Yokohama hosted the first Pokémon World Championships held in Asia. The 2023 event took place in Yokohama, Japan, from August 11 to August 13 at Pacifico Yokohama.
The tournament was the 18th edition of the Pokémon World Championships and marked the first time the event visited Japan or any other Asian location. Earlier championships had been held in North America, Europe, and Hawaii, making the Yokohama edition a geographic milestone.
The 2023 program included Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon Unite. Japan also produced a notable result in the video game competition by sweeping the Junior, Senior, and Masters podiums.
Yokohama was announced as host during the closing ceremony of the 2022 championships in London. The city is also closely connected with Pokémon through the annual Pikachu parade and other large franchise events, although Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are more commonly recognized by international visitors.