From November 7 to 9, 2025, a large-scale, three-day event called “Pokémon GO Wild Area: Nagasaki” took place in Japan’s Nagasaki City. This new type of Pokémon GO event sees players, or trainers, enjoying the game while roaming around the city.
The Pokémon GO smartphone app relies heavily on location-based services and mobile connectivity. SoftBank News spoke with engineers at SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) who implemented communication network measures to help make this massive citywide event a success.
Kyushu Network Technology Department, Area Construction Division, SoftBank Corp.
Kentaro Tsukaki
Seiji Nakashima
Network measures support Pokémon GO trainers citywide
Pokémon GO Wild Area: Nagasaki transformed Nagasaki’s entire urban area into a game field, introducing a new format where trainers explored the city as they played. In the environs of JR Nagasaki Station, the Nagasaki Prefectural Government Office, Nagasaki Seaside Park and the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture, trainers could be seen enjoying the game on their smartphones while moving to different locations across the city.
Unlike most large-scale events held in large parks or venues where people gather all in one place, this event encouraged trainers to spread out across the city, allowing them to enjoy both the game and local sightseeing attractions. Because participants were dispersed, crowd movement varied significantly depending on the time and location, making it difficult to determine optimal network measures using conventional large-event planning.
How did the approach to communication network measures differ compared to typical large-scale events?
Tsukaki: The biggest difference was that it was difficult to predict where people would gather. When the venue is a fixed location, like a park or a stadium, it’s easier to plan countermeasures. But when the entire city becomes the venue, the situation changes. So we actually walked around the area ourselves to check where connectivity was relatively stable and where issues might arise if crowds increased. We identified locations that could likely handle large crowds and those that would require advance preparation.
Implementing network measures for an event spread across an entire city must have required thorough preparation and coordination with stakeholders.
Tsukaki: Because the event covered the entire city, our approach was to optimize and fully utilize the existing network infrastructure, rather than deploy temporary base stations. We conducted on-site inspections ahead of time to assess connectivity levels and identify areas where people were likely to gather. We also worked closely with event organizers to help avoid excessive concentrations of people in specific locations.
Anticipating Large Crowds and Dealing with the Unexpected to Keep People Connected
During the event, trainers could be seen all across Nagasaki, at tourist spots, shopping areas and around the harbor. Families and friends enjoyed playing the game in various ways, creating a vibrant atmosphere unique for a citywide event.
Were there times during the event when you felt extra on-site measures were necessary?
Nakashima: We anticipated several areas where people might come together in numbers, but at certain times, crowds gathered rapidly for short periods. When we walked the area ourselves, there were moments when even our own devices experienced unstable connectivity. We determined that this could affect other trainers as well.
After identifying areas with high crowd density, how did you decide to respond?
Tsukaki: Once we confirmed unstable connectivity on the ground, we immediately coordinated with the event organizers and local authorities. While it’s uncommon to implement additional measures live during an event, we had a system in place that allowed us to quickly discuss the matter, and we decided to set up Wi-Fi spots. This was possible because we were able to assess the situation on-site and collaborate rapidly with all stakeholders.
Nakashima: Initially, the installation didn’t go smoothly at the planned location, but after coordinating locally, we were able to set the temporary Wi-Fi network up successfully. After that, we saw improvements in perceived communication speed on-site, and trainers were able to continue playing with peace of mind. Quick decisions helped prevent major disruptions.
An event held the day before the main event built up excitement across the city
What stood out to you during the event?
Nakashima: During the event, we saw trainers spread out all across the city—in tourist areas, parks, and around stations. It was interesting to see how the atmosphere and crowd distribution changed depending on the time of day.
Tsukaki: What left a strong impression was seeing trainers in so many different locations. The city was decorated for the event, creating a natural blend between Pokémon and the urban environment.
What are your reflections on supporting this event?
Nakashima: It was impressive to see trainers exploring the city while enjoying the game. While there were some challenges depending on time and location, being able to see on-site that the event progressed without major disruption gave me a major sense of accomplishment.
Tsukaki: It was inspiring to see trainers enjoying the city at their own pace. Through advance preparations and real-time coordination with event stakeholders, we were able to share information about network conditions and respond immediately. I feel we successfully supported a comfortable gameplay experience and this has given us confidence.
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(Posted on May 25, 2026)
by SoftBank News Editors
