It’s been discovered that 7-Eleven has partnered with The Pokemon Company to sell onigiri rice balls based on the franchise’s iconic Poke Balls. The convenience store chain will start selling these Pokemon snacks in Japanese stores starting on November 18, coinciding with the launch of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Prices will vary between 151 and 172 yen, or between $1 and $1.25 USD, so fans in the country should be able to afford one or more without breaking the bank.

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Three different Poke Ball onigiri will be available later this week, each sporting its own mix of flavors and packaging inspired by one of Pokemon’s many monster-catching devices. One will be based on the standard red and white Poke Ball and will boast pepper rice, garlic mayonnaise, and a teriyaki sausage patty. Another made to resemble a Great Ball will come with a rice omelet, chicken rice, and mushrooms. The third and last one, based on the Ultra Ball, will include tonkotsu pork broth and a hard-boiled egg.

As far as food goes, onigiri is a strong choice for a Pokemon-themed snack. Beyond being a popular snack in the franchise’s home country, onigiri have earned something of a meme status among fans of the Pokemon anime due to the English dub referring to them as jelly donuts instead of rice balls. One can consider it a fun, tasty, and referential way to celebrate the franchise’s past while welcoming its future with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s arrival later this week.

The franchise as a whole is riding high these days. Scarlet and Violet are about to introduce the first fully open-world Pokemon games to the series, other games like Pokemon GO and Pokemon Unite continue to be popular, and the Pokemon TCG remains one of the biggest card games for players and collectors alike. The Pokemon anime also saw a historic milestone this month, as series protagonist Ash Ketchum was crowned the Pokemon World Champion, finally achieving his dream of becoming the greatest Pokemon trainer after 25 years.

Amid all this, Pokemon continues to see new merchandise released, with Pokemon-themed Puma shoes and other apparel. With Pokemon Scarlet and Violet launching on Friday, no doubt there will be even more for fans to get their hands on as the franchise’s ninth generation begins.

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Source: Famitsu, SoraNews24