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UH panel probes
power of Pokemon

Although the fad is fading,
specialists note the positive
impact it has had, teaching
kids fairness and cooperation

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

An international team of professors, lecturers and media scholars from around the world will gather at the University of Hawaii-Manoa tonight to discuss the phenomenal rise and fall of the powerful cultural empire of ... Pokemon?

"It's the only toy that crosses over from boys to girls and appeals to a wide range of children," said Professor Joseph Tobin, UH education professor.

"Pikachu's Global Adventure," a public event, will be held in the UH-Manoa Art Auditorium from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m.

Participants will address issues of gender and cultural dimensions of cuteness, the worldwide circulation of children's popular culture, whether Pokemon is good or bad for children, and Japan's growing role as a creator and exporter of cultural products.

Japan is responsible for the creation of a myriad of popular toys and characters, including the Power Rangers, Tamagotchi, Digimon and Pokemon. But lately, specialists are beginning to see the decline of the Pokemon phenomenon.

Nintendo had hoped it would have the longevity of Barbie, Tobin said. But as with most other toys, it seems Pokemon will be loved for a period of time and soon forgotten, he said.

Despite its failing interest, specialists see the positive aspects that Pokemon has instilled in children. It gives children a common culture, said Tobin, and is a world kids know more about than adults.

Also, children learn about cooperation and equality when they trade Pokemon cards.

"Children are much more fair about trading," said Tobin. "They learn from each other and are very generous teachers."

If a fight should arise, it gives parents the best opportunity to sit down and discuss fairness and honesty with their kids, Tobin said.

"We have to figure out why kids find Pokemon so fascinating," he said, adding that to understand Pokemon is a way to better understand children.

The Pokemon phenomenon originated in Japan three years ago as a Nintendo Game Boy video game. Among the Pokemon characters are Chansey, Gengar and Pikachu.

Pokemon quickly expanded into a franchise of trading cards, cartoons, movies, toys and comic books.

The public event, part of a two-day conference, is sponsored by the University of Hawaii Center for Japanese Studies Endowment, the University of Hawaii Globalization Research Center, the University of Hawaii Anthropology Department and the International Cultural Studies Certificate Program of UH and the East-West Center.