Ash's Pikachu Merchandise Is Flooding Japanese Pokemon Center Stores

A ton of new Pokemon merchandise featuring Ash's Pikachu is hitting Pokemon Center stores in Japan to promote the next Pokemon movie. A wave of merchandise featuring Pikachu wearing Ash's original baseball cap was released earlier this week, featuring everything from plushes to stationary to keychains.
The new movie will focus on Ash and Pikachu's relationship, as the two search for the Legendary Pokemon Ho-Oh. Ash and Pikachu first encountered Ho-Oh in the very first episode of the anime, and the new movie seems to finally follow up on this iconic moment. The movie seems to take place sometime in Ash's past, as he's sporting his original outfit albeit with an updated hat design. Trailers have also suggested that Ash's Butterfree and Charizard will also make appearances in the new movie, which would be the first time either of those Pokemon have been seen in years (or decades, in Butterfree's case.)
Some of the more popular movie items include a $52 plush, which stands about two feet tall. There's also a smaller keychain version of the Pikachu plush, which sells for about $13. Other items include metal charms, several purse-like pouches featuring Pikachu's head, and a range of pencils and papers featuring drawings of Pikachu.
Japanese Pokemon Centers are also now selling a ton of merchandise featuring the new Pokemon movie poster. For just a few dollars, Pokemon fans can get coffee mugs, puzzles, and even hand towels featuring Ash and Pikachu watching Ho-Oh fly over their heads.
Like most Pokemon merchandise, there's no guarantee that any of this will wind up over in the US, but it's likely that at least a few items should appear on the US's Pokemon Center website in the fall.
You can check out the photo gallery to check out some of the items, or head over to PokeShopper for a full listing of merchandise.