Team Rocket is getting ready to blast off into the skies above Saga Prefecture.
The prefecture’s Sagaprise! project opened a full website and revealed the details of its collaboration with the evil Pokémon-stealing organization on Wednesday. A press event and livestream was also held for the announcement on Wednesday.
The project is part of the celebration for the Pokémon television anime series reaching a total of 1,000 episodes. The episode of Pokémon Sun & Moon that will be the franchise’s 1,000th television anime episode will premiere on November 9. Therefore, Team Rocket is looking to recruit 10 million people in Sage Prefecture to join its ranks. (The way “10,000,000” is written in Japanese utilizes the number “1,000.”)
Although Saga Prefecture only has a population of about 820,000, Team Rocket is hoping to hit its recruitment goal by attracting people from all over Japan. The collaboration with Saga Prefecture, titled “Nyasu Kikyū Saga Shūrai! ~Kikyū no Machi de Sagase! Rocket Danin 1000 Mannin!!~” (Meowth Balloon Saga Invation!: Search in Balloon Town! 10 Million Team Rocket Members!!), is being held from October 25 until November 26.
Yoshinori Yamaguchi, governor of Saga Prefecture, is serving as the “boss” of the prefecture named Sagaki for the campaign. The leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni, is known as Sakaki in Japanese, and Yamaguchi’s role references the villain. Yamaguchi appears in the video above and on the collaboration website with the Alolan version of Persian, the Pokémon who always lurks by Giovanni’s side.
The real-world version of Team Rocket’s trademark Meowth hot air balloon will return to the 2017 Saga International Balloon Fiesta, which will be held from November 1-5. The collaboration’s teaser website had hinted that the project would involve the event.
In addition, the collaboration includes a stamp rally that will guide prospective Team Rocket members around the city of Saga. A Twitter campaign is offering fans who tweet with the designated hashtags a chance to win Team Rocket T-shirts. People will team up in a group of 1,000 to form a giant Pikachu shape on November 26 as part of the project. Team Rocket-themed lights will also go on display at the Saga Light Fantasy 2017 event, which will be held from October 31 to January 8.
Source: Nijimen
Images: Sagaprise
More from Anime News Network:
Pokémon’s Team Rocket officially begins real-life recruiting new members this month
Yuri!!! on Ice Promotes Main Character’s Home Prefecture
Saga Prefecture celebrates SaGa Frontier Remastered with SaGa Bath campaign
Man in China says he likes Pokémon’s Team Rocket on social media, company makes him issue apology
TV Tokyo Plans Huge Celebration for Pokemon’s 1,000th Episode
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain Matsuya opens gourmet Premium Matsuya with Kobe beef…inside Matsuya
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
Japan Railways partners with Overwatch, heroes hit the Shinkansen for bullet train collaboration
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Tourists brave Typhoon Jangmi to queue at two famous sites in Tokyo
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
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】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Local samurai legend is immortalized in rockin’ new short animated film by Production I.G