"Satoshi from 'Pokémon' Becomes World Champion After 25 Years: Defeats Dande(Leon) in Ultimate Battle Tournament, Wins [Celebration Video Released].
Satoshi (age 10), the main character of the popular anime "Pocket Monsters" (officially abbreviated as "Anipoke," which airs every Friday at 6:55 p.m. on TV Tokyo), achieved his long-held dream today, July 11, in episode 132.
He defeated Dande(Leon), the undefeated absolute champion and his opponent in the finals of the “Pokémon WorldChampion Ships”, a tournament to determine the strongest Pokémon battler, and became the World Champion.
Through the anime series, which began in 1997, Satoshi finally achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a world champion after 25 years.
A celebration video was released to honor the new World Champion, but although Satoshi earned the title of "Pokémon Battle's Strongest," he did not become the "Pokémon Master" of his dreams.
The anime "Pocket Monsters" began in 1997. Satoshi, who grew up in Masara Town(Palette Town) in the Kanto region, embarked on a journey to become a "Pokémon Master" with his partner, Pikachu.
He has participated in the Pokémon League tournaments held in various regions seven times in the past, and achieved his first league victory in 22 years in the Alola Region's 'Alola League' (2019).
The tournament Satoshi participated in this time, the "Pokémon World Champion Ships," is a tournament to determine the strongest Pokémon battler.
It featured trainers with champion-class skills from various regions, including Dande, the undefeated world champion from the Galar region, Shirona, the Sinnoh champion, Daigo, the Hoenn champion, Wataru, the Kanto-Johto champion, Karune, the Kalos champion, Alan, the winner of the Lumiose Conference of the Kalos League, and Iris, the Unova champion.
Among them, Satoshi, the first champion of the Alola League, also qualified and participated in the tournament. He defeated Daigo in the first match and Shirona in the second to advance to the finals.
The final match against Dande began with a full 6-on-6 battle, and in the end, Satoshi and Pikachu gave it their all and clashed with Dande's ace Pokémon, Charizard.
Satoshi and Pikachu fought Dande and Charizard, giving it their all, and ultimately defeated them, becoming the world's strongest Pokémon Trainer.
In addition, Rika Matsuda, who plays the role of Satoshi, gave an interview to ORICON NEWS before the broadcast.
She said, "It has been 25 years since I started playing Satoshi, but he is always serious during battles. He always gives his all, so he has no room for relaxation (laughs)".
She also called out, "Since the first broadcast in 1997, the children who watched the show have grown up, and some may have drifted away from the anime.
We came so close to winning the title of Pokémon Battle's Strongest, so I hope both children and adults will support Satoshi in front of the TV!
It should be noted that although Satoshi has become Pokémon strongest Pokémon battler, he is still halfway to achieving his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master.
The official profile on the anime's official website describes him as a 10-year-old boy who, after a certain encounter, aims to become the strongest Pokémon battler. He has a strong sense of justice and a straightforward personality.
The profile states, "His dream is to become a Pokémon Master." It is reported that although he achieved his goal of becoming the strongest Pokémon Battler this time, his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master is separate.
■Satoshi's Pokémon League (Tournament) Records
・Sekiei League: Top 16
・Johto League: Shirogane Conference: Top 8
・Hoenn League: Saiyu Conference: Top 8
・Sinnoh League: Zuzuran Conference: Top 4
・Unova League: Higaki Conference: Top 8
・Kalos League: Lumiose Conference: Second
・Alola League: Champion
・Pokémon World Champion Ships: Champion.