Lucy’s Pokémon Sword and Shield Nicknames: Part 1

Readers: I have been very slow about posting new Pokémon Nicknames recently. I wanted to take-on a partner, and who better than my “niece” Lucy Sinnoh.

Lucy and her Mum are originally from Valor Lakefront, SR. I knew (cough) Lucy’s Mum when she worked as a cocktail waitress at the Seven Stars Restaurant at Hotel Grand Lake, I tried to help out the struggling single mum and her pretty young daughter as much as I could. Times were tough. We stayed home and played Diamond and Pearl a lot.They moved to Galar a few years ago. Good that they did, as Lucy has become the new Galar Champion! Here is her trainer card:

I’m so proud of her and how well she grew up. She’s a Pokémon Champ, plus the little lady can cook up a great curry!

I also like teaming up with Lucy for new Pokémon Nicknames, because many of names are from cultural references from decades past. Many younger players in search of nicknames might not “get” or appreciate my generation’s names. Many of the nicknames you will be reading about on this blog will be Lucy’s idea.

Denny: Lucy – I will still help you with the naming Lucy …

Lucy: OK Boomer. (giggles)

Denny: “OK Boomer” … What? … that quip again? Wait … “OK Boomer” might just be a great name for a Drampa!

Sword and Shield has made a few changes to the nicknaming system. There is an important change for users who choose to view/use nicknames. As the Name-Rater in any Pokécenter will tell you — trainers may change the name of a Pokémon already nicknamed by its previous trainer. You do only get one chance. Once you change the name of a traded Pokémon it has to stick forever. The 12 letter space format continues. However, I have noticed that the various symbols available in previous generations are no longer available. Darn it! No “Heart” symbol anymore? Also, I have noticed that if a Pokémon comes in from the Surprise Trade in of another language, the name cannot be changed. (Please leave a note in the comment section if you know otherwise.)

Starlight: Yeah, she takes after her Mum.

Where have you gone “The Otaku Judge”?

“That’s right Sweetie … you can be the new “Otaku Judge” now!”

(Denny singing to the lyrics of Paul Simon’s Mrs.Robinson: “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio”)

Dear Readers: I was sad to learn that The Otaku Judge will no longer be blogging.

I encountered the Judge a few years ago, as he often commented on the same anime and gaming blogs that I also followed. We followed each other’s posts, and I always enjoyed his comments. While we both have had to spend less time on WordPress the past couple of years, it was good to see his posts once in a while. Many in the anime, gaming and movie community may have noted his absence.

He was a good man — a man of good taste and good humour. 

He didn’t just stop writing … his blog is GONE don’t ya know. I saw that it says the blog has been REMOVED. I also looked up his Twitter, and it is gone as well. I hope everything is OK.

I was surprised. I thought he was “the Rock of Gibraltar”. Ha Ha.

I’m not sure what happened. If he does not want to do the blog anymore, I understand. I respect that. It is always sad when someone that you interacted with evaporates into the internet ether. I had to deal with the MorningBerryz48 retirement. Also, I think that Mabel Kwong has about given up too. (Cough, Cough). I came to know the Judge as a well-respected friend.

Dude .. If you ever see this, know that I wish you well in your future endeavors …

Starlight: Please comment if anyone know what happened. I hope he has moved on to bigger and better things.

The girls keep getting younger every year: AKB48’s “Coming of Age Day” 2020

That is a lot of beauty.

AKB48 and their Japanese sister groups had their “Coming of Age Day” for 2020 on January 13^th.

I know that the Record Insustry Weasels will not allow these videos to stay up on YT for very long, so I will snag some quick screen shots!

Those members who participated – and will be turning 20 this year are as follows:

From AKB48: Ichikawa Manami, Okada Rina, Otake Hitomi, Omori Maho, Tada Kyoka, Kamachi Yukina, Harumoto Yuki, and Yoshihashi Yuzuka.

From SKE48: Nakamura Izumi, Matsumoto Chikako, Ego Yuna, Kitano Ruka, Takeuchi Saki, Sugawara Maya, Nishi Marina, Hirata Shiina, Fukushi Nao, and Iriuchijima Sayaka.

From NMB48: Nishizawa Rurina, Akashi Natsuko, Kojima Karin, Sakamoto Nami, Sato Ami, Shoubu Marin, and Mizobuchi Maria.

From HKT48: Ueno Haruka, Tashima Meru, Toyonaga Aki, Fukagawa Maiko, Tsukiashi Amane, Matsuoka Hana, Murakawa Bibian, Yamauchi Yuna, and Nagano Miyabi.

From NGT48: Homma Hinata, Yamada Noe, and Mashimo Kaho.

From STU48: Imamura Mitsuki, Oki Yuka, Taniguchi Mahina, Nakamura Mai, Yano Honoka.

I am still a fan, but I have to admit, I really do not know most of the girls in the AKB Family anymore. I recognize some of the faces from the music videos, but it seems I would need to start over again, and learn who is who. It is a lot more difficult in 2020, than in 2012. Where are the AKB Trading Cards? AKBingo is now off the air. I can’t learn the girls personalities if I cannot watch the skits anymore. Also the AKB Cafe is closing. One graduation after another .. Huh. It makes me wonder if Mr. Akimoto-san is planning to disband the groups during some type of announcement at the 2020 Olympics. … er … but I digress …

Starlight: Hopefully some better photographs will be up on social media by now. Most of the girls have Instagram and Twitter accounts, so a lot of cute images should be posted there.