Pokémon Center Reveals Exclusive New Orchestra Conductor Pikachu Plush
The Pokémon Company has revealed a special conductor-themed Pikachu plush created to celebrate the upcoming NHK Symphony Orchestra × Pokémon Classic Concert Tour.
The concert tour brings together two major anniversaries, with the Pokémon series celebrating 30 years since Pokémon Red and Green launched in Japan and the NHK Symphony Orchestra marking the 100th anniversary of its founding.
Pikachu has remained the most recognizable face of the Pokémon franchise since its earliest games, making the Electric-type Pokémon a natural choice to represent a concert celebrating music from across the series’ history.
The “NHK Symphony Orchestra × Pokémon Pikachu Plush” dresses Pikachu in a formal conductor’s outfit, transforming the familiar mascot into an adorable leader for the anniversary orchestra.
Pikachu carries a small conductor’s baton decorated with a Poké Ball, giving the accessory a distinctly Pokémon-inspired appearance without losing the elegance of the concert theme.
The outfit combines a colorful necktie and shirt vest with a formal jacket embroidered with the special NHK Symphony Orchestra × Pokémon collaboration logo.
A fabric tag featuring the individual anniversary logos for Pokémon and the NHK Symphony Orchestra adds another commemorative detail, helping the plush stand apart from standard Pikachu releases.
The plush has been created specifically for the four-city classical concert tour, which will begin in Tokyo before travelling to Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka between August 21 and August 24, 2026.
The performances will be conducted by Kanade Yokoyama, with Akiko Takehira serving as the MC and the full NHK Symphony Orchestra performing the program.
The first half will combine the opening music from Pokémon Red and Green with classical pieces including Morning from Peer Gynt, The Moldau and selections from The Firebird, reflecting the Grass, Water and Fire types traditionally offered to players at the beginning of a Pokémon adventure.
The second half will feature orchestral arrangements selected from games spanning Pokémon Red and Green through Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, offering longtime fans a musical journey through several generations of the series.
The orchestra will also perform the main theme from the upcoming Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, with the NHK Symphony Orchestra having recorded the music for the new Nintendo Switch 2 games ahead of their planned 2027 release.
The concert is focused entirely on live music and will not include Pokémon character appearances, video projections or additional lighting and sound effects, with each performance expected to last approximately two hours including an intermission.
The “NHK Symphony Orchestra × Pokémon Pikachu Plush” is priced at ¥2,750 (approx. $17 USD / £13 GBP).
The plush will be available through Pokémon Center Online, with no release planned for regular Pokémon Center or Pokémon Store locations, while concert ticket holders will also be able to purchase it at each venue before the performance using cashless payment methods.
Online sales are currently scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM JST on August 7, 2026, followed by venue sales during the concert tour from August 21 to August 24, 2026.
If you enjoyed this article, you can see more from us directly in your Google feed by adding us as a preferred source.
This post may contain affiliate links, and Essential Japan may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
