5th Gen Where is Isshu? Confirmed - New York

[coolnick37]

Wait, wait. If it's Shanghai, it's close to real life Hoenn. It would probrably have non-native Pokemon in Isshu's Regional Dex. If it was NYC, it wouldn't have any non-natives.

Not necessarily, hoenn was supposed to be further then other regions too, and since mamanbou could be luvdisc evo it would judt point more to it.
And shanghai area is still considered far away from other regions.

 

[missingnoresearcher]

Wait, wait. If it's Shanghai, it's close to real life Hoenn. It would probrably have non-native Pokemon in Isshu's Regional Dex. If it was NYC, it wouldn't have any non-natives.

Ah, but Gamefreak already announced BW being a reboot of the francshie, that the Regional Dex will be all new Pokemon.
"To try yes strategies"

xD unless Hu Jintao forbades pokemon in china. But then team plasma will free the pokemon from evil Hu Jintao ;D (jk i dont think hu jintao is evil)
Maybe team plasma is american group of people going to china and trying to release pokemon :D and they fashion suits americans more then chinese xD

My theory was flawed from the beginning.
See, the DS costs (after conversion from Dollar-Yuan) about 3x more than SHOULD in China.
Unless import taxes suddenly disappear, not many people are going to buy a DS.
(GBA's still the norm there)
However, the 13th movie (with Zoroak and Celebi), was actually fully translated to Chinese and played in movies theaters.
Also, the usual ban on foreign cartoons seemed to let Pokemon be an exception nowadays.
Back 2 years ago in China, Yu-gi-oh was King of Trading Card Games. You try mentioning Pokemon, they'll have no clue what you're talking about. Now, several trading card games (like Pokemon) managed to squirm to the (somewhat) mainstream.

And also, :(. This may be influenced by "Chinese Brainwash", but the Westerns really got to understand the concept of Chinese socialism (yes, not communism). The government only censors thing that offends itself. See, the Chinese government is very sensitive about the rapi growth of China and want to keep it that.

 

[rocky505]

Looks like shanghai got even more evidence due to the "confirmed" starter evos being based on Chinese legends.

 

[rocky505]

"As for Mijimaru's final evo, it may also be based on the Pi Xiu, a Chinese mythical being usually depicted as having a single horn (it's related to the Qi Lin or "Chinese unicorn"). It's somewhat associated with water (and thus wealth), has grey or white fur, and is known to be fierce (was connected to China's military in ancient times), all of which links back to its appearance, and probably Mijimaru's somewhat aggressive personality as depicted in the anime. " -alupom

Tsutaaja's evolution might be based on some legend of Madam White snake which one guy earlier on talked about in this thread. Chinese legend. (I forgot who>< )

And Pokabu's evolution's kind of based on Zhu Ba Jie (aka Pigsy) which is a Chinese epic Journey to the West (Infernape was based on the protagonist of this story Sun Wu Kong).

 

[coolnick37]

Looks like shanghai got even more evidence due to the "confirmed" starter evos being based on Chinese legends.

o.o confirmed, since when? Do you mean mijumarus evo bing based on qu lin?
I dont think that one is the case, but the pokabu evo might be based on something chinese since it has those chinese markings on its belly.

 

[OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire]

Looks like shanghai got even more evidence due to the "confirmed" starter evos being based on Chinese legends.

Yeah what do you mean by that, what legends?

 

[rocky505]

I just posted them on the last page.

 

[OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire]

I just posted them on the last page.

Yeah I saw them, I posted that after you. Well those are interesting legends :)

 

[coolnick37]

Isnt qi lin a type of lion/dragon (and i thought arcanine was based on qi lin too, but I gues that isnt true) And some1 said that mijus final evo is a type of giant otter(giant otter, an acctuall species)

 

[OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire]

Isn't qi lin a type of lion/dragon (and i thought arcanine was based on qi lin too, but I guesd that isnt true) And some1 said that mijus final evo is a type of giant otter(giant otter, an actual species)

Well Arceus is based on the Qilin not Arcanine :P
Yeah Mijumaru is a giant Otter with a conch on it's head.
Does anyone have any clues for NYC?

 

[coolnick37]

I was looking forward to seeing a pokemon based of qi lin, but seeing that mijus final evo is based on it, dissapoints me :P since it doesnt look like it. It should have been a fire type red/orange dog/dragon pokemon :(
But still, it is the most beautifull evolved starter.

 

[rocky505]

IMO the NYC stuff has died ever since the Victini event.

 

[coolnick37]

Well Arceus is based on the Qilin not Arcanine :P
Yeah Mijumaru is a giant Otter with a conch on it's head.
Does anyone have any clues for NYC?

Oh ye, qi lin and pheonix maybe we get a turtle, tiger and a snake(i hope the third games legendary is a snake :3) that would reference china again.

IMO the NYC stuff has died ever since the Victini event.

Hahaha, im sorry but i never expected to hear that from you xP

 

[austy14]

Well Arceus is based on the Qilin not Arcanine :P
Yeah Mijumaru is a giant Otter with a conch on it's head.
Does anyone have any clues for NYC?

...Sorry, I'm out. No one bought my idea of just lengthening long island and spreading them out a bit. Now I am fairly convinced of Shanghai :cer_no: But I still think Hiun is NYC.

 

[Yams]

Is the subway system a big thing in Shanghai? I'm just an "ignorant American" so I wouldnt know :X

And I dont wanna say that they further prove NYC if they are just as prevalent in Shanghai.

 

[missingnoresearcher]

Is the subway system a big thing in Shanghai? I'm just an "ignorant American" so I wouldnt know :X

And I dont wanna say that they further prove NYC if they are just as prevalent in Shanghai.

Oh yeah, that brings up a good point.
because of China growth these years, all the subways are newly built compared to America old and graffiti filled subways. (no offense) :-)

Just thought of an idea.
You know how every Gen there's always some Fossil Pokemon and a town that can revive fossils. Well, the town far in the north , as I said , resembles Changzhou. Changzhou is also famous for its dinosaur artifacts, one of the richest (in bones, etc.) in the country.
If the town has some kind of reviving fossil thing, then that clearly refers to Changzhou.

 

[coolnick37]

Oh yeah, that brings up a good point.
because of China growth these years, all the subways are newly built compared to America old and graffiti filled subways. (no offense) :-)

Just thought of an idea.
You know how every Gen there's always some Fossil Pokemon and a town that can revive fossils. Well, the town far in the north , as I said , resembles Changzhou. Changzhou is also famous for its dinosaur artifacts, one of the richest (in bones, etc.) in the country.
If the town has some kind of reviving fossil thing, then that clearly refers to Changzhou.

We have seen a video with some sort of skeleton that is supposed to be a dinosaur or some sort of prehistoric pokemon, so that may be it. a

 

[Chub 777]

I read somewhere that the Arceus ledgend was based on Chineese myths. I recall something like "When the forces of Ying and Yang were stabled, etc." It must be Singapore then.

 

[WindBlows]

I'm quoting a post from Serebii Forums. It is pretty neat.

Spoiler:

Umm...I don't know if this is the place I should be posting this, but I'm kind of sick of all the debates on where Isshu is based on, so I decided that I'd at least post explanations of why it could be BOTH (as in one or the other) Shanghai or NYC.

I will start off with Shanghai and then post NYC sometime later.



*ahem*


For Shanghai:


Isshu next to Shanghai:

https://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...01412663031_1461870078_30678578_7428818_n.jpg

Isshu labeled with locations based on influence:

https://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...315965466842_1461870078_30713508_556610_n.jpg



The thing is, EVERY main series region so far has been influenced by a real-world location. The cities and areas involved are based on actual areas:

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pokémon_world_in_relation_to_the_real_world


But what defines a region the most are its landmarks and where they are connected to/relate to landmarks in the real world:

Kanto:

Mt. Moon = Mt. Akagi (has a crater lake at the summit, like in the HG/SS versions)
Power Plant = Tōkai Power Plant (first commercial nuclear power plant in Japan)
Magnet Train Station = Tōkyō Station
Cycling Road = Tōkyō Bay Aqua Line (a bridge and tunnel over Tōkyō Bay)
Cinnabar Island = Mt. Mihara (an active volcano)

Johto:

Sprout Tower = Hōryū-ji (one of the oldest pagodas in the world)
Ruins of Alph = Nara archaeological sites
National Park = Expo National Park
Burned Tower = Kinkaku (was set on fire in 1950 by a monk)
Bell Tower = Ginkaku
Whirl Islands = Naruto Strait (famous for its whirlpools)
Lake of Rage = Lake Biwa (largest lake in Japan)
Dragon's Den = Mt. Ibuki ("Ibuki" is Clair's Japanese name)

Hoenn:

Mt. Chimney = Mt. Aso (Japan's largest active volcano)
Meteor Falls = Udo Falls (there is a legend of a white dragon, possibly referring to Salamence? [not the white part])
Scorched Slab = Amano-Iwato (where Amaterasu shut herself up in Japanese mythology)
Mt. Pyre = Sakurajima (an active volcano that was formerly an island, lots of ash covers the area, which is why it is so foggy in the game)
Mirage Island = Yaebishi (appears above the sea around March 3)
Sealed Chamber = Yonaguni (where ancient stone structures made by humans were found underwater)

Sinnoh:

Valley Windworks = Tomamae Town (famous for its windmills)
Mt. Coronet = Ezo Mountain Chain
Sendoff Spring = Lake Mashū (fog covers the area most of the time, making it seem mysterious)
Great Marsh = Kushiro Marsh (largest and most famous marsh in Japan)



So, for Isshu, we have several things which point more toward Shanghai.


Firstly, I want to dismiss the giant desert in the middle of the region, I believe that is purely artistic liberty, so it doesn't necessarily eliminate NYC from the equation.

I do believe that the ghost town seen in the desert does correlate to the Songze Archaeological sites in Shanghai:

https://shanghai.cultural-china.com/html/Travel/Historical-Sites/200812/10-2423.html

This area is filled with artifacts from the Ancient Songze culture that once inhabited a small area in Shanghai (in the same-ish location as the desert.)


The giant lake in the middle of the region most likely correlates to Shanghai's Lake Taihu.

Some people will speak of Central Park, but the fact stands that this is an ISLAND in the middle of a LAKE, which most likely corresponds to Yeshan Island, which is in the middle of Lake Taihu.


Hiun City could correspond to the Pudong Skyline, which is in the EXACT same location (as Hiun City). On wikipedia, the main skyline picture taken is of Pudong:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pudong

(You have to turn your head 90º)

Lots of people assume that because skyscrapers are present, it MUST be America. I get annoyed by the fact that America isn't the only country with skyscrapers.


You see the picture of Isshu's southeastern bridge, colored red? It COULD correspond to the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, which is the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangzhou_Bay_Bridge

It's a major bridge, so it naturally should be one of the main landmarks of Isshu.


Speaking of bridges, look at Sky Arrow Bridge. At the end of the bridge, there is a large SPIRAL shape. This could be a reference to the spiral-shaped Nanpu Bridge in Shanghai, which is very close to the same location. (Turned on its side, of course.):

https://www.google.com/images?clien...tle&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQsAQwAA&biw=1200&bih=930

(Those are Google Image results for the Nanpu Bridge)

And seriously, when you think of bridges, how many do you think of that are spiral-shaped?


Next, to the "west", you see that huge airport? That could be a reference to Yiwu Airport, the LARGEST airport in the province:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiwu_Airport


Moving on to the lake area in the top left/northwest. These lakes could be a reference to East Lake in Shaoxing, along with West Lake in Hangzhou, and South Lake in Jiaxing (all are in the same area), which make up the three of the most famous lakes in the country (China):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Lake

Also, take note of the ancient-looking buildings. This could be a reference to the Shaoxing Zhufu culture:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaoxing

(It's a major section. Take note of the mysterious building covered in fog on the Isshu map:

https://pokemonblackandwhite.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/isshuclearmap.jpg

look at how closely the strange architecture of the Isshu building looks like 3 pagoda-ish towers, like the ones in Shaoxing.)


Moving on, I'll move onto the "city" at the top (a bit to the right). It looks ancient and old, right? This could be based on Huai'an, an incredibly ANCIENT city that was responsible for taming the Huai River:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huai'an

Notice how close the city/location is to the river, which itself could be based on the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia, which passes by in the same location related to Shanghai and Isshu:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangtze_River

I will point out that yes, Isshu is divided by TWO major rivers, but the western "river" is landmarked with multiple cities and bridges, while the eastern/possibly Yangtze River-inspired side is relatively less "busy" with populated areas, making it stand out more as a standalone river, rather than a bunch of cities by the water.


Now, let's get to the giant ferris wheel. This could be a reference to the Suzhou Ferris Wheel...the 2nd largest ferris wheel in China. (The largest is far away from Shanghai.) Once again, Suzhou is just south of Lake Taihu...the same-ish location as the Ferris Wheel to the island in the middle of Isshu:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou_Ferris_Wheel

Now, if you've seen the picture of Isshu's Ferris Wheel, you'll notice that there is a river of some sort flowing behind/around it, seemingly flowing through the whole city.

This could be a reference to Suzhou itself:

Suzhou is known as "the Venice of the East", for good reason.

Check here on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou

The first picture is of Suzhou's HISTORIC "Canal Street", seeing as much of the city is surrounded by water.

In 1996-1997, the Tōkyō Bay Aqua Line (basis for Kanto's Cycling Road) was under construction. So it is safe to assume that there may be some current influence for the games' locations.

I believe that the giant Ferris Wheel could also be a reference to the Shanghai World Expo 2010 which began May 1st and ends October 31st (of this year), a timeframe which also has the release of Black and White in the middle (not the exact middle) of it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_2010

The Expo is to attract tourism. Ferris Wheels are usually for tourism (I said *usually*.)



Now, this is all speculation, but I believe that local landmarks determine the area of basis far more than the list of Pokémon.

Many people believe that Wōguru/Wargle's mere existence means that it is based on America. I don't believe this so. Shimama exists, so does that mean the game is based in Africa? No. Most of the regions feature Pokémon based on animals not native to the real-world locations they are based on.

Hoenn (based Kyūshū) had camels, mongooses, vipers, geckos, axolotls (see Mudkip and Wooper), hyenas, swallows, sloths, cactuses (only native to the Americas), and walruses.

Sinnoh (based on Hokkaidō) had beavers, lions, river otters (Buizel), skunks, hippos, scorpions, poison dart frogs, jackals (Lucario), parrots, monkeys, penguins and venus fly traps (Carnivine - only native to southeastern United States).

The Pokémon of the region don't necessarily indicate where the region is based on.

Shimama = zebra (Africa)
Chillarmy = chinchilla (central & South America)
Wargle = eagle (United States in particular)
Munna & Musharna = tapir/baku (tapirs are found in South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia; the baku is a Japanese folklegend based on the Malaysian tapir, which is said to eat dreams...you can't dodge the dream thing.)
Desukaan = Egyptian sarcophagus (Egypt in particular)
Hihidaruma = daruma doll + some sort of primate (...I'm going to say that this is mostly Japanese-based...)
Mamepato = pigeon (FOUND EVERYWHERE North America, South America...Asia...JAPAN...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Pigeon

the Rock Pigeon is the one we Americans are most likely to think about when we think "pigeon", but guess what? THEY ARE MORE COMMON IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, SAUDI ARABIA, AND INDIA THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD!)


As for the new Football Trainer class...that really means nothing.

Yes, it's AMERICAN football, but they've based Trainer classes on American things:

The Roughneck/Cue Ball is based on American biker gang members (don't tell me when you think "biker gang" you think of another country XD) :

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cue_Ball

Belle & Pa are blatantly based on American cowgirls and old farmers/(ex?)cowboys:

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Belle_&_Pa

Especially the Cowgirl class...she's a "Cowgirl" even in the Japanese version:

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cowgirl

The Gentleman is based on an English gentleman, complete with pocket watch/cane/bowler/suitcase

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gentleman

The Hex Maniac is based on western witches/wiccans/all that jazz:

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Hex_Maniac

The Ruin Maniac is based on the (mainly 17 & 1800s British) stereotype of ruin explorers/archaeologists:

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ruin_Maniac

The Triathlete is based on...real triathletes, but the triathlon has historical roots in France:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triathlon

The Waitress is BLATANTLY based on American waitresses throughout the 1900s:

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Waitress


So, you can see that just one, ONE Trainer class does not define the region the generations are based on.


Those are all my points...


Whew!​

 

[pokewalker]

I'm quoting a post from Serebii Forums. It is pretty neat.

Spoiler:

​

o_O

wow. took me 10 minutes to read.