Pokemon Theme Park, POKePARK, to Open in Taiwan in June 2006

Kobe. JAPAN., Feb. 21/KYODO JBN/--

POKePark LLP held a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, on February 20, 2006 (Monday) to announce that it would hold POKePARK, a Pokemon theme park, based on Pokemon's world views, for the 94 days between June 23 (Friday) and September 24 (Sunday), 2006 in Taipei.  POKePARK was held in Nagoya, Japan, last year. POKePARK is a theme park based on the world of "Pokemon," a popular children's franchise.  It will be held for a limited period at the planned site of Taiwan Museum of Fine Art (tentative name) (39,291m2), adjacent to National Taiwan Science Education Center in the northwestern part of Taipei.  The Park will comprise nine kinds of attractions, as well as an event stage, a food court and a shop. An Outline of POKePARK Title: POKePARK Duration: June 23, 2006 (Friday) - September 24 (Sunday)           *Open every day Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm *Operating hours may change, due to various circumstances. Location: Shishang Rd. Shilin district, Taipei          (Site for the Arts Center adjacent to National Taiwan Science Education Center) Land area: 39,291M2 (3.92ha.) of which fee-paying area: 22,500m2 (2.25ha.) Admission fees: One-day tickets: Regular: Adults NT$ 860 ; Children NT$650 Advance tickets: Adults NT$700 ; Children NT$520   Full-event pass tickets: Adults: NT$ 2,500 ; Children: NT$ 1,800 *Adults: Those who were born on or before August 31, 1987   Children: Those who are at least 90cm tall and born on or after September 1, 1987 *Children less than 90cm tall will be admitted free of charge *Amounts include tax. Organizer: P-project, inc. Supervision: POKePARK LLP (POKePARK Limited Liability Partnership) Special cooperation: The Pokemon Company,  Pikachu Project, SHOGAKUKAN PRODUCTION Co., Ltd., TOP-INSIGHT INTERNATIONAL Co., Ltd. Official sponsors: TAIWAN FAMILYMART CO., LTD. Attraction sponsors: TOMY Company, Ltd., JTB Corp. Official Supplier: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD. Cooperating organizations: Hitachi, Ltd., FUJITSU LIMITED, South East Travel Co., Ltd., YOYO TV, STAR Chinese Channel, CHING WIN PUBLISHING CO., LTD., L.E. INTERNATIONAL CORP., Hakuyu Ltd. Operator: P-project, inc. (Taiwan Branch) Official homepage: http://www.pokepark.tw Press Conference The press conference was held at "New York, New York" in Taipei City from 14:00 on February 20, attracting 85 members of the press representing 42 companies, primarily from Taiwan and Japan.  The organizer presented an outline of the event, including a demonstration of an attraction.  Comments by the speakers are presented below. Mr. Tsunekazu Ishihara, President, the Pokemon Company We will launch POKePARK on a global scale this year, to mark the 10th anniversary of Pokemon.  POKePARK is based on unique world views that reflect the diverse nature of Pokemon.  We have chosen Taiwan for the first POKePARK outside of Japan, because we wish to strengthen Pokemon ties in Asia.  In Asia, we have presented movies and character goods, centering on the animated TV series, but on this occasion, I hope that POKePARK, where people can experience the world of Pokemon, will offer a place where many children can enjoy its video games, the trading card game, the TV series, movies, as well as Pokemon goods. This summer, I hope you will have memorable experiences with a great variety of Pokemon at the POKePARK, a big Pokemon event. Mr. Nobukazu Saito, Representative Director, i-works,inc., POKePARK general producer POKePARK is a dream space packed full of Pokemon's, world views and appeals, which you have seen in games, movies and the animated TV series. It's a place where the dreams we share with Pokemon come true.. When POKePARK opened in Japan last year in conjunction with the World EXPO, it caught the attention of children all over the world. It was a big project, which attracted many visitors not only from Japan, but also from Taiwan, South Korea, the United States and Canada. I am very happy that our dream of offering to children of the world POKePARK, which combines Japan's cutting-edge culture, Pokemon, and its state-of-the-art technology, will first come true in Taiwan. *Business development POKePARK (2005), which was held at Sasashima Satellite (Nagoya) of 2005 EXPO held in Japan, placed more than 380 kinds of Pokemon throughout the park and reproduced in three dimensions the world of Pokemon, which are popular in games, the trading card game, movies and TV animation.  POKePARK was very popular as the world's first theme park of Pokemon and attracted approximately 4.15 million visitors. Pokemon's popularity knows no national boundaries.  In Taiwan, Pokemon games and goods are being sold, while movies and the animated TV series are translated and shown.  We have decided to present POKePark in Taiwan, because of the popularity of this Japanese character here.  POKePARK in Taiwan, with its new attractions as well as new versions of popular attractions, promises to be "The Hottest stuff: Experience POKePARK this summer!"   POKePARK LLP, which will plan and supervise the forthcoming POKePARK, is a limited liability partnership of the Pokemon Company (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President: Tsunekazu Ishihara) and i-works ,inc. (Head office: Kobe, Japan; Representative Director: Nobukazu Saito).  POKePARK LLP was created to plan and operate POKePARK as part of the brand management for Pokemon.  It will hold POKePARK in Japan and elsewhere for the five years through 2010.

Source: POKePARK LLP Contact:   -   -   Phone: -   URL: http://www.pokepark.tw