Hello, coaches!
Do you know the regions where your Pokébox Pokémon come from? The history of the original Pokémon regions and the home of the Pokémon you know and love? If you are one of the many coaches who entered the fandom late or haven’t returned to the main series games in a while, then you’re in luck.
We will be revisiting the original Pokémon regions in the coming weeks to take a deeper look at the history, geography and some other interesting facts about each region.
This week, we’re starting with the Kanto region.
For simplicity, we will discuss only the regions as they appeared in the games in which they were presented.
Welcome to kanto
The Kanto region is home to the 151 original Pokémon introduced in the Pokémon games of the main series Pocket Monsters: Red, Pocket Monsters: Green and the special edition Pocket Monsters: Blue released only in Japan in 1996. These games were launched in Australia and North America as Pokémon: Red and Pokémon: Blue in 1998 and in Europe with the same names in 1999. The Pokémon Yellow special edition was launched in Japan in 1998 and in other regions in 1999 and 2000.
Kanto is the birthplace of Anime’s main protagonist, Ash Ketchum. The Kanto region is based on the Kantō region in Japan, which is home to Tokyo, the capital of Japan and the headquarters of Game Freak. The Kanto region of the Pokémon world is the only one that shares its name with a real-world location.
Cities and towns
The Kanto region has 10 cities and towns, from the quiet Pallet Town to the much larger Saffron City. All cities and towns in the Kanto region have color names, with the exception of Pallet Town, which is also a reference to colors.
Pallet Town
The hometown of Ash Ketchum and Professor Oak. This is where your Kanto adventure begins. The city of Pallet is based on the home town of Satoshi Tajiri, Shimoda.
Viridian City
The first city visited by game coaches and home to Giovanni’s Earth– gym type that opens after the other seven gym leaders are defeated.
The town of Viridian is based in Hakone, Japan
Pewter City
Pewter City is located north of the Veridian Forest and west of Mount Moon. Pewter City is also home to Brock, the first gym leader you can fight with. Brock specializes in Rock-Pokemon type.
Pewter City is based in Maebashi, Japan
Cerulean City
A seaside town located in the north of Kanto is the third city you visit.
Cerulean City is also home to the second gym leader on his journey, Misty. Misty specializes in Water-Pokemon type.
Cerulean City is the second city with a gym that you can battle.
Vermilion City
Vermilion City is the only city in Kanto with a port. The luxury cruise ship known as SS Anne is anchored here during your visit.
Vermilion City is home to the third academy leader, Lieutenant Surge. Lieutenant Surge specializes in Electric-Type of Pokémon
The city of Vermilion is located in Yokohama, Japan.
Lavender Town
The city of Lavender is believed to be haunted by Ghost-Pokemon type.
The city of Lavender is home to Mr. Fuji and the Name Rater. The Name Rater will allow you to change your Pokémon’s nicknames.
Lavender Town is based in Narita, Japan.
Celadon City
Celadon City is home to the largest Poké Mart in the region and is the second largest city in Kanto.
Celadon City is home to the fourth leader of the gym, Erika. Erika is an expert in Gram-Pokemon type.
Celadon City is based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Fuchsia City
The city of Fuchsia is home to the Safari Zone and a Pokémon Zoo, and is the southernmost city in the Kanto region.
Fuchsia City is home to Gym Leader Koga, which specializes in Potion-Pokemon type.
The city of Fuchsia is based in Tateyama, Japan.
Saffron City
Saffron City is the largest city in Kanto and the tenth most populous in the entire Pokémon world. You need to drive Team Rocket out of the Silph Co. building before accessing Saffron City Gym.
Saffron City is home to Gym Leader Sabrina, which specializes in Psychic-Pokemon type. There is a second “gym” in Saffron City, however, Sabrina used her Psychic Pokémon to take it down and has since been relegated to a Fighting-dojo type.
The city of Saffron is headquartered in Tokyo, the capital of Japan.
Cinnabar Island
Cinnabar Island is home to a large volcano and an old abandoned mansion from which you need to get a key to unlock the gym door. Diaries scattered around the old mansion indicate that it is MewTwo’s birthplace.
Cinnabar Island is home to Gym Leader Blaine, which specializes in Fire-Pokemon type.
Cinnabar Island is based on Izu Ōshima. An uninhabited island off the coast of Honshu, Japan.
Other important locations
Mt. Moon
Mt. The Moon is known for its frequent meteor showers, with the meteor fragments that land on the mountain becoming lunar fragments. These fragments seem to attract Clefairy wild, with Mt. Moon being one of the few places they usually go.
Mt. Moon is also the first place where trainers are introduced to the fossils and is inhabited by many members of Team Rocket who try to steal them.
While at Mt. Moon you are faced with a Super Nerd that you have to fight. After defeating them, you choose between the fossils that become Omanyte or Kabuto.
Seafoam Islands
The Seaform Islands are a small group of caves located between the city of Fuchsia and the island Cinnabar.
It is also home to the legendary Pokémon Articuno.
The Power Plant
The plant, although abandoned by humans, is inhabited by many Pokémon. Some of the Poké Balls on the floor are actually Electrodes waiting to attack.
At the end of the Power Plant is the legendary Pokémon Zapdos.
Victory Road
The Kanto version of Victory Road is a maze of caves that you must traverse to face the Elite Four and then the champion.
You must have all eight gymnastics badges before entering Victory Road.
The legendary Pokémon Moltres can be found on Victory Road.
The Indigo Plateau
The Indigo Plateau is the headquarters of the Pokémon League. This is where you will face the Elite Four and the champion to become the new champion. You must defeat all five consecutively to become the new champion.
Cerulean Cave
Cerulean Cave is an optional dungeon that houses some of Kanto’s most powerful Pokémon, including the most powerful and legendary Mewtwo.
A guard blocks the cave entrance and will only allow you to pass after becoming the new champion.
The Elite Four
Lorelai
Ice
Lorelai is the first trainer of the Elite Four and is known for her Ice Pokémon.
Lorelai grew up on the Four Islands and is known for collecting dolls.
Bruno
Fighting
Bruno is the second member of the Elite Four and is known for his Fighting Pokémon.
Bruno sometimes uses an Onix too
Agatha
Ghost
Agatha is the third member of the Elite Four and is known for her Ghost Pokémon.
Agatha was Oak’s rival when they were young.
Spear
Dragon
Lance is the fourth and last member of the Elite Four and is known for his Dragon Pokémon.
Lance has a large number of fans and is often seen buying covers at the Celadon department store.
The Pokémon
The Starters
When you meet Professor Carvalho, he prevents you from walking through the tall grass. He explains that it is dangerous and takes you back to the lab. This is where you have your first choice as a Pokémon trainer, a choice that every trainer who plays Pokémon Go also has when starting. Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle.
The Legendaries
Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres are collectively called Legendary Birds. They all share the pressure of skill and flight typing. They are also referred to as Winged Mirages.
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| Mewtwo |
| Psychic |
| The Genetic Pokémon |
Mewtwo is a Pokémon created from years of genetic experimentation at Mew. Scientific records found at the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island indicate that Mewtwo was born to a pregnant Mew who was found in the jungles of Guyana. The embryo containing Mewtwo was tampered with to alter its DNA, Mewtwo was then maintained and studied within the mansion. It was these experiments that made Mewtwo cruel and powerful. Eventually, Mewtwo broke free from his captors and fled, destroying the mansion in the process.
Interesting facts
The Kanto region in the Pokémon world is based on the Kantō region of the real world. Kanto in Japanese means “east of the barrier”
The real Kanto region in Japan was hit by a devastating earthquake in September 1923
The Kanto region is located east of the Johto region and south of the Sinnoh region.
Kanto is more modern and technological than most regions of the Pokémon world and lacks real myths or traditions when it comes to Pokémon.
The people of Kanto are considered sophisticated and reserved.
Pokémon Red and Blue received an aggregate score of 89% on GameRankings
The games also spent at least four years on IGN’s list of “100 best games of all time”. Yellow Pokémon was 35th at the time this book was written.
In 2009 they appeared on Guinness Book of World Records in the categories “Best selling RPG at Game Boy” and “Best selling RPG of all time”.
Stay tuned in the Johto region!