The official Pokémon store, Pokémon Center, is expanding its global footprint! After previously opening overseas branches in Taipei and Singapore, The Pokémon Company announced in May that it would open its first official directly-managed store in Thailand, "Pokémon Center BANGKOK," making it the third overseas branch.
On the 16th, the official announcement also confirmed that the Mythical Pokémon "Shaymin (Land Forme)" will officially be the representative Pokémon for Pokémon Center BANGKOK. The store is slated to officially open in December 2026.
The official "Pokémon Center BANGKOK" logo has also been unveiled. It features an illustration of Shaymin, representing Thailand, embracing Pikachu. The circular logo also includes a silhouette of Shaymin and the word BANGKOK.
Preliminary design concepts for the store have also been revealed. At the entrance, you can see statues of Shaymin and Pikachu surrounded by a circular flower bed.
As for why Shaymin (Land Forme) was chosen as the representative Pokémon for Thailand, the official channels have not provided a specific explanation.
However, many Thai netizens believe that the design of the flower bed has a distinct Thai folk style. They also point out that Shaymin is categorized as the "Gratitude Pokémon," and Thai people frequently say "thank you" (khòp khun), which could be a symbolic nod to Thai culture.
Pokémon Center BANGKOK is set to officially open in December 2026, located on the 6th floor of Central World shopping mall! For Pokémon fans, this means another must-visit landmark when traveling to Bangkok. And of course, the Thailand-exclusive merchandise is definitely something to look forward to!