Summary
After the release ofPokemon Red and BlueonNintendo Game Boyin the late 90s, Pokemania took over the world. Fans have often dreamed of what it would be like to live inthe Pokemon universe, particularly the original region of Kanto. The games and anime give a window into what life in Kanto may look like, but there are a few red flags in this fictional location. Kanto is based on a real region of Japan. However, unlike the real place (with its beautiful scenery and vibrant culture), the Pokemon interpretation of Kanto might not be such a great place to live.
After paying close attention, it is clear that perhaps living in Kanto is not the fun, exciting adventure that people first thought of, and is instead a place filled with danger, poverty, corruption, and worst of all, Mr. Mimes!
10Poverty And The Limited Job Market
Fun-employed… Without The ‘F’
Pokemon: Red/Bluebegins with an extremely bleak look at life in Pallet Town,with the player being an 11-year-old boy, Red who lives with his mum (a struggling single parent) in a house with one bedroom that contains one single bed that we assume they are forced to share.
The player’s mothersits permanently at the kitchen table staring into space, presumably wrestling with her decision to send her 11-year-old child out into the world to work and send money home. In Pallet Town,there are more people than there are jobs. There is no Pokemon Center,no Gym, no shops, justProfessor Oak’s Laboratory, which it can be assumed does not employ unskilled workers.
9The Price Of Transport
How Much For A Bike!?
Since the smaller towns do not have a thriving job market, people are forced to commute to the big cities to find work. Arguably the biggest villain in thePokemonfranchise is the owner of the bike shop in Cerulean City.
This man takes advantage of people’s need for transportation and, since there are no trains, planes, or automobiles, anyone who doesn’t want to risk their life flying on the back of a Pokemonis forced to buy a bicycle. This cruel man, who has a monopoly over the Kanto bicycle market, charges ¥1,000,000 for a bicycle! Which is $6,711.65 (USD) - no wonder Misty was so desperate to get her bike replaced!
8It Is Dangerous To Go Alone!
There Are Deadly Creatures Everywhere
Trying to travel anywhere in Kantomeans walking through grass that hides hordes of super-powered creatures, ready to attack innocent passers-by until they (and their Pokemon)pass out and need immediate medical attention.
Even worse, sometimes there is a Mr. Mime lurking in the undergrowth! The first episode ofPokemon: Indigo LeaguetitledPokemon - I Choose Youshows Ash Ketchum being swarmed by a terrifying flock of Spearows who badly assault both him and Pikachu just moments after leaving Pallet Town for the first time!
7People Have No Social Skills
The Pokemon Trainers Are A Bunch Of Weirdos
For whatever reason, the people of Kanto have literally no social skills whatsoever! People say some insane things, like the young man who walks up to the player and exclaims “Hi! I like shorts! They’re comfy and easy to wear!” before initiating a fight. Or the young couple who approach unprovoked. The girl says “Hi. My boyfriend is cool!” then, upon being defeated, she says “I wish my guy was as good as you”.
Next her boyfriend, upon defeat, exclaims, “Oh well. My girl will cheer me up” - he shouldn’t count on it! It sounds like he is about to be dumped for his suboptimal Pokemon training skills! The worst part is that all these crazy people are unavoidable. Locals are accosted by these crazy people constantly, whenever they commute.
6The World Revolves Around Pokemon,And NOTHING Else!
People Put Their Pokemons' Needs Before Their Own
Residents of Kantolove Pokemon so much that they neglect their own needs. It is easy to find places to buy Pokeballsand Potions,but impossible to find somewhere that sells a loaf of bread and a box of cereal. There are only hospitals for Pokemonand not for humans! If a person needs medical attention after being attacked by the various creatures lurking in the grass, they cannot find it.
Perhaps they should catch themselves in a Pokeball and let Nurse Joy put them in a healing machine. If someone lived in Kanto and wasn’t interested in training Pokemon there is nothing else for them to do! There are seemingly no movie theaters, cafés, or libraries. Even thegyms are not actually gyms!
5One Of The Towns Is Literally Haunted!
Lavender Town Is A Horrific Nightmare Town
Lavender Town is a hauntedcreepy nightmare townand the people there have just made peace with it. Lavender Town is such a beautiful name, yet the town is filled with the creepiest people.
There is a little girl who tells players she sees a ghostly hand on the player’s shoulder, and who could forget the Channeler lady in the Pokemon Tower who says “Give… Me… Blood”. The town is full of people either grieving their dead Pokemon, or people who are possessed by some kind of Poke-demon! If a normal person moved into Lavender Town, they would have a nervous breakdown in minutes!
4Crime Rates Are High
Team Rocket Are Everywhere
Team Rocket are a well-known organized crime syndicate that have a reign of terror over the people of Kanto. In the anime, they are presented as just three goonish fools who are trying to steal Pikachu and constantly fail. However, inPokemon Red/Blue,they commit horrific crimes that include breaking into peoples' homes, stealing, and sometimes killing Pokemon.
They even own a business called The Celadon Game Corner where children as young as 11 are encouraged to gamble to win stolen Pokemon! The fact that Team Rocket has been allowed to set up and run this business screams aconspiracy that goes right to the top!
3The Blatent Animal Cruelty
The Trainers Have Whips And You Can Throw Rocks At Pokemon
Many of the trainers in Gen One were actually shown to be holding whips, clearly implying that they use them to train their Pokemon. It is not just the villains who use whips, but in fact Sabrina,the Psychic typeSafron City gym leader, also has a whip - implying that it is completely acceptable to whip Pokemon.
Also, the Safari Zone is an area in which the player repeatedly throws rocks at Pokemon! It is one thing making Pokemon fight each other, but humans throwing rocks at them seems extra cruel!
2Nepotism
People Get Special Treatment Because Of Their Relatives
Kanto is filled with nepotism! In the anime, Professor Oak constantly talks about how great his grandson is and sends Gary off on his journey in a convertible surrounded by cheerleaders. He is also constantly telling Ash how much better Gary is than him.
Also, every Pokemon Center has a Nurse Joy, who is related toevery other Nurse Joy, and every town has an Officer Jenny, who is related to every other Officer Jenny, implying that the only way to work in those two industries is to be born into the correct family. Even Jessie only got into Team Rocket because her mum was a member.
1No Bathrooms
Literally Not One Bathroom In The Entire Of Kanto!
In the entirety of the map, there is not one bathroom! Not in anyone’s house, not in any of the stores, not even on board the SS Anne! No one knows where the good people of Kanto wash or even…relieve themselves. There are many interestingtheories about Pokemonbut where the people of Kanto poop is still a mystery!
We can only assume that they do their business in the woods! With that being the case, then the full region must stink! That explains why there are so many Rattatas everywhere! It is fair to say that Kanto is filled with ‘Muk’, which will leave you ‘Wheezing’.
