Pokémon fans visiting Tokyo this September may spot some familiar faces around Ikebukuro Station, where Pokémon Masters EX is celebrating its seventh anniversary with a special advertising campaign.
Running from August 31 to September 6, the area outside the north ticket gate at JR Ikebukuro Station features new artwork depicting Pokémon and their trainers, known in the game as "Buddies." Created around the theme of "strongest vs. strongest," the illustrations showcase powerful Pokémon and trainer pairings in dramatic battle scenes.
The celebration is also hitting the rails. Until September 13, Pokémon Masters EX artwork can be spotted on trains operating on the Saikyo and Rinkai lines. For visitors using these lines to get around Tokyo, it could make an otherwise ordinary train journey a little more exciting.
Ikebukuro is already a worthwhile stop for Pokémon and pop-culture fans, thanks to its concentration of anime, manga, and gaming stores, as well as attractions such as Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO at Sunshine City. The station campaign makes it an especially timely place to visit.
For anyone unfamiliar with Pokémon Masters EX, the mobile RPG launched globally in 2019. Set on the artificial island of Pasio, it brings together Pokémon and their trainers from across the franchise, with players forming teams for three-on-three battles.
