Speaking calendar/Pikachu Outbreak (Yokohama)
August 12th

Pikachu Outbreak (Yokohama)

A massive, surreal pop-culture event in Yokohama where thousands of people in giant Pikachu costumes march and dance in perfect synchronisation through the city streets.

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities
01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

  1. Why are humans so highly entertained by massive groups of people moving in perfect synchronisation?
  2. How does a video game character become a powerful mascot for an entire country's tourism industry?
  3. Would you enjoy wearing a giant inflatable suit in the middle of a hot Japanese summer?
  4. Do you think modern pop-culture parades will eventually become serious historical traditions?
  5. If your city was invaded by 1,000 giant inflatable characters, which character would you want it to be?
02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Mascot Debate

Motion: "Modern pop-culture characters like Pikachu are more effective ambassadors for a country's tourism than historical monuments or traditional art galleries."

Split into two teams. Team A defends the power of modern global branding and emotional connection; Team B argues for the importance of preserving real history and sophisticated culture over cartoon marketing.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The most famous mascot from my country is..."
  • "If I had to wear a giant costume for a day, I would choose..."
  • "I think people are obsessed with cute characters because..."