The Pokémon character Pikachu has been appointed as an ambassador to the Japanese city of Osaka. Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tarō Kōno, made the appointment official in a ceremony earlier this week, alongside Hello Kitty. Pikachu and Hello Kitty will take on the ambassadorial work as a way to promote Osaka as a potential host for the 2025 World Expo. Osaka faces competition from French, Russian, and Azerbaijani cities for the privilege of hosting the event.