By Heinz in Japan is collaborating with Pokemon on special limited edition Pikachu versions of its ketchup bottles. The only real difference is that the label has Pikachu and a Poke Ball on it.
Heinz first teased this collaboration in early March 2026. It doesn’t mention that this collaboration is for the 30th anniversary of Pokemon, and the bottle doesn’t contain any references to this milestone. The Pikachu ketchup bottles are available via Plaza, costing 421 JPY ($2.70) each. There are three different designs, but you won’t be able to choose which one you get. Plaza warns that there is a chance of getting duplicates if you purchase a bunch at once.
Pikachu’s love of ketchup stems from “Showdown at Dark City”. This is the 42nd episode of the anime, and it aired in 1998. In it, Pikachu develops a strong love of the condiment and eats it straight out of the bottle. The ketchup bottle is not just a cute gag, and it also plays a part in the episode’s story.
This characterization reappears on an irregular basis. Despite this, as well as the fact that the originator episode was so early on in the series, Pikachu’s love for ketchup permeates fan consciousness thanks to GIFs and merchandise. In 2017, Re-Ment released blind boxes containing little figurines of Pikachu enjoying ketchup either straight from the bottle or in dishes like napolitan pasta.
The Heinz Pikachu ketchup bottles will be available for a limited time in Japan.
