Pocket Monsters: The Original Japanese Version

[Odango Usagi]

Hello. We are here to talk about the Japanese version of Pokémon (Pocket Monsters). Everything from the names of the characters to what they cut out in the KidsWB anime. I'm gonna list all the names that I know.

The Monsters

Pikachu = Pikachuu (they just spell it 'Pikachu', though)
Raichu = Raichuu
Pichu = Pichuu
Meowth = Nyaasu
Bulbasaur = Fushigidane
Squirtle = Zenigame
Charizard = Rizaadon
Geodude = Ishitsubute
Igglybuff = Pupurin
Jigglypuff = Purin
Wigglytuff = Pukurin
Cleffa = Pii
Clefairy = Pippi
Clefable = Pikushi
Machoke = Goorikii
Arbok = Aaboku
Golbat = Gorubatto
Cubone = Karakara
Marowak = Garagara
Caterpie = Kyatapii
Butterfree = Batafurii
Ponyta = Poniita
Arcanine = Uindii
Tangela = Monjera
Dugtrio = Dagutorio
Koffing = Dogasu
Weezing = Metadogasu
Gastly = Goosu
Haunter = Goosuto
Gengar = Gengaa
Slowpoke = Yaran
Slowbro = Yadoran
Drowzee = Suriipu
Snorlax = Kabigon
Eevee = Iibui
Porygon = Porigon
Porygon 2 = Porigon 2
Vileplume = Kusaihana
Bellossom = Kireihana
Doduo = Dooduo
Dodrio = Doodorio
Poliwag = Nyoromo
Ditto = Metamon
Electabuzz = Erebuu
Elekid = Erekiddo
Mewtwo = Myuutsuu
Mew = Myuu
Togepi = Togepi
Togetic = Togechikku
Chikorita = Chikorita
Totodile = Waninoko
Girafarig = Kirinriki (in Japanese katakana, this is a palendrome)
Espeon = Efui
Umbreon = Burakki
Murkrow = Yamikarasu
Houndoom = Heruga
Nidoran (female) = Nidoran (mesu)
Nidoran (male) = Nidoran (osu)
Nidorina = Nidorina
Nidoqueen = Nidokuiin
Nidorino = Nidorino
Nidoking = Nidokingu
Magikarp = Koikingu
Gyarados = Gyaradosu
Lapras = Rapurasu
Articuno = Furiizu
Moltres = Faiyaa
Wooper = Uupaa
Shuckle = Tsubotsubo
Magby = Buubii
Crobat = Kurobatto
Snubble = Buruu
Azurill = Ruriruri
Marill = Mariru
Azumarill = Mariruri
Entei = Entei
Raikou = Raikou
Suicune = Suikun
Lugia = Rugia
Hoh-Oh = Houou
Latios = Ratiosu
Latias = Ratiasu

And... that's all I can think of right now. sweatdrop I didn't jut make these up, I looked at some Japanese Pokémon cards, listened to the "Pokemon Ierukana" (the Japanese Pokérap), and looked at some info sites.  

[Odango Usagi]

The Humans

Ash = Satoshi (possibly named after Satoshi Tajiri)
Misty = Kasumi ('Kasumi' means 'mist')
Brock = Takeshi
Tracey = Kenji
May = Kimi
Erika = Erika
Lt. Surge = Machisu
Koga = Kyou
Sabrina = Natsume
Jessie = Musashi (named after a famous swordsman)
James = Kojirou (named after Musashi's rival)
Cassidy = Yamato
Butch = Kosaburo
Domino = Domino
Giovanni = Sakaki
The Masked Maurauder = Bishasu (Vicious)

Other Things

Team Rocket = Roketto-dan
Gotta Catch 'em All = Pokemon Getto Daze (Get all Pokémon)

Jessie's mom is named Miyamoto. She doesn't appear in the anime. Miyamoto is the last nema of the famed swordsman, Musashi.

Mondo is how Musashi and Kojirou can keep doing their missions. He is also known as Team Rocket's Fix-it kid. He doesn't appear in the anime, either.  

[Inazuman Frash]

Yeah Mondo is a behind the scenes type character who only appears in the radio dramas.  

[Odango Usagi]

Thanks for backing me up. ^_^

Now, can anyone please tell me what Max's Japanese name is? Or Rudy's...? I've been wanting to know for such a long time... gonk  

[Load Chaud]

I thought that May's Japanese name was "Haruka".

That is, unless you're refering to Gary's sister, and not the Pokémon R/S girl (it gets confusing sometimes).

And you forgot to mention that Gary's Japanese name is "Shigeru". And yes, he was named after the legendary madman...errr... video game genius, Shigeru Miyamoto. Satoshi Tajiri meant it as a joke because he kind of saw Miyamoto as his rival.

Also, I recall visiting a Japanese artist site a while back, and on one of the images, in plain English, it said "Team Rocket".

Now, I'm no expert on the Japanese language (heck, I hardly know anything about it), but I do know that Katakana is used to spell non-Japanese words (English, French, Spanish, etc.) and made-up words (like most Pokémon names). And often it isn't meant to be translated to Roman letters directly. But rather, take some liberties with it.

A couple of example are Mew and Mewtwo. I remember seeing a Japanese trading card (not the game cards, but regular trading cards) and it had the Pokémon names spelled in Roman letters. And it clearly said on the card "Mew". Another example I can remember is Arcanine's card: "Windie".
And the Japanese movie poster for the first movie clearly stated "Mewtwo Strikes Back" in Roman letters. Playing Super Smash Bros. Melee in Japanese changes a few names: Koopa (Bowser), Ice Climber (Ice Climbers), Purin (Jigglypuff), but Mewtwo stays the same.

Plus, there's also the facts that some Katakana characters represent more than one sound. The "R" characters also represent "L" sounds. The "B" characters also represent "V" sounds. Etc.
EXAMPLE1: Chikorita. チコリータ could've alternately been Romanized as "Chikolita", "Chicorita", etc.
EXAMPLE2: Meowth. ニャース could be Romanized as "Nyarth" or "Nyasu".

A lot of the Japanese names (maybe even all of 'em, I'm not sure) have official Romanizations. An example is "Pikachu". While there are two "u"s in the Katakana, it is thrown out in the Romanization because it isn't necessary in Roman letters.

Also, "Pokémon" technically IS the Japanese version of "Pocket Monsters", since it is the Japanese contraction of the two words (and it gets used a lot, too. Look at recent box art, for example.)

I'd recommend checking Pokémon Forever's Pokédex for all Japanese names (French and German, too!).  

[Flanny-Chan]

Wasn't Gary's sister called Daisy in the English version?
Anyway, I can't read Japanese and I hardly speak it - just enough to impress my friends xd  

[Fox Demon Shippo]

Flanny-Chan

Wasn't Gary's sister called Daisy in the English version?
Anyway, I can't read Japanese and I hardly speak it - just enough to impress my friends xd

Who's Daisy? o.O

Gary's sister's name is May. 3nodding  

[Odango Usagi]

Oh, yeah, that's right; I forgot him. ^///^;

I was actually talking about the May from R/S. In the English version of the Toshihiro Ono manga, I think Gary's sister is called May. In the English G/S/C games, she is called Daisy. o_O; Why they choose to confuse us, I don't know...