Creatures Inc. has announced the Pokémon Trading Card Game - Illustration Contest 2022 and this year it is open the the United States and Japan. The contest entry period is from October 13th, 2021 at 8 p.m. PT until January 31st, 2022 at 6:59 a.m. PT. Winners will be announced on the official Pokémon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022 website early June, 2022.

Pokémon Trading Card Game - Illustration Contest 2022

Since the Pokémon Trading Card Game (developed by Creatures Inc.) debuted as Japan's first full-fledged trading card game, it has continued to be one of the most popular and best-selling trading card games in the world, and has been shipped in 13 languages and 76 countries and regions to date. The Pokémon TCG is celebrating 25 years this year, alongside the 25th anniversary of the beloved Pokémon brand.

Hosted by Creatures Inc., the Pokémon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix contest was held in Japan in 2019 and 2020, during which many beautiful illustrations were submitted and many talented artists were discovered. This year, the contest will be open to applicants from two countries, Japan and the United States, and centered around the theme of drawing a moment in a Pokémon’s daily life.

We look forward to seeing your exciting and wonderful illustrations.

Entry Period

October 13, 2021 (8 p.m. PT) – January 31, 2022 (6:59 a.m. PT)

Theme of Contest

“The Daily Life of Pokémon” - Choose 1 of the following 8 Pokémon and draw a moment in a Pokémon’s daily life. Draw an illustration that captures the Pokémon going about its day, or an illustration that shows the Pokémon going about its day while adventuring or enjoying a moment in its daily life.

Artwork Specifications

• Follow the theme and draw not only the Pokémon but also the background.
• Do not use alphanumeric text or text expressions in the background.
• Winners may be asked to resubmit their data to optimize printing quality for promo card print requirements.
• In principle, you should only draw one Pokémon per illustration so that it is easy to tell which Pokémon is the subject of a particular card. However, as long as it is clear who the main subject is, you may also draw additional Pokémon.

Limited to 3 unique entries per person (can be the same or different Pokémon)

Technical Specifications

• Size: 1080 pixels wide x 680 pixels high
• File Format: JPEG, PNG（RGB）
• File Size: must be 3 MB or under

Eligibility (Only those who meet the following qualifications may apply)

• Must be living in Japan or the United States at the time of entry.
• Eligible to work in the country where they reside.
• Legal residence (including permanent residents) of Japan or the United States and of legal age in the country where they reside.

Applicants may submit regardless of nationality or professional status.

• We do not accept submissions from minors.
• Legal age of an adult is based on the law of the country/state where you reside.

Selection Process

After the application period ends, the judges will select the winners according to the following criteria.

Interpretation and clarity of theme (40％)
Creativity and originality of the depicted theme (30％)
Overall design (30％)
Appropriate content that conforms to Pokémon brand

Awards

Grand Prize - One (1) Grand Prize Winner from either Japan or the United States will receive a cash value of $5,000 AND the winner’s illustration will be made into a promo card.
First Runner-Up (Japan / United States) - Two (2) total First Runners-Up, one (1) from Japan and one (1) from the United States, will receive a cash value of $3,000 AND each runner-up’s illustration will be made into a promo card.
Second Runner-Up - Two (2) Second Runners-Up from either Japan or the United States will receive a cash value of $1,000.
Judges’ Award - Fifteen (15) Judges’ Award Winners from either Japan or the United States will receive a cash value of $500.

Judges

Tsunekazu Ishihara - The Pokémon Company, President
Hirokazu Tanaka - Creatures, Inc. President
Kenji Okubo - The Pokémon Company International, President
Yuji Kitano - Creatures, Inc. Senior Executive Director
Atsuko Ujiie - Creatures, Inc. Executive Director, CG Studio Art Director
Satoru Nagaya - Creatures, Inc. Art Director
Kouki Saitou - Pokémon TCG Official Illustrator
Tomokazu Komiya - Pokémon TCG Official Illustrator
AKIRA EGAWA - Pokémon TCG Official Illustrator

Source: https://www.ptcgic-cr.com/2022/en/

Starting Tuesday, September 21th, 2021, you can get a Pochama promo card for the Pokémon Card Game in collaboration with Project Pochama at Pokémon Centers, LAWSON, and Bandai Namco Amusement Centers nationwide in Japan. In order to prevent the spread of COVID, stores may be closed temporarily or its hours of operation may be changed. Details of this card have been added to our TCG database.

Pokémon Center / Pokémon Store

Distribution start date: September 21st, 2021 ~ Distribution ends as soon as they are gone
Distribution Locations: All Pokémon Centers and Pokémon Stores nationwide
Distribution conditions: You will receive one card when you make a purchase. A maximum of one card per person will be given. It cannot be recieved in conjunction with other campaigns.

Pokémon Center Online

Distribution start date: September 21st, 2021 ~ Distribution ends as soon as they are gone
Distribution conditions: One card will be given when you make a purchase. There are some products that are not eligible for the gift (e.g., pre-ordered and made-to-order products).
When you purchase a product, the gift will be applied together with the product in the cart screen "STEP.4 Confirmation of Order Contents". Please note that if you do not see this message, you do not meet the conditions for this distribution.

LAWSON

Distribution start date: Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. JST until Monday, September 27th, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. The distribution will end when all cards are gone.
Distribution location: LAWSON stores nationwide (excluding Natural Lawson, LAWSON STORE100 and some non-participating stores)
Distribution conditions: Purchase of two qualifying products. Limited to one per person, per store, per purchase.

Bandai Namco Amusement Centers

Distribution start date: September 21st, 2021 ~ Distribution ends as soon as they are gone
Distribution Locations: Namco stores nationwide in Japan
Distribution conditions: Exchange one service ticket for every 300 yen spent on the crane game machines.

Source: https://www.pokemon.jp/special/project_pochama/campaign09_card/

YouTube Clip - Official Pokémon Card Channel - Promo Card Pochama

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGx1h5vicIk

The FA have teamed up with Pokémon for an awesome collaboration that is sure to score with both Futsal and Pokémon fans alike. They are excited to announce that the Exclusive Pokémon Trading Card Game cards are available at GAME! These highly collectible GAME Exclusive Pokémon cards, featuring fan-favourite Pokémon wearing the England national team football shirts.

The fourth and final Pokémon Futsal card to be revealed is Sobble. Add this goal saving Pokémon to your collection now. These rare cards will only be available with selected Pokémon Trading Card Game bundles online and a £15 minimum spend in stores.


Sources: https://www.game.co.uk and https://twitter.com/GAMEdigital/status/1436041809017323529

Full details of the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Special Collection Pikachu V-UNION have now been announced by the official Pokémon website. The box will be released on October 8th, 2021 for $29.99 USD.

Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Special Collection—Pikachu V-UNION

Pikachu is commemorating 25 Years of Pokémon in a big way in this Pokémon Trading Card Game: Celebrations Special Collection. The star of this set is Pikachu V-UNION, a single powerful Pokémon divided into four cards. Of course, Pikachu V-UNION is technically a single Pokémon, but the card artwork, when assembled, actually features 25 Pikachu as drawn by 25 different artists!

To assemble Pikachu V-UNION during gameplay, you need to combine its four pieces from your discard pile. Once you've done that, it brings four awesome attacks and impressive HP into battle. To help with this, the Celebrations Special Collection—Pikachu V-UNION also includes a Professor Burnet Supporter card, which allows you to search your deck for up to 2 cards and discard them.

In addition to the four cards that comprise Pikachu V-UNION and the Professor Burnet card, this collection also contains an oversize card featuring the complete Pikachu V-UNION artwork, which will make a beautiful display piece. You'll also get four Pokémon TCG: Celebrations 4-card booster packs and two additional Pokémon TCG boosters. A true Pikachu party awaits you with the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Special Collection—Pikachu V-UNION!

The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Special Collection—Pikachu V-UNION includes:

• 4 foil promo cards that make up a single Pikachu V-UNION
• 1 oversize card featuring Pikachu V-UNION
• 1 helpful Supporter card featuring Professor Burnet
• 4 Pokémon TCG: Celebrations 4-card boosters
• 2 additional Pokémon TCG boosters
• A code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Special Collection—Pikachu V-UNION will be available Q4 2021 in the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/celebrations-special-collection-pikachu-v-union/

The official Pokémon website has announced the details of the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection which will be available at the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold in the 4th quarter of 2021.

Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection

Celebrate 25 years of Pokémon with two of the Pokémon world's best-loved icons: Charizard and Pikachu! This fantastic collection includes a massive set of Pokémon TCG: Celebrations boosters as well as commemorative Pikachu and Charizard cards made of solid metal, showing these characters as they first appeared in the Pokémon TCG! And that's not all: There's also an awesome guide to game mechanics through the history of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, playable promo cards featuring Poké Ball and Pikachu V in glimmering etched gold, additional surprises with even more Pokémon TCG booster packs, and much more!

The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection includes:

• 2 commemorative metal cards featuring Base Set Pikachu and Base Set Charizard
• 1 special gold version of Pikachu V
• 1 special gold version of Poké Ball
• A stunning Charizard and Pikachu enamel pin
• 1 metal Pokémon coin
• 17 Pokémon TCG: Celebrations 4-card booster packs
• 8 additional Pokémon TCG booster packs
• A player's guide to game mechanics through the history of the Pokémon TCG
• 3 storage boxes to keep everything together
• A code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection will be available Q4 2021 in the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold. Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/celebrations-ultra-premium-collection/

The official Pokémon website has announced the details of the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Prime Collection which will be exclusively available through Amazon in the 4th quarter of 2021.

Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Prime Collection

Celebrate 25 years of Pokémon with a collection that features many of the different, special kinds of Pokémon that have appeared in the Pokémon TCG over the years. Embrace the stealthy power of Pokémon Prime with Dragapult Prime, step into the light with Light Toxtricity, and go against type with Mimikyu δ—all appearing as gigantic oversize cards that are perfect to display! The Prime Collection includes a set of Pokémon TCG: Celebrations boosters, as well as additional booster packs, a Collector Chest, and more.

The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Prime Collection includes:

• 1 special promo card of Dragapult Prime
• 4 oversize cards of Light Toxtricity, Hydreigon C, Mimikyu δ, and Dragapult Prime
• A Pokémon 25 logo Collector Chest with a dozen additional treasures!
• 3 Pokémon TCG: Celebrations 4-card booster packs
• 2 additional Pokémon TCG booster packs
• A 4-pocket Pokémon TCG binder to store your collection
• An oversize card binder to store your biggest cards
• 1 metallic Pokémon coin
• A code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Prime Collection will be available Q4 2021, exclusively at Amazon.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/celebrations-prime-collection/

Hareruya 2, the self proclaimed world's largest Pokémon Card Game specialty store has opened in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan. Consisting of six floors with the world's largest inventory of Pokémon cards, the store features staff with expert knowledge and a free 88-seat play space. High resolution photos of the store from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

The entrance has popular Pokémon such as Pikachu and Lizardon on the walls which attracts attention as a new photo spot in Akihabara and as a place to play the Pokémon Card Game, which continues to boom worldwide.

At the same time, they are working on launchung the largest Pokémon Card Game online store in Japan, and in the future, they plan to develop various services related to Pokémon Card Games other than the store business, such as building an online purchase system and hosting large-scale events.


The latest cards and supplies are sold on the first floor.


On the 4th and 5th floor, there is a free play space with 88 seats.

Hareruya 2 Store

Name: Hareruya 2 [晴れる屋2(ツー)]
Location: 1-2-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan
Access: 2 minutes walk from JR Akihabara Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 22:00

Source: https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/266292

The Pokémon official website has revealed the full details for the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Premium Figure Collection Pikachu VMAX which was announced in June 2021. It will be released on October 22nd, 2021 for $49.99 USD at the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold.

Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Premium Figure Collection Pikachu VMAX

The ever-popular Pikachu is charged up and ready to take on the world in the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Premium Figure Collection—Pikachu VMAX set. This collection includes an enormous and impressively sculpted commemorative figure of Gigantamax Pikachu, which will make an awesome display piece. There are also two promo cards featuring the beloved Pokémon: Pikachu V and Pikachu VMAX.

Use Pikachu V to get the yellow fellow into play. Just be careful when using its Volt Tackle attack—while the move does hit for 210 damage, it also does 30 damage to itself. Evolve Pikachu V into Pikachu VMAX and you'll have its G-Max Volt Tackle at your disposal. It does an initial 120 damage but has the potential to land 270 damage to your opponent's Active Pokémon if you discard all the Energy attached to Pikachu VMAX. This Gigantamax Pokémon is a true heavy hitter.

This collection also includes eight 4-card booster packs from the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations expansion and three additional Pokémon TCG booster packs. There's a lot to love in this Pikachu-centric collection, so get ready for the celebration!

The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Premium Figure Collection—Pikachu VMAX includes:

• 1 etched foil promo card featuring Pikachu VMAX
• 1 foil promo card featuring Pikachu V
• A supersize figure of Gigantamax Pikachu
• 8 Pokémon TCG: Celebrations 4-card booster packs
• 3 additional Pokémon TCG booster packs
• A code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Premium Figure Collection—Pikachu VMAX will be available on October 22, 2021, at the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/celebrations-premium-figure-collection-pikachu-vmax/

The official Pokémon website has announced that the Stream the Draft TCG Tournament will be streamed online on Twitch on September 18th, 2021 and September 19th, 2021, starting at 9 a.m. PDT each day.

Stream the Draft the World Pokémon TCG Tournament on Twitch

Watch some of the best players in the world compete in matches that showcase the best decks from the 2014–2019 Pokémon World Championships.

Get ready to watch some of the best Pokémon TCG players in the world show off their skills in the upcoming Draft the World tournament. This competition, which is part of the 25 years of Pokémon celebration, will take place on September 18 and 19, 2021, starting at 9 a.m. PDT each day. You can watch all the action on Twitch.tv/Pokemon.

This tournament will feature eight of the best Pokémon TCG players in the world reliving the best decks and matchups from past World Championships in a double-elimination-bracket extravaganza. Each round of the event will focus on a different World Championships, and all players will use exact copies of the decks that made it to the top tables that year. To shake things up, however, the players will draft the decks they wish to play before the tournament begins.

The competitors in the Draft the World tournament will be:

• Ross Cawthon
• Nathália Fernandes
• Lydia Hombach
• Pablo Meza
• Chase Moloney
• Xander Pero
• Michael Pramawat
• Tord Reklev

The broadcast will last 8 hours on both days of the tournament. Day 1 will feature the draft and opening three rounds, which will include matches from both the winners and losers brackets. Day 2 will feature additional drafts and the final three rounds, which includes the Grand Final as well as interviews. To help guide you through the competition, Jeremy Jallen and Kyle Sabelhaus will provide expert match commentary.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/stream-the-draft-the-world-pokemon-tcg-tournament-on-twitch/

Enter the Screenshot Sweepstakes for a chance to win a playmat featuring Lillie in a special outfit!

1. Follow @PokemonMasters
2. Take a screenshot of your favorite scene in Pokémon Masters EX
3. Tweet it using #PokemonMasters and #PokemonTCG25

Lillie TCG Playmat

Entry Period for the Draw:

The Pokémon Masters EX Pokémon TCG 25th Anniversary Special Sweepstakes (“Draw”) will start, and be open to entries, from 8/27/2021, 11:00 p.m. PDT, and will end, and be closed to entries, on 9/19/2021, 7:59 a.m. PDT (“Draw Period”).

Eligibility:

The Draw is open to individuals who (i) have Internet access; (ii) are individual legal residents of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) at the time of entry; (iii) are at least 18 years old and the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction, (iv) have a public Twitter account in good standing, and (v) have a Pokémon Masters EX game account. Canadian residents must correctly answer a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question, if selected as a winner, in order to claim any prize. Employees of the Sponsor, provider(s) of the prizes (“Prize Provider”), and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment, or other coordinating agencies, individuals providing services to the Sponsor through an outsourcer or temporary employment agency during the Draw Period, and their respective immediate family members and persons living in their same household, are not eligible to participate in the Draw. Entry into the Draw constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to, and acceptance of, these Rules. THE DRAW IS VOID WHERE RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED BY LAW.

How to Enter:

The Draw is offered in connection with Pokémon Masters EX as available via Apple Inc.’s App Store and Google Inc.’s Google Play (“Game”).

During the Draw Period, entrants must fulfill either of the following conditions:

Entry Method #1
(1) Access the entry form via in-game message.
(2) Read the important notes and fill out each required field in the form to enter.

Entry Method #2
(1) Follow the official Pokémon Masters EX Twitter account (https://twitter.com/PokemonMasters);
(2) Take a screenshot of your favorite moment on Pasio; and
(3) Tweet your screenshot using the hashtags #PokemonMasters and #Pokemon25.

Please note that if you are already following the account, condition (1) is satisfied, and you only need to tweet your screenshot.

When posting screenshots that include other users of the Game, you must obtain permission of such user before posting. Examples of when other users may appear on your screen include but are not limited to the battle screen during co-op play.

No payment, fee, or purchase of any items, in-game currency, or anything else is required to enter the Draw successfully.

Note: Both of the above-listed entry methods may be used once each, and doing so will increase your chances of winning.

Usage of multiple accounts to circumvent any limitation is ground for disqualification. Tweets from private Twitter accounts are not eligible.

No mechanically reproduced or pre-programed entry or entry-related data are allowed and any use of robotic, automatic, programmed or the like entry methods will mean forfeiture of all entries by such means.

Winner Determination:

At the end of the Draw Period, 250 winners of the Draw will be randomly selected from the total pool of all entries received within the Draw Period, and will be awarded prizes after the end of the Draw Period. The odds of winning depend on the total number of entries. Each winner is limited to one prize listed in the Prize Details below. The selection of the winner will take place in October 2021.

Prizes Details:

Pokémon TCG playmat (250 winners) US $24.99
Total Retail Value of all prizes awarded: US $6,247.50

Prizes are expected to be sent late November 2021. Prize delivery date and time is subject to change without prior notice. No substitutions are possible.

Sources: https://twitter.com/PokemonMasters/status/1431496772610895874 and https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GPJTVPY