The latest episode of Pokémon Sunday, The Forest of Kimori! Protect the Giant Tree!! / Grand Festival Anticipation Cosplay! (キモリの森！巨大樹を守れ!! / グランドフェスティバルをなりきり大予想！), aired today in Japan.

This week featured the continuation of the rerun theme 'New friends! Get Pokémon!' and The Forest of Kimori! Protect the Giant Tree!! was this weeks repeat episode. The episode features Kimori and how he is captured by Satoshi. A full summary of this episode is available in the episode guide.

To celebrate the upcoming Grand Festival arc on Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl, the Pokémon Sunday crew decided to hold their own Grand Festival and cosplay some of the main characters from the show. Akiyama dressed up as Nando (Naoshi / ナオシ), Yamamoto dressed up as Jessie (Musashi / ムサシ), Baba dressed as Zoey (Nozomi / ノゾミ) and the special guest for this episode, Yutti (ゆってぃ) was Dawn (Hikari / ヒカリ).


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The event started with the appeal part of the Grand Festival each person pretending to be a certain Pokémon that was associated with the character they were cosplaying. The appeal segment required each person to peddle on a bike that was hooked up to a television. The person who was able to generate enough power to run the television for the longest amount of time would be the winner. A video clip of that character was displayed when they generated enough power.

The next phase had Baba as Nozomi's Nyarmar faced off against Yutti (ゆってぃ) as Pochama. Each person had to use one of the Pokémon's attacks to break a line of balloons. The first person to break all the balloons and reach the finish line would be the winner. Baba as Nozomi's Nyarmar used Iron Tail and bounced on the balloons. Yutti (ゆってぃ) as Pochama used Peck and wore a beak on his face to pop the balloons. Both had trouble popping the balloons but Yutti ended up winning to eliminate Baba.

Yamamoto dressed up as Musashi's Habunake faced off against Akiyama as Naoshi's Korotok in the other tournament bracket. Yamamoto used Habunake's bite attack to pop the balloons. He wore vampire Halloween teeth and bit into the balloons to pop them. Akiyama did a karate chop like move to portray the X-scissor attack but it didn't prove to be very effective. Yamamoto easily won the match and eliminated Akiyama which setup the final of Yamamoto (Musashi) vs Yutti (Hikari).

The final round was an obstacle course that required Yamamoto and Yutti to race through it to the end. A stuffed plushie was on a table at the end of the course and the first person to pick up their corresponding plushie would win the Grand Festival. The obstacle course featured a balance beam with Baba and Akiyama throwing things at them and a spin the bat phase that required them to put their head on the bat and spin around. The two were very close all the way to the end but Yutti was able to grab the Pochama plushie first by being coherent enough after the bat spinning to win the tournament.

The latest episode of Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl 173 - Metamon Transform Battle! Which One~ is it that's Real!? (メタモン・へんしんバトル！本物はドッチ～ニョ!?) aired on Thursday in Japan.

While on route to the Lakeside Resort for the Sinnoh Grand Festival, Hikari and Satoshi encounter two Metamon's that cause trouble by transforming into Pokémon that look just like theirs. Rocket Gang then shows up and steals the Metamon's to give to the boss. Will Satoshi and friends be able to recover Makinas' Metamon's?

Characters and Pictures from this episode have been added to the episode guide. You can also comment and discuss this episode on the forum. Also be sure to rate this and other episodes in the episode guide.

The latest episode of Pokémon Sunday, Sonansu and the Pokémon Trade Meet!! / A Report on 'Alternate Colorations' around the World / Information on the New Games Part 2 (ソーナンスとポケモンこうかんかい!! / 世の中の“色違い”を大特集 / 新作ゲーム情報第２弾！), aired today in Japan.

This week featured the continuation of the rerun theme 'New friends! Get Pokémon!' and Sonansu and the Pokémon Trade Meet!!(ソーナンスとポケモンこうかんかい!) was this weeks repeat episode. The episode features Sonansu and how he becomes a member of Rocket Gang. A full summary of this episode is available in the episode guide.

The live action segment started off by showing the new trailer from Movie 13 The Ruler of Illusions Zoroark (幻影の覇者 ゾロアーク) that was posted on the official site.

The crew then announced the information for the upcoming Movie download events, including the Celebi that will be available in theaters. Pre-order movie ticket information has been posted on the official movie website. Below is the announced information for each Pokémon.

Pokémon	Information	Ticket
Entei	Level: 30 Poké ball: Cherish Ball (プレシャスボール) Ribbon: Classic Ribbon (クラシックリボン) Attack 1: Flare Blitz (フレアドライブ) Attack 2: Crush Claw (ブレイククロー) Attack 3: Howl (とおぼえ) Attack 4: ExtremeSpeed (しんそく) Item Held: Custap Berry (イバンのみ)
Raikou	Level: 30 Poké ball: Cherish Ball (プレシャスボール) Ribbon: Classic Ribbon (クラシックリボン) Attack 1: Zap Cannon (でんじほう) Attack 2: Weather Ball (ウェザーボール) Attack 3: Aura Sphere (はどうだん) Attack 4: ExtremeSpeed (しんそく ) Item Held: Micle Berry (ミクルのみ)
Suicune	Level: 30 Poké ball: Cherish Ball (プレシャスボール) Ribbon: Classic Ribbon (クラシックリボン) Attack 1: Sheer Cold (ぜったいれいど) Attack 2: Aqua Ring (アクアリング) Attack 3: Air Slash (エアスラッシュ) Attack 4: ExtremeSpeed (しんそく) Item Held: Rowap Berry (レンブのみ)
Celebi	Level: 50 Poké ball: Cherish Ball (プレシャスボール) Ribbon: Classic Ribbon (クラシックリボン) Attack 1: Nasty Plot (わるだくみ) Attack 2: Leaf Storm (リーフストーム) Attack 3: Healing Wish (いやしのねがい) Attack 4: Recover (じこさいせい) Item Held: Jaboca Berry (ジャポのみ)

Robert was impressed with the different colored Pokémon and decided that they needed to investigate and then report the different colors in the world around them from food, buildings and people. Baba started off by putting multiple colors in his hair. They then tried alternate colored food, like black corn and a white strawberry, before finally showing off the different colors the Tokyo Tower takes when lighted up during various occations. During the Pokémon Game Arena, Golgo battled in Pokémon Battle Revolution and beat the girl pretty quickly.

At the end of the show, Shoko-tan debuted a short video showing the city from the 6 high quality screenshots that were featured in this months issue of Coro Coro and posted on the official site.


A Pokémon Black and White page has been added to the Games section of the site and will be updated as information is revealed.

The latest episode of Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl 172 - Togekiss! A Battle of Splendor!! (トゲキッス! 華麗なるバトル!!) aired on Thursday in Japan.

While on route to the the Lakeside Resort for the Sinnoh Grand Festival, Hikari and Satoshi come upon a wide open field and decide to train their Pokémon. Rocket Gang arrives and Musashi is intent on getting Togekiss. Will Hikari be able to stop her?

Characters and Pictures from this episode have been added to the episode guide. You can also comment and discuss this episode on the forum. Also be sure to rate this and other episodes in the episode guide.

The standard Professor Okido's Great Pokémon Examination segment was replaced this week with extended previews of the upcoming Grand Festival and Satoshi's 8th gym battle. A new trailer for the upcoming movie The Ruler of Illusions Zoroark (幻影の覇者 ゾロアーク) also aired. The movie trailer showcased an audio clip from the movie theme, Ice Cream Syndrome (アイスクリーム シンドローム), which was announced last week.


High quality screenshots from the new trailer have been added to the Imageboard. The official site has posted the full trailer at http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/trailer/.

The official Pocket Monsters Movie 13 website has announced that Sukima Switch will sing the ending theme for the upcoming movie, The Ruler of Illusions Zoroark (幻影の覇者 ゾロアーク). The theme is titled Ice Cream Syndrome (アイスクリーム シンドローム) and director requested that the song be a "medium tempo love song". Clips from song will debut throughout Japanese theaters starting April 17th, 2010.

Sukima Switch (スキマスイッチ) is a jazz rock band consisting of two guys, Takuya Ōhashi (大橋卓弥) and Shintarō Tokita (常田真太郎). They are well known to anime fans for singing the third opening to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood titled Golden Time Lover.

Sources: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/75134/full/
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/cd/
http://www.office-augusta.com/sukimaswitch/information_sukima.html#release_icecream

Another 8 DVD set has been announced for release in Japan that features: Getting Contest Ribbons, Getting Gym Badges and Getting Pokémon. The Pokémon TV Anime Collection DVD Get! Get! Get! (ポケモンTVアニメコレクションDVD ～ゲット！ゲット！ゲット！) volumes feature one episode per mini DVD like the previous sets with episodes based on the 'getting' theme. The DVD's will be sold for 399 yen each on July 27th, 2010, but many stores offer a small discount if you buy the entire set as a whole. Below is a list of the DVD's and the episodes that are on them.

The episodes on the DVD's are:

Volume 1 DVD: [ep=687]Decisive Match! Hikari VS Haruka!! (決戦！ヒカリVSハルカ!!)[/ep]
Volume 2 DVD: [ep=799]Nomose Gym! VS Maximum Mask!! (ノモセジム！VSマキシマム仮面！！)[/ep]
Volume 3 DVD: [ep=928]Yosuga Gym Battle! VS Melissa!! (ヨスガジム戦!VSメリッサ!!)[/ep]
Volume 4 DVD: [ep=942]Mio Gym Match! Steel Battle!! (ミオジム戦！はがねのバトル!!)[/ep]
Volume 5 DVD: [ep=956]Pokémon Contest! Akebi Tournament!! (ポケモンコンテスト! アケビ大会！！)[/ep]
Volume 6 DVD: [ep=982]Kissaki Gym! Ice Battle!! (キッサキジム！ 氷のバトル！！)[/ep]
Volume 7 DVD: [ep=1016]Jouto Festa! Chicorita and Waninoko Appear!! (ジョウトフェスタ！ チコリータとワニノコ登場！！)[/ep]
Volume 8 DVD: [ep=1049]Fukamaru! Get it!! (フカマル！ ゲットだぜ！！)[/ep]

The DVD's have been added to our DVD Database. There you can find information about Pokémon DVD's from around the world.

Source: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/bigbe/30394/

The latest episodes of Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl 170 - Elite Four Kikuno! Kabarudon VS Dodaitose!! (四天王キクノ！カバルドンＶＳドダイトス！！) and Diamond & Pearl 171 - Togekiss Dances! The Princess' Pokémon Contest!! (トゲキッス舞う！王女さまのポケモンコンテスト！！) aired on Thursday in Japan as part of a 1 hour special.

Diamond & Pearl 170 - Elite Four Kikuno! Kabarudon VS Dodaitose!! (四天王キクノ！カバルドンＶＳドダイトス！！)

While heading to the Grand Festival at the Lakeside Resort, Satoshi and friends meet Yoshichi who instantly wanted to play with Pikachu after he saw it. After speaking for while, Satoshi and friends asked if he had any Pokémon of his own. He explained that he left his Magby at a Pokémon evolution shop. Suspicious of the shop, they returned to find that the owners had left and the shop was gone. With the help of Satoshi and his friends, Yoshichi was able to track down the thieves who ended up being Team Rocket. Satoshi and Hikari battled Team Rocket and were able to recover Magby's Poké ball. Kikuno is finally revealed and Satoshi battles her. Will Satoshi be able to defeat her?

Characters, Music and Pictures from this episode have been added to the episode guide. You can also comment and discuss this episode on the forum. Also be sure to rate this and other episodes in the episode guide.

Diamond & Pearl 171 - Togekiss Dances! The Princess' Pokémon Contest!! (トゲキッス舞う！王女さまのポケモンコンテスト！！)

The second episode that aired featured Princess Salvia who lives in a palace in Katakuri Town (カタクリタウン). She switched places with Hikari since they look almost the same and then participated in the Katakuri Town Pokémon Contest with her Togekiss. Will she win the Contest?

Characters and Pictures from this episode have been added to the episode guide. You can also comment and discuss this episode on the forum. Also be sure to rate this and other episodes in the episode guide.

A preview for some of the upcoming episodes was shown at the end of Thursday's special. It was announced that the Sinnoh Grand Festival will begin during DP 174 - The Grand Festival Begins! The Art of Flame and Ice!! (グランドフェスティバル開幕! 炎と氷のアート！！) on April 29th, 2010.


It was also announced that the Sinnoh League would begin sometime in July of 2010. An Imageboard thread with HD pictures from the preview is available by clicking here.

The DVD for last years Pikachu short that was shown on ANA Airlines has been announced. Pikachu's Great Sparkling Search! (ピカチュウのキラキラだいそうさく！) was shown on ANA flights between August 1st, 2009 and August 29th, 2009. The DVD will be released in Japan on June 18th, 2010 and it will retail for 2500yen. The DVD will also include the recently aired DP169 episode: Pokémon Ranger! Heatran Rescue Mission!! (ポケモンレンジャー！ ヒードラン救出作戦！！). The DVD also comes with a bonus gift, a 600×900mm 'Special Leisure Sheet' (スペシャルレジャーシー) featuring Giza Mimi Pichu, Pikachu and Pochama.

Synopsis

Summer! Everyone is full of energy today. Pikachu and friends play with their beach ball! Pikachu and Pochama are chasing and diving in a river when they drift over and see a metropolis. "Where are we?" they said, searching from the rooftops of the buildings. Suddenly, with a bang, jagged-eared Pichu and Muchul collide. The two argue in an angry mood. "Sparkling is gone! It was the present to give to Kireihana..." Besides, today is her birthday!? This is troublesome! We must hurry and search. Moreover, Nyarth-tachi are aiming too! Thus, the Great Sparkling Search begins!

The DVD has been added to our DVD Database. There you can find information about Pokémon DVD's from around the world.

Source: http://www.mediafactory.co.jp/pikakira/

The latest episode of Pokémon Sunday, Bye Bye Butterfree / Substitution Quiz / What will the children do when Robert changes places with the Kindergarten Teacher!? (バイバイバタフリー / いれかわりクイズ / 幼稚園の先生が突然ロバートに入れかわったら子どもたちはどうする！？), aired today in Japan.

Bye Bye Butterfree (ヤドンがヤドランになると) was this weeks repeat episode. The episode featured the departure of Satoshi's Butterfree as it was released and the two parted ways.

To promote the upcoming 1 hour special of Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl that is airing on April 1st, 2010 in Japan, the Pokémon Sunday crew decided to hold a Substitution Quiz in studio. They started off the show by playing the current opening theme for the series, The Greatest・Everyday!(サイコー・エブリディ！) sung by Akiyoshi Fumie (あきよしふみえ). Akiyama, who was sporting a new hair style, seemed to really enjoy the song and danced around a bit as it played. A preview for the upcoming episodes was then shown.


Robert visited a local kindergarten class where they switched places with the teacher. Yamamoto was the first to switch places with the teacher and when the kids opened their eyes they were able to identify him. Baba went next and hid behind a cardboard box. Two new kids were able to also identify Baba. Akiyama was the final member of Robert to switch with the teacher and the two girls ended up running out of the classroom, obviously to the dismay of Akiyama.

During the Pokémon Sunday News segment, Hikozaru reminded viewers of the currently available mission that can be downloaded off of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Protect the Legendary Blue Orb! (でんせつのあおいたまをまもれ！) mission will be available for download until May 17th, 2010.


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For the final segment of the show, the Pokémon Game Arena, the cast played a mock TCG game where Pokémon types would be how they declared the winner as they showcased cards from the preview TCG sets as well as the upcoming TCG expansion Lost Link (ロストリンク). The set will be available starting April 16th, 2010. Below are screenshots of the cards that were revealed on the show.


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Mojanbo (モジャンボ)

Grass - HP110
Illustration: Hideaki Hakozaki
Retreat Cost: 4
Weakness: Fire x2
Resistance: Water -20
Card Number: 4/40

Kongpang (コンパン)

Grass - HP50
Illustration: Hideaki Hakozaki
Weakness: Fire x2
Retreat Cost: 1
Card Number: 1/40

Characters and Pictures from this episode have been added to the episode guide. You can also comment and discuss this episode on the forum. Also be sure to rate this and other episodes in the episode guide.

The official TV Tokyo website has posted a brief synopsis for the upcoming 1 hour Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl 170/171 special that will be airing on April 1st, 2010. It was announced that a new variant of Dotchi ~ Nyo? (ドッチ~ニョ？新バージョン登場！) will air during that broadcast. No further information regarding the variant was announced.

Source: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/program/detail/19406_201004011900.html