No.225

04.20.2012

The launch date of “Pokémon Black 2 and White 2″
has been decided.
It is Saturday, June 23rd!
Preorders started as well!!

Game is for Nintendo DS console,
however is also playable on 3DS consoles!!

It is named “2″, but even player,
who haven’t played the previous one,
can enjoy the game!

I asked Takao Unno, the director of a game,
which version should choose a player this time,
if he or she had played Black version of a previous game.
I also received a lot of similar questions on Twitter.

Takao said:
” If you played Black version before,
I would recommend playing Black version again
to experience all differences!!”

“However,”-he also said-”Both versions are great,
so both are recommended!!”

This time preorder rules are a bit different.
So, if you are interested, please check out the following link:
http://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/b2w2_reserve/

When you preorder both Black2 and White2 versions at a Pokemon Center,
You will also get Game Freak graphic designer’s, Mana Ibe illustration.

We put our whole creativity into “Pokémon Black2 and White2″!
The game will be soon in your hands!!

Enjoy !

Ciao!

Here is the official “Pokémon Black2 and White2 ” website:
http://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/b2w2/

*Release date has been decided only for Japan.

No.224

03.08.2012

All seven autograph sessions have finished!!!
Thank you very much for coming!

Here You can take a look at the pictures.
Some are a bit blury, but I decided to upload them all!

At first, let’s look back.
As I wrote on 219 column, people were asking for autograph session a lot via Twitter.
Pokémon company also was happy to do it.
Signing autograph took place at seven Pokémon Centers around Japan.
There were posters made too!! I was surprised : )

posters

This is, how it was!!
First I took the bullet train (N700 type) and went to Osaka.
Here’s Pokémon Center in Osaka!
Still calm before the storm.

Pokemon Center in Osaka

Pokemon Center in Osaka

Secret autograph session spot at Osaka’s Pokémon Center.
There are Pokémons lined up on the wall of a corridor!

Here is the autograph place!!
It’s like the hall of the fame in the game!!!
So cool!!
This location will be used for a battle tournament
in the future!
I was talking to all fans one by one and signed the autographs!

Sunday February 5th 13:00 at Pokémon Center Osaka!
It is Q&A corner. Peace sign with everybody!!
Team Osaka!

Team Osaka

Big thanks to all Osaka fans!!!
Next… Nagoya.

On Sunday February 5th 16:00 at Pokémon’s Center in Nagoya!!
After the signing and Q&A session, another peace sign photo!!
Team Nagoya!

Team Nagoya

There were so many people who came!
Thank you very much Nagoya fans!!!

And…
On Saturday February 18th at Pokémon Center Tokyo!!
After the Q&A, we took peace sign photo together
Team Tokyo!

Team Tokyo

I’m glad to see the cusion of Stunfisk :D
Thank you very much for all the questions, team Tokyo!!!

Here are all fans who got the autographs and
member of the Game Freak on the left : )
Say cheese!! Team Tokyo!

Team Tokyo

Congratulations to all fans who received an autographs!
Thank you very much for coming!!!

Then to Yokohama by car.
Same day, at 16:00. Pokémon Center Yokohama!!
Peace sign at the Union Room!!
Team Yokohama!!

Team Yokohama

Thank you very much for all the questions, fans from Yokohama!!!
Then, autograph session!!
The line was very long and I felt sorry for the fans who had to waitnoutside the Union Room!!
Peace!! Autograph session Team Yokohama!!

Team Yokohama

Thank you very much fans from Yokohama!!!
On Saturday February 25th, at Pokémon Center Fukuoka!!!
Cute welcoming reception!!

Cute welcoming reception

*It says “Welcome to Pokémon Center Fukuoka”

It has been almost outside!! Pretty cold!!!
The picture was taken after the Q&A corner. Peace sign!!
Thank you very much for coming on that cold day!!!
Team Fukuoka!!

Team Fukuoka

Thank you very much for the questions!!!
And taking photo of everybody after the autograph session!!
Peace!! Team Fukuoka!!

Team Fukuoka

It was really cold…
Fans of Fukuoka, thank you for coming!!!
Let’s sneak inside the Fukuoka Pokémon Center!

Fukuoka Pokemon Center

Yamagasa decorations at night.
*”Yamagasa” is a festival which takes place in Fukuoka.

Yamagasa1

Yamagasa2

Next morning, I saw many food stands : D

On Sunday February 26th,
“Pocket Monsters Black2″
“Pocket Monsters White2″
was announced at the TV program “Pokémon Smash”!
*”Pokémon Smash” is aired only in Japan.

“Black Kyurem” and “White Kyurem” was announced
while I stayed at a hotel in Kyushu!
I made a mistake of writing “Rejiram.”
True spelling is “Reshiram.” (Sorry everyone)

Heading back to Tokyo.

On Sunday February 26th, 23:59.
Very nice suggestion to countdown via Twitter!

Monday February 27th 0:00.
“Happy 16th Anniversary!”
It was all over the Twitter!

Pokémon become 16th years old.
Thank you very much for your support.

I deeply appreciate your support!
Thank you very much!

Saturday March, 3rd!
I watched “Hayabusa” at Tokyo station. Very exciting!!

Hayabusa

Arrived at Sendai!
S.. snow!! It was very cold!

snow!

At Tohoku Pokémon Center.
Welcomed by
Victini with Heal Bell!
Pikachu with Effort Ribbon!
Snivy with Focus Band!
So nice!!

Tohoku Pokemon Center

Question corner started from 11:00 on the ground floor of Tohoku Pokémon Center !
After all the questions were answered , Say cheese, everyone!
Team Tohoku!!

Team Tohoku

Thank you very much for asking all the questions, Tohoku fans!

And autograph session took place on the 2nd floor of
the building.
Team Tohoku, peace !!

Team Tohoku

Thank you very much for coming to the autograph session!!!
Quick look into Tohoku Pokémon Center .

Tohoku Pokemon Center

Traveling by airplane.
From Sendai airport to Shinchitose airport.
Heading to Sapporo.

And from the airport in Sendai straight to Sapporo.
It was snowing when I arrived at night!!!
Black part is not rock. It’s solid ice. Guardrail made by ice!

ice

ice

Next day. Sunday March 4th. The last autograph session.
The view from hotel was just fantastic.
Skyscrapers and mountains!

Pokémon Center Sapporo!!
Q&A session starts!!
The room was divided into three areas.
Inside of the Union Room, rear of the Union Room and
area of the side monitor.
Peace sign, team Sapporo!!

team Sapporo

Side monitor area, peace!

Rear of the Union Room, peace!!!

Thank you very much for the questions.
And this was the last autograph session!!

Thank you very much fans fans from Sapporo!!
Lots of handshakes ! It was really nice!!
I sneaked into Sapporo Pokémon Center for the first time.

Sapporo Pokemon Cente

From Sapporo to Shinchitose airport.
I found Pokémon Jet at the airport!!
She sure saying “I did a pretty good job” = )

Pokemon Jet

And autograph sessions ended.

I’m so happy, I could meet all of you.
I was delighted and moved.
Thank you very much for coming all the way.
And of course, thank you very much for coming
so early in the morning.

And I am so sorry that I coundn’t meet all fans.
Especially fans in Tokyo and Yokohama.
If you find me in somewhere, please say “Hi!”

Because of your constant support,
Pokémon could make it till its 16th anniversary.
Its been great to develope Pokemon all together.
The power you gave me will be used for
to make Pokémon evn better.
Thank you, thank you very much!!!!

And to the last(the message to fellows),
Thank you very much for your management effort.
Also I would like to thank to all stuff of Pokémon Centers.
Because of your support, Pokémon have grown
this big .
I had a wonderful time.
Please continue to grow Pokémon.
I deeply appreciate your support.
Thank you very much!

No.223

03.01.2012

The movie of this year looks pretty good!!
It’s Pokémon 15th anniversary movie!
“Kyurem vs. The Sacred Swordsman: Keldeo”
Addition to above movie, there’s one more short film.

“Meloetta’s Sparkling Recital”
there will be double feature!

It’s been a while since Pokémon movie
had double featured. Good old days!

New Pokémon Keldeo and Meloetta will
have their first appearance in above movies.
What kind of Pokemon??
How they act?
What will the story be?

The movie starts from Saturday July 14th!
I’m looking forward to see these movies!!
Please count on it!!!

Ciao!

Pokémon official site:
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/

Movie trailers:
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/trailer/index.php

“Kyurem vs. the Sacred Swordsman: Keldeo”
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/story/index.php
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/pokemon/index.php

“Meloetta’s Sparkling Recital”
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/recital/index.php
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/recital/index.php#syoukai

*Above Pokémon movies will be released only in Japan.

No.222

03.01.2012

Hello there!

What was an announcement I talked
about in previous 221st directors column??

That is…

Brand new softwares presented by
GameFreak,

“Pocket Monsters Black 2″
“Pocket Monsters White 2″

will be launching on June in Japan!!

There are two Pokémon which
appears in this game.
Their names are…

“Black Kyurem” and,
“White Kyurem”

It seems above two Pokémon are related with
Zekrom and Reshiram…

If you want to see their appearance,
check this official page!!

http://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/b2w2/

Stay tuned!
Please wait for more new information!!

Ciao!

No.221

02.24.2012

IMPORTANT NEWS!!

On this coming Sunday, Februrary 26, 2012, from 7:30 A.M,
I, Masuda, will be appearing on TV TOKYO’s Show, “Pokémon Smash!”

Not only that.
And there…

I will be making a VERY important announcement,
so be sure not to miss it!!

Watch it live on TV!

And, for those of you who can’t watch television on live,
I will announce the same information right after the show via twitter!!

Everyone, I hope you all enjoy the show!!

Ciao!

http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/pokemon_smash/

*TV program “Pokémon Smash!” can be seen only in Japan.

No.220

02.10.2012

Here’s the important notice of
autograph session!

Considering the safety,
style of management have been changed.

Sorry everybody!

http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2012/01/120120_p02.html?a001=news

Even if you are not interested for
autograph session,
there is a Q&A corner.

Everyone, please visit!!
Let’s have fun!

Ciao!

*This autograph session will be held only in Japan.

No.219

01.30.2012

Autograph session is coming to all Pokémon Centers in Japan!!

I received a tweet for requesting my autograph session
when Pokemon Center Tohoku was established.

I want to share my energy to Tohoku’s people and
I’m willing to do the autograph session!!

But the other tweeters expanded the story to
“What about Osaka?, Fukuoka? and Yokohama?”!!

In total, all Pokémon Centers in Japan is
going to have an autograph session!

To tell the truth, in previous past,
I did the autograph session in Pokémon World
Championships(WCS),
North America, London and Korea.
But I never had a chance in Japan = )

This time, autograph session will be held in Japan for first time…
But I never thought the event become this big.

No wonder Twitter is super : )

Everyone, let’s meet at the Pokémon Center!!!
Even you don’t have a chance to get the
autograph, please come and visit = )

http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2012/01/120120_p02.html?a001=news

Ciao!

*This autograph session will be held only in Japan.

No.218

01.13.2012

Suddenly!!!

I was selected by overseas site,
IGN’s Top 30 Games People of 2011 ; )

Right over here.
http://games.ign.com/articles/121/1215234p2.html

I’ve little surprised by how big the picture of me was!

Pokémon Black/White was selected because of
infrared Battle and trading system,
C gear constant communication and PGL Sync.
However, player’s experience does not end just inside the game.
You stay connected to a real world all the time.

I am honestly happy to be selected.
Thank you very much IGN!!

No.217

12.29.2011

Everyone!!

Thanks for your support this year.

Currently, the official sight of Pokémon Center Tokyo has
a limited edition.
I expressed my strong feeling of Pokémon Center. =)
http://www.facebook.com/pokemoncentertokyo.official

Please take a look at it!!

Don’t forget to”Like” this on the official page!!

You might win Pikachu goods!!
http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2011/11/111107_p01.html

No.216

12.13.2011

I received the question below by Twitter.

“Please let me know what triggered you entering
Game Freak!”

I’d like to answer this question by
using this blog!! = )

First of all…

This is a story before establishing
Game Freak.

I was 18 years old.
Entering Japan Electronic School, major in Computer Graphics
at Shinjuku.

Two years later, I tried to enter the CG company,
but it was really hard to get the job.

After all, I entered software company which uses
C language and Assembly language.

I had to wear a suit at the office.

I was working at a company during weekdays
and spending time making
“Quinty” at Game Freak during weekends
At this time, Game Freak was not
even a company, but group of friends.
It was the idea of hobby and play =)

One year later in 1989,
“Quinty” was done.

Tajiri established Game Freak
for the launch of “Quinty.”
I quit the company which I was working for
and entered Game Freak.

It’s not about money or steadiness.
Because game development was just fun.
And I’m loving it.
It was the only reason.

It was tough back then
No days off, no money,
staying at a company all the time…

But I`ve never gave up
on developing games.

Because I love to do that.

Seven years later, in the year 1996,
we finished Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green.

Ciao!