The Olympics aren’t the only exciting upcoming events in Japan. Recently, the Japanese government declared the first week of August to be Water Week, a celebration of hydration and water’s important role in everyday life. August 1st will be Water Day, with Water Week continuing through the 7th. Now, it has been revealed that a certain water-dwelling critter from the popularPokemonseries of games will be helping the Japanese population celebrate their very first Water Day and Water Week.
This is not the first time that aPokemoncharacter has been chosen to take on an ambassador role for the country of Japan. Previously, Iwate Prefecture chose the rock-type Pokemon Geodude as their tourism mascot, referencing the character for “rock” appearing in the word “Iwate.” Slowpoke, a slow-moving Psychic-type, also became a tourism ambassador for Kagawa Prefecture, while the Ground-type Sandshrew was chosen to represent Tottori Prefecture’s famous sand dunes.
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Vaporeon, the Water-type evolution of the Normal-type Pokemon Eevee, will be Japan’s official ambassador for both Water Day and Water Week. A new Vaporeon mascot suit created specifically for the event was unveiled in a short video announcement, and this Vaporeon will be appearing alongside 2021 Miss Japan Momoka Mine at water-themed events between August 1st and August 7th. An exclusive poster featuring Vaporeon and Mine will also be available for sale during this time. Vaporeon is a popular Pokemon, as evidenced by the high amount of fan art it regularly receives, such as thisrealistic live-action-like version.
The decision to make Vaporeon the event’s ambassador was made by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, which is responsible for organizing Water Day and other similar educational and cultural events. The Minister of MLIT presented an official certificate to Vaporeon, as reported by the Twitter account Mondo Mascots, which collects and shares various news related to Japan’s many mascot characters.
Another prefecture, Miyagi, decided to adopt a Pokemon mascot in honor of Water Week. Miyagi, which is home to a number of famous dams, has chosen the dual Water- and Ice-Type Pokemon Lapras as a representative of dam safety and preservation.
Pokemonis one of Japan’s most popular game franchises, first debuting in 1996 with two games for the Game Boy,Pokemon RedandPokemon Green.Vaporeon was one of the 151 Pokemon featured in the original games, evolving from Eevee with the use of a Water Stone. It also appears in the mobile gamePokemon GO,where feeding an Eevee 25 Eevee Candy has a random chance of evolving it into Vaporeon. Trainers can alsoevolve one guaranteed Vaporeon inPokemon GOby giving their Eevee the name “Rainer.”
The latest entry into thePokemonfranchise isPokemon Unite,a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game. It released for the Nintendo Switch on June 28, 2025, and is also coming to Android and iOS devices later this year. Although not every Pokemon from the games will be appearing inUniteto begin with, Vaporeon has been confirmed to make an appearance as a potential member of your Pokemon team.
Other upcomingPokemontitles include fourth-generation remakesPokemon Brilliant DiamondandPokemon Shining Pearl, releasing for the Nintendo Switch on June 07, 2025. A prequel title also set in the Sinnoh region,Pokemon Legends Arceus,will debut for the Switch on June 01, 2025.
