Pokemon Regions

There are several regions that have appeared in the various media of the Pokémon franchise. Each of the five generations of the main series releases focuses on a new region. Moreover, several regions have been introduced in spin-off games, and one in the Pokémon anime, though most of these are still within the same fictional universe. Usually, the different regions are not accessible from one another via land (or at all within a single game), with the exception being Kanto, which can be accessed from Johto and vice versa in the Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver versions.

Pokemon Ranger 2

Every region consists of several cities and towns that the player must explore in order to fulfill many waiting challenges such as Gyms, Contests, and/or saving a region from antagonistic characters. At different locations within each region, the player can find different types of Pokémon, as well as other helpful items and characters. Most regions are on separate continents, though many are based on parts of the real-world country of Japan (and the United States in the case of Unova.).

Main regions

Kanto

The Kanto Region in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (left) and the Kantō region in the real world (right)

Kanto Region (カントー地方, Kantō-chihō?), introduced in Red and Green (Blue in international releases), later seen in Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, was the first region in the Pokémon series. It is attached to the Johto region so the player can also visit it by train or jetboat in Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver. In these games, however, the region differs from the earlier games (which are set three years previously) in several plot and graphical points. In the non-Japanese releases of the games, its cities are named after colors. Two areas of the Kanto region, Saffron City and the Pokémon Stadium, are playable stages in Nintendo's popular Super Smash Bros. fighting games. In the anime, Ash travels in Kanto in the Kanto and Battle Frontier seasons. Kanto represents the actual region in Japan called Kantō and eastern Tōkai.

Kanto is home to a handful of legendary Pokémon. The most powerful is the Genetic Pokémon Mewtwo, who was created by tampering with the DNA of the Pokémon Mew, a Pokémon that is said to have the DNA of every other Pokémon in its body and is believed to be the ancestor of all Pokémon, at the mansion on Cinnabar Island. Mewtwo's genetic structure was further manipulated to transform it into a powerful and ruthless psychic until it turned on its creators and escaped to the Cerulean Cave. The remaining legendary Pokémon are Articuno, who is said to appear to doomed travelers in icy regions, Zapdos, who is found during thunderstorms, and Moltres, who is said to bring about an early spring with its arrival.

Johto

The Johto Region (ジョウト地方, Jōto-chihō?), meaning "castle palace" (城都, jōto?) and "lattice-shaped palace" (条都, jōto?), is a region connected to the western part of Kanto. It was introduced in the second generation of Pokémon video games, Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, later seen in their remakes, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. The third, fourth, and fifth seasons of the anime are also set there. In the games, all its cities have plant-themed or colour-themed names. Johto is geographically similar to the Kansai, eastern Shikoku and western Tōkai regions of Japan. There are old-fashioned cities reminiscent of Nara and Kyoto and a modern commercial city reminiscent of Osaka. Some inhabitants speak the Kansai dialect in the Japanese releases of the games.

 

The mythology of the Johto Region features Ho-Oh, the Rainbow Pokémon guardian of the skies, and Lugia, the Diving Pokémon guardian of the seas, who previously perched on the Bell and Brass Towers respectively in Ecruteak City. When the Brass Tower burned down in a thunderstorm, Lugia flew away, and three Pokémon died in the process. Ho-Oh revived these Pokémon, creating Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. Lugia's home, the Whirl Islands, were also created when the Pokémon dispelled a war over a singular island, splitting it into four islands and making them its home, producing powerful whirlpools to protect itself. Celebi, the Time Travel Pokémon, also calls Johto its home, residing in the Ilex Forest where it brings Pokémon and Trainers forward and back in time.

Hoenn

The Hoenn Region in Pokémon Emerald (left) and the Kyushu region in the real world (right)

The Hoenn Region (ホウエン地方, Hōen-chihō?), meaning "rich relationship (between humans and Pokémon)" (豊縁, hōen?), was introduced in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and is located south-west of the Kanto/Johto landmass. The region contains a large proportion of marine routes and the games' first underwater locations. Hoenn was modeled after the Kyūshū region of Japan due to Ruby and Sapphire director Junichi Masuda's desire to recapture his memories of being there in the summer vacation; Hoenn is rotated 90° counterclockwise from Kyūshū's real world orientation due to the development team's belief that it would improve playability.The Hoenn region contains its own Pokémon League, called the Hoenn League, and its own Elite Four, unlike Johto and Kanto which share their Elite Four in the video games. Seasons 6-8 of the Pokémon anime, called the Advanced Generation series, are set in this region, as protagonist Ash Ketchum and company explore this new region.

 

According to Pokémon legend, the Hoenn region was formed by the legendary land Pokémon Groudon raising the land, the legendary ocean Pokémon, Kyogre, expanding the sea, and Rayquaza, expanding the atmosphere. Other legendary Pokémon in Hoenn are the golem-like Regirock, Regice, and Registeel created by one of Sinnoh's legendary Pokémon; the Eon Pokémon Latias and Latios; and the Wish Pokémon Jirachi, who wakes up every thousand years to grant wishes to those who write wishes on the tags on its head. While not appearing in the legends of the region, Deoxys is an alien virus that somehow mutated into a Pokémon by the time it found its way to the Earth, and it is able to assume different physical forms to suit its environment.

Sevii Islands

 

The Sevii Islands, or Nanashima (ナナシマ?, lit. "Seven Islands") in Japan, only appear in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen[6] and an episode of Pokémon Chronicles. They are called the Sevii Islands/Nanashima because it is believed by elders of Seven Island that the seven islands were made in seven days. While seven islands (or in some cases island groups) are accessible to the player through normal gameplay, there are two additional islands that are each accessible only after acquiring a special item from a Nintendo event. These two islands can also be accessed in Pokémon Emerald. Access to one island allows the player to encounter Lugia and Ho-Oh. Access to the other island allows the player to encounter Deoxys; depending on the game version (FireRed, LeafGreen, Emerald), the DNA Pokémon Deoxys will be in one of its 3 variations. The Sevii Islands are located off the south part of the Kanto/Johto landmass. They are based on the Izu and Bonin Islands.

Sinnoh

 

The Sinnoh Region (シンオウ地方, Shin'ō-chihō?), meaning "god within" (神奥, shin'ō?),[7] is a large region that is the setting of the games Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, located far north of the Kanto/Johto landmass. The region contains a large amount of towns and cities, but only a few sea routes. It is a varied region containing a mountain range and four lakes, one of which is hidden, each housing a Legendary Pokémon. It is the first Pokémon role-playing video game to feature snowy regions. The region blends urban cities with more traditional towns together. It also has a hidden underground area that is used for housing secret bases, playing Capture the Flag games, and a fossil/item hunt. Seasons 10-13 of the Pokémon anime are the first seasons that are set in this region. Sinnoh is based on the geography of the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, the southern half of the Russian island of Sakhalin, and the disputed island of Kunashir. A mountain range splits the Eastern and Western sides of Sinnoh, and the types of Pokémon there can differ in color and size, affecting the Shellos and Gastrodon species. The latest game set in Sinnoh was Pokémon Platinum. In Platinum, Sinnoh has gone through several changes, including the presence of snow in areas such as Twinleaf Town, the link to the Distortion World, and the Battle Frontier in the Battle Area.

The Sinnoh Region is believed have been created by a Legendary Pokémon called Arceus. According to legend, Arceus also made three powerful dragon-type Pokémon of the Sinnoh region: Dialga who controls time, Palkia who controls space, and Giratina who controls and travels through dimensions. Dialga stars in Pokémon Diamond, Palkia in Pokémon Pearl, and Giratina in Pokémon Platinum. Arceus also made the three legendary, psychic-type Pixies (also called lake guardians) that live in the three lakes in the Sinnoh Region: Uxie (being of Knowledge), located at Lake Acuity; Mesprit (being of Emotion), located at Lake Verity; and Azelf (being of Willpower), located at Lake Valor. Other legends in Sinnoh feature the Lunar Pokémon Cresselia, whose presence induces pleasant dreams, and the Pitch-Black Pokémon Darkrai, whose presence only induces nightmares; the Seafaring Pokémon Manaphy (who can only be acquired through playing one of the Pokémon Ranger games) and its child the Sea Drifter Pokémon Phione, who protect the seas; the Lava Dome Pokémon Heatran who is said to have appeared in its home in Stark Mountain the same time Arceus created Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina; the Colossal Pokémon Regigigas, who created Hoenn's Regirock, Regice, and Registeel after it used ropes to move the continents around; and the Gratitude Pokémon Shaymin, which has the ability to purify any polluted area and transform it into

a field of flowers.

Unova

The Unova Region in Pokémon Black and White (left) and New York City (right), on which Unova is based.All previous Pokémon main series game settings were based on regions of Japan.

The Unova Region,known in Japan as the Isshu Region (イッシュ地方, Isshu-chihō?), is the region featured in Pokémon Black and White. According to the development team, Unova is "located far away from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh."[12] In the Pokémon Pia book, director Junichi Masuda revealed that Unova (Isshu) was modeled after New York City. Unova is host to large urban areas, a harbor, an airport, an amusement park, and several mountain ranges. In addition to a diversity of new landscapes, the Unova Region is also home to a diversity of people who vary in skin tone and occupation. The region's Japanese name is derived from the Japanese words tashu (多種?, meaning "many kinds") and isshu (一種?, meaning "one kind"); the many kinds (多種, tashu?) of people and Pokémon you see up close look like only one kind (一種, isshu?) of life from afar.Season 14 of the anime onward, collectively titled in Japan as Best Wishes!, is set in Unova.

A new feature put in the Black and White games is that areas in the games are visually distinct between versions; while locations in Black appear to be very modern and urban, the same locations in White will appear to be older and more rural. This feature is exemplified in two locations that are unique to each game and are located in the same location on the map: the ultra-metropolitan Black City (ブラックシティ, Burakku Shiti?), home to only humans, and the verdant White Forest (ホワイトフォレスト, Howaito Foresuto?), where humans and Pokémon live in harmony. Unova also features the return of underwater Regions accessible through the Dive move. In addition, Unova has a seasonal cycle. The winter months change the rarity of Pokémon in some areas, certain areas can only be accessed with heavy snow on the ground, and the Deerling and Sawsbuck Pokémon have different physical appearances linked to the seasonal changes.

The mythology of the Unova Region states that in the past there were two brothers who ruled over the Region, assisted by a powerful Dragon Pokémon. However, the brothers began to fight over how the new nation should be run, and the Pokémon split itself into two: the Deep Black (Black Yin) Pokémon Zekrom, who sided with the younger of the brothers, and the Vast White (White Yang) Pokémon Reshiram, who sided with the older. The two Dragon Pokémon fought endlessly, and it was foretold that they would fight until the Unova Region was destroyed. To stop them, the people of Unova put Reshiram and Zekrom into deep sleeps. Other legends feature the Pokémon Victini, whose presence could turn the tide of battle to its Trainer's favor; Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion, who are said to protect Pokémon habitats from humans and have attacked humans' castles for threatening Pokémon; the nature deities Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus; and the Boundary Pokémon Kyurem, who is said to have come to the Unova Region on an icy meteor in the past. The Colt Pokémon Keldeo is said to have lived in Unova, until a war between humans caused a fire to break out in its home, leaving Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion to take care of it, until Keldeo mysteriously disappeared.