Sunday, August 30, 2026

Cosplay: 60 Seconds to Tokyo 2026

Me: Well, I can't be at (or send you to) PokémonXP and/or Worlds, but I can send you to a festival instead. 

Ash: And there's one today!

Me: Right. It's a little far away, but I think it satisfies the travel need.

Goh: And it's got an interesting name too. It almost seems unreal.

Ash: Don't you think? Not unless you use...

Goh: The Psychic Teleport! But even then that's also limited - I think.

Pikachu: Chu pika? ["Maybe?"]

Me: Well, that's a reasoning. Anyway, I wanted to send Ash today at the behest of one of my friends...

Ash: ...who runs (ran) the whole thing!

Goh: Really?

Ash: We talked about it off and on while I was there. But maybe we can save that for later.

Goh: For starters, how did you get there?

Ash: With a couple of our friend's other friends - we met along the way.

Goh: That's pretty nice!

Me: I'll bet that saved a load of effort.

Ash: It did - and on the way back too.

Goh: So, what about the festival, then?

Ash: It was in a hotel! Not where you'd usually find a festival.

Pikachu: Pi pi pika! ["Luxurious!"]

Goh: Ooh!

Me: Well, sometimes you find conventions at a hotel. I've been to ones myself that are such. But that's a different matter.

Ash: Would that be in a big room, just like this one?

Me: Yes! That's all I can say, though.

Goh: If it's a festival, were there communities and food?

Ash: Just one community - Bocchi Noizu - and three food stands. One of them has the exact same name as the festival.

Goh: Oh, your friend must have asked them to come.

Me: I'm sure he did. Oh, yes: I heard from some of my other friends that a hotel in my town also wants something going on as the same name of this festival, but I don't think it's a festival. And they canceled it.

Ash: I'm sure the hotels are all together! I saw a poster for that with lots of hotel names.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["A good deal."]

Me: I would think so too.

Goh: OK, and I'm sure there had to be competitions.

Ash: A character parade, and a photography one. I got in the first... but your friend wanted me in the second one too. So I came up with something for that with the food they sold.

Me: I saw that. It's exactly what I would make for that myself. It's also an excuse to eat.

Ash: Haha, yeah!

Goh: And then for the character parade, you had your world outfit. ( I wish I was there.)

Ash: Yeah. Our friend told me to "recycle" it from last week. So I "recycled" what I did there too.

Goh: And how'd everything work out?

Ash: Didn't get anything for both - but I did get a certificate from your friend.

Me: That was one of the points my friend sold me on, so there you go.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Pretty nice."]

Ash: Oh yeah! I also got in a minigame, and I got a little something - by answering Pokémon questions! They were all about Trainers and their Pokémon.

Me: Well, that would be another point... anyhow, that's pretty good.

Goh: So... entertainment - I'd guess song and dance.

Ash: You're right. There were a couple of dance groups and a bit of singing too.

Goh: Pretty standard.

Ash: I even filled in with "Mezase Pokémon Master" - but I got distracted a bit in the middle...

Me: Huh. Don't worry about it. At least it's not competitive.

Ash: Yeah, I guess you're right.

Goh: So I guess we can call this one a success - what do you think?

Me: I think you're quite right. Hey, maybe that local hotel of mine might just get things rolling.

Pikachu: Chu pika chu! ["Marvelous!"]

Me: Even so, did you tell my friend that it might not be so easy for him to do it all on his own?

Ash: I did. That was part of our talk after the festival.

Goh: Maybe there's something odd about it?

Ash: Um... I hate to say this, but I saw "The Forbidden One" wandering about the festival.

Goh: Wait, so he might have been involved?

Ash: From what I got, he might have put money into it and tried to control it.

Me: Uh-huh. See, that's the kind of threat that my friend might face. Now I think I might know why the local happening got axed.

Ash: Your other friends also stepped in and tried to help a bit - which I think did the trick.

Me: Well, I hope that whatever comes next will be free of his "influence".

Pikachu: Chu... ["Hmm..."]

Me: In the meantime, in the spirit of the festival's title, perhaps 60 seconds might be all you need to think you're somewhere.

Ash: I think that was all in a song there! You just have to close your eyes.

Goh: And then, our friend might just get to Tokyo or anywhere else in the world.

Me: Perhaps for the next World Championships, you and I can be there in person instead of just in spirit.

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Saturday, August 29, 2026

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/29/2026

August has once and again proven itself to be a busy and hectic month for Pokémon affairs in general and Pokémon Go in particular, and for the latter, the time is at hand to roll up or recap the in-game events that have taken place in the month. It occurs at the same date as last year, and a similarly late one at that, but that is only a further reflection of the hectic nature of the month. Furthermore, this season has the title of "Forever Forward", and this is its last month, so there's still a sense of the seasonal theme by that title that needs to be fulfilled.

Kicking off the month on August 1 was another replay event as a "Community Saturday", which was a Max Battle Day featuring Gigantamax Rillaboom, last seen approximately a year ago. All the usual perks (including more MP, a paid ticket "booster", and more Special Trades) were present for the replay event, as did the possibility of the species becoming Shiny, which may have been what Trainers were most looking for and that the replay facilitated for them.

Hot (or cold) on its trail was the Summer Marathon event with the subtitle of "Arctic Embers" from August 4 to 10. Like its earlier iteration in the spring, there was a chance to catch the marathon Pikachu by Timed tasks - yet only still by traversing the full length of 42 km. Its main focus, though, was on Fire and Ice types, specifically the debut of Shiny Snom, from Eggs or otherwise. Four Pokémon of the types, two of each, were also featured on alternating days along with a few other complementary species, some also from Field Research encounters. The event also came with a new avatar item as well as a Go Pass of 60 ranks containing regular and premium support items, encounters, and bonuses of greater PokéStop XP and reduced hatch distance... the last of these being useful to hatch the event 5 km Eggs as well as the ones from the Fire and Ice Hatch Day on August 8 featuring Magby and Smoochum. A few things about the event were truly hot and/or cold according to what Trainers preferred for and from it.

The water, though, is always cool (in a sense), as the Water Festival returned from August 18 to 24 as an UItra Unlock. For that purpose, it brought about the debuts of the Arrokuda family as well as Cramorant, mostly from Rainy Lure Modules but the latter also from Go Battle League. Other Pokémon of the given type supported these debutants in the wild, raids (including Tatsugiri, Dondozo, and a few other special ones), and Field Research encounters, plus Wiglett where it's found. As for bonuses, there were greater Shiny chances for Ducklett and Dewpider, and gradually increasing XP and Stardust catch bonuses every two days, plus Candy and halved Egg distance from the Go Pass of 60 ranks along with its other useful items and some encounters. The "crown jewel" of the festival, though, was the appropriately scheduled Starmie Super Mega Raid Day on August 22 with all the usual perks, and thanks to the Stardust bonus, a massive reward for those who really (and always) seek it. This edition of the festival was regardless one that delivered novelty and sparkle in more ways than one.

Finally, there is the accompanying event to PokémonXP and the World Championships from August 25 to 30 (tomorrow), with some particular focus for each "half" in three-day periods. This event expectedly has both special Pikachu in in-game form, which can be caught from raids and Field Research encounters. Because of the focus on the tournaments, Go Battle League allows for more battles (three times as many in a day), more varied IVs from Pokémon encounters, and a special background and music to suit. Both "halves" also have different accompanying wild and rare Pokémon, including in raids. A great deal of Pokémon will also know special moves when caught or evolved. Other niceties for Trainers involve avatar items for the champion, on-site visitors, and everyone (including a shirt and backpack), plus new stickers. This event's Go Pass of 60 ranks has some special goodies and encounters in it as well, not to mention some bonuses for Stardust catch and raids - some of which become very, very nice when upgraded to the Deluxe track. As always, Trainers can also watch Twitch streams for other rewards, especially to make them feel that they're there at the grand event.

With that, everything is also moving forward as the season ends and the next one is about to begin - sometime soon. It's something that always happens, further as the season's title may suggest, and when that is coupled with a busy and hectic August, as it seems to be in this and past years, that makes for an experience where "moving (on)" itself is a kind of necessity.
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Friday, August 28, 2026

Championship Journey on a Cable Car

Then, there's the event of the World Championships itself. As usual, much of its highlighting occurs on the Friday of the event as in previous years (this one was last year's), which may not necessarily be on the same date since the days and weeks shift. Coupled with PokémonXP for this year as the convention "arm", both events - even by themselves - may be construed to present a "journey", which will become evident soon by their explanation. That can also be deemed as significant in more ways than one, especially with what's being offered.

I mention "cable car" in the title of this post for a reason: both events are being held at San Francisco, California, and that vehicle is representative of the city. This year's location is also only somewhat farther removed from last year's, which may or may not bear any comparative significance. Regardless, Pikachu leads the pack this year (two of them) with a cosmic outfit inspired by Cosmog and a royal outfit that shows supremacy, and they represent the "double-sided" event as it occurs for the edition of this grand year in the grand seaside city.

Along for the ride (or journey) are the same members of the "pantheon" as last year: VGC, TCG, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon Unite. However, it has to be said that Pokémon Unite will "get off the ride" after this year, for it plans to hold a separate championship tournament from the World Championships instead next year. Whether this has something to do with the current "state of the game" for that game (or not) could be anyone's guess, but it's clear that the journey for next year could also change in more and further ways as well.

Meanwhile, as usual, there's still a local entourage - that is, of my local area - with several more representatives now, including two teams for Unite. This also includes some who will be at the 
PokémonXP side of things, for which they are representative of various and diverse Pokémon interests as well. This journey is a continuing one, and if it happens that I can participate in the entourage somehow, then it could make for a very great time with them.

San Francisco is a city where it can be construed that a lot of the old meets the new, and this year's execution of the Pokémon World Championships has a few old things and new things going for it. For many, it's also the "gateway" city to the United States - I can attest this one myself - and this year's World Championships edition may thus also be considered a "gateway" of sorts for prospective players and fans who wish to experience things in the best ways.

On that note, the experiences, the players, the fans, and everything else that ties into both competition and convention are all getting on the cable car, and its bell has sounded for the journey of the next three days ahead. That's also the point at which I wish good luck to all of the participants above for the journey of this event as usual, and then more beyond that.

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Thursday, August 27, 2026

My Interests on the PokémonXP Schedule

Having explained what PokémonXP is (being essentially a Pokémon convention), now I want to discuss what actually goes on at the convention. Specifically, I also want to discuss which of the happenings - panels and others - on the schedule that I would like to attend if I was (or could be) actually present for that very convention, which again is obviously too late for me at this point in time. But of course, I can state my interests regardless of time and space.

In the Garden Stage, the happenings are pretty much uniform for the three days (Friday to Sunday), so it's just a matter of choosing which ones I'd like to attend and when. The 9 AM yoga session is quite appealing, though I'd probably could only make the Saturday session. The rest (meet and greet, story time, and dance class) are trivial stuff, which I may be interested in if I happen to be less interested in a specific panel on a particular time and day.

Then there are the main stage happenings. On Friday, the Opening Ceremonies are a can't-miss, as is the panel for the new stop-motion series from Aardman. The full art card panel could be the one I'm least interested in for the day and I might be tempted to skip that one in favor of a Garden Stage happening, but the other two panels are of great interest, extremely so for the entire day. It makes for a great start to both events as a whole on the Friday.

On Saturday, it seems the morning to midday panels (Pokémon Go, TCG artist, Bracket Bonanza) are of greater interest for me personally, while the later panels are of the "rich or classy" kind, and I could perhaps ignore them. Of course, that means making my way after the yoga session from the Garden Stage as above and then possibly back after the panels of interest as I mentioned to the Garden Stage - and perhaps external outings afterwards.

Sunday is where things would come together, as the Cosplay Showcase is in the afternoon and you can bet that I'd be bringing my cosplay for that. The game show that follows would be pretty good too, and so would the closing run for the grand events. The "visualization" panel in the morning would be the only one of interest since I'd be skipping the Horizons panel for... reasons. Like others, I'd need to be putting out my best (and more) on this ultimate day.

As can be seen, there is much to see and do at PokémonXP, just like at any other pop culture convention - only this time it all pertains to Pokémon, which would be awesome for fans who can indeed go there. That would be the case for me as well, if only I could attend and had the necessary means for doing so. Still, Pokémon has all the necessary means for me anytime and anywhere, and that reflects much of my interests for PokémonXP and beyond it somehow.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2026

PokémonXP: From Tournament to Convention

The end of August is drawing near, and so is in fact the Pokémon World Championships, which will in fact be discussed soon. Along with that, I also want to discuss something that very much pertains to the grand event, at least as far as this year's edition is concerned. It is known that the tournament has attracted the appeal of non-competing fans to come and visit (yours truly would be one of them), so along with the tournament this year, something new is (was) introduced that can be said to take it from a tournament to a convention.

For that purpose, that something is a special event called PokémonXP, for which the name might evoke some memories of (by now) a popular but eventually deprecated operating system. It's not that, of course, but both are certainly based on the same root of "experience", which this something new is intended to deliver, especially for those who aren't competing. While the competitors are duking it out as they are expected to in the World Championships, visiting fans can check this out instead to get their Pokémon enjoyment in other ways.

Now, the event is composed of interactive workshops for attendees with some special things for them, as well as (primarily) happenings on two stages, a main one for the event itself as well as another one as a "garden stage". As a brief summary, the latter is composed of more fun and involved activities with Pokémon, while the former is composed primarily of many panels, each running about one and a half hours long, with some other fun stuff interspersed. I'll have more on these happenings in a separate post, which I had intended to make much sooner, but now is appropriate and relevant anyhow since I've explained the background.

With the schedule, it can be seen that it's very much a convention, as it's structured in similar ways and has similar content to what one would expect at pop culture conventions - especially ones in the United States, for those familiar with them. Being a convention person myself (obviously with some detailed on this blog through my Pokémon cosplay), it also drives my interest to go to it - although evidently it's too late at this point in time. And while it may or may not be present next year, the World Championships are surely so even then.

PokémonXP is certainly not a replacement, but rather a complement to the grand tournament that has persisted for many years now. Depending on its chance of persistence or appearance in later years, it may also become its own thing, if its content as above doesn't already suggest that it could in fact be considered its own thing. Whether together or separate, its potential to draw Pokémon fans without needing them to be competitive is a wonderful thing, just like any pop culture convention in its most exacting form should be.

Two years ago: Network Connections
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Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Cosplay: "Independence Cosplay"

Ash and Goh have gone back out into the world. But there's a little something going on today, and I still need someone to fill that in. So...

Me: For the first time ever, please welcome Roy.

Roy: Hi!

Me: You, of course, are the "flame child" that I referred to in my previous post, and I've grown to identify with you in some ways.

Roy: Thank you! I'm honored.

Me: Which is why now I'd like to take the privilege to send you to a happening in my world [OOC: cosplay as you] as the first Pokémon character not tied to my previous ones [Ash or his basis].

Roy: Sure! But... isn't today a day where you might need to be doing something else?

Me: Don't worry, today's an off day, which is why it can happen for me and my friends.

Roy: I can see that. I went to the mall that you told me to go to for it, and I met some of them right away. And one of them helped me get set up!

Me: See? And I'm glad you got the help. I was thinking someone might have to do that.

Roy: Oh, and you sent me along with Fuecoco, my first partner. That's very nice.

Fuecoco: Fuecoco! ["Greetings!"]

Roy: OK, so this festival - I guess you could call it that - has... "independence" in it? What's the deal?

Me: Well, last week there were celebrations for that, so this one can be considered a delayed version of that.

Roy: Oh, yeah - I gotcha. People set up shops too, some goodies, some food...

Me: Sure, even if it's a little one in a mall.

Roy: And then more of your friends came. And we talked off and on...

Me: It's a good time. Speaking of good times, the festival also has some entertainment. How'd that go for you?

Roy: I like the singers! The dancing was OK too. And there were games!

Me: Oh, they're probably like the games for last week's common celebration.

Roy: Yeah, they look interesting, but maybe I'm not cut out for them.

Me: I'm not sure either. But for characters, there should be something for them to express themselves.

Roy: It's... a little competition!

Fuecoco: Fueco! ["Neat!"]

Me: It's a little something I call a "character parade" [OOC: cosplay walk] where you also show off what you can do briefly.

Roy: You'd like me in it, wouldn't you?

Me: Of course, even though it's your first time out.

Roy: OK, I can do that with Fuecoco. It could be like the first time we met.

Me: That could work. Others might have something similar.

Roy: Yeah, that's the vibe I got from them.

Me: Well, all right. So you ate (for me), took in the sights, and participated in the character parade. How'd that last one go?

Roy: I got nothing. But the others that got something were great too.

Me: Yeah, that happens. So no "rookie miracle" this time around.

Roy: It was fun, though, on stage!

Fuecoco: Fueco fueco. ["Pretty nice."]

Me: So, after all that, how do you feel about me sending you?

Roy: That's great! It's a different experience from my journey.

Me: I thought so. And you could see a bit of my world.

Roy: And I could help you out with other Pokémon things too.

Me: That's a real possibility. Now, I currently don't have a future plan yet for you, and I might want to change up a couple of things to make it better for you.

Roy: That's fine with me! Take your time to make it the best.

Me: With that, you can go back to your journey, and I can go back to mine.

Roy: OK! I'll see you whenever I see you.

Me: Got it. And I'll see you then.

As I say, this is not "moving on", but "embracing the future". It's an "independence" in and of itself, which seems to be appropriate.

Six years ago: The Principle of Life
Seven years ago: Expecting the Cards
Eight years ago: PokéMusicians
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Monday, August 24, 2026

Ode to a Flame Child

OK, this post will be a bit cryptic for many of the uninitiated, but for others, it should be rather obvious what I'm talking about - even the title might be already so for some people in both camps. It's modeled after an ode, which is a kind of text that praises someone and is normally formed in poetic style, but for this post it's written in regular prose. And the subject is a certain "flame child" who has gained a certain prominence, which when linked to Pokémon becomes a given - and for that reason some praise for the person becomes deserved.

Now, the "flame child" can be considered a serendipitous find due to the way that the child's most trusted allies happened upon the child, and it's a find that will simultaneously define both the child and the allies. Their development, especially from a Pokémon standpoint, is stunning to cover and track, and I'm sure other fans would agree on this point. That point is certainly deserving of praise all its own, particularly when I can get to it myself.

The "flame child" is called as such - at least by my own terms - by the Pokémon that is very much identified with the child and furthermore develops along with the child. It is truly one of flames - even being slightly "spiritual" in its appearance and nature. For that, it also has to be praised for what it can do alongside the child and even further beyond that.

Some praise also has to be directed toward the child's vocal abilities, which is also helped by the accompaniment of the Pokémon that I just mentioned, again with regard to development. For someone interested in vocals such as myself, that's also a partial inspiration.

It's amazing how a child can exemplify so much, especially given the descriptor that applies to the child and how that relates to other things. All of those truly deserve praise somehow.

And after all that, I can say that the "flame child" will become important in the next post.

Four years ago: The Fighting Cup of GBL
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