémon Day has been celebrated every year on February 27. This is the date on which in 1996 the first Pokémon video games - Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, were launched in Japan. They introduced players to the concept of battling and trading Pokémon by connecting their GameBoy devices. 

As a result, a community of fans known as Trainers was created, which would grow into one of the world's most beloved entertainment franchises. Since then, Trainers around the world come together to celebrate their love for the brand on February 27, better known as Pokémon Day.

The Theme for 2023 - Celebrate POKÉMON Together

Since the series' launch, Pokémon has become a global phenomenon, with generations of fans coming together to battle, trade, and meet fellow Pokémon aficionados. With over 1,000 Pokémon to catch, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. However, with a new season of the Pokémon anime coming this spring, the first without Ash and Pikachu in the spotlight, this year's Pokémon Day returns to one of the core tenets of the Pokémon franchise.

What happened so far

A new logo was revealed to commemorate the 2023 Pokémon Day, which was posted by Serebii on Twitter. The logo features Pikachu's face in front of a PokeBall outline, with the words "Pokémon Day" around the logo itself rather than on top and below it in a straight line as had been the case in previous years' logos. The color blue, which is commonly used in Pokemon's international branding, is absent in this year's logo.

Pokemon day 2023

This year, The Pokémon Company International is celebrating the original and enduring spirit of connectivity which began with those first games by inviting Trainers to “Pokémon Together” throughout 2023. A special trailer illustrating the concept of the program launched today and can be seen here.

On February 15, the Pokémon Together campaign was announced. It will be celebrating the way the franchise brings people together throughout 2023. You can check out the mini-site, which will be updated on Pokémon Day.

To kick off the "Pokémon Together" campaign, The Pokémon Company International is inviting Trainers to "Celebrate Pokémon Together" this Pokémon Day. Fans around the world are invited to post photos and videos showing their love for the franchise and share fondest memories on social media. Posts tagged #PokemonTogether have a chance to be incorporated into a mosaic themed around the Legendary PokéBall revealed on Pokémon Day. The official @Pokémon social media channels will also feature #PokemonTogether testimonials from members of the global fan community, inspiring trainers to submit their own testimonials and showing what Pokémon means to many around the world.

To see the PokéBall mosaic reveal, fans can visit the online hub Pokemon.com/Together.  Fans are also invited to stay tuned for more Pokémon Day celebration details and join the conversation with #PokemonTogether.

As part of the Pokémon Day 2023 festivities, fans will also be able to join a special Pokémon GO Tour event with a focus on Hoenn on February 25 - 26.

What more to expect

As for what Pokémon players can expect in the coming weeks, Pokémon GO players will soon be able to battle and catch Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre via the "Pokémon GO Tour: Hoenn" events that will be held this weekend in Las Vegas, and next weekend globally. Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre were first featured in 2014's Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for Nintendo 3DS.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players will have a new Tera raid battle event featuring Garchomp and Sylveon this coming weekend, with news of DLC potentially coming on or around Pokémon Day. Despite leaks and rumors concerning Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC, fans will have to wait and see which of them will actually happen.

Pokémon Day Over the Years

Pokemon day events

Pokémon Day 2016

In the early days of the Pokémon Day festivities, some commemorative offerings were in line with the franchise. During that time, it wasn't surprising to find exclusive versions of the 2DS and 3DS (Nintendo's then-popular handheld consoles), all of which were Pokémon-themed and even came with copies of the original Red and Blue preloaded.

A movie marathon is also offered, running through all the Pokémon movies released at the time. The festivities ended with a live broadcast announcing the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon, introducing the 7th generation of Pokémon, and paying homage to a lot of history in the franchise.

Pokémon Day 2017 & 2018

The following Pokémon Day celebrations for 2017 and 2018 weren’t as grand as the year before, as no major games or projects were announced. Like the first celebration in 2016, the merchandise was released that commemorated the franchise as a whole.

In a similar vein, movies and episodes from the anime were streamed and marathon for anyone to watch at their leisure, with the Pokémon’s TCG (Trading Card Game) getting more attention this time around with several events that gave its players goodies for participating in them.

Pokémon Day 2019

During the celebration of Pokémon’s 23rd anniversary, Pokémon fans were treated to several announcements coming from The Pokémon Company. One of the first significant announcements and treats that were given out during Pokémon Day 2019 was the new trailer release of Detective Pikachu, the live-action Pokémon movie.

During the celebration of Pokémon’s 23rd anniversary, Pokémon fans were treated to several announcements coming from The Pokémon Company. One of the first significant announcements and treats that were given out during Pokémon Day 2019 was the new trailer release of Detective Pikachu, the live-action Pokémon movie.

Pokémon Day 2020 & 2021

The succeeding Pokémon Day celebrations following the celebration in 2019, Pokémon Day celebrations for 2020 and 2021 were very similar to those back in 2017 and 2018. One of the major announcements that many fans would remember was back in 2020 when a new mythical Pokémon, Zarude, was announced.

Along with Zarude’s announcement, it was also revealed that this same Pokémon would play a major role in the series’ upcoming movie, Secrets of the Jungle. The Zarude featured in this film is called “Dada Zarude” on the account that it adopted and took care of a human Ash meets later in the film.

Pokémon Masters Ex was also given attention during this time as the game was reaching its 6 months anniversary (for the year 2020), which featured the original protagonist, Red, making an appearance with his Charizard.

A similar event occurred for the game’s 1.5 anniversary in the next Pokémon Day celebration in the year 2021, which also features an event called P25 Music, featuring songs from different artists themed around Pokémon.

Lastly, the 2021 celebration of Pokémon Day also announced the release of its new set of games focused on the 4th generation with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl alongside Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Pokémon Day 2022

The most recent celebration of Pokémon Day, which followed the franchise’s 26th anniversary, has become more streamlined as it follows a general formula that the past few celebrations followed.

Announcements to Pokémon’s ongoing games like Pokémon Masters, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon Unite were made. The first of the three was nearing its 2.5 anniversary, and the latter was introducing a new Pokémon into the roster, Hoopa.

During this time, a trailer for the series’ next entry and generation was made, making way for the reveal of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and the trio of starters with Quaxly, Fuecoco, and Sprigatito.

How to Celebrate Pokémon Day

From the beautiful animation of TV shows, movies and video games, the magical world of Pokémon has been praised by fans all over the world. This franchise is a sensation like no other, with its enduring fanbase going all out in a day with their costumes, themed sessions, viewing parties, and Pokémon sessions.

The Pokémon Online community is incredibly active on this day. They host discussions and role-plays, showcasing Pokémon they've caught on Pokémon Go and screenshots of their battles online. The Pokémon Movie Marathon also happens, and the media usually releases exciting news about the future of the franchise.

Did you know these interesting bits about the Pokémon franchise?

  • In 2019, Pokémon became the highest-grossing media franchise of all time with $95 billion, beating out other franchises such as Star Wars, Marvel, and Mickey Mouse.
  • In a 2019 survey on Reddit, Charizard was voted favorite Pokémon by more than 52,000 participants.
  • Pokémon reportedly sold 12 million game units and 3.7 billion trading cards in 2020.
  • A lot of people started collecting Pokémon during the pandemic which led to card shortages as the company couldn’t print fast enough cards to keep up with the demand.
  • “Pokémon” was first titled “Capsule Monsters,” but this was changed due to a copyright infringement. It was first renamed to “CapuMon,” and then “Pocket Monsters.”

However you decide to celebrate this year's Pokémon Day, whether you think it's finally time to start your own Pokémon cards collection or you're looking for the newest releases at the official Pokémon centers, forward2me will help you get your hands on the items you're seeking. Sign up today for a free shopping address and explore the world of Pokémon at the leading global retailers. 

Celebrate Japan’s Culture Day

On November 3rd, Japan honors its rich culture with festivals and parades across the nation. While you may not be able to attend these festivities in person, you can use your forward2me address to order authentic Japanese art and have a piece of Japan's cultural heritage delivered to your doorstep.
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