Let's discuss you own Pokemon AUs, Headcanons, theories.

[henrymidfields]

In focusing something less discussed, has anyone here attempted to write up a backstory history for the Pokemon regions?

I was quite intrigued to first see Pokemon as an alternate version of real-life Earth when the Pokemon craze came out in the 90s, with real-life countries explicitly named (at least in the Japanese version), some real-life events referred to, such as the Columbia Shuttle. Up then, the only other RPG that I was able to think of that was also explicitly based in our world we live in was Shin Megami Tensei. (Yokai Watch came 2 decades later, Persona was an extension of SMT back then rather than its own stuff in its own right like it is now, and Earthbound is a bit borderline with its geography.) It was for this reason I was quite displeased with Gen 3, where Hoenn became the region after Gen 1-2, instead of either an actual reinterpretation of Kyushu, or going overseas at this point to Guam-Saipan, Hawaii, or coastal Queensland around the Brisbane/Gold Coast area. It was only until Gen 6, where the Kalosian region actually looked like northern France, and the two regions after that followed a closer imitation of the culture and geography of the real-life origins like Kalos attempted.

It was through this, and also an attempt to learn my country's geography and history that I have been working on my History of Shoyo project below. This was an attempt mainly to fill in the other unexplored regions of Japan, reinterpret Gen 1-2 as actual places people would possibly live in (while reconstructing the premise of Pokemon), and re-align Gen 3/4's regions to have a more consistent backstory design closer to the alternate!real-life!Earth approach from Gen 1-2 and Gen 6 onwards.

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Pokemon Gen 1-4

I've been on and off in regards to my History of Shoyo project, which is essentially the Pokeverse that is somewhat closer to our world in history and geopolitics. For the past several years, I've been expanding the country of Shoyo (which consists of the four main regions of the first four generations) and am even thinking about writing a short textbook history for travellers.

What I know I will do:

While I haven't yet looked closely at the canon history of the Pokemon universe, I can definitely say that there will be some major differences from the the existing canon details. From the beginning of Shoyo's history to the Sengoku era would be more or less like Japan's, with some exceptions - such as incorporating elements of Pokemon Conquest for the Sengoku era. The divergence would probably begin from the Edo period equivalent, with some minor differences - such as technological progress being developed somewhat quicker. There would be some major differences from the Meiji era onwards - such as Shoyo-Meiji starting from the early 19th Century (as opposed to real-life-Meiji being from mid-late 19th Century), democracy and social justice being stronger/more mature in Shoyo's early 20th Century, and a much happier outlook of Shoyo's present (AD 2010) and future, to be more in line with the idealistic world of Pokemon. Some people may cry out historical revisionism, but given it's clearly not our real world (though still very close to), I think that should not be a problem.

On a different note, there are also previously unexplored regions from the Japanese archipelago. They are:

• Tohoku between Kanto and Sinnoh/Hokkaido
• Hokuriku and Shinetsu, being north of Kanto and Johto/Chubu-Kansai, and
• Chugoku (or San'in and Sanyo) and Shikoku between Johto/Kansai and Hoenn/Kyushu

Entire Map

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Shinnoh-Arumiya Region

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Sinnoh-Arumiya (North Shoyo)

• Chitose/Millenium City: A suburb of Kotobuki (Jubilife) City which has the Chitose International Airport and the Shoyoese Defence Force's Chitose Air Base. It is based on it's real-life namesakes, Chitose City, Hokkaido, and the Sapporo-(New) Chitose Int'l Airport.

 

Tohoku Region

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Tohoku (North east Shoyo)

• Datezakai/Harlequin Ranges: The ranges running along north-south, dividing Wakakusa City on the east and Hanakasa City on the west. Initially known as other names, the former vernacular name stuck from the middle of the Edo period, commemorating Date Masamune’s rule and development of the Wakakusa domain. (The real Masamune also developed the area around present-day Southern Iwate, Sendai and Fukushima areas, coinciding with the Pokeverse equivalent areas.) Generally based on the Zao Mountains, famous for its hot springs.
• Ebisuji/Hinterway City: A coastal port town in northern Tohoku region. In the Early Middle Ages, it was one of the last frontiers between the expanding Shoyo nation and the untamed northerners (called Ebisu/Emishi). Thus a fort was built as the government’s occupying base for the region. Later, it became the port for traders between Johto and Sinnoh. Nearby fields also boasts the best rice brands Shoyo can get, known as the Ebisuji-Komachi. In the modern era, oil wells, and oil refineries were built, and the area was responsible for supplying the majority of Shoyo’s oil. The city is based on Akita City in the namesake prefecture.
• Hanakasa/Floratop City: An inland town close to the Himenoyu Mountains, which many travellers pass on their way. Based on Yamagata City in its namesake prefecture. Hanakasa is a traditional bamboo hat adorned of paper flowers, which dancers wear them for the hanakasa-matsuri, a festival in the Yamagata region.
• Hedachi/Stablemeadow Settlements: A series of ten settlements on the northern end of Tohoku which was renowned for its fastest Ponytas and Rapidashes. Out of this, Futaedachi/Dueble (based on Ninohe City, Iwate Pref) and Yatsuedachi/Octable (based on Hachinohe City, Aomori Pref) growing to be cities in their own right. The latter grew into the Tohoku region’s northernmost fishing port along the Pacific Ocean coast, and eventually into an industrial area. In those two cities, most of the horsebreeding activities have moved to the other settlements. On the other hand, the most famed horse-breeding stables are located in Nanedachi/Settable (based on Sichinohe Town, Aomori Pref). Hedachi in Japanese refered to the ancient “horse farmland”, which lended name to both the Pokeverse-Shoyoese, and real-life Japanese towns and cities.
• Igune/Windbreak City: The northern part has taken on as a dormitory suburb of Wakakusa/Harlequin City, and the south part has been a traditional trading town. The middle remains a largely untouched series of farmlands accented by houses surrounded by trees. Igune (居久根) is a term used in the farming areas near Sendai refering to the series of windbreak trees. Based on Natori and Iwanuma Cities
• Kunibate/Landsend City: Another coastal town on the top of the Shoyo’s main island. Before the eventual expansion into Sinnoh, this was the end of the Shoyoese frontier, lending to the name kunibate, or “the country’s end”. The city grew as a trade port since the Edo period, and became the transport hub for travellers and goods between Sinnoh and the rest of the country. In recent years, however, things has not been the same, with bigger international ships needing deeper ports, and with much of freight being shifted to rail with the opening of the Almia Tunnel.
• Miyakoji City: A former castle town and a trading town with Johto and Sinnoh. This is in reference to Sakata City, Yamagata Pref, as the real-life city also prospered as a trading post with the Kansai region during the Edo period. Miyakoji (都路) means "the way to the capital".
• Namahage/Kramps Peninsula: A peninsula with dormant volcanoes that echoes ancient folktales of Granbulls warding off bad spirits and punishing evildoers in nearby towns during wintertime. Based on the Oga Peninsula where the namahage ogres would come around households and scold naughty children during the Lunar New Year. The Central European mythical being Kramps also had a similar role during Christmas time.
• Okuiri/Hintermost City: One of the final frontiers of the Shoyoese mainland, the city eventually became the castle town for the Kunibate Domain. Besides Wakakusa, it would be the first Tohoku towns to have a westernised district, and a modern military base would be built there to counteract Kievanian [Russian] aggression into the Far East. Another fun fact: It was one of the first regions in Shoyo to grow apples. Based on Hirosaki City of Aomori Prefecture.
• Okuiri/Hintermost Forest: The northernmost untouched forest and nature reserve in the Shoyoese mainland, where past hunters spoke of secret rituals and languages. The forest is based on the World-Heritage-listed Shirakami Highlands and Forest. Okuiri (奥入) means “into the very back”.
• Saotome/St Thomas City: Saotome is the southernmost port within the Tohoku fishing coast. During the Sengoku era, pro-Catholic daimyo Date Masamune designated the port for international trade with the Iberian Asteco colony [Spanish Mexico]. Until the seclusion policy by the Tokugawa Shogunate, Iberians and Astecans came and go, and together came exotic goods and buildings, including a Catholic church within view from the inland rice paddies. Saotome is a traditional word refers to a woman working in the rice fields, but is also a corruption from the Portugese Sao Tome, or Saint Tomas.
• Shiraneri/Silkwhite City: The birthplace of the Sengoku-era warlord Date Masamune, and later the home base for the Uesugi clan. The city has been renowned for its traditional hot springs and its silk industry Based on Yonezawa in Yamagata Prefecture.  Both silk-white and shiraneri refers to the traditional silk industry of the real-life Yonezawa.
• Sugikoshi/Passover City and Sugikoshi Forest: A quiet town of past abandoned mines and lumber yards. The mage-wappa timber crafts from the nearby Sugikoshi Forests are one of the best in the nation. The name Sugikoshi is a play of words: sugi can both mean cedar tree (杉) and can also mean to pass (過ぎる). Sugikoshi is the Japanese term used for the Passover. There is an old travel log features the following passage that became the name of the town: Pass over the forest, and no sooner shall we reach the land’s end. The town is based on Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
• Tonoedachi/Desstable Lake: A picturesque calderan lake close to Tonoedachi/ Town. This was said to be the very last lake visited by Uxie, Mespirit, Azelf before their migration to Sinnoh. Based on both the town and the lake of Towada.
• Tsuyukusa/Deepsky City: A modern city of pristine waterway, with a hydroelectric dam on the mountain. Inspired from Koriyama City, Fukushima Pref, where one of the first hydroelectric dam was built, and the city grew with the manipulation of water. Both Tsuyukusa and deep sky blue are variations of a light blue colour.
• Wakakusa/Harlequin City: A city of green and youthful spirits, known for its lively music scene and its academia. Reference to Sendai City, Miyagi Pref, also known for its reputation as a city full of tree-lined boulevards, it's music and academic scene. Wakakusa and harlequin are both similarly-coloured green. Wakakusa color is also a reference to the youthful connotations of spring grass. Harlequin, on the other hand, refers to the light-heartedness of the traditional Italian comedy character.
• Watatsumi/Poseidon Town: Further up north along the eastern coast from Saotome/St Thomas is another fishing town, Watatsumi/Poseidon. While the Saotome saw itself as a beacon of transport and cultural exchange, Watatsumi would specialise itself into a fishing hub that sees many vessels come and go. Outside of the big metropolises, Watatsumi boasts the biggest fishing market in the Tohoku region, and many marine biologists also do their research here. The town is based on Kesen’numa in Miyagi Prefecture. Watatsumi is the Shintoist god of the seas, but is also a common noun referring to its non-Japanese equivalents such as the Greek Poseidon.

 

Central Shoyo Region (Kanto, Hokuriku, Shin'etsu, and Johto)

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Kanto (Central Shoyo – east side)

• Akagane/Aubronze City, located between Hanada and Nivi [Pewter]. An old abandoned mining town which is really toxic. This may be where Grimer and Muk were sighted. This is based on the Ashio Copper Mine, which was notorious for its earliest case of environmental disaster in Japan's history. Akagane(赤金・銅) is another word for bronze/copper in Japanese, and Aubronze is a combination of Auburn (a reddish-brownish colour) and Bronze.
• Awafuji/Periwinkle City, located northwest of Hanada, and north of Shion [Lavender], which is located where the power plant is, and incorporates it as part of the city. A cutting-edge science town, based on Tsukuba Science City. Awafuji(淡藤) and Periwinkle are two variations of the blue-purple mixed colour.
• Kihiwa/Charteuse City: For a long time, the series of towns featured endless rice fields and a famous hilltop Buddhist temple to serve the pilgrims from Yamabuki/Saffron. While the town is gradually encroached by suburban development, the settlement still retains its old rural charm. However, a second international airport serving shorter low-cost flights and commuter planes was built recently, signalling further changes ahead. Based on Narita City, but with a much different development of the metropolitan region’s second international airport. Kihiwa is a combination of Ki-iro (黄色) and hiwa-iro (鶸色), creating a yellow-green colour leaning towards yellow. Charteuse is a similar European colour, and both refers to the long-lasting goldern rice fields, and the green forested mountains.
• Sanae/Jadegreen City, located between Hanada [Cerulean] and Yamabuki [Saffron]. As the geographic location implies, it is a dormitory suburb based on Saitama City (former Omiya City). Sanae(早苗) is a green-slightly-yellowish colour, a possible outcome of mixing Blue and Yellow, and Jadegreen also has a similar hue.
• Sekiei/Indigo Plateau: A highland resort town where the Shoyoese National League is located. The town was initially established by a group of European and American visitors during the Meiji Era as a place to avoid the summer heat. Hotels and holiday homes were built on the hills since then. The current Pokemon League (established as part of the national sports program and as part of post-WWII Shoyo’s fortified democracy program for citizens) initially had their headquarters in Yamabuki [Saffron] City, but improvements in transportation and communications, and a government effort to decentralise resulted in the League relocating to Sekiei Plateau in the 1980s. The town is based on Karuizawa, Nagano Pref.
• Shinonome/Eastrise City, located near Akagane City, is the home of the villa and ancestral shrine of the Tokugawa family and shogunate. The sun rise in the east is said to be the most beautiful of all of Shoyo. As the definition implies, yes, Pokemon-Shinonome is based on Real-life-Nikko. Shinonome(東雲) means east skies/clouds, and is a light pink colour, reminiscent of the dawn sky.
• Sohi/Sienna City: A satellite city of Kuchiba/Vermillion, and a gateway to the eastern Kanto peninsula, it was initially found by the Taira Clan during the Early Middle ages. From the late Meiji era, Sohi/Sienna took some of the overspill of the cargo at Kuchiba and eventually developed its own industrial base. The city is also the home of Yamabuki Disneyland, both popular with Shoyoese citizens and Columbian visitors. Mainly based on Chiba City of the namesake prefecture, but there are also references from Urayasu (Tokyo Disneyland) and Funabashi Cities. Sohi is a more reddish orange color, with burnt sienna having a similar hue – both referring to the Sohi City being between Kuchiba/Vermillion and Sekichiku/Fuchsia.

Hokuriku and Shinetsu (Central North)

• Amagusa/Liquorice City: Another castle town along the Sea of Shoyo, which was famous for its high-quality traditionally medicine. Similar developments were made in the real-life Toyama City of its namesake prefecture. While the city still has its medicine roots through several research institutes, a pharmaceutical university, and several pharmaceutical factories (including one from Silph) the city is also becoming known as an experimental eco-city of sustainability. Amagusa is the Japanese reading for Kanzo (甘草), a type of traditional plant widely used in Kampo medicine in Japan. The European variant is used to create liquorice. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycyrrhiza)
• Ebikazu/Gloryvine City: One of the former international port cities from the days of steam, in which Steamships from Korea and Russia would visit the city. Refers to Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture. Ebikazu is type of native wild grape in Japan; the wine-red colour Ebi-iro is based on this fruit species. The species was known since the ancient days, but it only gained attention as an edible species from the western introduction of winemaking during the Meiji era. Crimson Glory Vine is the English name.
• Enfuku/Elmteak City: Also known as Ecruteak's little sister, similar to how Kanazawa is revered as "Little Kyoto". The Japanese etymology is En (縁; relationships) + Fuku (福; blessing - similar to Ju 寿). For English, I replaced Ecru of Ecruteak with the same-initial Elm.
• Miru/Greenfleece Town: A small but bustling harbour famous for its fisheries. It was once one of the relay harbours for freight boats travelling between southern and northern Shoyo. Nowadays, many people from across the nation travel here to try the latest delicacies of water-type Pokemon. The town is based on Wajima, Toyama. Miru (海松) is a type of seaweed and is also the Japanese name for the olive green colour. The English name for the miru seaweed is Green fleece. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codium_fragile)
• Renge/Lotzalea City: The city is located in the valleys of one of the highways between Yamabuki/Saffron and Enju/Ecruteak, with another highway extendings towards Amagusa and the coastal towns along the Sea of Shoyo. As such, the town grew as a trading post from the Muromachi to the Edo period, which its former character can still be seen today. Nowadays, people visit the town for its old district’s charm and also for outdoor activities in the nearby highland Safari Zone. The city is based on Shiojiri City in Nagano Prefecture. Renge is short for renge tsutsuji, a type of azalea grown in and around Nagano Prefecture. It is also the Japanese name for lotus. Lotzalea is the contraction of lotus and azalea, which in turn is a translation of the aforementioned renge tsutsuji.
• Shinanoki/Tilia City: Home to one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the nation, the surrounding town along the hills and the valleys grew with it. Such was its prestige that many who went to pray at Juko Shrine made a detour to Zenkoji on their way back. The city is based on Nagano City of the namesake prefecture. In fact, shinanoki, or tilia is a type of lime tree that grew around the highland regions of Nagano.
• Suisen/Daffodil City: Another traditional city that was one of the regional capital and the biggest city of the Southern Hokuetsu region during the Edo period. During its heyday, it had a domain bigger than its northern rival Enfuku/Elmteak. The city is based on Fukui City of its namesake prefecture, in which Suisen (daffodil in Japanese) grows on the nearby coasts, and is the prefecture’s floral emblem.
• Yanasagi/Willowvine City: A city in the mid-north part of Honshu’s western coast that rose from the marshes. The canals built during the Edo period and the willow trees planted gives a particularly picturesque character to the castle city. Yanasagi is the combination and contraction of Yanagi (willow) and Asagi (JP name for Olivine City). The English name Willowvine is similarly the combination and contraction of willow and Olivine (City).

Johto (Central Shoyo – west side)

• Aigusa/Greenfields Town: A homage to Pokemon Movie 3, this is where Columbian (Poke-USA) researcher Spencer Sully Hale-Snowden and his research facility is located, which is affiliated with the Arcaeology Deartment of the University of Enju [Univ of Kyoto]. Unlike the other cities, there isnt any references to the real-life region, though the Kansai Science City may be one inspiration. Ai is a plant species that is nicknamed as Japanese indigo, which is used for blue pigment. Gusa/kusa is grass. The Japanese name refers to the original town name used in the movie (Greenfields).
• Hinokimori/Cypress Ranges: The mountainous forests are renowned for their high quality timber, which has been used for repairing and rebuilding the Juko Shrine every twenty years. Several small towns along the old highways form the traditional forestry. Based on the Kiso ranges areas in northern Aichi/southern Nagano Prefectures. Hinoki is Japanese cypress, which can be found at the real-life counterpart of the Kiso Ranges, and was was similarly cut down and sent for rebuilding Ise Shrine.
• Juko City and Juko Shrine: Located west of Hiwada [Azalea] Town it is another traditional city, which guards the shrine that Amaterasu and other Shinto gods supposedly dwelt in. Juko(珠剛) is a combination of two Japanese words, Shinju(真珠; pearl) and Kongo(金剛; diamond), referring to DPPt and especially Dialga and Palkia, who in turn are based on the Shinto deities Izanami and Izanagi. The city and shrine is based on Ise Shrine.
• Oimatsu/Oldpine City:. The mountaintop village from the ancient days, where time seems of no relevance. The shrine speaks of legendary stories of Johto from such past. Based on Tanba and Sasayama Cities, Hyogo Pref. The English dubbed name is the transliteration of the Japanese name.
• Oribe/Glazemerald City: Traditionally a town renowned for its baked pottery ware, it also hosted Yoshino’s/Cherrygrove’s air base and international airport until its relocation to near Yaesa/Octerry in recent years. Oribe is from the Furuta Oribe, who was the tea ceremony master and daimyo during the Sengoku Period who influenced the type of pottery ware. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furuta_Oribe) His name is also adopted for the green-copper colour widely seen in the Oribe ware. The glazed emerald-ish colour gives rise to the English name, Glazemerald. Based on cities including Tajimi (renowned for the Mino ceramics) and Komaki (home to Nagoya’s first airport prior to Centrair) Cities, also forming the Greater Nagoya Metropolis.
• Sakurajiro/Blancastel City: The city with the most beautiful Shoyoese castle, often dubbed as Princess Sakura. Reference to the white Castle of Himeji and the city it is in. Sakura is cherry, and its namesake color is a white/light-pink color. Shiro is castle. Blancastel is formed from blanc (French for white) and castel (French for castle).
  Sensai Ranges: Reference to Rokko Mountains just north of Kobe. Senzai (千歳) or its alternate reading chitose is literally a thousand years, and the color name, Senzai-midori is a type of yellow-green describing the once prevalent evergreen forest of both the Pokeverse mountains and the real-life Mt Rokko. The naming is actually more ironic in the present day, as the existing forest is only a century old, resulting from development-induced deforestations during the Meiji era.
• Ubame/Ilex City: Located on the northern edge of Ubame/Ilex Forest, it was formerly a sleepy harbour town until Goldenrod's suburbanization took place. It has since then became a dormitory suburb, a mini-resort town, and a transport hub for ferries heading to Tamba [Cianwood], and international flights to Kogane. The city is based both Wakayama City and Kansai International Airport.
• Ukon/Turmeric City: The Garden City featuring the Nature Park. It also had the former international airport of Kogane until it the area became increasingly built-up, resulting in noise and safety issues. (Ilex International Airport is the one now serving Kogane, and is located off the coast on an artificial island.) References to multiple municipalities of suburban Osaka, including Toyonaka (one of the garden suburbs of Osaka) and Suita (traditionally a prime rice-paddy area, and also hosted the Osaka World Expo in the 70s) and Itami (having one of the two airports serving Osaka). Ukon is turmeric, which was used for medicine and also for yellow pigment referring the golden rice fields.
• Umara/Rosaria City: A city of new and old, with a traditional castle town on one end and a modern industrial port on the other. This is in reference to Maizuru City, Kyoto Pref. The real-life city also has an old city centre and a new city centre. Umara is an ancient Japanese word for rose, and in turn is a reference to the contrast of the ancient Japanese rose and a modern European one.
• Yaesa/Octerry City: An industrial suburb east of Yoshino/Cherrygrove City. Traditionally a castle town during the Edo period, the modern era saw the city take on an industrial character producing silk. The 20th Century saw the development of the chemical industry, and also the Toyota Motor Group the world knows and loves today. Yaesa is from yaezakura (八重桜), which is yet another species of cherry blossom. Octerry is a combination of octo- & cherry, referring to the eight-fold petals of said cherry blossom. The city is based mainly on Toyota City, with additional references from Yokkaichi City, both being part of Greater Nagoya.
• Yamasa/ Hillcherry City: An old harbour town west of Yoshino/Cherrygrove City, where many beach-type Pokemon can be found. This is in reference to Kuwana City (located just west of Nagoya) being a traditional fisherman/port town during the Edo period. In recent decades the town has taken on an increasingly suburban character for upper/middle-class homeowners. Yamasa is from yamazakura (山桜), which is a different type of cherry blossom, known as hill cherry in English.
• Yuhama/Shorewell City: A traditional resort town of beach and hot springs facing the Sea of Shoyo, based on Kinosaki hot spring in Toyooka City, Hyogo Pref. Yuhama (湯浜) means beach with warm/hot water. The English dub name is shore & hot wellspring.

 

Chugoku Region

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Chugoku (West Shoyo)

• Awashima/Foxtail City: Another city of ancient Shintoist lore featuring the deities Izanagi and Izanami conceiving the Shoyoese archipelago. Their settlement and Izanamis death and burial is commemorated in a shrine in the city. References to Yonago, Tottori Pref which the above mythology was borrowed from the real-life counterpart. Ukon is turmeric, which was used for medicine and also for yellow pigment referring the golden rice fields. Awashima is the ancient name for the general area in question, and awa is also a Japanese foxtail millet, which is a edible rice grain species.
• Domura/Parishton City: An old-fashioned religious city with a cathedral that commemorates Arceus. Inspired from Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Pref, which has one of the first churches built by the Spanish Jesuit missionary Francisco Xavier during the Sengoku-era. It is also where Christmas was first celebrated. Do (堂) is often an impressive, large-sized building, which can refer to a Buddhist temple, or a Christian cathedral, or even a lecture/assembly hall. Mura (村) is village.
• Iwatari/Masonbridge City: A simple and sturdy city of industry built in stone. Inspired from Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Pref, as the real-life city was also traditionally considered to be simple during the Edo period, and became a city of industry after the Meiji period. The city's name is Iwa (岩; rock) + Watari (渡り; to cross), refering to the stone piers of Kintai Bridge in the real-life city.
• Mt Chigusabara/Emerplains:. A beautiful mountain plains on the western side of the Kurogane range featuring neverending pastures of high-altitude grasslands and deep-forested hills. Chigusa is a type of colour that is a blueish emerald colour, refering to the grass; together with hara/bara, the name becomes emerald fields, and refers to the neverending grass/forest landscape of Mt Sanbe in Tottori Pref. The English dub name is a combination and contraction of emerald and plain.
• Hanareda City: A seemingly isolated coastal castle town, which preserves the townscapes from the days of the Tokugawa Shogun. It had its glory days during the Bakumatsu period, both showcasing its modernised technology and its daimyos (with the Okuribi (Pyrebay) Domain from Hoenn) starting the Boshin War and eventually establishing the Meiji Restoration. Hanareda is hanareta (isolated) and ta/da (rice paddy), referring to real-life Hagi City’s isolated location, and also real-life Nagato City’s rice paddy along the coast, the only kind in Japan.
• Jinshu/Deltarm City: Basically a fortified army city for the Shoyoese Defense Force. In this history, Jinshu did not suffer the nuclear attack that real-life Hiroshima did, although it suffered extensive bombardment and urban warfare from the Shoyoese Republicans rebels. This is what Hiroshima's role would have continued as, if the nuclear attack did not happen. (I will send you my alternate history of WWII later.) Jin (陣) is battle formation, and shu (洲) is an area of many branching rivers, such as a delta. Deltarm is a contraction of Delta and Arm. [Inserts jokes about peace-loving Hiroshima vs glory-seeking Jinshu.]
• Mt Katsubara/Ashfield: A highland resort town and farmland near one of the mountains on the Kurogane Ranges. Reference to Maniwa City and the resort area near Mt Hiruzen in Okayama Pref. Katsu-iro is a very dark black colour referring to the once active volcanos ashes, which can still be seen. It is also considered as a name with good omen as katsu is also to win. Thus, the Japanese name is fields of victory. The English dub name refers to the volcanic ash.
• Majimina/Crossport City: Located on the Shikoku side. It is north of, and is accessible via the Kanmon Bridge, Kanmon Tunnel, and Shin-Kanmon Tunnel to/from, Kanazumi [Rustboro] City. Another port city that is more multicultural, with visiting travellers from Korai (Korea) and Tsinguo (China). It is also the home for the Battle Facility, accessible for trainers that obtained all gym badges in any region in Korai, Tsinguo, or Shoyo. (The Battle Resort of ORAS does not exist in this Pokeverse version.) The Treaty of Majimina was held in circa 1895 after the 1st Tsinguo-Shoyoese War (which is the equivalent to the 1st Sino-Japanese War). Majimina is a combination of majiwaru(交わる; cross paths, interact) and minato (港; port). The city is based on Shimonoseki.
• Mimorijima/Mariner City: It was initially an isolated island said to house a goddess watching the ships go by. After the Meiji Era, the Imperial Shoyoese Navy established one of its main bases, along with the Army’s main base in nearby Jinshu (Deltarm) City. This continues to the present day – although by the much less aggressive Shoyoese Defence Force (though slightly less hesitant in engaging in peacekeeping operations than the real-life JSDF). Surrounding beaches are also popular with the family members of the navy officers. Based on the Etajima Island and Marine Self-Defence Force Base in Hiroshima Prefecture.
• Mitsushima/Trisle City: An industrial city of islands and canals, dubbed as the Shoyoese Alto Mare [Japanese Venice]. Reference to Kurashiki City, Okayama Pref, which also similarly developed from reclaiming land in the original three islands forming the present-day city. Mitsu is three, and shima is island, while Trile is tri (Latin for three) and ile (French for island).
• Momozono/Peachcourt City: The second-biggest city in the Shikoku region, after Jinshu/Deltarm [Hiroshima]. Reference to Okayama City in the namesake prefecture. Momo is a reference to the folk tale Momotaro, which originated from Okayama, while sono is garden, refering to Korakuen in the real-life city, considered to be one of the most beautiful gardens of Japan. The folktale is actually a reference to one of the ancient warriors and his Pokemon which defeated the Kami trio, whose squabbles devastated the land.
• Shiratorigishi/Swanarbor City: A small town of swan hunting grounds. This is in reference to Tottori City's etymology where a bird-hunting clan lived in ancient times, before the Yamato Government extended its influence to Shikoku region. According to Nihon Shoki, one of the emperors saw a swan fly off in the real-life region, and the Emperor's son, who was previously mute, could speak since then.
• Takamadera/Skyshrine City: An ancient city said to host the first Shoyoese shrine. Reference to Izumo Taisha in Tottori Prefecture, as one of the places settled by the Shintoist deities in Kojiki (the real-life version) and Nihon Shoki, leading to the creation of the Izumo Taisha shrine. Takama is the Shintoist heavenly realm, while dera/tera is temple.

 

Hoenn Region

Spoiler

Hoenn (Southwest Shoyo)
A word of caution: I've made some pretty major changes with Hoenn as I said before, I was quite displeased in RSE of the departure of the approach of the region's backstory writing from Gen 1-2. Firstly, Evergrande City from RSE/ORAS has been expanded into the Evergrande Islands. Two cities would be incorporated, with one of them being the Pokémon League headquarters of course. In addition, Kinagi [Pacifidlog] City has been reinterpreted as a resort city within the Evergrande Islands instead of being part of Hoenn. Finally, Kanazumi (Rustboro) City has a connection with the Poke-Chugoku via Majimina, which said city will become this fanfic's location for the Battle Frontier. As such the Battle Resort from ORAS will not exist in this headcanon.

• Kanazumi/Rustboro City: The other port town flanking the Kanmon Strait, it was traditionally the gateway to Hoenn. After Shoyo began her country’s modernization in the 19th Century, the city boasted many fine European-style buildings, and even saw the first steelworks in the nation. Both Kanazumi and Majimina would grow multicultural with Shoyo’s colonial expansion to Korai and Tsinguo. The Kanmon Bridge and Tunnels built during the 20th Century would further integrate the two cities into one regional metropolis.
• Konahono/Sulfield City: Located between Himawaki [Fortree] and the aforementioned Sacho, Konahono was traditionally known for its gunpowder production, and is now known for its chemical industry. Kona is powder, ho is short for honou or fire, and no is field. Sulfield is a contraction of "Sulfur" and "field". Based on Nobeoka's modern role as a chemical production town.
• Okuribi/Pyrebay Town: A former port town until Mt Pyre has grown too big. Nowadays, it is a quaint southernmost castle town, with the modern role of trade and industry being relegated to Minamo [Lilycove]. Okuribi Town is a snapshot of Kagoshima until the Meiji-era, while Minamo is the same city that further developed after, similar to the relationship between Kyoto and Osaka/Kobe.
• Sacho/Sandtide City: A relatively new town that focuses on silicon-related development, located south of Hatsushige [Fallharbour]. It is a nod to Kyushu's status as the "Silicon Island" where some of the research and manufacturing facilities for electronics are located in Oita City. Sacho (砂潮) is Sandtide in Japanese.

So let's discuss our backstories and headcanons.

Edited June 28, 2019 by henrymidfields

[Anacybele]

Wow, you put a lot of work into all that! Interesting stuff. I always was curious about what the Pokemon world is like in the rest of the Japan-equivalent area.

I don't really have any Pokemon AUs, but I do have some headcanons. First for the anime.

- Ash remains single forever and just spends his life traveling with Pikachu and battling and stuff. He's just so damn oblivious whenever a girl shows affection for him that I just can't seriously want to ship him with anyone.
- I do, however, ship Drew x May, Barry x Dawn, Brock x Holly (Holly was Brock's tag-team competition partner in Sinnoh and she was one of the few females to show romantic interest in him), and James x Kate (believe it or not, this pairing came the closest to becoming canon as it possibly could've without actually being so. James and Kate DID fall in love with one another in their respective Pokemon Chronicles episode and James wanted to stay with her. But some goofball circumstances led that to not happen, at least at that point...).

As for games, I've created a whole region based on the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, where I was born and currently live.

The real Pittsburgh area doesn't have a desert, but hey, neither does New York. lol

The map style is gen 5 because that's how long ago I made it. It's also the reason there's an Entralink there. I liked the Entralink anyway.

The region theme is geology and minerals, due to Pittsburgh's history as the once leading producer of steel in the US. We still call it Steel City today. Fittingly, the champion will be a user of primarily Steel type Pokemon. Each town and city here is named after a type of metal from the Periodic Table of Elements.

Spoiler

Chromine Town - Chromium (also can be considered a reference to Chrom from FE lol)
Alumina Town - Aluminum
Nickallo City - Nickle
Calcic Town - Calcium
Irono City - Iron
Soden Town - Sodium
Mangalo City - Manganese
Copperton City - Copper
Platinu City - Platinum (also a shoutout to Pokemon Platinum!)
Potassau City - Potassium
Cobalia City - Cobalt (and yes, I'd like Cobalion to be catchable here lol)
Zircon City - Zircon (lol of course)
Silver City - I think this one also speaks for itself. XD
Lithville - Lithium
Magneia City - Magnesium
Zinco Town - Zinc

Mount Golden and Golden Cavern also come from gold, of course, to go with Silver City.

If you didn't already notice, there are two "evil teams" like Hoenn had, only these two are called Team Arctic and Team Tropic. Can you guess what their goals are? If their names didn't provide enough of a hint, it's changing the climate to be colder and warmer, respectively. 😛

Shining Tower is where the resident main legendary, the Element Pokemon Regasus is found. It's a Pegasus. I have drawn a design for it, but I'm gonna change it up a bit. It's the leader of four other legendaries, three of which are found in the location to the far north that has three names. The location is different depending on your version of the games this region would appear in. That's right, there would be THREE games, not two. The fourth Pokemon is found in all versions and its location depends since it's a Flying/Ice type that flies all over the place (I don't mean as a roamer, there would be a way to stop and battle it somewhere without it fleeing. Because fuck roamers. xP). The other three are Fire/Electric, Water/Dragon, and Ground/Grass. See a pattern? Each of the four represents one of the geological elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Ice could've been put on the Water type, but we have a lot of dual Water/Ice types already, so I gave it to the air element legendary instead. Wind can be very cold like ice and is half of what causes a blizzard. And snow falls from the sky.

Dragon Clearing and Floral Shrine are both meant to house mythical Pokemon that would be event only. They'd be found through events that are triggered by event items like in Sinnoh. I miss these kind of events.

A lot of the locations on this map have real-world equivalents in the Pittsburgh area, the list for which you can see here. 🙂

These are the starters:

Tawnog is the Grass type and is based on a groundhog. Groundhogs are significant in the entire state of PA because Groundhog Day originated there in a town called Punxatawny. Which is also where this little guy's name is from. It eventually evolves into a Grass/Normal type. I would have gone with Grass/Ground, but we already got that with Torterra.

Kinder is the Fire type and is based on a baby goat. Its name is a double play: a combination of "kid" and "cinder" as well as being the German word for children. It evolves into a Fire/Psychic type based on the Aries star constellation.

Hippa is the Water type and obviously a hippo. It evolves into a Water/Fighting type based on a sumo wrestler. Sumo is a Japanese thing and I think a hippo's body type is perfect for a Pokemon based on that.

I have some evolutions for these guys designed, but not all of them, so posting those will have to wait.

I have these Pokemon designed as well:

Resident Pikaclone and a dolphin for ya! Joltalope will get an updated color scheme to be slightly less similar to Dedenne though. Btw, it's based on a jackalope, which is a mythical rabbit with antlers. I decided the Pikaclone here can evolve because why not. Pikaclones are never good because they can't evolve anyway, and Pikachu itself CAN evolve.

Oh, and it looks like Buntenna may have a slight resemblance to the new Fire starter Scorbunny in Sword/Shield. xP Oh well.

Phinmi will be able to evolve into an orca whale Pokemon, btw. I just haven't designed it yet.

And this is all I have for now.

Edited June 20, 2019 by Anacybele

[Dragoncat]

Welp this is gonna be all over the place and unorganized. @Anacybele suggested I post this, she knows most of it, everything but the Mystery Dungeon bit.

SINNOH

Platinum is the canon version. Cyrus survived in the Distortion World for a few years, Giratina was feeding him and keeping him as a pet basically. It would go through portals to bring him live meat, which could be miltanks/livestock or wild game like stantlers, I imagine some pokemon are eaten. Giratina would use Will O Wisp to cook the meat and Cyrus would munch on it for a good month or so. He would have stayed if Giratina didn't want to try to breed him and have more cute little pets. Literally brought a very terrified woman in one day. Obviously no, they did NOT hit it off. Cyrus is most likely asexual anyway. Giratina let both humans go after that.

Team Galactic did want their boss back. Once he was back he was a shell of his former self and as he aged he'd sometimes revert mentally and think he was still in the Distortion World. He'd run into walls and swear at them and call them "mirage trees" and start rambling about "I told you no more bibarels they don't taste good" etc. By this time there'd been a new leader though who was reinventing the team to move more towards space energy research and less toward space/time/dimensional terror/crime. Merc, son of commanders Saturn and Mars. He was born a bit after the Spear Pillar incident. Cyrus returned when he was ten years old. The boss either saw him as a nuisance or he was just there, but gave him the rank of junior commander Mercury anyway. When Cyrus declined mentally the young man stepped up in his place. They're receiving funds from a rich investor from Unova. Merc is actually married to the investor's daughter and they have twin girls(Celeste, Terra) and a boy(Orion).

 

ALOLA

Unsure on what version's canon but I played Sun and Ultra Sun, didn't finish the latter. Guzma and Plumeria are gangsta lovers of sorts, their son is named Tyrone or Ty. Gladion gets with the female player, Lillie gets with Hau. Nanu has a daughter. He's on civil terms with her mother, International Police work did cause them to drift apart but there's no bad blood.

There were some ideas for Gladion and Merc to be friends and run around being weird male teenagers together lol.

 

MYSTERY DUNGEON

I had an AU idea where this world with no trainers was basically the wilderness and humans did exist, so there'd be issues like "the humans are cutting down the forest" or "humans captured my friend/mate/relative". The legendaries could be protectors/guardians of the wild and may or may not help different groups of pokemon with human problems. The legendary birds and beasts probably only intervene when their area is threatened but ones like Celebi or Mew might have more empathy for the wild pokemon as a whole. The original story with the player being a human reborn as a pokemon is good and surprisingly deep for a cartoony game, but it really only works once and honestly I would prefer Mystery Dungeon with my AU idea. Also, the characters just being called what species they are hurts the immersion. Am I to believe every single magnemite is named Magnemite and it's not confusing in the least? If I were to write a novelization I'd name them all. I only have Shade for the jerkface gengar as an example though.

[Anacybele]

Yeah, I did know all of that except the Mystery Dungeon part. But nice job anyway! 🙂

Speaking of Alola, I forgot to mention that some time ago I came up with a daughter for best trial master Kiawe. But I can't remember what I named her! >_< Obviously, it was something Hawaiian. Maybe I can refresh my memory by looking up some Hawaiian names.

I remember Dcat and I also talked about a potential RP idea including Merc and my idea for a son belonging to Looker. I believe his name was Logan. I also was supposed to come up with a real name for Looker, also beginning with L due to his codename, but never decided on one since Lucas is taken by the DP male player and I don't think he looks like a Larry or Lyle or Laurent or anything. I should look up more male names beginning with L too. xP

EDIT: Well, that didn't take long to figure out! 😛

Kiawe daughter = Keahi (meaning "fire" more or less lol)

Looker = Lowell (meaning "beloved" to refer to his popularity. I believe I've heard he's popular, at least in Japan. I also think he looks enough like a Lowell)

Edited June 23, 2019 by Anacybele

[henrymidfields]

@Anacybele: Nice one. I haven't been to Pittsburgh, only to Philly to attend a friend's wedding. Funnily enough, there are a number of "Silver Citi"es in the US, though ironically none in Pennsylvania.

I've also created surnames and what not for the key characters in Pokemon. Here are a collection of the gym leaders from Gen 1. Keep in mind that I consider the Japanese names for Gen 1-4 to be canon, with some exceptions made. Also keep in mind that Shoyo is essentially an alternate timeline for Japan too, so many of the history events will develop differently from their real-life counterparts.

Takeshi (Gen 1) and Tsutsuji (Gen 3) Iwasaki 岩崎剛・つつじ (Brock and Roxanne Slaton)
Cousins hailing from Nivi [Pewter] and Kanazumi [Rustboro] Cities, whose common ancestor is Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of the Mitsubishi conglomerate who (like in RL!Japan) had a major hand in the rapid modernisation and industrialisation of modern Shoyo. Takeshi's immediate family has been estranged from the rest, however, due to his father Munou's slack attitude at study, and his mother Mizuho also being of commoner status, considered unacceptable in the Iwasaki family's long tradition.

Kasumi Yawa 矢輪 霞 (Misty Waterflower)
Kasumi's [Misty] family and ancestors are ethnically Kievanian [Russian], who fled the country during the Kievanian Revolution during World War 1 - explaining her European eyes and hair. They first settled down in Sinnoh as refugees, and had lived in Shoyo ever since. Their former Kievanian name was Yavanov, which was changed to Yawa (矢輪) during World War 2, when the Misty's grandparents were pressured to adopt Japanese surnames amidst the heightened xenophobia.

Lt Matthias Surge マシアス（マチス）サージ 
Originally from Virbank, Unova, United States of Columbia [America], and stationed in US Navy Base in Kuchiba [Vermillion] City. The Shoyoese locals call him Machisu-taisa, with Machisu being a corruption of Matthias.
Also, I've adopted both the English and Japanese names for Lt Surge. Other trainers include:

Ann Takamaki-Surge 高巻サージ 杏

Erika Matsudaira 松平 絵里香 
One of the youngest descendants of the Matsudaira branch of the Tokugawa family, which had the shoguns rule Yamabuki-era Shoyo [Edo-era Japan], until the new Imperial government took power from the 1820s. The pretenders after the fall of the shogunate made their names in the arts and philosophy, and Erica, born under a particularly traditional branch, happened to take up traditional flower arrangements. Other trainers include:

Haruo Matsudaira 松平 温雄

Tsubasa Oribe 織部 つばさ

Haru Okumura 奥村 春

Kyo, Aya, and Anzu (Janine; Gen 2) Koga 古河 享 ・綾・杏
I forgot what their backstory supposed to be.

Natsume, Itsuki (Gen 2), and Makoto (crossover from Persona) Arisato 有里 奈津女・斎・理 (Sabrina, Will, and Mack Gustavson)
As some of you can probably see, this is a homage to the Persona series, which has a lot to do with psychology (and therefore has the Psychic connection). Natsume, Itsuki, and Yu are all cousins from different families. Itsuki filled in for Natsume as the interim Gym Leader when Natsume was in Unova for her movies. Makoto, on the other hand, would research psychology from the psychic Pokemon, and would be the one of the first generation of students and researchers studying artificial intelligence under the Kirijo Group.
*Gustavson was from Carl Gustav Jung, whose theory on persona and shadows form the basis of the Persona series's stories. Other trainers include:

Shoji Manakano 真中野 昇滋

Sayuri Dojima-Shirogane 堂島白鐘 佐勇理

Takeharu Kirijo 桐条 武治

Mitsuru Kirijo 桐条 美鶴

Shingo Niijima 新島 信吾

Sae Niijima 新島 冴

Naoto Dojima-Shirogane VI 堂島白鐘 直斗４世

Naoko Dojima-Shirogane  堂島白鐘 直子

Maiko Shimazaki 志摩崎 舞子

Manuela Casagranda

Dorothea Arnault

 

Katsura Atayama 熱山 桂 (Blaine Burgandy)
The surname Atayama was formed with Atami (熱海, or hot sea) with yama, or mountain. Burgandy is from Ron Burgandy in Anchorman, who I believe has a similar level of hot-headed emotion to Blaine.

Sakaki and Hideko Sumiyoshi 住吉 榊・英子 (Giovanni and Helena Corleone)
Sakaki is the current head of the far-right yakuza and terror group Sho-en Kai 昇炎会, which has been codenamed as Team Rocket by the National Police Agency. The group consists of Yakuzas and many descendants of the members in the former Imperial government and military, who were ousted when the people rose up against them during World War 2, formed the Shoyoese Republic (headquartered in Kogane/Goldenrod), sided with the Allies, and also prepared their government to be the post-WW2 democracy. (Though, not without a couple of compromises - for example, the Imperial House was to continue to be the figurehead, although Hirohito abdicated, and Akihito ascended to the throne much earlier than real life.) Madame Boss Hideko was the daughter of Hideki Tojo, who became destitute after facing persecution for her father's role in the fascist government.

Edited April 9, 2022 by henrymidfields

[Anacybele]

5 hours ago, henrymidfields said:

Nice one. I haven't been to Pittsburgh, only to Philly to attend a friend's wedding. Funnily enough, there are a number of "Silver Citi"es in the US, though ironically none in Pennsylvania.

Thanks! Huh, that is some irony there. XD Besides the fact that I'm from there, I also thought the Pittsburgh area's three river map would make for an interesting Pokemon region layout in general. And I forgot to mention one other thing: the name Yinze is from "yinz," the most common term in the Pittsburghese dialect. Of course, Yinze region natives also commonly use it. It's their equivalent of "y'all" from the south or "you all."

And wow, you even did both English and Japanese for those surnames. Nice effort!

Edited June 30, 2019 by Anacybele

[Seliora]

I feel like my headcanons are on the boring side, mostly because they're just things that I'd change about aspects and details of the games that i dislike or have issue with, and to counter things that are simply the way they are due to being gameplay mechanics.

Porygon and all other pokemon besides Mewtwo and I guess maybe Ditto that are said to be creations of man aren't actually man-made. I dunno, i just don't like the idea of people being able to straight up create new pokemon. Mewtwo is fine because that was gene splicing or something, i don't fully remember, and Ditto is fine too because it's supposedly a botched Mew clone or whatever, it's a popular theory at least. Where did the others come from then? They just don't know, I dunno, again i simply don't like the lore of people creating  pokemon :l

 

I don't really know how big or populated the regions are supposed to be, but I like to think that there's a ton of trainers participating in the league challenge, like, a lot. As such i like to imagine there's more than 8 gym leaders per region to accommodate all of the challengers. Because if you look at Unova for example some of the leaders seem like they'd be pretty busy outside of their actual gym leader duties. Someone would have to pick up the slack to meet the demand. There would be more than 8 official gyms, but trainers would still need only 8 badges to qualify. Nothing fancy, across the region there's simply a bunch of Water gyms, a bunch of Fire gyms, etc. Trainers cannot qualify with multiple badge types, all 8 must be unique types. 

 

Pokemon only evolve through a type of maturity, no items, trading, friendship or stuff like that. I don't have any issue with most of the evolution mechanics in the games, but in a "if pokemon were real" scenario it would simply feel weird to me that arbitrary things like exchanging pokemon or certain items combined with a time of day were the necessary catalysts needed for these living creatures to reach their maximum potential. I think i'd be more fine with the various stones if there was some actual lore to them, like maybe certain legendary pokemon are able to spawn and scatter them for other Pokemon and trainers to seek out, but that they also somehow wouldn't work on like, a one day old Vulpix or whatever. I have a bigger problem with items like Razor Claw and Reaper Cloth than i do with Fire/Water/Leaf/Etc stones, but I guess if they too were tied to an actual bit of lore like with my previous example they'd be fine too, just without the time of day requirement. 

 

Fire Pokemon that have actual fire coming out of their bodies can safely extinguish their flames whenever they want and won't die should it happen and can safely go into water, maybe they simply prefer not to. Same with rock and ground types, since simple mundane bodies of water and water attacks would be different things entirely. I'm not sure how i'd handle, for example, taking ice types, comprised of ice, to a desert in the daytime or active volcano, I didnn't think of that until now. 

 

Pokemon mainly eat berries. They can safely eat things that people make like bread, candy, and whatever the hell it is that Brock makes, but mostly berries, which are more nutritious than they would appear. Pokemon don't eat other Pokemon or living creatures except like general plants  I guess, if applicable. 

 

Damn, as I read my post some of these sound more like personal nitpicks than headcanons. 

 

[Flere210]

My only headcanon is that Pokemon Adventure is the true canon and that they should fucking adapt it.

[henrymidfields]

Here's what I wrote about the legendaries in Gen 1-3

 

Edited September 2, 2019 by henrymidfields