Pokémon-Wayang Project to Premiere at Creative Economy Forum

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s creative industry is taking on a new direction through a collaboration between Pokémon and wayang, known as the Poke Wayang Project. The initiative blends global intellectual property (IP) with cultural heritage to reach younger audiences.

Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, said the Poke Wayang Project can broaden cultural reach while generating sustainable economic impact.

“Pokémon is an international IP with significant global influence, while wayang is a national identity and cultural tradition that reflects the nation’s noble values and character,” Irene said at the Pokémon Press Conference: Future Plans for Indonesia 2026–2027 in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

She hopes the collaboration will encourage young Indonesians to see wayang as relevant to their cultural identity. The government views global IP as a strategic tool to introduce Indonesian culture to international markets.

Previous Pokémon collaborations in Indonesia have included partnerships with Garuda Indonesia featuring aircraft liveries, a batik‑clad Pikachu, and the “Goyang HEPIKA” music project with singer Happy Asmara. The Poke Wayang initiative is being developed with Wahyu Dunung Raharjo of Sahabat Wayang.

“The batik‑clad Pikachu striding into Tokyo is a tangible manifestation of the creative economy’s power to bring Indonesia’s local wisdom to the world stage. By blending this tradition with Pokémon, we are creating a unique pop‑culture medium to introduce our cultural richness to the younger generation,” Irene said.

The development of Poke Wayang took nearly a year, involving discussions with the Ministry of Creative Economy, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection. The premiere is scheduled for the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) in Jakarta on October 21–23.

In addition to Poke Wayang, Pokémon is preparing several projects for the Indonesian market, including Pokémon Run, the Pokémon Sports Project, the Indonesian‑language Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCG Pocket), and collaborations with Nintendo.

Corporate Officer of The Pokémon Company’s Asia Business Division, Susumu Fukunaga, said the projects aim to connect local culture with the world of Pokémon. “Our mission is to introduce the world of Pokémon to even more children in Indonesia,” Fukunaga said.

This collaboration brings together traditional culture and global entertainment on a single creative platform. The government expects the approach to increase young people’s interest in wayang while expanding the potential of Indonesia’s creative economy. ***