Posted in: Card Games, Games, Pokémon TCG, Tabletop | Tagged: pokemon, pokemon cards, Pokemon TCG, Space Juggler, Time Gazer

Japanese Pokémon TCG Trademarks Time Gazer & Space Juggler

Following the news that one of Japan's Pokémon TCG trademarks will become their December 2021 high-class set with the newly announced VMAX Climax, news has come in regarding two new trademarks. This has implications beyond just the Japanese market and may indeed confirm the theory that the Pokémon TCG as a whole is moving away from the Sword & Shield era earlier than expected. Let's take a look at the details.

Here's what we know:

• The Japanese-language Pokémon TCG has filed trademarks for Time Gazer and Space Juggler.
• Time Gazer and Space Juggler with absolutely zero ambiguity refer to Dialga and Palkia.
• Dialga and Palkia are the mascots of the upcoming Generation Four remake, Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
• In the past, the Pokémon TCG has sometimes broken from eras to introduce a new, shorter era based on a remake. This happened with the HeartGold SoulSilver era. Could we see them end the Sword & Shield era for a new Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl-focused era?
• These will very likely be 2022 sets… and Japan is closing out their Pokémon TCG products of 2021 with a special high-class set in December called VMAX Climax. That sure sounds like it means the end of the VMAX era to me!

On the other hand, please note that we do not know that the Sword & Shield era will officially be done. We could certainly see the VMAX mechanic continued in these sets even if they are based primarily on Sinnoh Pokémon. We will also certainly see a focus on the Hisui region to tie into the upcoming open-world RPG game Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

As for the English-language Pokémon TCG, we know very little of what to expect in 2022 without more information on what's happening in Japan. So far, we know that the 25th Anniversary set Celebrations will include a 25-card main set and a 25-card subset of reprints in October. The next mainline Sword & Shield expansion, titled Fusion Strike, will arrive in November as a Mew-themed set.

Stay tuned for more Pokémon TCG news right here at Bleeding Cool!

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