The Sunday morning variety show Pokémon Smash! (ポケモンスマッシュ！) has announced that they will be rebroadcasting Pocket Monsters Best Wishes 25 - Hiun Gym Match! Purehearted Bug Pokémon Battle!! (ヒウンジム戦！　純情ハートの虫ポケモンバトル！！) on Smash episode #27 which airs April 10th, 2011. They will also be rebroadcasting Pocket Monsters Best Wishes 27 - Beware of the Cute Face! Paralyzed by Emonga!! (かわいい顔に要注意！エモンガでシビレビレ！！) on Smash episode #28 which airs April 17th, 2011. Both episodes are being rebroadcast due to the Sendai Earthquake/tsunami that disrupted many people's schedules and as a result they were unable to see the original airings of those episodes. No information was revealed about the first airings of BW23, 24 or 26 which were skipped.

Source: http://www.inside-games.jp/article/2011/04/05/48304.html

Pokémon Smash Episode 26, A New Land! A New Adventure!! / Robert's and the International Division's Spring-themed Pokémon Charaben-making Showdown / If Director Shoko-tan Loses This Pokémon Battle, She's Fired?(新たなる大地！新たなる冒険!! / ロバートとインターナショナル部が春にピッタリのポケモンのキャラ弁作りで対決！ / しょこたん部長がポケモンバトル、負けたらクビ？), aired on Sunday in Japan.

A new opening was revealed in this episode. It features the current Best Wishes main characters Pokémon as well as a Monmen. Even though the opening shows a Monmen and the anime's main character Pokémon, it is *possible* that the Monmen is Akiyama's as he seems to have taken a liking to Monmen in Smash just like he did with HootHoot in Sunday. It is also possible that the Monmen is one of the main character Pokémon. It is currently unknown at this time what significance the Monmen in the opening plays or if its just a wild Pokémon.


Click on images for higher resolution
Golgo introduces this weeks rerun episode as part of the Pokémon Library and he also announces this weeks theme, The first step is a big step!(はじめの１歩は大きな１歩！). This weeks Pokémon Library rerun episode was A New Land! A New Adventure!! (新たなる大地！新たなる冒険!!) from the Advanced Generation series. A full summary of that episode is available in the episode guide. Red said the go-to line 'OK! Pokémon Library!' to start the repeat episode.

After the Pokémon Library episode aired, the Internation Division girls showed up. Shoko-tan opened a box of rice cakes that she made that looked like Golgo. Everyone was impressed with how good they resembled him. The International Division and the Adventure Division then showed their combined VTR video.


Click on images for higher resolution
In the VTR clip, the Internation Division girls and Robert from the Adventure Division went off to have a Spring-themed Pokémon Charaben-making Showdown. Head Judge Yukio Hattori(審査院長　服部幸應先生) who is best known from being on the Japanese television show Iron Chef met the cast and would be judging their creations. Oda Kinuko (審査員 尾田衣子) was also a judge.

Yummy! Cute! Nutritionally Balanced! Make Nutritional Recipes! Pokémon Bento Box Book(おいしい！かわいい！栄養バランスよし！　食育レシピでつくる！ポケモンお弁当BOOK) is newly released book that was being promoted during this episode. Yukio Hattori and Oda Kinuko both collaborated to write the book.


Click on images for higher resolution
Hana made a bento box based off of Shikijika, Maria based her's off of Munna and Mamanbou and Misaki based her's off of Pokabu, Chaoboo and Enbuoh.


Click on images for higher resolution


Click on images for higher resolution


Click on images for higher resolution
Baba made a whole scene in his larger box that was based of the Isshu region map. It also featured Herderrier, Emonga, Tunbear, Swanna, Hahakomori, Crimgan, Waruvile and Yanappu.


Click on images for higher resolution
Akiyama made a Darumakka who was facing away. Obviously everyone didn't know what it was until Akiyama explained it to them. He also made Nageki by wrapping a paper towel around a red pepper and a Dageki by wrapping a paper towel around an eggplant. He also showed his Vanipeti which was just an ice cream cone with Black Beans(黒まめ) for eyes. Misaki though was crowned the winner by the judges.


Click on images for higher resolution
In this weeks in-studio viewer battle, if Director Shoko-tan Loses this Pokémon Battle, will she's Fired? Shoko-tan faced 10 year old Sudō Atsushi (須藤篤志). Shoko-tan defeated him without loosing a Pokémon. She said she tried to apply the things she learned from Game Freak Game Designer Shigeki Morimoto who visited the Smash cast in episode #21.

A segment that was supposed to air during Pokémon Smash Episode #23 which showcased the launch of Pokémon BW in New York was shown at the end of this episode. Footage from the London March 4th launch event was also shown. Game Freak director Junichi Masuda (増田順一) and artist Ken Sugimori (杉森建) were both on hand during the London launch to sign games. They also visited New York on March 5th for the launch of the games in the United States.


Click on images for higher resolution

April 2011 Calendar

The April 2011 Pokémon Smash Calendar was posted on the official website. The wallpaper was first showcased on Pokémon Smash #11 and features Robert.


Click on images for higher resolution
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 Pocket Monsters Best Wishes website has announced that a new ending will air on the April 7th, 2011 episode BW29 - The Horror Stories of Hitomoshi Mansion! (ヒトモシ屋敷のこわ～い話！). The ending is called "Can You Say the Pokémon? BW" (ポケモン言えるかな？ＢＷ). The song has a very fast tempo like the previous naming songs. A couple screenshots from the ending were posted on the official site and can be seen below.



Sources: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/pokemon_bw/news/index.html & http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/program/detail/21304_201104071900.html

The latest episode of Pocket Monsters Best Wishes 28 - Emonga VS Tsutarja! The Great Volt Switch Mayhem!! (エモンガＶＳツタージャ！ボルトチェンジで大混乱！！) aired on Thursday in Japan.

After catching Emonga, Iris and friends continue their journey along with Bel who is traveling with them. Bel asks Iris for a battle with her new Emonga, though Emonga's trickster personality ends up making a mess of it. Following the battle, Emonga continues using her tricks to manipulate the other members of the group, and Tsutarja eventually decides enough is enough, and takes action.

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.

Australian DVD/Bluray distributor EzyDVD has updated their database to include two new entries for Pokémon - Arceus and the Jewel of Life (Blu-ray) and Pokémon - Zoroark: Master of Illusion (Blu-ray). The Bluray's will be distributed by Magna Pacific who is the current distributor in Australia for the Pokémon DVD's. The specs for the Bluray's are as follows:

Bluray Information
Audio Track(s) English Publisher Magna Pacific Release Date 2011-06-01 Release Lang English Aspect Ratio 16:9 Region Code B Video Format 1080P Media Size Bluray

Source: http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/819115

The latest episode of Pocket Monsters Best Wishes 27 - Beware of the Cute Face! Paralyzed by Emonga!! (かわいい顔に要注意！エモンガでシビレビレ！！) aired on Thursday in Japan.

After competing in the Hiun City Fishing Tournament, Satoshi and friends take a rest from their journey for some lunch. Kibago looses an apple and meets up with a wild Emonga. Bel immediately wants to catch the cute Emonga but will she be able to get it?

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.

This years pre-order Pokémon download gift has been announced on the official Pocket Monsters movie website. Players of Pokémon Black and White who pre-order a ticket for one of this years movies Victini and the Light Hero - Reshiram / Victini and the Dark Hero - Zekrom (ビクティニと白き英雄レシラム / ビクティニと黒き英雄ゼクロム) will be able to receive a Victini that knows V-generate (Vジェネレート). The Victini will be available for download for those that present the ticket sub section on the pre-order ticket from April 16th, 2011 until August 31st, 2011.


Pre-order tickets can be purchased from: 7-11 (セブン-イレブン)、Ito-Yokado (イトーヨーカドー)、Aeon (イオン)、Toys"R"Us (トイザらス)、Apita (アピタ)、Piago (ピアゴ)、Al-Plaza (アル・プラザ)、Heiwado (平和堂)、Daiei (ダイエー)、Pokémon Centers (ポケモンセンター) and various movie theater locations throughout Japan. Pre-order ticket can only be purchased from April 16th, 2011 until July 15th, 2011.


The Victini also comes with a Fire Gem item and a Wish Ribbon. V-generate (Vジェネレート) is a special move as it normally cannot be learned by any Pokémon.

Source: http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/victini/tickets.html

The latest episode of Pocket Monsters Best Wishes 25 - Hiun City! Fushide Panic!! (ヒウンシティ！ フシデパニック！！) aired on Thursday in Japan.

Returning back to Hiun City from the wastelands, Satoshi and friends meet up with Arti-san for Satoshi's gym battle. Can Satoshi defeat Arti for his third Isshu badge?

This episode had vertical and horizontal emergency news scroll bars on the screen and the actual episode was shrunk to the top right corner. There were also extra notices at the beginning of the episode stating that The Rocket Gang VS the Plasma Gang! (ロケット団VSプラズマ団！) episodes that were supposed to air before this episode will air at a later time. Also note that next weeks episode also has a schedule change. BW27 - Beware of the Cute Face! Paralyzed by Emonga!! (かわいい顔に要注意！エモンガでシビレビレ！！) will air instead of BW26 - Hiun City Fishing Tournament! Enter the Fisherman Sommelier Dent!! (ヒウンシティのつり大会！釣りソムリエ・デント登場！！)

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.

TV Tokyo's up-to-date TV guide has just changed the title of the Pocket Monsters Best Wishes episode to air Thursday March 17th. Rather than the previously announced The Rocket Gang VS the Plasma Gang! (Part One) (ロケット団VSプラズマ団！(前編)), which was still scheduled up until recently, the episode airing will be Hiun Gym Match! Purehearted Bug Pokémon Battle!! (ヒウンジム戦！　純情ハートの虫ポケモンバトル！！), featuring Satoshi's battle with the Hiun City Gym Leader Arti. TV Tokyo has mentioned the episodes will be aired at a later date, but not given any further information on when.

Source: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/program/detail/21304_201103171900.html

The latest episode of Pocket Monsters Best Wishes 22 - Hiun City! Fushide Panic!! (ヒウンシティ！ フシデパニック！！) aired on Thursday in Japan.

Having finally arrived at Hiun City, Satoshi and friends meet up with Arti-san. Trouble quickly brews as an invasion of Fushide arrive in the city which quickly causes a panic. Can Satoshi and his friends help stop the panic caused by the Fushide? And why are the Fushide invading the city?

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.