Samurai

Samurai (Japanese: サムライ Samurai) is a young boy who lives in Viridian Forest and dresses up in armor. He specializes in  and carries around a sword and a bug-catching net. He appears to have been inspired by the s in the Pokémon games, with the exception of the samurai armor.

He is the very first character of the day in the and the first   had a fair  against.

In the anime
Samurai appeared in Challenge of the Samurai. and were traveling through Viridian Forest since Ash intended to catch more Pokémon. As Ash was about to catch a, Samurai jumped out of the bushes and threatened him with his sword, asking him if he was was from Pallet Town. Samurai challenged Ash to a battle, having already lost to and the other two Trainers from Pallet Town.

Because of the confusion caused by Samurai's yelling and sword-waving, the Weedle escaped. Samurai insulted Ash, saying that he is a "bad Trainer". Because of that, they challenged each other to a Pokémon battle. Samurai's powerful knocked out Ash's Pidgeotto. Ash sent out his and made him use  to damage Pinsir's pincers. Samurai sent out his own Metapod, and the two Pokémon, being unable to use any move besides Harden, were locked in a complete stalemate for a long time.

Their match was interrupted by a swarm of, apparently angered by Ash attacking the Weedle earlier. The Beedrill snatched Ash's Metapod and flew off. The trio hid in Samurai's cabin, where the boy continued to berate and insult Ash, saying that Ash was not a good Trainer to his Pokémon because he didn't go rescue his Metapod when the Beedrill attacked.

Ash eventually gained Samurai's respect when he used his newly evolved to put the Beedrill to sleep by using  and reunited with his Pokémon. At the end of the episode, Ash, Misty, and Samurai say goodbye, and the two boys promised to battle again some day.

He reappeared in Ash's flashbacks in Battle Aboard the St. Anne and Bye Bye Butterfree. He also made a cameo appearance with his Pinsir in the second opening theme and its English dub counterpart,.

Pokémon
This listing is of Samurai's known Pokémon:

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
Samurai makes a cameo appearance in Pikachu's Excellent Adventure, where he, along with A.J.,, and , makes plans to find the Hidden Village, where powerful wild Pokémon supposedly live. Samurai is particularly interested in the level 99 and  rumored to live there. He and A.J. are separated from Ash and Brock when goes missing.

Samurai appears to be a little older in the manga than he is in the anime. He also appears taller and thinner, with a predilection for using words like, "Verily!"

Trivia

 * In Pocket Monsters: The Animation, Samurai was replaced with a generic.

Names
Samurai Samurái Samouraï Samurai サムライ 武士