The Johto Times is a Pokémon-focused newsletter publishing weekly content with a focus on opinions, personal memories, interviews and nostalgia (Est. Feb 2023).
Received a new Pokémon promo card in the mail yesterday! This one is Ho-Oh, Wizard's Promo 52.
It really appealed to me, because it has the Pokémon Center New York stamp!
I'm not sure how much rarer that is compared to the non-stamped variant, but I am happy to have it!
Back in December 2023, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Haigney, the original Voice Director for the English-adapted Pokémon anime and movies, who voiced Psyduck, Charmander, Snorlax and more!
If you haven't read it already, check it out!
Pokémon Legends ZA will be released in 2025, taking place entirely within Lumiose City, Kalos. If Mega Evolutions return to the game, which Pokémon do you think deserves one?
Vol. 2, issue 19 of the Johto Times is now available!
This week, I am delighted to publish an interview with Tsukasa Hosono, one of the winners of the 1999 Pokémon Snap Best Photo Contest. Plus, a recap of the latest Pokémon news!
Vol. 2, issue 28 of the Johto Times newsletter is now available. Today's issue pays tribute to the late President and CEO of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, and highlights his commitments to the Pokémon franchise.
Iwata passed away nine years ago today.
A couple of weeks ago, I placed a bid on a strange item that I had no idea about, and wasn't expecting to win. There isn't a lot of information about it online, but it translates to a Pokémon Crystal Strategy Comic, with screenshots from the game. (1/2)
Vol. 2, issue 29 of Johto Times is now available! I interviewed Joe Merrick of who answered over 40 questions on a range of Pokémon topics, and about his website, which celebrates its 25th anniversary later this year!
@ChrissaSJE
This isn't a flex, it's just my collection of Pokémon games. Many of them are my own copies, some belonged to a friend. I have played about 90% of them.
(Missing from photo are one additional copy of Blue, Let's Go Eevee, and two copies of Pokémon Pinball. Also, digital games)
I'm incredibly proud to share our interview with Michael Haigney, the original Voice Director for the English-adapted Pokémon anime, who voiced several Pokémon characters such as Charmander and Psyduck!
Vol. 2, issue 18 of the Johto Times newsletter is now available! This week, we share the memories of Jim Roszel, and his trip to the Pokémon TCG East Coast Super Trainer Showdown in June 2001.
Plus, a recap of the latest Pokémon news from the past week!
Vol. 2, issue 23 of the Johto Times is now available! This week, I'm very happy to share an interview with the former Editor of the Pokémon Official Magazine, which ran between October–December 2004. Plus, a recap on the latest Pokémon news!
I love collecting Pokémon cards. The Fossil set was the first I bought! The cards I own are because I love opening up my folders and seeing a gallery of incredible artwork and memories, not dollar signs and profit.
I'm sharing four in particular that means something to me! (1/5)
Issue 21 of the Johto Times is now available. This time, we are sharing our interview with Lawrence Schwedler, the Audio Director for Pokémon Puzzle League, which originally released on Nintendo 64.
Issue 10 of the Johto Times is now live.
We are delighted to share an interview with Chris Nicolella, the former Senior Game Producer at Tiger Electronics/Hasbro Toys who worked on the original Pokédex toy.
Vol. 2, issue 27 of Johto Times is now available!
Today I'm sharing an interview with Meowth346 of Pokémon Forever, an English language hobby and fan site which ran between January 1999–June 2005.
Plus, the latest Pokémon news, and more from the mailbag
Apparently today is Rowlet day! Pokémon number 722 (7/22) is my favourite Pokémon, so naturally I'll use any opportunity I can to express my love for the cute little born 🥰
Here are a few of the Rowlet related items I own. I'd love to see yours too!
Vol. 2, issue 26 of the Johto Times newsletter is now available! This week, I share an interview with the webmaster of Poké-Amph, a Pokémon fan website that was updated between May 1999 to June 2014. Plus, a recap of the latest Pokémon news!
A friend discovered this Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky guide in a thrift store, and mailed it over to me. I'm thrilled with it! It has 720 pages and it's going to take me forever to read it, but I appreciate this very thoughtful gift!
The latest issue of the Johto Times is now available! Today we are sharing an interview with the former General Manager of Pokémon USA, Dave Hillenbrand, responsible for overseeing the retail operations of the Pokémon brand within the United States
@PokemonNewsUK
Pokémon Crystal was one of the happiest memories from my childhood.
Gen 2 introduced a day and night cycle to catch specific Pokémon, brand new Pokémon, new types, memorable and exciting characters, Mystery Gift connectivity via Infrared connectivity, and a wonderful soundtrack
I was using this Base Set Chansey holo card for a project recently, so I figured I'd share a photo of it here while I had it out of the folder.
Did anyone else have this one?
Today, July 11th, 2024, marks nine years since the passing of Satoru Iwata, the President and CEO of Nintendo.
In today's issue of Johto Times, I have attempted to pay tribute to this great man, and highlight his many contributions to the Pokémon franchise.
Issue 41 of the Johto Times is now available! Back in 2002 Wizards of the Coast held a contest for TCG League members to create Snorlax artwork to appear on a Pokémon promo card. I interviewed the winner Craig Turvey! I'm also sharing exciting discoveries!
I have a deep fascination with old Pokémon fan websites of the past. That existed for a brief moment, and we're never updated again.
Did they lose interest in their site? Forget? I wonder what they're doing now? Did they grow up to be happy and successful?
I may never know
Issue 29 of the Johto Times is now available! This week, we go back in time to the very first Pokémon event outside of Japan in Topeka, Kansas. The town was even renamed Topikachu for its duration! Hear from some of those kids (now adults) who attended!
Normally I would hold off on sharing what's inside the Johto Times in advance, but i'm excited about this issue!
I will be publishing an interview with Johto, the band behind the Totally Pokémon album, tracks such as the Gold & Silver Poké Rap and the Johto Journeys theme!
We are covering so much content behind the scenes at Johto Times right now. It's incredible, maybe even a little stressful and overwhelming!
But the enthusiasm is so high right now, and we can't wait to share it all with you as time goes on.
I try not to focus on the numbers that Johto Times gains much, however this week there's been a jump in subscriptions to the newsletter. I'm really thankful for that. We are now at 595, almost to 600!
It's still a small project compared to most things out there, but I'm happy!
Thanks to
@OoCPokemon
for plugging our newsletter, we've had a tremendous surge in followers, so I wanted to give a proper introduction to Johto Times (a thread)
This newsletter is a love letter to the late 90s and early 2000s era of Pokémon, and began in February 2023 (1/6)
It's been ready for a few weeks, but I've got another great interview to share with Johto Times readers tomorrow. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but if you enjoyed our recent interview with the Editor of Pokémon World Magazine, I think you'll like this upcoming one!
At the weekend I picked up some of these classic Tomy Pokémon figures (Alakazam, Mewtwo, Vaporeon), which I believe were released in 1998/1999. I never owned any of these, but I know they were very popular back in the day!
Which Pokémon fan websites do you remember visiting growing up?
Many of these old sites no longer exist, so it would be cool to hear which ones meant a lot to you!
A great interview being published this Thursday on Johto Times, with a very popular Pokémon fan website from the earliest days of Pokémon! I didn't think it would happen originally.
I hope you'll enjoy it!
I wanted to share the news that Johto Times has now reached 500 subscribers! I'm incredibly proud, and thankful to each and every person that has done so.
It really means a lot that you take the time each week to read the newsletter! I hope i'll continue to keep you interested!
Made cool nostalgia purchases this week! Who remembers Pokémon marbles?
My understanding is Toy Biz released a series of Pokémon marbles and accessories in the year 2000, featuring all 151 Pokémon. This product would come with ten marbles, and released in three different series.
I'm incredibly happy to say that I finished the Pokémon TCG Neo Discovery set today, around 23 years after I first began collecting it!
The final two cards I needed arrived today:
Politoed (27/75)
Yanma (36/75)
Thanks to everyone who commented and encouraged me to complete it!
If you run a website that covers Pokémon news, or host a podcast that likes to discuss this awesome franchise, get in touch!
I'd love to share the work I'm doing with a wider audience. I've had some positive experiences so far, and I hope it will continue.
Outside of websites such as Reddit, forums are mostly a thing of the past. For many of us growing up in the late 90s and 2000s, they were a hugely important place that allowed us to make friends, express ourselves, and embrace community.
What are your memories of forums?
More of my old Pokémon plush toys! Again, these are originally in their boxes, originally released in 1999 by Hasbro. I bought them a few years after then for a very cheap price.
Pictured: Hoothoot, Two Bellossom plush, Elekid, and Poliwhirl!
Unown J
Wizards promo
This is the original Unown J I got from my copy of Pokémon the movie 3 on VHS. I remember sitting in front of the TV watching this for the first time. It's a happy memory, and this card is a reminder. I love how vibrant that orange is! (5/5)
Today I received some Wizard's of the Coast promo cards, from my friend Nick15 from
@AaahPokemon
after I told him about my collection.
I'm sincerely thankful for his generosity!
@Pokemon
I still have my copy all these years later. I played it last year and have an even greater appreciation for it now than I did back then. What an amazing game!
I would love to visit Dewford town and lay on the beach and enjoy the sound of the sea ⛱️
Happy 8th anniversary to
#PokemonGO
I have been a player since day one, on July 6th, 2016.
While the game isn't perfect, I value all the good the game has brought for me, and the wider Pokémon community.
Still got a long way to go if I'm going to reach Level 50!
Issue 22 of the Johto Times is now available! This week, we are sharing our interview with Pokémon Archivist Lewtwo, who discusses his work in preserving Pokémon media with his community.
Purchased four additional Pokémon Sliders today! Raticate, Sandshrew, Psyduck and Clefairy, are now added to the collection.
I wonder how many more of them I'm missing?
My friend recently mailed over some items he picked up during a Japan trip, mostly focused on Rowlet!
From a couple of Pokémon Centers: Deck box, card sleeves, cards and a Rowlet keychain, along with some stickers and a really awesome bag!
Hello! A big hello and welcome to all of our recent followers, and to everyone who followed so far. I'd really like to get to know you better, can we talk pokémon?
What is your favourite Pokémon, and your favourite Pokémon game? Mine is Rowlet, and Crystal!
Hello to all of our new followers! Johto Times is a weekly newsletter that is (mostly) focused on the late 90s and early 2000s era of Pokémon. Each week, we share interviews, collections, memories, opinion pieces, and research. Please check it out!
Issue 42 of the Johto Times is now available! This week, we are sharing the memories of Rikki Kitsune, who talks about his personal Pokémon memories, shares photographs, and meeting the legendary Rica Matsumoto!
I didn't plan to pick this up yesterday but I was passing a shop and saw two copies of Pokémon Silver in the window. After inspecting both, this was the better of the two. It does require a battery change at some point, but other than that it's in great condition, inside and out!
I definitely have some opinions on how the Pokémon TCG hobby has been since 2019/2020, but this is something else! Awful scenes, shame on those people here, and shame on those who fuel it and let it continue.
I'm already considering the next classic set I want to focus on! The Wizards promos would be fantastic, since I have almost half of them already.
There's just a couple that will be sadly out of reach.
I'm incredibly happy to say that I finished the Pokémon TCG Neo Discovery set today, around 23 years after I first began collecting it!
The final two cards I needed arrived today:
Politoed (27/75)
Yanma (36/75)
Thanks to everyone who commented and encouraged me to complete it!
The Game Boy was the system that started it all! In celebration of
#PokemonDay
I want to hear your very best memories of the titles that appeared on these classic handheld consoles!
We've had a lot of new subscribers to the newsletter this week, and some new followers on social media, with many positive and supportive comments being shared. Thank you so much, it really means a lot to me!
Amazing to think that we are releasing issue 30 of the Johto Times this week. I was strict on only releasing them weekly, as to not overwhelm myself, and I believe it was the correct decision.
Thanks for your support so far!
It was bundled with a model kit, unrelated to Pokémon, which makes this even more peculiar. It has 50 pages, and appears to start from Ecruteak City. Perhaps there are more of these?
I have no idea if it's official, but if anyone has any ideas, i'd love to hear! (2/2)
On Thursday July 18th, Johto Times will be sharing an interview with
@JoeMerrick
of ahead of its 25th anniversary in October. Joe answered over 40 of my questions about his community, and a variety of Pokémon topics!
Stay tuned
As the 3DS and Wii U servers close for good, I thought it'd be appropriate to share a feature I published back in February relating to backwards compatibility with Pokémon games.
This is probably one of my favourite Pokémon games. I played it for the first time in 2020, but better late than never!
How do others feel about this game?
I've seen some really heart-warming messages about how much meant to some people, and received some really nice comments and feedback about the interview. I'm truly happy this project is having a positive impact.
Vol. 2, issue 29 of Johto Times is now available! I interviewed Joe Merrick of who answered over 40 questions on a range of Pokémon topics, and about his website, which celebrates its 25th anniversary later this year!
For those who have been following my card collecting effort, I've added another card added to the Neo Discovery collection!
Magnemite (26/75) brings me to just two cards required to complete the set!
Hey there! Johto Times is a Pokémon newsletter, delivering a new issue every Thursday at 14:00 UTC. Our content focuses on opinions, memories interviews and lots of nostalgia!
Please check us out and consider subscribing!
@PokemonNewsUK
Twenty years ago today I went to my local Gamestation store, handed over £29.99, and purchased this wonderful game!
I bought a Game Boy Advance just six weeks prior specifically for this game!
My excitement couldn't have been higher. Thanks Pokémon Ruby, I cherish the memories!
Happy 28th anniversary to
#Pok
émon Red & Green! On February 27th 1996, two games were released that changed the gaming landscape forever
#PokemonDay
#PokemonDay2024
Hey! Just a quick gush about how proud I am to have reached 20 issues of the Johto Times. It's a small, yet worthy milestone to hit. I fully intend to get to the end of the year with almost 50 issues, we still have content that takes us into next year, if everything goes well.
Tomorrow (May 4th, 2024) is Free Comic Book Day, and one of the freebies this year is Pokémon Adventures: Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. Would you like one?
Type your post/zip code into this website to see if a participating store is near you!
Random:
Sourcing interviews for Johto Times is a lot of fun. Sure, it doesn't always work out and sometimes opportunities fall through, but it's always a pleasure to speak to some great people, famous or fan!
For all the ones that do get published, I'm really proud of them!
Eight years ago, I sold my copy of Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness to a friend, and off it went to the opposite side of the world. A few weeks ago, I got it back. Today I was able to locate the memory card I still owned.
My OG Lugia and many other Pokémon were still on there!
Vol. 2, Issue 15 of the Johto Times is now available!
This week, I am happy to share the childhood memories of a Pokémon fan called Dazz, from The Spriters Resource, and Did You Know Gaming.
Plus, a recap on the latest Pokémon news!
Questions for those who grew up in the late 90s online visiting Pokémon fan websites and forums:
What made them so appealing for you, and what kept you coming back for more?
Holo Blastoise
Base set
This is special for personal reasons. Many years ago, I met a friend online from Illinois called Jesse, who is no longer with us. We both loved Pokémon, and we would trade cards with one another overseas.
He knew I liked this one and sent it to me. (3/5)
Got a couple of nice things from the local toy fair this weekend, I'll try and share some tomorrow.
I'm curious about these Battle Discs though. I picked up these today, but compared to the ones I already own, they're a bit smaller.
Are they genuine? Advice appreciated!
Pokémon Scarlet 151 arrived earlier today! It's special for me, because it marks 21 years since the last time I did (Neo Destiny, 2002).
Who wants to watch me open it this Sunday? Follow me on our new Twitch account!