Japan's fun trend of stopping people from falling into the dark abyss of sewers using colorful cartoon characters continues with the unveiling of some hilarious Pokémon-themed manhole covers. Gifu Prefecture recently announced the installation of special edition manhole covers imbued with the region's long history with the allure of Pocket Monsters, aptly named Poké Lids.
Following in the footsteps of the beloved mecha giant Gundam and the equally influential magical girl anime Sailor Moon, Gifu Prefecture has upped the ante with five unique Poké Lids, or Pokéfuta. While Minamiuonuma City has celebrated Mobile Suit legends like the RX-78-2 and YMS-15 Gyan from the original Mobile Suit Gundam, and Tokyo's Minato Ward has received some great Sailor Scouts throwbacks, Gifu Prefecture has continued to represent this culturally rich region with new-generation Pokémon.
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Takayama is famous for its great food and snow monkeys, as well as being a must-see tourist destination, so it makes sense that the area is represented by three elemental apes: Pansear, Panpour, and Pansage. The Takayama Poké Lid was also created to tie in with the traveling Pokémon Fossil Museum, which is currently being held at the Gifu Prefectural Museum until October 27. Visitors will be able to see a Pikachu dressed in an archaeological costume riding an Aerodactyl, as well as life-sized “fossil” versions of Archens and Tyrantrum. The exhibition features real-life fossils alongside their Pokémon counterparts, placing the Kabuto Pokémon alongside the endangered horseshoe crab, highlighting the inspiration Pokémon designers have drawn from the natural world.
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Sekigahara, the site of one of the most important battles of the Sengoku period, famous for classics like Musashi and countless other Japanese media, features artwork of the samurai-themed Pokémon Kingambit surrounded by its unevolved form, Pawniard. Seki is known for its connection to the golden age of samurai, as well as its beautiful rivers and abundance of fish. The area is represented by Cramorants feasting on the fish they catch; their real-life counterparts, the Japanese cormorants, may be doing the same thing.
Gero, just off the Hida River, has always been a popular destination for hot springs and refreshing onsen, so the area is represented by Seismitoad, Palpitoad, and the very relaxing Tympole. The underwater theme continues with Kakamighara featuring Whiscash. The area is home to the Aquatotto Gifu World Freshwater Aquarium, where visitors can see some of the largest Mekong giant catfish in captivity, which the aforementioned Pokémon is based on. A special Pokéfuta installation celebration event will run until September 30, including a coloring contest for elementary school-aged children and a Shimocho area photo contest. The manhole covers will be removed on October 31, 2024, and replaced with (most likely) slightly more utilitarian covers.
Pokemon
Spanning multiple media, including TCG, video games, manga, live-action films, and anime, the Pokémon series is set in a shared world of humans and creatures with a variety of special abilities.
Created by Satoshi Tajiri
First movie Pokemon: The First Movie
Latest movies Pokémon the Movie: Secret of the Forest
First TV show Pokémon (1997)
First episode air date April 1, 1997 Video games Pokémon GO, Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokémon Red and Blue, Detective Pikachu, Detective Pikachu Returns, Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!
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Source: Gamer