Pokémon Company Unveils New Zapdos Manhole Cover Design
The Pokémon Company has officially revealed a new manhole cover design featuring the legendary Flying/Electric-type Pokémon Zapdos. The artwork depicts the bird soaring over mountain scenery with lightning, referencing the views from the Ikaho Hot Springs near Shibukawa town in Gunma Prefecture. This specific cover will be installed at Hototogisu Station on the local ropeway line.
The release is part of the ongoing Pokefuta project, which began in 2018 to install unique, locally inspired manhole covers across Japan. Alongside Zapdos, four other sets of designs featuring various Pokémon will be placed in Gunma Prefecture by the end of November. These include Farfetch’d variants in Shimonita, Boltund and Meltan in Naganohara, Zigzagoon variants in Tatebayashi, and Dunsparce and Shiftry in Numata. More than 350 such covers have been installed nationwide since the initiative started.
Summary written with AI assistance by the Hentaidude News Desk from the original report by Ami Nazru at CBR Anime and checked by our automated quality rules. Details may change; see the source for the full story. How we write summaries
Original headline at CBR Anime: “Pokémon Officially Reveals a New Design for Gen 1's Legendary Zapdos”
Key facts
- Location
- Shibukawa town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan
- Project
- Pokefuta
- Installation Date
- End of November
Tags
- #Gunma Prefecture
- #Manhole Cover
- #Merchandise
- #Pokemon
- #Pokéfuta
- #Zapdos
Background
Earlier stories from our archive that give context to this one.
Related stories
More anime: Related stories
Mister Donut Launches Pokémon 30th Anniversary Winter Campaign
The “Everyone Gather Together! Winter Pokémon Campaign” goes all out for the 30th anniversary celebrations. It’s become something of an annual tradition for Mister Donut to release a new Pokémon collection at the end of the year, with a different pocket monster taking centre stage as the star of the show.
via SoraNews24
Pokemon Friends Poke Ball+ Virtual Pet Adds Features and Chinese
The new toy also adds Traditional Chinese as a selectable language besides Japanese and English.
via Siliconera
Pokémon Launches Sinnoh-Themed Dolly Noire Apparel Collection
Pokémon fans can revisit the Sinnoh region and its most iconic characters with a brand-new merch line that's as sleek as it is stylish.
via CBR Anime
Pikachu Shortcake Sandwich and Eevee Frappe Launch at Tokyo Sweets Stand
Pikachu Sweets bakes up new treats to celebrate Pokémon’s 30th birthday. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, which is another way of saying it’s the franchise’s 30th birthday…and everyone knows you can’t celebrate a birthday without cake, right?
via SoraNews24
Mister Donut Japan Announces Winter 2026 Pokemon Donuts
Alolan Diglett and Slowpoke are the stars this year.
via Siliconera
Pokémon Pikachu Polaroid Camera Sells Out, More Releases Confirmed
One of the best Pokémon merch releases of 2026 is already sold out across the board (again), but die-hard fans and collectors will get another chance.
via CBR Anime