Cafe Poltchageist: Bringing the Matcha Pokémon to Life

1. Bringing a Cafe from Pokémon to the Real World

What kinds of shops exist in the world inhabited by Pokémon? This curiosity inspired us to launch the “Cafe Poltchageist” project, a concept centered on a cafe where Pokémon help out.

Poltchageist and Sinistcha, both known as “Matcha Pokémon*,” serve as the stars of this project. Poltchageist is said to have originated from a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony tea caddy, while Sinistcha lives in a tea bowl and carries a tea whisk on its head. Both Poltchageist and Sinistcha first appeared in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero for Pokémon Scarlet  and Pokémon Violet.

 With these two Pokémon in mind, we developed original merchandise and cafe menus based on the concept of a tea party at “Cafe Poltchageist.”

2. A “Traditional-Modern” fusion with Wide Appeal

We wanted to design items based on the tea utensils where these Pokémon live, while ensuring the products appealed to a broad audience.

Ultimately, we decided on a “traditional-modern” design that blends traditional Japanese and Western styles to create easy-to-use products and a menu that appeals to kids and adults alike.

The two centerpiece items in this collection are a tea caddy and a tea bowl, modeled after Poltchageist and Sinistcha, respectively. Both are crafted from ceramic to ensure they feel like tea utensils.

A staff member for the project discussed the versatility of the items: “We designed these for everyday use rather than limiting them to a single purpose. To help them fit naturally onto any dining table, we sized the tea caddy to work as a condiment jar and the tea bowl to serve as a rice bowl.”

In some cases, Pokémon share the same name but have more than one form. Sinistcha has two: “Unremarkable Form” and “Masterpiece Form.” We were sure to replicate these two variations in the tea bowls.

Fans can identify the form by checking the mark on the tea bowl’s base. This allows customers to experience the same excitement of the game, wondering which form of Sinistcha they’ve found, through physical merchandise and cafe offerings.

3. Pursuing the Realism

The Pokémon Cafe uses this custom tableware for its menu items.

The “Poltchageist and Sinistcha’s Hospitality Matcha Latte” set features a matcha latte served in a Sinistcha tea bowl, accompanied by extra matcha housed in a Poltchageist condiment jar for guests to add according to taste. Meanwhile, the “Cafe Poltchageist’s Tea Party Sweets Set” features a lively arrangement of Pokémon sweets that complement the traditional-modern tea party atmosphere.

We derived the inspiration for the menu and merchandise from the project’s key visual. This artwork had evolved out of many discussions with the illustrator, and the final result far exceeded our expectations. It served as the foundation for the entire development process.

To satisfy fans’ desire to experience the Pokémon world in real life, our team members shared ideas to turn imagination into reality, asking themselves the question, “If this Pokémon were real, how would it help out?” From there, we proceeded to develop specific images of tableware and other items, the menu, and the interior design, adopting ideas proposed by the respective people in charge.

The result of this collaboration was the creation of an environment that feels truly authentic, making fans feel as though Pokémon could actually exist there.

4. Expanding the Pokémon Universe

Although centering a project on the relatively recently debuted Poltchageist and Sinistcha was a bold challenge, the response to both the merchandise and the cafes exceeded our imaginations.

The project’s success was truly evident when we saw the delight of such a wide range of people, from casual Pokémon fans to frequent Pokémon Center and Pokémon Cafe visitors, to tea enthusiasts.

As one team member shared, “Games and anime are just one part of what we do. Merchandise and cafes also play vital roles in building the Pokémon world.” “Cafe Poltchageist” is another successful expression of the depth of the Pokémon world, from a fresh, new perspective.

You can find this merchandise at Pokémon Centers throughout Japan. The special Cafe Poltchageist menu is available at the Pokémon Cafes located within Pokémon Center TOKYO DX (Nihombashi) and Pokémon Center OSAKA DX (Shinsaibashi).