Goldenrod

Goldenrod is the capital city of Johto and the largest city in the region. It sits in the middle of the country, on the western coastline. The city is more than twice as big as any other city in Johto and is home to almost half of the country's population.

Goldenrod is perhaps best known for its corruption and wealth. It exerts a considerable amount of pressure on world geo-politics, with its proximity to the Pokémon's Republic of Azalea Town (the two are divided by Ilex Forest) a constant security concern for the Goldenrod-based Johtoan government. This proximity has led to numerous defence treaties with other countries.

The city is the site of many of Johto's best-known landmarks and buildings, including the Global Terminal, the Johto Radio Tower (home of the Johto Broadcasting Company), Goldenrod Department Store, Goldenrod Bridge and the Johtoan Houses of Parliament.

Like Celadon in neighbouring Kanto, Goldenrod has undergone extensive urban sprawl since mass-industrialisation. However, unlike Celadon, there is no green belt policy in place to prevent further expansion. The only protected areas surrounding Goldenrod are Ilex Forest, still recognised as a holy site, and the National Park of Johto. As a result, the city's skyline is much less obstrusive than Celadon's, but the city suffers from a lack of green space. Residences in the suburbs tend to have large gardens.

The name Goldenrod is almost synonymous with corruption. The right-wing Culture and Legacy Party has held power in government for almost 40 years and is often criticised for its "Goldenrod First" approach to governance - a series of policies and decisions which sees Goldenrod prioritised for investment and development. The government is suspected of ballot-tampering and vote-rigging, but this has never been proven. Despite this, rural areas of the country remain loyal to the Party, seeing them as a more realistic alternative to the Progress Party or the Working People's Front, due to a harder-line approach to continued tensions with the Pokémon's Republic.

## Buildings and Landmarks

The Houses of Parliament sit in the heart of the city, serving as the meeting place for the government. The building's gothic architecture dates to the mid-1700s, and clashes considerably with the more brutalist and modern architectural styles around it.

Goldenrod University is one of the world's oldest educational establishments, a counterpart to Kanto's University of Celadon. It is situated in the center of the city and has an extensive campus with some of the city's only green spaces.

The Johto Radio Tower is one of the skyline's most famous sights. It rises high above Goldenrod and exists primarily as the home of the Johto Broadcasting Company, although a few other radio stations and media companies own office space within the complex. Several studios on the lower floors are open to the public for guided tours and there is a Applin-starred restaurant towards the top. There is a small memorial garden at its base commemorating employees who lost their lives in the Team Rocket terrorist attacks of 1998.

The city's Global Terminal in the newly-redeveloped North End of the city is the financial center of the city with one of the largest stock exchanges in the world.

Also to the north of the city and surrounded on all sides by urban sprawl is the National Park of Johto. A large open green park with a small woods area and landscaped fountains and gardens, it is one of the only areas of the city protected from urban development. It previously hosted the Bug-Catching Contest, a youth competition aimed at teaching young people survival and hunting skills, but this was banned in 2012 following protests decrying its cruelty. A number of Bug-type Pokémon native to the park camped outside Parliament for three months leading up to the decision.

Goldenrod Department Store is a large shopping mall located in the city center close to the Parliament buildings. It has 330 departments covering one million square feet (90,000 m2) of retail space. It is said to be the biggest department store in the world.

The IPF Museum is located in Goldenrod, showcasing exhibits on the history of IPF competition and Pokébattling more generally.

The Magnet Train was developed in Goldenrod, with its largest station close to the radio tower. The line links Johto to Kanto in the west, with a high-speed service going as far as Saffron.

In addition to Pokébattling (see below), Goldenrod is Johto's sporting center for other popular sports, including Pokémon Rounders and Pokéathlon. It is the home of the Pokéathlon Dome, located within the south-east corner of the National Park. The Pokémarathon begins within the park and charts a course throughout the city.

Whitney has been the city's gym leader for 24 years. She uses Normal-type Pokémon.

## Pokébattling

The city recently hosted the 2020 World Cup final at the Goldenrod Arena, home to the Goldenrod Golden Knights and Johto National Pokébattling Team. The city also hosted games at Celebi Street. It had hosted World Cups twice before, in 1992 and 2006.

Goldenrod is home to more professional Pokébattling clubs than any other city in the world. The most high profile of these are the Goldenrod Golden Knights and the JBC Battle Club, the latter of which is made famous through the TV show of the same name. Other high profile teams include Ilex Forest Shrine, the Azalea Exiles and the Goldenrod Athletic Club.

The city is so large that it maintains its own regional league system at the third and fourth levels of the Johtoan league pyramid: the Goldenrod and District Premier League and First Division. Ex-Peak League side Athletic Greenfield is now within the city limits and has spent time in the Goldenrod and District league structure.