In February of 1998, Shogakukan’s Televi-kun Magazine held a lottery for an exclusive Pokemon phone card which was announced on the front page in the upper right corner.
Inside the magazine one could find a number of inserts including a Pokemon stamp sheet. Behind all of that, however, was a single insert which mentioned the contest:
With the help of the wonderful @lasbrisas , we have a rough translation:
On the Yellow Right Box: “Look for Pokemon in this month’s issue and get the treasure of Pokemon!”
Upper Left: “Treasure A Prize: 1/1 Pikachu Pluishie Product of TOMY - 20 People”
Bottom Left: “Treasure B prize Televi-kun and Kusei Pokemon Funny Telephone Card - 131 People”
Bottom Right Blue Text: “There will be 151 winners in total!”
In order to join the competition, one had to follow the directions on the back:
Translation: “In this month’s issue, search for the treasure within this book. Get all 4 Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Pikachu . Please apply by sticking it firmly on the surface of the postcard below. We will gift a Pokemon treasure to 151 participants.”
And then how to submit was included with a postcard with the address:
As mentioned, there were only 151 winners. 20 people would obtain the TOMY Pikachu Plush, of which would also be featured in other magazines as additional prizes in other competitions. The remaining 131 would receive the exclusive 1998 Happy New Year Telev-kun Lottery phone card:
Featured are of course Pikachu and Clefairy - both being considered mascots for Pokemon during the early years of its history. Together with a pair of hagoita (wooden paddles) they are actively playing Hanetsuki (think badminton) with a very confused and colorful Oddish. Oddish is sporting brightly colored leaves meant to represent the colorful shottlecock - called Hane - used in the game.
Traditionally played by girls during the Japanese New Year, the game became popular with every gender. If one would miss hitting the ball, they would be marked by ink to keep score which is where you’ll find Horsea’s role in the card.
Gifts of bamboo, called Kadomatsu, are a popular home decoration during this time of year. Depicted by Venusaur, originally these gifts were made with pine wood before bamboo became more popular. Fun fact: If anyone has read Himeno’s 4-Frame Gag Theatre comics, you’ll see a running gag of Venusaur being depicted as different trees.
As to why Gyarados is seen making a ridiculous face with a headcloth, it is likely due to the popularity of performers wearing Tenugui during different festivals including New Year’s. It became a bathhouse staple due to the wide use of the cloth as both personal use or prop. One of the popular uses of the tenugui during festivals was to transform it to create different characters. To create a thief, for example, it was popular to tie the cloth around your head and knot it below your nose - essentially creating a mask.
As to the identity of the artist? When asked during the 2023 Charlotte Regional Championships, the artist commented on how she hadn’t seen the artwork in years and that it was meant to represent New Years. She confirmed that the artist was none other than herself: Kagemaru Himeno
Cheers!
– Azul
