From August 12th thru 17th, I've visited San Diego (USA).

San Diego locates south of Los Angeles Airport.
It's about two hour drive.
Around this time of the year in Japan, climate of both
temperature and humidity are high and hot.
But here in San Diego, since humidity is very low,
the place was very comfortable to stay! Less sweat!

And there was...

Pokemon World Championships 2009!!

Both, Video game and Trading Card Tournament
were just extremely furious!!
Hot battles were held everywhere!
But the actual temperature was just chilled
because of air conditioners! Freezing!

There were more than 130 people were
standing in the line for my autograph!
Thank you very very much!

I grant an interview of Pokemon Sunday.
It will be aired on Sunday August 30th! Please watch!

At the closing ceremony,
a commendation for Video Game World Champion was held.
Champ of the world! Isn't it just awesome?

As same as the other year,
this year's championship was also just wonderful!

Ciao!

*("Pokemon Sunday" is a TV program
which only aired in Japan.)

Here's little more.
http://www.pokemon.co.jp/special/wcs0809/
http://www.go-pokemon.com/worlds/2009/
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/08/world-pokemon-champions-crowned.html

WCS was held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
The hotel can be found in the back.

View from my room.
It's just fun watching ships and conveying cargos. Time flies!

There're Dialga and Palkia outside of the hall.

There are tons of people everywhere!

This year, Video game and Trading Card tournament were held at the same hall.
Serious battles!

The final!

Autograph and hand shake of Kawachimaru and myself.

I singned to a cap!

Sun is stunning outside...

Here's an interview article revealed when I had a
business trip to San Francisco.

On June issue of "Game Informer" magazine,
my interview article and picture are written up!
People who can pick up this magazine,
please do take a look!

Website "Gamasutra" also released an
interview article on this April.
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23052
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3979/the_art_of_balance_pokmons_.php

And,
"Pokémon World Championships 2009."
The championshios for United States Nationals
started on Saturday May 9th and ended on Saturday June 13th!
There are six regional championships were held in
United States and I heard there are tons of people
participated those events.
I deeply apprecite for all for coming.

Please check following
"Pokémon Video Game Championships" site for detail.
http://www.pokemonvgc.com/

Ciao!

On May 22nd.
Pokémon Platinum version have launched in Europe!
All the players in Europe,
please enjoy our latest Pokémon!!

And players in Japan and North America!
Pokémon Platinum's "GTS" allows you to search
based on each countries.
Please do trade your Pokémon with
European players using GTS!

This autumn, two new titles will be
launching in Japan!
"Pocket Monsters Heart Gold(Japanese title)"
"Pocket Monsters Soul Silver(Japanese title)"

We, Game Freak have spent long and firm time
developing above two titles.

Original "Pokémon Gold & Silver" was launched
on November 21st 1999.
And the "Pokémon Gold & Silver" will be back
with far more excitement.

It had been 12 years since we named
new region "JOHTO."
*JOHTO means "castle palace" and
"lattice shaped palace"

Person who played the original "Gold & Silver" at age 12
turns into age 22!! Wow!

Time sure flies fast.

Well everybody,
please look forward to play our new games!

See ya!

The day, April 26th 2009 !
We Game Freak are  proud to announce our 20th anniversary!
We deeply appreciate for your support from
bottom of our heart.

We would like to keep developing the game not only
creators' self-complacency, but to make players
surprise and enjoyable.
Creating the video games with deliberateness
is our policy, always.

We Game Freak will keep running toward the future
for creating new entertainments.
Please look forward to play our new work.

I kept working frantically to make fun games
last twenty years.
And, I'll keep working frantically in future, too.

Ciao!

On Sunday, April 19th.
I'll have a special appearance again
on TV Tokyo's TV program, "Pokemon Sunday"!

One special announcement!
From this April, "Pokemon Sunday" will be
widely broadcasted in almost entire area of Japan.
People who couldn't check this program before,
please check it out!

*("Pokemon Sunday" is a TV program
which only aired in Japan.)

Ciao!

Hooray to "Pokemon Center Tokyo"!!

Pokemon Center Tokyo have selected as the third place in...
"2008: Overseas travelers' most wanted place to visit in Japan."

The sight named "TripAdvisor" came up with the conclusion
based on their website calculation.

>2008: Overseas travelers' most wanted place to visit in Japan ranking.

1 Tsukiji Fish Market / Tokyo
2 Tokyo Disneyland / Chiba
3 Pokemon Center Tokyo / Tokyo
4 Roppongi Hills / Tokyo
5 Tokyo Disney Sea / Chiba
6 Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple) / Tokyo
7 Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) / Kyoto
8 Fushimi Inari Shrine / Kyoto
9 Spa World / Osaka
10 Universal Studios Japan / Osaka
11 Oedo-Onsen-Monogatari / Tokyo
12 Kiyomizu Temple / Kyoto
13 La Qua / Tokyo
14 Osaka Castle / Osaka
15 Meiji Jingu / Tokyo
16 Takaragawa Onsen / Gunma
17 Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan / Osaka
18 Shitennoji / Osaka
19 Hokkaido Jingu / Hokkaido
20 Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden / Tokyo

for more info; TripAdvisor http://www.tripadvisor.jp/HotSpotsJapan

Isn' it cool?
See ya!

On March 22nd, North American version of
Pokemon Platinum have launched!

The world of Wi-Fi more expands.

This Pokemon Platinum allows to play beyond
players in Japan and North America.
Everyone, please give a try our "Wi-Fi Plaza"!

Here are some web site of my last interviews!

Since the interviewers are fan of Pokemon,
I really had a wonderful time having interviews.
Thank you very much!

IGN.com
http://ds.ign.com/articles/965/965073p1.html

GamesRader
http://www.gamesradar.com/f/how-Pokemon-are-born/a-20090319112123306013

G4TV
http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694081/Junichi-Masuda--Takeshi-Kawachimaru-Talk-Pokemon-Platinum-Particle-Physics-Bridges-And-More.html

1UP.com
http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3173364

GamePro
http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/209339/Pokemon-platinum-developer-interview

WhatTheyPlay
http://www.whattheyplay.com/features/meeting-the-creators-of-pokemon-platinum/

Well then, players in North America,
please take a time to enjoy Pokemon Platinum!

See ya!

The THING suddenly appeared.
Beautiful, gigantic, powerful and graceful.
Colored deep reddish steel gray.

I couldn't take my eyes off from the bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge.

The bridge was just so beautiful,
and impressed me with its presence.

We drove car and viewed from three different spot.
Countenance of the bridge alters depend on the angle.
I gazed without a haste, but felt time was not enough.
There are many points to be observed,
such as main tower, anchorage and cables.

It was just wonderful.

I always though about,
where there's many people like to taking photos
such as sightseeing place,
I feel some kind of power.

This bridge may change its central reservation near future.
Next time, I'm willing to walk over this 2.7km(about 1.7mile) length bridge.

Ciao

*Me and Golden Gate Bridge

This is Masuda, reporting from San Francisco at 7:10 PM.

After having eight interviews,
I've return to the hotel to write this column.

I had a wonderful time having an interview today, because
majority of interviewers are big fan of Pokemon!

Not like domestic interviews,
overseas interviewers are not asking detailed game questions,
but many question with more broader vision of video games.
It is little tough to answer,
but their questions were quite interesting.

Director of Pokemon Platinum, Kawachimaru
seemed bit tired, but looked stimulated.

Pokemon Platinum North American version will be
launching on March 22nd!!

BTW, I've visited Golden Gate Bridge!
I'll write about this after I returned to Japan.
Please wait!

See ya.

Here's a surprise announcement for
Pokemon Sunday viewers!!

On Sunday March 15th (from 7:30AM), channel TV Tokyo,
I'll have a special appearance with Shoko-tan
and other two executive producers on Pokemon Sunday!

*It's little hard for me to pronounce "Executive Producer",
but I hope I said with proper pronunciation in the show.

The substance of this program can't be unveiled.
It's still a secret!
You'll find out by watching this Pokemon Sunday!

And...
On Saturday 14th, I'm visiting Nintendo's
San Francisco office for
having an interview of Pokemon Platinum version.
Since I love checking out bridges,
I'm looking forward to see Golden Gate Bridge!
It's so exciting!

*("Pokemon Sunday" is a TV program
which only aired in Japan.)

Ciao!