Pop Culture has a habit of sneaking up on you when you’re not paying attention, and the next thing you know, twenty years have passed, and it’s still here. Pokémon began as a game in Japan in 1996 and recently went through a resurgence to the point where it’s all around you. And so are the Pokémon Go players. You’ve seen them holding up their cell phones in the middle of the street and other public places, seemingly in a trance; “What ARE they doing?” They’re playing Pokémon. And then there are the trading and playing cards, the plushies, and many other Pokémon items. Pokémon is also very popular in Shasta County, which has its own Pokémon sub-culture.
Meet Dani, a resident, lifelong Pokémon, and anything-Japanese-anime expert.
Hi, Dani, how are you?
I’m doing great, thank you!
Tell us a little about yourself; how old are you, Dani?
I’m 27, and I’ve been a lifelong Shasta County resident. I was born in Redding and grew up in Mountain Gate, where I have lived my whole life. I attended Grand Oaks, Shasta Lake, and Central Valley schools.
And you’ve stayed here ever since?
Yup.
Have you traveled at all?
For some school trips, but that’s about it. My grandparents moved here from Montana, and my parents were born here; we are a multi-generational Shasta County family and love it here.
What did you do after high school?
I took a break and started working. Then I went back to school and college, but they were not my favorite things, so work was pretty much my go-to. I started working at Go Games and Toys in the Mt. Shasta Mall, a toy store inside the mall.
So, how did you get into Pokemon? Tell me the story.
My uncle used to work at Toys R Us in the ’90s when Pokemon was huge. The first thing he ever brought home to me was a life-size Pikachu plush. It all went downhill from there; I was hooked. I was four years old, and it hasn’t stopped. It’s been a lifelong thing, that’s for sure!
So, you collect Pokemon plushies and cards, anything else?
Oh, I collect everything and anything Pokemon; there’s too much to list, haha!
And did that lead to other anime-related interests?
Yes. The other Japanese cultural things I am interested in are manga and anime.
How would you describe the Pokemon community within Shasta County?
Surprisingly, it’s pretty much all over Shasta County. And, it’s not any certain age group either because the people my age who grew up with it have kids now, and they have their kids playing now, too. And they are also learning the card game and playing Pokemon Go, so yeah, it’s all over the place. You can get Pokémon stuff all over Redding, with Go Games and Toys and Matrix Cards and Games being the better options. I also work at Matrix, by the way.
How often do you guys get together for Pokemon events?
We have Pokemon games, trade nights, and Pokemon Go at least once or twice a week. Depending on the event, we have 30+ people engaged at any one time.
Wow, that’s impressive!
You are also a homesteader. What does that look like?
Yup, I’ve got chickens and a vegetable and fruit garden—the whole caboodle.
So, I assume you like living here and don’t have an itch to be elsewhere.
I love living here. I mean, I haven’t really traveled that much; I’ve been across the country once, but other than that, it’s been mostly through California and Oregon. But seeing other cities, I like it here. It gets hot, but not crazy hot. And you have the lake, you have things to do. Hiking and all sorts of fun stuff to do here. I am not a city girl.
What recommendations do you have for people visiting, where to go, and where to eat? Do you have any favorite spots?
I would definitely check out the Sundial Bridge and the trails all along there. And the Shasta Caverns are very cool. I’ve never been to a whole lot of places that have attractions like that. It’s all very nature-esque. And then food – that’s easy, Woody’s, Mr. Taco in Anderson, and Dam Burger.
That was quick.
Yeah, I like food, and we have good food here, that’s for sure!
Thank you, Dani; I learn new things every day!
Thank you!