Raihan

Raihan is a Gym Leader in Pokémon Sword and Shield, released in 2019. He's a fan favorite and the focus of many fanworks. He also makes appearances in Pokémon Masters, PokéAni and Pokéspe.
==Canon Overview==
[characterization, story role, further important appearances]
==Relationships==
In acronym ship names, Raihan is represented with "kb," short for his Japanese name Kibana. The acronyms were created by the Japanese side of the fandom mostly on Twitter before being adopted elsewhere. Common portmanteaus also originate from Pixiv unless it uses their English names.
====M/M | Yaoi====
* Raihan is most commonly paired up with Leon, forming TrueRivalShipping, aka Raileon. In Japanese, this is most often called DNKB or ダンホプ (Dankiba), meaning Leon is the seme and Raihan is the uke in the coupling. The opposite is also commonly shipped and is written as KBDN or キバダン (Kibadan).
* Raihan is also shipped with Piers, forming eBoyShipping, aka PunkDragonShipping or Raipiers. In Japanese, this is most often called KBNZ or キバネズ (Kibanezu), meaning Raihan is the seme and Piers is the uke in the coupling. The opposite is also commonly shipped and is written as NZKB or ネズキバ (Nezukiba).
* Raihan is also shipped with Kabu, forming ZaoshenShipping, though Kibkab is used more among shippers. In Japanese, this is most often called KBNKB or キバカブ (Kibakabu), meaning Raihan is the seme and Kabu is the uke in the coupling. The opposite is also commonly shipped and is written as KBKBN or カブキバ (Kabukiba).
* Raihan is also shipped with Lanceno used name for them has been coined in Neverending Romance as of February 2025.. In Japanese, this is most often called WTKB or ワタキバ (Watakiba), meaning Lance is the seme and Raihan is the uke in the coupling.
==== F/M | NL ====
* Raihan is also shipped with Gloria, forming DragonRoarShipping, though KBYU is more common among shippers. In Japanese, this is called KBYU, キバユウ (Kibayuu) or キバ主♀ (Kiba x Female Protagonist).
* Raihan is also shipped with Nessa, forming LochNessShipping. In Japanese, this is called KBRR or キバルリ (Kibaruri).
====Poly====
*Leon, Raihan and Piers are shipped together, forming PunkDragonShipping, aka FashionDisasterShipping, KBDNNZ or DNKBNZ.
===Less Popular Relationships===
*with Hop - VyingShipping, aka Raihop, KBHP, キバホプ (Kibahopu), HPKB or ホプキバ (Hopukiba)
*with Victor - DragonVictoryShipping, KBMS, キバマサ (Kibamasa), キバ主♂ (Raihan x Male Protagonist), MSBK, マサキバ (Masakiba) or 主♂キバ (Male Protagonist x Raihan).
*with Gordie - MidgardsormrShipping, aka KBMK or キバマク (Kibamaku)
*with Milo - ApplinShipping, aka KBYR, キバヤロ (Kibayaro) YRKB or ヤロキバ (Yarokiba)
*with Allister - KBON or キバオニ (Kibaoni)
*with Melony - IcyDragonShipping, aka キバメロ (Kibamero)More can be found on Neverending Romance, a community-created relationship name list.
==Popular Tropes & Fanon==
[freeform tags, headcanons]
==Subjects of Fannish Interest & Meta==
[discourse, trivia, popular memes, character analysis, fan reactions, really anything]
==Example/Notable Fanac==
=== Awards ===
* He was listed in Tumblr Fandometrics' Year in Review 2020 as the 9th most tagged video game character on Tumblr.
=== Fan Art ===
* (2019)
===Wikis===
* on Bulbapedia
* on PixivEncyclopedia
* on Shipping Wiki
== Notes ==
==References==
Category:Pokémon Characters