Fender Japan’s Pokémon Guitars Are Real: Red Strat, Green Tele, Push-Knob 8-Bit Sound

Fender Music Corporation Japan and Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. just put pixel art on two of the most famous electric guitar shapes on Earth. On October 30, 2026, Fender’s newsroom and Pokémon’s Japan/U.S. channels confirmed a Pokémon 30th anniversary collab: the Made in Japan Pokémon “Red Version” Stratocaster® and Made in Japan Pokémon “Green Version” Telecaster®.

Both guitars carry bold 8-bit body graphics inspired by the original 1996 Pokémon Red and Green games, custom single-coil pickups, fluorescent-angle pickguards, a 30th-anniversary pixel neck plate — and the headline hardware gag: an “8-Bit Sound System” that adds chiptune-style tones when you press the volume knob.

Japan buyers enter a lottery on Pokémon Center Online from November 19, 2026, 12:00 JST through November 24, 2026, 16:59 JST. MSRP is ¥396,000 tax included for each model (roughly $2,600 USD at ~¥150/$ — FX moves). Fender’s release says Japan shipping for that lottery; Pokémon’s U.S. site separately flags Western preorders “coming soon” and a 2027 arrival window. Treat Japan lottery as locked; treat U.S./global as TBA.

What Fender and Pokémon Announced

Fender’s Oct. 30 newsroom release frames the pair as a celebration of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary and of Fender’s own long run building Stratocasters and Telecasters. Giorgio Guerrini, President, Fender Asia Pacific, said:

“For 80 years, Fender has helped generations express themselves through music, while Pokémon has inspired creativity and imagination around the world. Bringing these two iconic brands together is a natural celebration of that shared spirit. We’re excited to give Pokémon fans and musicians a new way to experience the games they love through the power of music.”

The design brief is unapologetically nostalgic. Official copy calls out:

• Pixel-art body graphics drawn from Pokémon Red Version / Green Version
• Special pickguards with a fluorescent-like look that shifts with viewing angle
• Custom 30th-anniversary pixel logo engraved on the neck plate
• Illustrated certificate of authenticity and a dedicated hard case
• A pick tin with 11 picks (10 Pokémon pixel designs + one 30th commemorative pick)

Guitar World’s Phil Weller (Oct. 30) adds color from the product photos: Poké Ball–style fretboard inlays, maple board on the Tele / darker board on the Strat, and Game Boy–era sprites across the bodies. Those visual details match Fender’s official press gallery; the core electronics claims below stick to Fender’s own language.

The 8-Bit Sound System (Yes, Really)

The collab’s non-cosmetic headline is the 8-Bit Sound System. Per Fender:

Activated by pressing the volume knob, the system adds 8-bit sounds to the guitar’s natural output, blending electronic tones reminiscent of the background music from the original video games with the sound of an electric guitar.

So this is not a separate MIDI controller bolted on for show — Fender positions it as an onboard circuit that layers chiptune-style tones onto the guitar signal when engaged. Demo audio is pointed to Pokémon Center Online’s feature page in the Japanese PR materials. For players who collect oddball Fender Japan exclusives (think prior Japan-only themed runs), that push-volume trick is the reason this isn’t “just” a graphic finish.

Specs at a Glance (As Stated)

Made in Japan Pokémon “Red Version” Stratocaster®

• Stratocaster platform with Pokémon “Red Version” Stratocaster Single Coil pickups
• Fender: “high-output design delivers a powerful, focused tone… ideal for contemporary playing styles”
• Rosewood-looking dark fingerboard with commemorative inlays (visible in press photos)
• Matching red painted headstock
• Hard case + certificate + pick tin
• MSRP: ¥396,000 tax included

Made in Japan Pokémon “Green Version” Telecaster®

• Telecaster platform with Pokémon “Green Version” Telecaster Single Coil pickups
• Fender: “balanced output, clear articulation and the crisp highs characteristic of a Telecaster”
• Maple fingerboard with commemorative inlays (visible in press photos)
• Matching green painted headstock
• Hard case + certificate + pick tin
• MSRP: ¥396,000 tax included

Both share the 8-Bit Sound System and the anniversary neck plate / case kit. Exact scale, nut width, and country-of-final-assembly beyond “Made in Japan” are not expanded in the English newsroom blurb — expect full spec sheets when Pokémon Center Online’s product pages go live for the lottery.

Price, Lottery, and the Japan vs. Everywhere Else Split

Japan (confirmed):

• Sale channel: Pokémon Center Online lottery
• Applications: Nov. 19, 2026, 12:00 JST – Nov. 24, 2026, 16:59 JST
• Requirements per Pokémon Japan: Pokémon Center Online account, login, phone verification, one application per person
• Shipping: within Japan for that program (Fender newsroom)
• Price: ¥396,000 tax included each

Outside Japan (soft):

• Fender: “For other regions, please check their respective official websites.”
• Pokémon.com (U.S., Oct. 30): guitars “won’t release until 2027,” with Pokémon Center preorders “coming soon.”

TGP’s read: if you want one of these for a Western shipping address, do not assume the Japan lottery will ship to you. Watch Pokémon Center / regional Fender pages. FX for the yen price will bounce; the yen figure is the firm one.

Why This Is the Gear Story of the Day

It is a brand-new electric guitar announcement from Fender Japan on Oct. 30, not a rumor and not a firmware tease. It pairs two house-name shapes — Strat and Tele — with a franchise that still moves culture, plus a literal onboard 8-bit circuit. That combination is more clickable than another mid-tier reissue, and the lottery scarcity is built into the launch.

For context on the platforms these are built on, see our Fender Stratocaster history and Fender Telecaster history. For other 2026 Fender artist/collab energy already on TGP, the Kim Gordon Jazzmaster is the recent signature-offset counterpoint. If you are shopping a playable, non-lottery Strat or Tele while this news washes through, Fender’s current Stratocaster and Telecaster catalogs are the practical place to browse. (Affiliate / Impact link — The Guitar Plugged may earn a commission if you buy through these links. This article is not sponsored.)

Fender’s full announcement lives on the Fender newsroom Pokémon post. (Same Impact disclosure as above.)

FAQ

What are the two models?

Made in Japan Pokémon “Red Version” Stratocaster and Made in Japan Pokémon “Green Version” Telecaster.

How much?

¥396,000 tax included each (Japan MSRP). Dollar equivalents move with FX.

When can I buy?

Japan lottery applications Nov. 19–24, 2026 (JST) on Pokémon Center Online. U.S. Pokémon Center copy points to a 2027 release with preorders TBA.

What’s the 8-Bit Sound System?

A push-volume feature that adds 8-bit / chiptune-style tones to the guitar’s natural output, per Fender.

Is this the Fender Standard Series?

No. Separate Made in Japan Pokémon Center collab — not the Standard Series refresh.

Copyright / credit line (required on assets)

©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. TM, ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.