The Pokemon phenomenon never dies — and it doesn’t fade away, either. Just a few years after the Pokemon craze came and supposedly went, it’s still going strong. National Today has the info you need for National Pokemon Day this February 27. What info do you need? Well, let’s see … You probably need to know the origins of the pocket monsters’ fame, which started way back in 1996. You might also want to know how to celebrate this fun and entertaining observance. Let’s take a deep dive into National Pokemon Day. Are you ready? Let’s do this little thing!
National Pokemon Day timeline
- November 2019
Pokemon for the Switch generation
Pokemon Sword and Shield for the Switch were both released bringing the total number of Pokemon to over 875.
- January 2018
Lights, camera, Pokemon!
The first live-action film of the beloved Pokemon character, Pikachu, began production. It was released in May 2019.
- February 7, 2016
Happy 10th birthday
Pokemon celebrates its 10th birthday with an advertisement aired during Super Bowl 50.
- February 27, 1995
Pokemon meets the world.
The first Pokemon media, Pokemon Red and Green, a pair of video games for the original Game Boy, are released.
- August 28, 1965
Satoshi Tajiri is born
The man who would launch a worldwide phenomenon, Satoshi Tajiri, the inventor of Pokemon, is born in Machida, Tokyo.
National Pokemon Day Activities
Play some Pokemon!
The best way to celebrate National Pokemon Day is to play! There's tons of ways to engage, too; trading cards, video games, a TV and film series, books, manga, comics and more!
Host a Pokemon birthday party
The reason for National Pokemon Day on February 27 is to celebrate the popular franchise's birthday, which began on that date in 1996 with Pokemon Red and Green. Happy birthday, Pokemon!
Share the Pokemon love
Show your love for all things Pokemon by sharing what you know about the phenomenon on social media. Don't forget those tags — for example, #PokemonDay!
4 Amazing Facts About Pokemon
What's in a name?
The name Pokemon is a contraction of the Japanese brand "Poketto Monsuta" — or Pocket Monsters.
There's a whole lot where that came from
There are currently more than 800 species of the fictional, collectible Pokemon monsters.
Thankful for the Macy's parade
Pokemon are so beloved that they've even appeared as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Pokemon has a creepy-crawly inspiration
Creator Satoshi Tajiri hunted bugs as a kid and traded them with friends — a clear inspiration for Pokemon.
Why We Love National Pokemon Day
First and foremost: It's super fun
Created by Japanese video game creator Satoshi Tajiri in 1995, Pokemon has become a worldwide phenomenon. Why? Because it's fun!
You "Gotta Catch 'Em All"
Pokemons are fictional creatures (or are they?) which we humans need to catch. Once they're caught, we must train them to battle each other for sport. Let's do it!
It's a shareable experience
One of the best parts of playing with these little pocket monsters, is that you get to share your adventures with others. From trading cards to anime series, these little guys are worldwide!
National Pokemon Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | February 27 | Thursday |
| 2021 | February 27 | Saturday |
| 2022 | February 27 | Sunday |
| 2023 | February 27 | Monday |
| 2024 | February 27 | Tuesday |