The first Pokémon Centeropened in Osaka in 1998 and today Japan counts 11 official retail spaces for Poké-maniacs to catch ’em all. With Pikachu as their adorable leader, those poké-wonderlands are just perfect to satisfy the p-otakuin you (wahey!)
Merchandising-wise, Nintendo is making big money from Pokémon Centers. These official stores are like a sanctuary for fans to adopt plushies and purchase figures, drawings, clothes, snacks, jewelry, and other great goodies. There’s even an online storefor fans in the U.S.
And they’re now hiring!
Get your resumes readybecause Pokémon Centers across the nation are looking for new staff!
にあるポケモンセンターのがかった。
渋谷メトロにいっぱいいたのでいってみてください
= The hiring ads for Pokémon centers at Shibuya station are great. There are lots of them near the metro Exit 1 so go check them out!
ポケモンセンターの広告、すご～っててたらのコイキングでった
= As I was looking at all the ads to hire staff for the Pokemon centers the last one with Magikarp made me laugh.
With over 1.1 million passengers daily, Shibuya station is THE perfect spot for companies to show their hiring ads. All they need (aside from paying an expensive advertising fee) is to come up with a creative ad campaign to generate social media buzz.
So what did Nintendo choose? Pokémon puns.
Each poster’s tagline is basically a word-play on a Pokémon’s characteristics. The purpose? Appealing to そんなキミに, “someone like you.”
Some of our favorites are:
Cubone (カラカラ, Karakara)
のあるください = I want a job with backbone
Slowpoke (ヤドン, Yadon)
たまにはのをかなきゃ = Sometimes, you need to take it easy
Snorlax (カビゴン, Kabigon)
もめるような仕事ないかな = Isn’t there a job that keeps me awake?
Magikarp (コイキング, Koi king)
のびしろしかない = I have no choice but to grow my potential
Meowth (ニャース, Nyarth)
やりがいもおもある = (A job) worth doing that’s well-paid
How to say something is worth doing in Japanese
Meowth may want money, but he also makes a fair point: there’s nothing better than a job worth doing.
Let’s take a look at the simple yet interesting Japanese suffix がい. By itself, がいmeans that something is worth your time or your effort. The most common expression you’ll encounter is the combo する(to do) and がい.
- やりがいのある仕事 = A job worth doing (a fulfilling job)
- やりがいのある= An experience worth having
But がいcan be coupled with other verbs as well. Take a verb, conjugate with the ますform, take out ますand add がいinstead:
- えがいのある= A student worth teaching
- みがいのある= A book worth the reading
Vocabulary
渋谷駅 shibuya eki Shibuya station ポケモンセンター pokemonsentaa Pokémon Center 求人広告 kyuujinn koukoku job ads 良い yoi good 東京メトロ toukyou metoro Tokyo metro 1番出口 ichiban deguchi Exit 1 いっぱい ippai a lot いってみてください itte mitte kudasai go see そんなキミに sonna kimi ni someone like you 社員 shain employee 見てたら mitetara as (I) was looking 最後 saigo end, last コイキング koikingu Magikarp 笑う warau laugh 骨のある hone no aru spirited, have backbone お金 okane money たまに tama ni from time to time 肩の力を抜く kata no chikara o nuku take it easy, relax 目も覚める me mo sameru stay awake, keep eyes open のびしろ nobishiro room for growth, potential しかない shika nai only but 経験 keiken experience 教える oshieru teach 生徒 seito student 読む yomu read 本 hon book
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