In 2023, many international sporting events are scheduled to be held, starting with the World Baseball Classic (WBC), followed by the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka in July, the Basketball World Cup in August, and the Rugby World Cup in September. The Japanese national team is expected to do well in each of these tournaments, but e-sports is no slouch either. This year's Pokémon World Championships 2023 ( WCS2023) will be held from August 11 (Fri.) to 13 (Sun.), 2023, at Pacifico Yokohama! To commemorate the WCS 2023 in Yokohama, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars will hold the first " Pokemon Ball Park Yokohama " event! From June 30 (Friday) to July 2 (Sunday), 2023, Yokohama Stadium, home of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, will be dyed in Pokémon colors! Here are some of the limited events and special effects you can enjoy in the stadium!
Let's go to Yokohama Stadium!
Here we come! Yokohama Stadium!
Unfortunately, it was raining on Friday, June 30. However, the Pokemon background music playing in and out of the stadium before the game got us excited!
Practicing with Pikachu
Miyazaki practices before the game in his Pikachu uniform. The gap between his austere face and Pikachu's tail is very good..!
Maki looks so good in his Pikachu helmet. His favorite Pokemon is Pochama.
Pre-game ceremony with 10 Pikachus that are too cute
As a pre-game ceremony, 10 Pikachus, diana (Yokohama DeNA BayStars official performance team), and mascots put on a dance show to the live music of Senzoku Game Music Brass (@senzokugmb).
A large number of Pikachu in Yokohama DeNA BayStars uniforms! They showed us their cute dance with diana.
At the pre-game ceremony on July 1 (Sat.), "Pokemon Ball Park Yokohama" cheering captain Abare-kun, who is famous as a Pokemon fanatic, made an appearance. He made a no-brainer pitch on the ceremonial pitch, enlivening the stadium.
Pokémon Off-Site Events Open to Everyone
During the "Pokémon Ball Park Yokohama" event, a photo booth and a "Struck Out" event were held outside the stadium.
Players could play against Pokémon owned by TOBASHIRA, who loves Pokémon so much that he has played all the series of Pokémon games.
A photo booth where you can take a commemorative photo as if you were standing in the batter's box wearing a Pikachu helmet...
You can take a photo with a Pokemon card-style photo frame called "Banchou and Pikachu!
The " Banchou frame" is a great tease to Director Miura that all the photos he uploads to his blog are taken from the same angle (a.k.a. "Banchou frame"). The name of the technique is also very clever: "Yo-Lo-Si-Ku! and the name of the technique is "Yo lo shi ku!
Struck-out booth to catch Pikachu with a monster ball.
The event was a great success, especially with small children.
The ballpark staff at the concession stand and information desk also wore Pikachu visors. The same visors were also given out to fans who visited the stadium during the "Pokemon Ball Park Yokohama" event.
Pokemon-specific effects during the game as well!
The first game of the three-game series between the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the Chunichi Dragons started under unstable weather conditions. When a Yokohama DeNA BayStars player appears during the game, his favorite Pokémon will be shown on the screen.
The starting members and their favorite Pokémon for Friday, June 30 are as follows
- 1. Atmospheric Sekine (Pikachu)
- 2. Masashi Kuwabara (Houou)
- 3. Keita Sano (Jirachi)
- Shugo Maki (Pouchama)
- 5. N. Soto (Mewtwo)
- 6. player Yamato (Pikachu)
- 7. Yasutaka Tohashira (Heracross)
- 8. Naoto Chino (Pikachu)
- 9. shota Imanaga (Eevee)
Pokemon lover Mr. Tohashira chose Heracross. You can feel how " serious" he is.
FLYCATCH" was held after the bottom of the 3rd inning, and Pikachu, Meowha, Hogeta, and Kwassu participated in it. Nyaha has become accustomed to standing up.
Cheering Pikachu with a sun visor! The game started in the top of the 4th inning with an infield single by Tobira.
In the "Hisense Hamasta Battle" relay competition, Zeraora was the first runner up! Zeraora was the first runner up in the "Hisense Hamasta Battle" and faced off against Starman, the mascot of the Yokohama DeNA Bay Stars.
A special vision was also used for strikeouts and foul balls!
Pimpk, Lucky, and Happinas cheer you on when you get a chance.
Pokemon Ball Park Yokohama" ended with great success!
A heated pitching duel between Imanaga and Ogasawara took place at Yokohama Stadium, where strong rain and beach winds made for a tough battle, and both pitchers gave up one run, but the Chunichi Dragons came out on top.
The "Pokemon Ball Park Yokohama" was held over a three-game series from June 30 (Fri.) to July 2 (Sun.), 2023, with a result of one win, one loss, and one tie. The event was very well received on social networking sites, so we are looking forward to the second event! You can watch the "Pokemon Ball Park Yokohama" on the official Yokohama DeNA BayStars YouTube channel and official Twitter (@ydb_yokohama ).