Although this is an old topic, I do play Pokemon Y in Japanese even though I’m half way through season 2. Although I find the dialogue between characters and remembering Pokemon names difficult, a lot of the other parts to the game I find easy because of the icons and symbols (ie. items and routes). I think with playing the games, you don’t necessarily have to know the kanji reading but so long as you understand it’s translation from English you are at least learning something.