Turns out those speaking skills came in handy for Pikachu after all.
The famous Pokémon has been appointed ambassador for the Japanese city of Osaka, Taro Kono, Japan's minister for foreign affairs announced in a tweet.
At the ceremony, Kono also appointed Hello Kitty to the role.
I have appointed Pikachu and Hello Kitty as Ambassador to promote the City of Osaka for the 2025 Expo host city. pic.twitter.com/mCkiCl5T5j
— KONO Taro (@konotaromp) November 29, 2017
Pikachu is the leading character of the Pokémon series, and Sanrio's Hello Kitty has been a beloved icon for decades.
People are psyched — it seems, mostly about Pikachu's new title.
Did you say Pikachu I CHOOSE YOU pic.twitter.com/n7xJzPwBf6
— Jimmy ValenTime (@Jimmyvalentime) December 1, 2017
Well truth is no one cares about Ash in Japan😂😂😂😂
— Rai (@raifuru42) November 30, 2017
This is actually so important to me
— Sarah Jones (@sarahmufc93) November 30, 2017
I’m glad pikachu was in there lol
— Wolf711806 👻🎃 (@_AGamer_) November 30, 2017
I see you Japan...but we elected a pokemon as our president pic.twitter.com/1VQpxvM8Q7
— Diraj Karnani (@DKarnani) November 30, 2017
Kono's publicity stunt is all part of Japan's bid to have Osaka host the World Expo 2025.
It's up against three others for the bid: Paris, France; Yekaterinburg, Russia; and Baku, Azerbaijan. The Expo is held every five years, and Dubai is up next in 2020.
The winner for 2025 will be announced in November next year.