Pokémon Dominates Japanese Entertainment Landscape in 2024

A recent survey by marketing agency GEM Partners reveals the top brands in Japan across seven media platforms. Pokémon secured the number one spot, achieving a remarkable reach score of 65,578 points.

This "reach score" is a proprietary metric calculating the daily number of individuals engaging with a brand's content across various channels, including apps, games, music, videos, and manga. The survey involved a monthly sample of 100,000 Japanese residents aged 15 to 69.

Pokémon's dominance is particularly evident in the App Games category, where it garnered 50,546 points—a staggering 80% of its overall score. This success is largely attributed to the enduring popularity of Pokémon GO and the recent launch of DeNA's Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. The franchise also made significant gains in Home Video (11,619 points) and Video (2,728 points). Strategic collaborations, such as the partnership with Mister Donut, and the rising popularity of collectible card games further contributed to Pokémon's expansive reach.

The Pokémon Company's 2024 financial report underscores this success, reporting sales of 297.58 billion yen and a gross profit of 152.23 billion yen. These impressive figures solidify Pokémon's position as a leading and rapidly expanding brand in Japan.

The Pokémon franchise encompasses a diverse range of media, including video games, animated shows and films, trading card games, and other related products. It's a collaborative effort managed by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures, who established The Pokémon Company in 1998 to oversee all brand activities.