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Jun 18, 20261
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Pokémon Donates 20 Million Yen from Pokémon Ecology Handbook to Fund Wildlife Research

The Pokémon Company is donating 20 million yen from Pokémon Ecology Handbook royalties to support wildlife behavioral ecology research through the Bilogging Support Fund at Tokyo University. The handbook, released in June 2025, has sold over 800,000 copies and achieved bestseller status in Japan.





Quick Facts
Who
The Pokémon Company
What
Donated 20 million yen from book royalties
When
June 2025 (book release)
Where
Japan
- Donated 20 million yen from book royalties
- Supported animal behavioral ecology research
- Published Pokémon Ecology Handbook
- Funded bilogging research projects
- The Pokémon Company
The Pokémon Company has announced a donation of 20 million yen from royalties of the Pokémon Ecology Handbook to support animal behavioral ecology research in Japan. The funds will be directed to the "Bilogging Support Fund," which backs long-term research using bilogging—a technique in which small measurement devices are attached to wild animals to study their natural behavior and movements.
The Pokémon Ecology Handbook, released in June 2025, presents the fictional ecosystems of Pokémon creatures through the lens of real-world behavioral ecology. The book has achieved significant commercial and critical success, surpassing 800,000 copies in cumulative sales. It was named a 2025 annual bestseller, featured in the Nikkei MJ Hit Products rankings, and ranked first in the children's book category in the first half of 2026 bestseller rankings.
The donation represents a continuation of the book's core philosophy—to enrich both the virtual and real worlds through Pokémon. The book's creator and illustrator, Yoshinari Yonehara and Chihiro Kinoshita, both conducted doctoral research at Tokyo University's Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, specializing in bilogging studies of animal behavior. The knowledge they gained from their research directly informed the handbook's content. By returning a portion of the book's profits to the University of Tokyo's Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute's Behavioral Ecology Measurement Group, Pokémon aims to advance fundamental research in behavioral ecology and animal studies in Japan.
Why This Matters
This donation demonstrates how fictional entertainment properties can drive real-world scientific funding and research advancement. The Pokémon Company's commitment to behavioral ecology research through bilogging—a cutting-edge technique for studying wild animal behavior—strengthens Japan's capacity in fundamental biological sciences. For readers interested in conservation, technology, or the intersection of pop culture and science, this initiative shows a tangible model for corporate social responsibility that directly advances environmental knowledge and animal welfare research.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2025
WireHandbook selected as annual bestseller and featured in Nikkei MJ Hit Products rankings
Jun 18, 2026
WirePokémon announces 20 million yen donation on one-year anniversary of handbook publication