Pokémon Card Game to Light Up Tokyo’s Night Sky for New 30th Anniversary Illumination Project
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has officially announced a new projection mapping event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon Card Game.
The “Pokémon Card Game TOKYO LUMINOUS NIGHT Celebrating 30 Years” project will transform a major architectural landmark into a massive tribute to the globally successful tabletop game.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game debuted in Japan in October 1996 as the first collectible card game based on the video game series.
It allows players to build decks around their favorite pocket monsters and battle opponents using unique attacks and abilities.
Over the last three decades, thousands of unique card illustrations have been printed, ranging from the classic base set to modern expansions featuring full-art holographics.
The physical card game continues to host massive international tournaments and maintains a highly active competitive scene.
The new illumination will be projected directly onto the east wall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1.
This location is home to the “TOKYO Night & Light” project, an ongoing initiative that holds the Guinness World Record for the largest permanent architectural projection-mapped display in the world.
The massive structure serves as a daily canvas for a rotation of different artistic projections utilizing advanced light and sound technology.
Previous light shows have featured a wide variety of subjects, ranging from traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock print designs to massive pop culture icons.
These have included a 100-meter-tall appearance by the iconic movie monster in “GODZILLA: ATTACK ON TOKYO,” giant robots in “TOKYO GUNDAM IN THE FUTURE,” and retro gaming tributes featuring Pac-Man.
Viewers can gather at the Citizen’s Plaza in Shinjuku, Tokyo, to watch the new Pokémon spectacle unfold.
The massive light show is expected to feature dynamic representations of powerful attacks and abilities, showcasing a wide variety of nostalgic classic cards alongside the latest modern releases.
The initial premiere of the Tokyo light show is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 20, 2026.
This debut presentation will run from 6:15 PM to 6:45 PM (JST) and will proceed even in the event of rain.
Following the premiere, the standard schedule will begin on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
These subsequent showings will run exclusively on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays at 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM, and 9:00 PM (JST) , with no official end date announced as yet.
The viewing plaza is located a 10-minute walk from the JR Shinjuku Station West Exit or the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Nishi-Shinjuku Station.
It is also directly connected to the Toei Oedo Line Tocho-mae Station.
A barrier-free route utilizing internal elevators is available for visitors who have difficulty using stairs, and on-site staff can assist with access.
In other 30th-anniversary related news, the official Pokémon Center has announced three new ranges of merchandise.
The new “Pokémon Timeless Adventure” stationery line focuses on the Kanto region and features new designs of the region’s starter Pokémon alongside Pikachu.
Two lines of 30th-anniversary plushies have been revealed, with the retro-styled “Pikachu of Beginnings” appealing to collectors looking for a nostalgic addition to their collection.
The “30th Anniversary Pika Pika! Pikachu” plush range offers fans the chance to pick up two differently sized Pokémon Center exclusive plushies that will only be available for a limited time.
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