We're Heading to Kagawa, Japan — Home of Slowpoke — to Bring You Rare Pokémon Local Acts & Pokémon Center Kagawa Finds
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We have some exciting news to share: the LEALEA MART team is heading to Kagawa Prefecture in Japan — a small but wonderfully distinctive region on Shikoku Island, and the official home of one very famous, very sleepy Pokémon: Slowpoke. We'll be exploring the region's Pokémon Local Acts collaborations and visiting the newly opened Pokémon Center Kagawa to source rare, regional merchandise that almost never makes it outside Japan.
If you've been hoping to get your hands on genuinely hard-to-find Pokémon goods, this is a trip worth following closely.
🗾 What Is Pokémon Local Acts? (And Why You've Probably Never Heard of It)
Unless you've spent time researching Pokémon's presence in Japan specifically, there's a good chance you've never come across Pokémon Local Acts — and that's exactly what makes it special.
Pokémon Local Acts is an official initiative that pairs individual Japanese prefectures and municipalities with an "Ambassadorial Pokémon" — a Pokémon whose traits, personality, or even name genuinely reflect something unique about that region. It's a collaboration between The Pokémon Company and local governments across Japan, designed to promote each area's culture, food, and identity — both within Japan and internationally — through the lens of a Pokémon that truly belongs there.
These partnerships go far beyond simple merchandise. They include:
- Local specialty goods — regional food, drinkware, and crafts featuring the Ambassadorial Pokémon
- Pokémon-themed manhole covers installed across the region
- Local events and appearances by the Ambassadorial Pokémon
- Original video content celebrating the partnership
Because these collaborations are deeply tied to specific regions rather than mainstream Pokémon Center releases, the resulting merchandise is often exclusive to that prefecture — sold at local shops, tourism sites, and regional events rather than through Pokémon Center Online. That's part of what makes them genuinely special to collectors: you can't simply order them from anywhere.
🍜 Kagawa Prefecture: The Real "Udon Prefecture" — and Slowpoke's Home
Of all the Pokémon Local Acts partnerships across Japan, few are as charming — or as well-loved — as Kagawa Prefecture × Slowpoke.
Kagawa is the smallest of Japan's 47 prefectures, tucked into the Seto Inland Sea on Shikoku Island. It's famous nationwide for one thing above all else: Sanuki udon, considered by many to be the finest udon in Japan. Kagawa's connection to the noodle dish runs so deep that the prefecture is affectionately nicknamed "Udon-ken" — literally, "Udon Prefecture."
Here's where it gets delightful: Slowpoke's Japanese name is "Yadon," which sounds strikingly similar to "Udon." That happy coincidence became the foundation of an official partnership — Slowpoke was named a member of "Team Udon-ken PR" in December 2018, complete with a genuine press conference announcing the prefecture's playful "renaming" to "Yadon-ken" (Slowpoke Prefecture) for the day.
The match runs deeper than wordplay, too. Slowpoke is said in Pokédex lore to summon rain and to secrete a sweet sap from its tail — fitting nicely with Kagawa's low rainfall and its research institute studying a rare natural sugar. Slowly, dopily, and entirely by accident, Slowpoke turned out to be the perfect ambassador for this quiet corner of Japan.
🛍️ What We're Hunting For: Pokémon Local Acts Kagawa Goods
Through the Pokémon Local Acts Kagawa collaboration, a range of regional-exclusive Slowpoke goods has been released over the years — items you simply won't find through standard Pokémon Center channels. While availability shifts constantly and stock is never guaranteed, here's the kind of Slowpoke treasure we'll be hunting for on the ground in Kagawa:
- The Kagawa "Udon Prefecture PR" Slowpoke Plush — a soft, official plush created specifically for this regional partnership
- Local specialty food and drink items featuring Slowpoke branding
- Kagawa-exclusive stationery and everyday goods
- Slowpoke-themed collectibles tied to Kagawa's tourism initiatives
Because these are genuinely regional releases with limited production runs, what's available on any given day can vary — which is exactly why we're heading there in person rather than trying to order sight unseen.
🏬 Also on the List: Pokémon Center Kagawa Exclusives
Alongside the Local Acts hunt, we'll also be visiting the brand-new Pokémon Center Kagawa — and its grand opening lineup is genuinely one of the most creative regional collections Pokémon Center has released. Highlights we're hoping to bring back include:
🍜 Udon Pikachu Plush — Pikachu, holding a bowl of udon
🐌 Slowpoke & Pikachu Plush — a duo plush unique to this store
🔑 Slowpoke Well Keychain — a genuinely playful design where turning the base makes Slowpoke pop out of a well
🎗️ Carabiner Mascots — including a Pikachu holding a Slowpoke-shaped uchiwa fan
👕 Apparel — T-shirts and long-sleeve shirts featuring Pokémon relaxing in a Kagawa-inspired scene
🍽️ Sanuki Udon-Themed Tableware — an udon bowl, rice bowl, square plate, glass, and a Wailord-shaped soy sauce dispenser, all featuring a relaxed Slowpoke design
🏮 Handcrafted Sanuki Lanterns & Marugame Bamboo Fans — traditional Kagawa crafts, hand-painted by local artisans with Slowpoke's face — genuinely one-of-a-kind pieces, no two exactly alike
🎨 Acrylic Keychain Collection, Stickers, Notebooks & Stationery
Every piece in this collection was designed specifically around Kagawa's identity — Pikachu and friends relaxing among nature, the town's streets woven into the artwork, and Slowpoke at the centre of it all.
📝 How to Get Yours — A Different Process for This Trip
Because this is a regional, in-person sourcing trip rather than a standard online restock, we're doing things a little differently for this one:
We won't be listing these items in our online store or opening a purchase list in advance. Since availability at both the Pokémon Local Acts partner shops and Pokémon Center Kagawa can change hour to hour — and we genuinely won't know what's left in stock until we're there in person — we don't want to promise specific items we may not be able to secure.
Here's how you can request an item:
- Browse the official Pokémon Center Kagawa goods lineup to see the full range of items available: 👉 View the Pokémon Center Kagawa Collection
- Pick your favourites from the lineup
- Email us or send us a DM on our social media channels with the items you're hoping for, and we'll do our very best to secure them while we're there
We'll be shopping with your requests in hand, and we'll follow up once we're back with what we were able to bring home.
📧 Email LEALEA MART | 📱 DM us on Instagram / Facebook
🎉 Why This Trip Matters
Regional Pokémon collaborations like Pokémon Local Acts rarely make their way to international collectors — not because of any restriction, but simply because most of this merchandise is never sold outside the specific prefecture that produced it. By travelling to Kagawa directly, we're hoping to bring a genuinely rare piece of Pokémon culture to fans who'd otherwise have no way to access it.
Whether you're a devoted Slowpoke fan, a completionist collector, or simply someone who loves the story behind "Udon Prefecture," this is a trip we're genuinely excited about — and we can't wait to show you what we bring back.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Pokémon Local Acts?
A: Pokémon Local Acts is an official Pokémon Company initiative that pairs Japanese prefectures and municipalities with an "Ambassadorial Pokémon" reflecting local culture, promoting each region through goods, events, and public art such as Pokémon-themed manhole covers.
Q: Why is Slowpoke connected to Kagawa Prefecture?
A: Slowpoke's Japanese name, "Yadon," sounds similar to "Udon," the noodle dish Kagawa Prefecture is famous for. Slowpoke was officially made an ambassador for Kagawa in December 2018 as part of "Team Udon-ken PR," complete with an official press conference renaming the prefecture "Yadon-ken" for the occasion.
Q: Can I buy Pokémon Local Acts or Pokémon Center Kagawa merchandise directly from LEALEA MART right now?
A: Not yet — these items are not currently listed in our store. Because stock at regional locations changes constantly, we're not opening a fixed purchase list. Instead, browse the official Pokémon Center Kagawa goods page, then email us or DM us your requests, and we'll do our best to source them while on the ground in Kagawa.
Q: Where can I see what's available at Pokémon Center Kagawa?
A: You can view the official grand opening collection here: pokemon.co.jp/sp/kagawa_2025/goods
Q: Is stock guaranteed once I make a request?
A: No — because these are regional and limited-production items, availability cannot be guaranteed. We'll do our best to secure requested items, but some may sell out before we arrive or during our visit.
All items referenced are official Pokémon Local Acts and Pokémon Center merchandise. Availability is not guaranteed and is subject to in-store stock at the time of our visit. Prices, when available, are listed in Japanese Yen and may be subject to currency conversion and shipping fees.