Junichi Masuda



Junichi Masuda (Japanese: 増田順一 Masuda Jun'ichi, born January 12, 1968 in Yokohama) is one of the founding members of Game Freak and serves as the Director of the Board. He is best known as a game director and composer for the Pokémon games.

He runs his Director's Columns on Game Freak's website, with many entries translated into English. In it, he has talked about why he has done his work in the Pokémon series the way he has and also has given out news about the games he is working on. It was through this column that the Masuda method, a method of obtaining Shiny Pokémon more easily, was first documented.

Early life and career
Junichi Masuda was born in the, located in the real-life , on January 12, 1968. His family would vacation in the, which became the basis for the Pokémon world's Hoenn. As a teenager, he played the trombone and had interest in classical music, while also maintaining an interest in arcade games and their programming. He was working in a corporate office in 1989 when Satoshi Tajiri approached him and asked if he would like to join Game Freak, which was just beginning to form at the time. Masuda agreed and became one of the founding members of the company. 2009 marked his 20th anniversary with Game Freak.

The first game that Masuda worked on with Game Freak was composing the music for, which was released in 1990. He also composed for Nintendo's in 1993 and 's  in 1994. He also co-produced the Game Freak title.

Video games
Masuda was the sole composer for the handheld games. He developed a program called "Sound Driver" in the early 1990s, which was used to play music and sound effects in Game Freak's titles. This program was later used to create all of the original Pokémon's cries.

He has composed the music for every core series Pokémon game to date. Gradually, Masuda began to take on duties other than composing; however, he still has composed most of the battle themes. He was appointed sub-director for and has directed or co-directed every core series Pokémon game since  as well as. He served as an adviser for Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium 2, and, and he was the supervisor for.

Masuda has also done design work for the Pokémon games. He designed the Hoenn region, and he was involved with game design that contributed to, although he did not directly serve as a designer for that game.

Masuda has been known by fans for his important and noteworthy announcements relating to the games, among his firsts being the aforementioned Masuda method. In 2008, Masuda  to players of  through his director's column by asking them to play on January 12. The phenomenon first occurred on his 40th birthday, and it was later discovered to appear on several other days in different years in different games. Slightly over two years later, was first revealed by Junichi Masuda as a silhouette in the February 7, 2010 edition of Pokémon Sunday. Its full image was later revealed in the March 2010 issue of CoroCoro, alongside its pre-evolution,.

Masuda opened his Twitter account on October 4, 2011 in order to communicate with fans. Soon after, Masuda gained the attention of fans once again because of his blog post that about the mysterious character N, including his name and its origin.

On February 26, 2012, Masuda appeared on Pokémon Smash to announce.

On April 7, 2013, Masuda again appeared on Pokémon Smash to reveal Mega Y for the upcoming Generation VI games.

On July 4, 2013, at 2013, a video was broadcasted where Masuda announced that the Kalos region is based on. The video also included Masuda's revelation of the Generation VI Pokémon,.

Anime
Masuda's music is rearranged for the Pokémon anime by Shinji Miyazaki. He has also done original design for the series since.

Masuda has also been involved with many of the Pokémon movies. Masuda was an original creator of the Pokémon movies Jirachi: Wish Maker, Destiny Deoxys, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, The Rise of Darkrai and Giratina and the Sky Warrior, as well as the The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate!, and Pikachu's Island Adventure anime specials. He also composed music for Mewtwo Strikes Back and The Power of One and contributed sound for Celebi: The Voice of the Forest. In Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, he was involved with character staging.

Others
On keyboards in the group ＭＴＭ, Masuda composed the song battle gene Ｍ after gaining a request from Shōko Nakagawa. The song is based on Cynthia's battle theme, which is featured on Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl: Super Music Collection, Pokémon Black & Pokémon White: Super Music Collection, and Pokémon Black 2 & Pokémon White 2: Super Music Collection under the titles 戦闘！チャンピオン ''Battle! Champion'', 戦闘! シロナ ''Battle! Shirona'', and 戦闘! チャンピオン(シンオウ) ''Battle! Champion (Shin'ō)'', respectively.

Game credits

 *  (1989) - Music, Sound Effect
 *  (1991) - Music & Sound Effects
 * Magical Taluluto-kun (1992) - Music, Sound Effects, Sound Program
 *  (1993) - Programmer, Music
 *  (1994) - Program, Music & Sound Effects
 *  (1996) - Programmer, Music, Sound Effects
 * Bazaru de Gozaru no Game de Gozaru (1996) - Program
 * Pokémon Blue (1996) - Programmer, Music, Sound Effects
 * Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha (1997) - Program, Music & Sound Effects
 * Pokémon Stadium (Japanese) (1998) - Advisor
 *  (1998) - Programmer, Music, Sound Effects
 * Pokémon Stadium (1999) - Advisor
 *  (1999) - Sub Director, Music, Sound Effects, Game Design
 * Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (2000) - Pokémon Supervision
 *  (2000) - Director, Music, Sound Effects, Game Design, Game Scenario, US Coordination
 * Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000) - Advisement & Original Sound
 * Pokémon Party mini (2001) - Supervisor
 * Pokémon Pinball mini (2001) - Supervisor
 * Pokémon Zany Cards (2001) - Pokémon Theme Music, Supervisor
 * Pokémon Puzzle Collection (2001) - Supervisor
 * Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) - Original Game Staff (Director: Pokémon)
 * Pokémon Tetris (2002) - Supervisor
 * Pokémon Race mini (2002) - Supervisor
 * Pichu Bros. mini (2002) - Supervisor
 * Machop at Work (2002) - Very Special Thanks
 * Kingler's Day (2002) - Very Special Thanks
 * Togepi's Great Adventure (2002) - Supervisor
 *  (2002) - Director, Music Composition, Game Designer, Plot Scenario
 * Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire (2003) - Director, Planning
 * Pokémon Channel (2003) - Supervisor
 * Pokémon Colosseum (2003) - Pokémon Games Designer
 *  (2004) - Director, Music Composition, Game Designer
 *  (2004) - World Director, Music Composition, Game Designer, Scenario Plot
 * Pokémon Dash (2004) - Special Thanks
 * Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (2005) - Pokémon Games Designer
 *  (2005) - Additional Tuning, Producer
 * Pokémon Ranger (2006) - Game Design Adviser
 *  (2006) - Director, Music Composition, Plot Scenario
 * Pokémon Battle Revolution (2006) - Pokémon Games Designer
 * Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) - Supervisor (Original Games)
 * Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia (2008) - Game Design Advisor
 * My Pokémon Ranch (2008) - Game-Design Advisor
 *  (2008) - Music Composition, Plot Scenario, Producer
 * Pokémon Rumble (2009) - Game-Design Advisor
 *  (2009) - Music Composition, Producer
 * Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (2010) - Game Design Advisor
 *  (2010) - Director, Music, World & Plot, Producer
 * Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure (2011) - Game Design Adviser
 * Pokémon Rumble Blast (2011) - Game-Design Advisor
 * Pokémon Conquest (2012) - Game-Design Advisor
 *  (2012) - Pokémon Black Version and White Version Music, World & Plot, Producer
 * Pokémon Dream Radar (2012) - Supervisor, Producer
 *  (2012) - General Producer
 * Pokémon Rumble U (2013) - Game-Design Advisor
 *  (2013) - Director, Music, World & Plot, Producer
 * Pokémon Battle Trozei (2014) - Pokémon Game Design Adviser
 * The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon (2014) - Very Special Thanks
 * Pokémon Art Academy (2014) - Very Special Thanks
 * Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U (2014) - Supervisor (Original Games)
 *  (2014) - Producer
 * Pokémon Rumble World (2015) - Game-Design Advisor
 * Pokkén Tournament (2015) - Very Special Thanks
 *  (2015) - General Producer
 * Pokémon Picross (2016) - Game-Design Advisor
 * Great Detective Pikachu ~Birth of a New Duo~ (2016) - Game-Design Advisor
 * Pokémon GO (2016) - Music
 *  (2016) - Music, Producer
 *  (2017) - Sound, Producer
 * Detective Pikachu (2018) - Game-Design Advisor
 * Pokémon Quest (2018) - General Producer
 * Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (2018) - Director, Original Music, Concept, General Producer

Discography
Masuda's work appears on the following CDs:


 * Game Boy: Entire Pokémon Sounds Collection CD
 * Pokémon Gotta Catch the Sound!
 * Pokémon Ruby & Pokémon Sapphire: Super Music Collection
 * Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen: Super Music Collection
 * Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl: Super Music Collection
 * Pokémon HeartGold & Pokémon SoulSilver: Super Music Collection
 * Pokémon Black & Pokémon White: Super Music Collection
 * Pokémon Black 2 & Pokémon White 2: Super Music Collection
 * Pokémon X & Pokémon Y: Super Music Collection
 * Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon: Super Music Collection
 * Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! Super Music Collection

Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue

 * Title Screen -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pallet Town Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Professor Oak -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Professor Oak's Laboratory -- Composition & Arrangement
 * A Rival Appears -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Road to Viridian City: Leaving Pallet Town -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Picked Up an Item! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Victory! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Obtained a ! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pewter City Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokémon Center -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokémon Healed -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokédex Evaluation... You're on Your Way! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Viridian Forest -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Guide -- Composition & Arrangement
 * A Trainer Appears (Girl Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Victory! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Level Up! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Caves of Mt. Moon -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Road to Cerulean City: Leaving Mt. Moon -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Cerulean City Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokémon Gym -- Composition & Arrangement
 * To Bill: Leaving Cerulean City -- Composition & Arrangement
 * 's Song -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Vermilion City Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
 * The S.S. Anne -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Road to Lavender Town: Leaving Vermilion City -- Composition & Arrangement
 * The Poké Flute -- Composition & Arrangement
 * A Trainer Appears (Boy Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Gym Leader Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Victory! (Gym Leader Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Cycling -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Lavender Town Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokémon Tower -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Celadon City Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Rocket Game Corner -- Composition & Arrangement
 * A Trainer Appears (Bad Guy Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Rocket Hideout -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Obtained a Key Item! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Silph Co. -- Composition & Arrangement
 * -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Cinnabar Island Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
 * -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Evolution -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Congratulations! Your Pokémon Evolved! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * The Final Road -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Final Battle! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Hall of Fame -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Ending Theme -- Composition & Arrangement

Game Boy: Entire Pokémon Sounds Collection CD

 * Pokémon Techno -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Opening Movie -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Theme of Jessie and James -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pikachu's Beach -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pikachu's Beach (Results Announcement) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Connection -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Opening Demo -- Composition (w/Gō Ichinose), Arrangement (w/Gō Ichinose)
 * Opening Demo 2 -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Title Screen -- Composition & Arrangement
 * An Adventure Begins! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * New Bark Town -- Composition (w/Gō Ichinose), Arrangement (w/Gō Ichinose)
 * Hurry Along -- Composition, Arrangement (w/Gō Ichinose)
 * Elm Pokémon Lab -- Composition & Arrangement
 * -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Wild Pokémon—Johto Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Level Up! -- Composition
 * Cherrygrove City -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokémon Center -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokémon Healed -- Composition
 * Battle! (Trainer Battle—Johto Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Sprout Tower -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Union Cave -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Picked Up an Item! -- Composition
 * Ruins of Alph -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Team Rocket) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * -- Composition & Arrangement
 * A Rival Appears! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Evolution -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Congratulations! Your Pokémon Evolved! -- Composition
 * Battle! (Gym Leader—Johto Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Received a Gym Badge! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Received a TM! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Bicycle -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Burned Tower -- Composition & Arrangement
 * -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Olivine Lighthouse -- Composition & Arrangement
 * -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Radio Transmission -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Team Rocket HQ -- Composition & Arrangement
 * A Rival Appears! (Version 2) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Tin Tower -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Ice Path -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Dragon's Den -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Gym Leader—Kanto Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Mt. Moon -- Composition
 * Pokégear : Pokémon Channel -- Composition
 * Pokégear Radio: -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokégear Radio: -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokégear Radio: -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokégear Radio: Poké Flute -- Composition & Arrangement
 * -- Composition & Arrangement
 * The Pokémon League -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Champion) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * The Hall of Fame -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Opening Demo -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Title Screen -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Team Aqua/Team Magma) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (/) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Team Aqua/Team Magma Leaders) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Super-Ancient Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (//) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Steven) -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Ruby & Pokémon Sapphire: Super Music Collection

 * Steven Stone -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Battle! -- Composition

Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen: Super Music Collection

 * Rocket Hideout -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Pokémon Tower 1997 -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Strength of a Gym Leader -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Appears! -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Team Galactic) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Team Galactic ) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Team Galactic Boss) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Spear Pillar -- Composition (w/Gō Ichinose), Arrangement (w/Gō Ichinose)
 * The Legendary Pokémon Appears! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Catastrophe! -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (/) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Lake Caverns -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (//) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Legendary Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Champion) -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Battle! -- Composition


 * -- Composition & Arrangement


 * Battle! (Cheren/Bianca) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Team Plasma) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition
 * Battle! (N) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition
 * Battle! (/) -- Composition
 * Decisive Battle! (N) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Ghetsis) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Battle Subway Trainer) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Legendary Pokémon) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Strong Wild Pokémon) -- Composition
 * Battle! -- Composition
 * Battle! (Champion) -- Composition

Pokémon X and Y

 * Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Successor Korrina) -- Composition
 * Battle! (//) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Champion) -- Composition
 * Battle! -- Composition

Pokémon GO

 * Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition
 * Gotcha! (Pokémon Captured) -- Composition
 * Evolution -- Composition
 * Professor Willow -- Composition
 * Walking (Map Theme) -- Composition


 * A Tapu Appears! -- Composition
 * Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition
 * The Festival in Iki Town -- Composition (w/Minako Adachi)
 * Trainers' Eyes Meet (Trainer) -- Composition
 * Battle! (Trainer) -- Composition
 * Island Kahuna's Theme -- Composition
 * Battle! (Island Kahuna) -- Composition (w/Gō Ichinose)
 * The Protector of the Island -- Composition
 * To the Altar... -- Composition
 * Solgaleo / Lunala Appears! -- Composition (w/Tomoaki Oga & Minako Adachi)
 * Let's Go to Ultra Space! -- Composition (w/Tomoaki Oga)
 * Battle! (/) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition & Arrangement
 * Battle! (Tapu) -- Composition
 * Staff Credits -- Composition (w/Minako Adachi)

Trivia

 * In an interview with in December 2014, Masuda stated that he didn't originally work in  as he was working on another project; however, he was brought back when the team faced issues during development. Whereas he worked as a programmer and composer in, in Gold and Silver, he worked on the audio and game design as well as in the coordination of the American and European localizations.
 * Masuda listens to and . He says that he is most inspired by the classical music composer.
 * Masuda's six favorite Pokémon are, , , , , and Alolan.
 * Masuda's favorite move is, and his favorite type is the Water type.
 * The character 's optional name Jun could be a possible reference to Masuda.
 * In the in, there is a  named Masuda.
 * The character Vincent's Japanese name is Jun'ichi, another possible reference.
 * Masuda occasionally competes online in Wi-Fi battles.
 * The concept for the Global Terminal was Masuda's idea.