TOKYO: Blood donation centers in Japan have appeared in the megahit smartphone game Pokemon Go, drawing a positive response at a time when the country’s blood donation program is struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some Pokemon Go players have visited centers to donate their blood for the first time in a decade.

The game “provides a huge opportunity to learn about the blood donation program,” said an official at the Japanese Red Cross Society, which operates the program.

In Pokemon Go, 45 blood donation centers in the Kanto-Koshinetsu areas in central and eastern Japan, including Tokyo, have become “PokeStops,” where players can obtain game items.

According to the society’s Kanto-Koshinetsu division, the addition of the centers was proposed by the app’s developer, US software company Niantic Inc., in November last year.

The centers were added March 23 this year after Japan fully exited its latest COVID-19 pre-emergency measures. They feature “Chansey,” known as “Lucky” among Japanese users, a Pokemon character that heals the injured by sharing its eggs.

Players can receive special gifts in the game if they visit the blood donation centers.

The society has seen group blood donations at companies and other organizations canceled repeatedly due to coronavirus infection surges.

“We are very thankful” for Niantic’s proposal, an official at the Kanto-Koshinetsu division said.

“We see people playing Pokemon Go in resting rooms at blood donation centers. Some visited us for the first time in around 10 years,” the official also said.

“We feel the number of visitors is increasing.”

“The best part about Pokemon Go is that the game offers players an opportunity to go outside and discover new places,” a Niantic official said.

“We’ll be very glad if people who have never donated their blood feel motivated to visit (blood donation centers),” the official continued.

JIJI Press