Rice ball
A rice ball (Japanese: 御握り onigiri) is a common Japanese snack that consists of sticky rice packed around a filling, all held together by nori seaweed.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Rice balls appeared in Pokémon the Series many times and, in the English-language dub, under a variety of different names. Brock makes them fairly often and they are frequently used in gags.
To give the snack a name which non-Asian children would be more familiar with,[citation needed] the dub has referred to them as sandwiches, cookies, onions, donuts, and popcorn balls. In a couple of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire episodes, the 4Kids dub replaced giant rice balls with large sandwiches. However, a few times in the series, such as in the Pokémon the Series: The Beginning episode Pokémon Paparazzi and the Ruby and Sapphire series episode A Tail with a Twist, 4Kids referred to rice balls by their proper name, instead of something adjusted for foreign audiences. 4Kids continued to refer to them as sandwiches or cookies (or replace them with other food) even after these episodes aired, such as in the Ruby and Sapphire series episode Less is Morrison.
Since TPCi started dubbing the series, they were consistently referred to as rice balls. Eventually, starting in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, rice balls appeared less often, more so in Pokémon the Series: Black & White, wherein the region (Unova) is no longer based on a part of Japan. Some rice balls appeared in the special Hoopa — The Mischief Pokémon, where they were summoned by Hoopa in Arche Valley. In the Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon episode Real Life...Inquire Within!, Lana was seen eating a giant rice ball.
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Japanese version of Less is Morrison -
English dub version of Less is Morrison
Pokémon Horizons: The Series
In Dance, Quaxly! The Blue Medali Step!, Liko, Roy, Dot, and Larry each ate Fire Blast-style grilled rice balls with lemon at the Treasure Eatery.
In the games
Core series
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Rice balls appear as purchasable food items in various restaurants in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The Treasure Eatery restaurant in Medali sells the Mustard Rice Ball for $750, while the Chic Kebab vendor chain sells the Grilled Rice Balls for $950.
Larry, the Gym Leader of Medali Gym, is often seen ordering large portions of rice balls. His Gym Test involves the player figuring out the secret menu item at Treasure Eatery, where the Gym battle takes place. The secret menu item is a medium serving of grilled rice balls; cooked extra crispy, Fire Blast style; and garnished with lemon.
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Mustard Rice Ball -
Grilled Rice Balls
Spin-off games
Hey You, Pikachu!
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This section is missing one or more images. Please feel free to add any missing images to this section. Needed images can be uploaded to the Bulbagarden Archives. Reason: Add images of the rice ball (Japanese) and cupcake (American) from this game |
In the Japanese version of Hey You, Pikachu!, a rice ball is available as an item that Pikachu can eat. However, this item was changed to a cupcake in the American version of this game.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Diamond & Pearl arc
Rice balls first appeared in Stagestruck Starly. They were frequently enjoyed by Diamond during his journey, along with many other foods. He was also shown to be able to make them in Lucky Lucario II.
The Electric Tale of Pikachu
In Play Misty For Me, when Ash battled Misty at the Cerulean Gym, Misty distracted Ash's Pikachu with a rice ball.
In the novels
Pokémon Tales
In Fly on, Butterfree, the picnic includes rice balls.
In real-life
Pikachu's Onigiri Shop is a restaurant serving food at the PokéPark Kanto theme park. It served a variety of different foods including four different varieties of onigiri: Pollock Roe and Cream Cheese, Miso Butter and Salmon, Braised Beef, and Seaweed Tuna Mayo.[1]
Trivia
- Glalie bears a resemblance to these snacks, and its Japanese name (オニゴーリ Onigohri) sounds similar to the word onigiri.
- In Primeape Goes Bananas, Ash caught a rice ball in a Poké Ball.
- The infamous jelly donuts meme was mentioned in the "Explore Pokémon: Kanto Region" promotional video on the official Pokémon YouTube channel.
- It was also alluded to in the English dub of Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, in which Brock refers to them as his "famous jelly donuts".
- In the English version of Pokémon Masters EX's "Battle Buffet Bash" event, Brock mentions having had his eyes on some "jelly-filled donuts", referencing this meme.
Related articles
References
- ↑ Pikachu's Popcorn | Menu Showcase｜The Official PokéPark KANTO Website Retrieved January 21, 2026.
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |