What is Pokémon Called in Japan? It‘s Pocket Monsters!
In Japan, the Pokémon franchise is officially known as Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター Poketto Monsutā). But fans in the West may be more used to calling them simply "Pokémon." Where did this small but impactful change in name come from when Pokémania went global?
The Origins of Pocket Monsters
Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri got the idea from his childhood hobby of insect collecting. He imagined creating fictional creatures kids could collect, trade, and care for as modern mobile pets. These creatures were like little monsters you could carry around in your pocket – pocket monsters!
As Tajiri later said: "Today, kids are distracted by so many things like games and TV. I wanted to create something that would inspire kids‘ imaginations." And inspire us Pokémon has!
Examples of Japanese Pokémon Names
When translated or romanized from Japanese characters, many Pokémon have slightly different or entirely unique names compared to English versions:
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Pikachu | Pikachu |
| Charizard | Lizardon |
| Eevee | Eievui |
| Feraligatr | Ordile |
| Cofagrigus | Desukaan |
Pikachu‘s name remains the same cross-culturally. But Japan‘s beloved dragon Pokémon Charizard is actually called Lizardon over there. What a fun surprise!
Some Pokémon like Feraligatr have completely unique names in Japanese. See even more examples in Bulbapedia‘s full list.
Why So Popular in Japan?
Believe it or not, Pokémon is actually more widely popular across age groups in Japan compared to the West, where it skews towards younger audiences.
In fact, 22.5% of people surveyed in Japan in 2022 described themselves as "very interested" in Pokémon – compared to only 14.8% in North America according to Statista.
Japan takes Pokémon incredibly seriously with widespread coverage of video game and TCG tournaments. Out of 58 Pokémon World Champions to date, Japanese players have won 45 times!
Exclusive Monsters in Japan
Diehard Japanese fans have also gotten exclusive distributions of rare Pokémon over the years at local events, including shiny versions of classics like Eevee and even Arceus itself.
Some Pokémon can only be caught in Japan too. Farfetch’d is an iconic regional exclusive monster, while Corsola also appears around several East Asian countries.
And major legendary Pokémon often take inspiration from Japanese legends, nature, and mythology. Lugia is designed after an ancient Japanese sea god, while the Hoenn region honors Japan‘s beautiful cherry blossoms with Pokémon like Cherrim.
As Pokémon continues to evolve from its Pocket Monsters origins, no country impacts the franchise or outpaces Japan‘s devotion. With over 10 million Pokémon games sold there, it seems players big and small will always have a little Pokémon monster in their pocket.
