Despite Pokemon’s global popularity, the franchise is no stranger to region-specific collaborations. The colorful cookware brand Le Creuset will launch a set of Pokemon-themed items for reservation on July 5. Unfortunately, for the time being, they will only grace Japanese kitchens or the kitchens of those willing to go through the process of importing.
Le Creuset is well-known for its enameled cast iron cookware that comes in practically every color imaginable. Occasionally, the items will be decked out with cute designs, or made into special shapes, like a pumpkin-shaped cocotte, complete with a peduncle-shaped lid knob. The brand’s Japanese branch has also dabbled in collaborations before, including with Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh.
The upcoming Pokemon collection is as delightfully bright and colorful as one would expect from the brand. There are sets of five mugs, plates, and rice bowls, each featuring the spotlight Pokemon: the Kanto starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle; Pikachu; and Snorlax. They’re each a different color, which seems mismatched but could be beneficial for households where each person has their own dinnerware.
The 22 cm cooking marmite is a stylish black color with white outlines of the featured Pokemon along with others from the first generation. There are also two sets of “tableware,” although they look more like serving trays: one is in the shape of a Poke Ball, and the other is in the shape of a Master Ball. The tops of the Poke Balls appear removable, which would make for a convenient serving platter.
Finally, the two Pikachu-themed items are especially sleek. The cocotte is a yellow ombre with Pikachu’s tail on the side, and the tea kettle is yellow with black accents. Along the perimeter are silhouettes of Pikachu in a running animation. The designs are minimalist, with just enough “Pokemon” peeking through to feel special and not distracting. On top of that, literally, their stainless steel lid knobs (along with the knob of the marmite) feature an elegant Poke Ball silhouette as an additional delightful detail.
Unlike the recent Krispy Kreme donut collab exclusive to South Korea, importing cookware will be a much simpler affair for anyone outside of Japan who is interested in these goods. The reservation period for these items will last from July 5 to 10, and may be worth considering while the Yen to US Dollar conversion rate is still favorable. The United States Pokemon Center website does sell kitchenware on occasion, and has brought over other brand collaborations (such as the Mimosa e Pokemon Moleskine notebooks) in the past, but the odds are more likely that this collab will sadly stay exclusive to Japan.
