Rino Sashihara and Kusanagi Miyashita's Kusanagi in a hot communication battle! Pokémon Sword Shield Expansion Pass" TV commercial will start airing on Friday, November 27!

The "Pokémon Sword Shield Expansion Pass" TV commercial (Pokémon Dragon King Arc) featuring Rino Sashihara and the comedy duo "Kanefumi Taka Miyashita and Koki Kusanagi" will begin airing on Friday, November 27. Prior to that, the TV commercial will be shown on the official Pokémon YouTube channel from November 26 (Thu.).

In addition, a web movie "Making of Pokemon Dragon King Tournament TV CM (Rino Sashihara's Dymax Adventure Arc)," in which Ms. Sashihara and Kusanagi Miyashita enjoy battles in the "Dymax Adventure," in which they investigate a den where Dymax Pokemon are said to live, and "Pokemon Dragon King Tournament TV CM Making Movie (Kusanagi Miyashita's Dymax Adventure Arc)" will also be available on the same channel from November 26 (Thu.).

In this TV commercial, Sashihara-san in her living room and Kusanagi Miyashita-san in her dressing room at work are engaged in a heated battle in a communication battle for "Pokémon Sword Shield Expansion Pass". During the battle, their respective heartbeats are displayed as a heartbeat chart, so the tension and elation between them is remarkable.

The "Pokemon Ryuoh Tournament 2020," which will be held on February 6, 2021 (Saturday), is now accepting online qualifiers for the game division (from the in-game menu until December 11 (Friday), 8:59 p.m.). The qualifying round will be held at the Cerulean Tower Noh Theater (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) and will be broadcast live on the Internet.

TV commercial (Pokémon official YouTube channel)

Web movie (Pokémon official YouTube channel)
Making of Pokémon Ryuoh Tournament TV CM (Rino Sashihara's Dymax Adventure Arc)

Making of Pokemon Ryuoh Tournament TV CM (Kusanagi Miyashita's Dymax Adventure Arc)

Interview with Rino Sashihara & Kusanagi Miyashita

Interview with Rino Sashihara
*Original text

Q. Have you played Pokemon games in the past? If so, what were some of the most memorable ones?
A. Of course I have. The games that left a deep impression on me were "Pokemon Gold and Silver. I played "Gold" in particular. When I was a child, my older brother, who was five years older than me, was playing "Pokemon Blue" at the time, but I was only allowed to touch the game after the story was cleared, so I had no idea what was going on. When I was a little older, I bought "Pokémon Gold" for myself and "Pokémon Silver" for my brother, and I remember it well because it was the first time I played "Pokémon Gold" properly. I remember that I couldn't do anything on the "Koori no Nukemichi" and I didn't know about the strategy book, so I just stopped there and couldn't do anything. I also remember that I bought a strategy book after I had grown up to a certain extent.

Q. What is your favorite Pokemon? Please tell us why.
A. I have always loved "Dotakun. I don't think I would have recognized it when I was in elementary school playing "Pokémon Gold and Silver," but by the time I played "Pokémon Diamond and Pearl," I was rather mature, so I am glad that I was able to recognize its smoldering charm. I also really like the coolness of it. (Laughs)

Q. How did you feel when you actually touched (saw) the game?
A. I played a pretty good game (laughs).

Q. What is your impression of Kusanagi Miyashita when you work together?
A. I have only met the two of you on variety shows. I often MC or perform as a TV personality, and the two of you perform as comedians, so it was refreshing to see us on the same stage this time.

Q. In the game, you may encounter a situation where you are in a pinch, such as during a battle.
A. The other day, I was taking a bath at home and fell asleep because I was too tired. Then, my two cats joined forces and screamed at me! Meow! I was so happy to see them working together. They might have just wanted to eat (laughs).

Q. Do you have any habits that you usually get into when playing games?
A. When I play games with my juniors, I usually win by a comfortable margin. (Laughs) I want to win without mercy, without holding back, and without regard to seniors or juniors!

Q. Finally, please give a message to the viewers of this commercial and web video.
A. I hope people will watch it with warm eyes. I have been working on the "Pokemon" series to some extent, but there are always higher-ups in the world, so I hope people will look at me warmly.

Interview with Kanefumi Taka Miyashita and Koki Kusanagi
*Original text

Q. Have you played Pokemon games in the past? If so, what were some of the most memorable ones?
A. (Mr. Miyashita) Of course I have played before. I have played many games, but the first one was "Pokemon Red". I bought it 12 times. I lost it when I was a child, and then I bought it, and then I lost it, and then I bought it again... But even after I lost it, I wanted to play it again. But even after I lost it, I still wanted to play it again, because it was so much fun. It left a strong impression on me because it all started there.
(Mr. Kusanagi) The first game I ever bought was "Pokémon Red," so it left a strong impression on me. Pokemon Gold and Silver" also left an impression on me. I also played "Pokemon Pikachu" a lot. I can't pick just one. I also played "Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. How far did you play "Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire"?
(Mr. Miyashita) I played almost all the games except for "Pokemon Black 2 and White 2. But the Pokemon I remember are from the early days. The three legendary Pokémon, Freezer, Thunder and Fire, are the best.

Q. What is your favorite Pokémon? Please tell us why.
A. I think Mewtwo or Blackie. If I had a Pokémon other than a legendary Pokémon, I would say Blackie is my favorite. If there is a Blackie in every series, I use Blackie, and I don't hesitate at all. The reason is its strong durability, and it also has a strong "my Pokémon" feeling because of its ability to fight in a nasty way.
(Ms. Kusanagi) I think I'd go with Lucky. I like how cute and gentle it is. If Pokemon really exist, I want to live with a Pokemon like Lucky. When I come home and he waits for me, he says, "Lucky! and say, "Welcome home! Oh, "I'm home," I made a mistake (laughs).
(Mr. Miyashita) Why did you say "Welcome home"? (Laughs) Even if I make a mistake, Lucky can't point it out.

Q. How did you feel when you actually touched (saw) the game?
A. (Mr. Miyashita) It was just great. The system for playing together has evolved a lot, and it's meaningful to play together. 2-player battles are exciting, but the Dymax Adventure (in "Pokémon Sword Shield Expansion Pass") is different, and 4-player cooperation is fun. Also, it's not just about having a strong Pokémon, but it's important to have the judgment to choose the right Pokémon at the right moment. I like the feeling that your love for Pokémon is tested.

Q. What is your impression of Sashihara-san when you usually work with him?
A. (Mr. Miyashita) He doesn't get involved with me any closer than necessary. He maintains a certain distance. When we slip up, he is close enough that we can ignore him. But he is a very kind senior. Do you think he is good at following up? (Laughs)
(Mr. Kusanagi) They say I don't even need a backstage greeting (laughs), but he is a kind senior.

Q. In the commercial, a heart rate chart is shown during the battle.
A. (Mr. Miyashita) When I hugged a beautiful Polish model from behind and dressed up for a photo shoot, my heart rate went up. My arms were getting really hot.
(Mr. Kusanagi) When Miyashita and I went fishing for work, we had a rule that the person who caught the biggest fish wins. That was the event that got my heart rate up the most recently.
(Mr. Miyashita) That was my episode, though (laughs).

Q. In the game, you may come across a situation where you are in a pinch, such as during a battle, but have you actually had someone save you in a tight situation recently?
A. (Mr. Miyashita) When I talk for a long time in the studio and the mood gets weird, Kusanagi gives me a big voice at the end. It helps me because I can end it somehow.
（When we lived in the same apartment, I ordered a pizza and when it arrived, I didn't have any money in my wallet. Miyashita, who was in the next room, saw me and without asking me, he said, "How much? I was very grateful when Miyashita, who was in the room next to mine, saw what I was doing, and without asking me how much, paid me.

Q. In the commercial, you enjoyed battling with Pokemon. Do you have any episodes in which the two of you "battled" recently?
A. (Mr. Miyashita) Episodes that can be used in commercial interviews? There was once a time when Kusanagi and I were battling over a Pokemon game, and I was one step away from winning, and Kusanagi choked me (laughs).

Q. Finally, please give a message to the viewers of this commercial and web movie.
A. (Mr. Miyashita) Kusanagi's "Wow! Miyashita!" I think you are the first person to say "Miyashita" that many times in one day (laughs).
（I did my best (laughs).
(Mr. Kusanagi: I did my best.) (Laughter) *This line was cut from the full-length commercial.

What is the Pokémon Sword Shield Expansion Pass?
It is the first paid additional content for the "Pokémon" series, and includes two contents connected to "Pokémon Sword Shield", the first "Isle of Armor" and the second "Crowned Snowfield".

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