Artists from around the country took part in the project, which sees Pikachu saying thank you in forty different ways.
Five years after Japan was struck by the tragedy of the Great East Japan earthquake, people in the Kumamoto region were also hit by quakes, displacing many in the area. Organisations and businesses around the country have been supporting those affected with a number of collaborative projects and campaigns, and now Japan’s popular messenger app Line, which was actually developed in response to the 2011 disaster as a way to communicate in place of damaged telecommunications, is working to help children in affected regions with a new set of charity message stamps, featuring the adorable image of Pikachu.
Released on 2 August, the Pokemon Thank You Stickers include forty different designs, created by illustrators from different areas across the country who were asked to draw images of Pikachu that would convey a feeling of thanks and gratitude to friends and family. As a result, some of the images contain messages using local dialects, like “Ookini”, which means “Thank you” in the Kansai region, which includes areas like Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto.
▼ The heart-tailed Pikachu in the top row is saying “Ookini” while dressed in a kimono as the Kyoto mascot.
Designed to show the unified support of the country, the forty illustrations selected to appear as official Line stamps in the series were chosen by Junichi Masuda, general manager of Game Freak, the video game development company responsible for the Pokémon series of role-playing video games. With so many adorable artworks to choose from, a selection of other candidates that missed out on selection are being displayed on the official online campaign page.
The stamps are available to download from the Line store for 120 yen (US$1.19) or 50 coins, with revenue from sales going towards “Chance for Children”, an organisation that provides help to children in devastated regions through educational assistance.
Source: Kai-You
Images: LINE Store
Retro Pokémon stamps with sound effects released for instant messaging app Line!
Disaster-struck region aims to increase tourism by bringing ALL region-exclusive Pokémon to Japan
Studio Ghibli adds The Boy and the Heron stamps to Line messaging app in Japan
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Japanese Twitter can’t stop laughing at this JLPT listening question straight out of Evangelion
7-Eleven Japan’s sweet potato smoothie goes viral on social media
Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth finds happiness in a canned cocktail[Video]
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
Tokyo Station staff share their top 10 favorite ekiben
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home