Johto
- If you were looking for the musical group, see Johto (musical group).
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The Johto region (Japanese: ジョウト地方 Jōto-chihō) is a large area located west of Kanto. Johto and Kanto are part of a large landmass, with everything west of Indigo Plateau falling in the Johto region. Though it is unlike Kanto in that its name is not directly based on that of a region of Japan, Junichi Masuda has come forward in his director's column naming the kanji that inspired the name mean "castle palace" (城都) or "lattice-shaped palace" (条都); this meaning is connected to the city of Nara, which was the basis for Violet City.
First explored in Pokémon Gold and Silver, it is home to an additional 100 Pokémon that were not present in previous games. In the Generation II games and their remakes, players begin their journey in New Bark Town, where Professor Elm offers either Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile to beginning Pokémon Trainers. The English-version names of most of the cities in Johto are also the names of plants or things related to plants.
Geography
The geography of Johto is much like that of Kanto. It is marked by a mountain range in the north and a vast sea to the south.
Locations
Cities/Towns
- New Bark Town
- Cherrygrove City
- Violet City
- Azalea Town
- Goldenrod City
- Ecruteak City
- Olivine City
- Cianwood City
- Mahogany Town
- Blackthorn City
Areas of interest
- Dark Cave
- Sprout Tower
- Ruins of Alph
- Union Cave
- Slowpoke Well
- Ilex Forest
- Radio Tower
- National Park
- Burned Tower
- Mt. Mortar
- Lake of Rage
- Bell Tower
- Whirl Islands
- Ice Path
- Dragon's Den
- Tohjo Falls (actually in Kanto)
- Mt. Silver
- Indigo Plateau (actually in Kanto)
- Battle Tower (Crystal only)
- Cliff Edge Gate (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
- Sinjoh Ruins (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
- Embedded Tower (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
- Pokéathlon Dome (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
- Battle Frontier (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
- Frontier Access (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
- Safari Zone (HeartGold and SoulSilver only)
Anime City/Town/Locations
Routes
Johto's routes are numbered 29-46, starting at the route number that Kanto (in Generation II) left off from, 28. Route 28 itself actually partially stretches into Johto, though is known as Silver Cave when in Johto. Routes 47 and 48 are added in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver to connect Cianwood City to Johto's Safari Zone.
League
- Main article: Johto League
The Johto League is the regional Pokémon League of the Johto region. Johto and Kanto share a single Elite Four, located at the Indigo Plateau. Eight Johto League Badges are required to participate in League competitions.
Gym Leaders
| Johto League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym Leader Japanese |
Location Japanese |
Type | Badge |
 Falkner ハヤト Hayato |
Violet City キキョウシティ Kikyō City |
Flying |  Zephyr Badge |
 Bugsy ツクシ Tsukushi |
Azalea Town ヒワダタウン Hiwada Town |
Bug |  Hive Badge |
 Whitney アカネ Akane |
Goldenrod City コガネシティ Kogane City |
Normal |  Plain Badge |
 Morty マツバ Matsuba |
Ecruteak City エンジュシティ Enju City |
Ghost |  Fog Badge |
 Chuck シジマ Shijima |
Cianwood City タンバシティ Tanba City |
Fighting |  Storm Badge |
 Jasmine ミカン Mikan |
Olivine City アサギシティ Asagi City |
Steel |  Mineral Badge |
 Pryce ヤナギ Yanagi |
Mahogany Town チョウジタウン Chōji Town |
Ice |  Glacier Badge |
 Clair イブキ Ibuki |
Blackthorn City フスベシティ Fusube City |
Dragon |  Rising Badge |
Elite Four
| Johto League | |
|---|---|
| Generation IV | |
| Member Japanese |
Type |
 Will イツキ Itsuki |
Psychic |
 Koga キョウ Kyō |
Poison |
 Bruno シバ Siba |
Fighting |
 Karen カリン Karin |
Dark |
 Champion Lance ワタル Wataru |
Dragon |
Battle Frontier
- Main article: Battle Frontier (Generation IV)
Frontier Brains
| Johto Battle Frontier | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Brain Japanese |
Facility Japanese |
Prints | |
 Tower Tycoon Palmer タワータイクーン クロツグ Tower Tycoon Kurotsugu |
Battle Tower バトルタワー Battle Tower |
    Silver Tower Prints |
    Gold Tower Prints |
 Factory Head Thorton ファクトリーヘッド ネジキ Factory Head Nejiki |
Battle Factory バトルファクトリー Battle Factory |
    Silver Factory Prints |
    Gold Factory Prints |
 Arcade Star Dahlia ルーレットゴーデス ダリア Roulette Goddess Dahlia |
Battle Arcade バトルルーレット Battle Roulette |
    Silver Arcade Prints |
    Gold Arcade Prints |
| File:VSDarach and Caitlin.png Castle Valet Darach and Lady Caitlin キャッスルバトラー コクラン&カトレア Castle Butler Kokuran & Cattleya |
Battle Castle バトルキャッスル Battle Castle |
    Silver Castle Prints |
    Gold Castle Prints |
 Hall Matron Argenta ステージマドンナ ケイト Stage Madonna Kate |
Battle Hall バトルステージ Battle Stage |
    Silver Hall Prints |
    Gold Hall Prints |
Culture
History
After Johto was created, alongside Kanto, by Groudon and Kyogre at the beginning of the universe, Pokémon no one had seen before began inhabiting the region. 1500 years before Generation I, the earliest known system for writing is developed and used at the Ruins of Alph of Johto. Archaeologists are currently unsure whether the nearly identical Unown preceded or succeeded the English alphabet, but it is assumed they share some sort of connection. Approximately 700 years before Generation II, the twin Bell and Brass Towers were constructed in Ecruteak City, and Lugia and Ho-Oh perched at their tops. The two lived at the tops of the towers until, 550 years later, Brass Tower burned to the ground, killing three Pokémon trapped inside. Lugia fled to the Whirl Islands, while Ho-Oh, after resurrecting the Pokémon as the legendary beasts Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, flew off in search of a pure-hearted Trainer.
Connection to Japan
- Main article: Pokémon world in relation to the real world
Regardless of their proximity, the people of Johto and those of Kanto are set apart by many cultural differences. Johto is based on the real Kansai region in Japan. This trait is most noticeable in its geography; however, the Kansai influence also defines the culture in Johto. Kansai residents are known for their attitudes against typical Japanese standards, mostly due to the historical rivalry between the region, once the major seat of political power, and the real Kantō region where Tokyo, the current capital, is located. The soil of the Kansai region is rich, unlike the volcanic Kantō region, and this is perhaps referenced by the in-game Kanto region's inability to maintain a berry crop in Generation II and Generation III. People from Kansai are considered to be more relaxed. Kansai and Kantō, however different, are the two most important areas of Honshū, the largest island in Japan, and, much like Johto and Kanto, represent a harmony of contrasting cultures living together. The cultural divide is most noticeable in the games, as the player talks to and learns about the denizens of both regions.
Certain cultural aspects of the Johto region are deep-seated in Japanese history, as well. Kyoto, which is probably the basis for Ecruteak City, is considered the cultural center of Japan. Kyoto and its many historical temples, shrines, palaces, gardens and architecture have been preserved. This connection to history is reflected in many areas of Johto. However, Goldenrod City (like Osaka) is typically modern.
In Generation IV
Johto returns in Generation IV's HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions much as Kanto returned in Generation III's FireRed and LeafGreen, with its graphics boosted to the current level on the Nintendo DS. All areas from its Generation II iteration return, and several new areas are included, such as the Safari Zone, with new Routes 47 and 48 leading to it. Like in Generation III Kanto, a special image of a landmark is shown briefly when it is entered. Other than this, Johto remains for the most part much the same as it was.
Trivia
- Johto is the only main region in which Pikachu is not found in the wild, though Pikachu are available in Generation II when the player travels to Kanto later in the game.
- It is the only region in which Ash Ketchum did not meet a new traveling companion.
- Johto is the only region without:
- a Cycling Road
- a Pokémon burial ground (although it is said that the Bell Tower is where Pokémon go to rest)
- its own set of fossil Pokémon
- its own Victory Road
- an autonomous Pokémon League (shared with Kanto)
- its own storage system developer (Bill also developed that of Kanto)
- its own villainous team (Team Rocket is shared with Kanto)
- prior to Generation IV, Johto was also the only region without a Safari Zone and true regional Pokédex.
- This lack is mostly due to the fact that Generation II is very dependent on Generation I, and as the latter half of the game's storyline takes place in Kanto, there was no need to repeat many things.
- Johto is the only region where the first Gym doesn't specialize in Template:Type2s (likely due to Kanto's Brock doing so as there is no overlap in the two regions' Gyms). Despite this, Jasmine is said to have once used Rock-types.
- In Generation II and IV, between Johto and Kanto, the Dark-type and the Ground-type are the only types not represented by an official Gym. Viridian City, whose previous gym leader Giovanni, had the Ground-type. However, when Giovanni left the gym after being defeated by Red, he was replaced by Blue, who does not have a type specialty. Karen of the Elite Four uses Dark-type Pokémon, making the Ground-type the only type to not have a gym leader or Elite Four member specialize in it in Johto and Kanto for Generation II and IV.
- Unused location data for Johto (similar to the data for Hoenn and Kanto used for Pal Park) exists within the programming of Generation IV's games. Pokémon actually caught in Johto, however, display as being from "Faraway place" when traded to a game taking place in Sinnoh, much like Pokémon caught in a Platinum-exclusive location do when traded to Diamond or Pearl.
- Kanto and Johto are the only regions that are connected to each other by land, and are likewise the only regions to add additional routes in their second appearances.
- Johto is the only main region in which the starter Pokémon, throughout their evolutions, stay one type (Grass, Water, and Fire).
| Regions in the Pokémon world | ||
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| Johto | ||||||||
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