Pokemon Day in 2023 came with many big announcements, including the reveal that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will be receiving DLC this year. The DLC, titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, will be released in two parts, with the first part taking players to a Japanese-inspired region. The Japanese theme will go beyond the region itself, as it appears that the new Pokemon are also inspired by Japanese mythology.
In addition to a new legendary, three Pokemon appear in the revealed promotional art that resemble a dog, pheasant, and monkey. This is very likely a reference to the Japanese tale of Momotaro. Looking at this story could give some hints regarding what direction the story could go and how it could branch off from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's plot.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and Japanese Mythology
The first part of Scarlet and Violet's DLC, titled The Teal Mask, will be arriving in Fall. It takes place in Kitakami, which is described as a tranquil land with mighty mountains and sprawling apple orchards. In the promotional art, players see a Pokemon trio that looks like it consists of a proud pheasant, a strong dog, and a smug monkey. The dog Pokemon's name is Okidogi, the pheasant's name is Fezandpiti, and Munkidori is the monkey. These sounds like a play on the phrases "okie-dokie," "serendipity," and "hunky-dory," which suggests that the trio may be laid-back creatures. With Kitakami being so heavily inspired by Japan, the three Pokemon are almost certainly a reference to the popular Japanese myth of Momotaro.
In the story, the hero Momotaro is born from a giant peach, and he sets out to battle a gang of Oni, which are monsters. Along the way, Momotaro crosses paths with a talking pheasant, monkey, and dog. They join Momotaro and together, they defeat the Oni and return home with their treasure plundered, and their chief held captive. This wouldn't be the first time Pokemon has been inspired by mythology, and the appearance of Momotaro's heroic tale may be a hint at what's to come in The Teal Mask DLC.
Japanese Mythology and The Teal Mask DLC
The Teal Mask DLC could take hints from the story of Momotaro and have gamers going on some kind of quest to defeat or capture a monster. It would be fitting, as Momotaro is often depicted as a child, much like the protagonists of the average Pokemon game. Furthermore, it appears there already has been a terrifying opponent revealed in the form of the legendary Pokemon Ogerpon. It is green and bipedal with a face that suggests that it may be connected to the "Teal Mask" mentioned in the DLC's title. Defeating Ogerpon may involve the other three Pokemon in some way. It would be fitting to have the trio appear as friends, as Scarlet and Violet allow Pokemon to follow players around.
Players can also look forward to part two of the DLC titled The Indigo Disk, which is scheduled to launch in winter. Not much is known about the region, though a new legendary - Terapagos - has been introduced. The DLC will have players attending Blueberry Academy, which is a sister school to the Pokemon Academy in Scarlet and Violet. The two parts will tell a complete story, so the influence of Momotaro's tale could bleed into The Indigo Disk in interesting ways.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on Nintendo Switch. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC is scheduled to release in 2023.
