Merchandising. And in Japan, that means Pokémon merchandising. Since Japan's official World Cup mascot is Pikachu, the character is being put on a whole bunch of things so people will buy them.

Nintendo and Adidas have decided to collaborate to make Pokémon’ Pikachu an official mascot for the country of Japan in the World Cup. The collaboration will also include some of the other ...

The Pokémon mascot is already having a massive year with a blockbuster film and a brand new Pokémon game on the way later this year. But Pikachu fever has gone even further in Japan, with a ...

ANA's aircraft is part of Pokémon Air Adventures, an initiative that gives airlines Pikachu Jets. There's a new Pokémon-themed plane flying around. Japan's ... is the series' mascot and one ...

Sometimes it seems as if Japan’s human population is outnumbered by cute characters. A few, such as Hello Kitty and Pikachu ... s first official quarantine mascot. So it makes sense that ...

Japan’s national soccer team has adopted Pikachu — arguably Pokemon’s best-known character — as its mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, as detailed by both Adidas and The Pokemon ...