BODY: Pokémon's 30th anniversary celebration just got a major retail boost. BANDAI SPIRITS has announced "Ichiban Kuji Pokemon 30th ANNIVERSARY vol.1," a no-blanks character lottery launching May 30 across bookstores, hobby shops, drugstores, official Ichiban Kuji shops, and Pokémon Centers throughout Japan.
Each draw costs 750 yen and guarantees a prize—a hallmark of the Ichiban Kuji format that has made it a fixture of Japanese pop culture retail since the early 2000s. The vol.1 lineup centers on Pikachu adorned with the official 30th anniversary commemorative logo, alongside merchandise featuring the original starter Pokémon from past generations.
The "vol.1" designation strongly suggests BANDAI SPIRITS is planning a multi-wave anniversary campaign throughout 2026, a common strategy for tentpole IP collaborations. With Pokémon's 30th milestone, expect collectors to descend on convenience stores and Pokémon Centers within hours of the May 30 launch.
The staggered rollout ("順次発売") means availability will vary by retailer, with Pokémon Centers and flagship hobby shops typically receiving stock first. Resellers are already watching this drop closely.
The insider take
Ichiban Kuji drops have become something of a blood sport in Tokyo's collector circles. Walk into a Lawson or 7-Eleven in Akihabara or Ikebukuro on launch morning and you'll find lines of dedicated fans willing to drop 10,000 yen or more chasing the top-tier "Last One" prize. With Pokémon's 30th anniversary cachet attached, this vol.1 release will likely sell out at major Tokyo locations within the first day—Mandarake and Surugaya secondary market prices on premium tier figures typically double within 48 hours of any Pokémon Ichiban Kuji launch. International fans should befriend a Japan-based proxy buyer now.
Originally reported by GAME Watch (Japanese).