Kimono Girl

A Kimono Girl (Japanese: まいこはん Apprentice Geisha) is a type of Pokémon trainer that first debuted in the Generation II games. They appear as small women dressed in kimonos.

In the games

Image from Pokémon Gold and Silver

Five Kimono Girls live in Ecruteak City, and can be battled at the Ecruteak Dancing Hall. Each holds one Pokémon, which, when combined, contain the entire set of Eevee's Generation II evolutions, the Eeveelutions. For some reason, in most localizations, they were given different, but still, Japanese names.

The Kimono Girls:

• Sayo (Japanese: サクラ Sakura) - Espeon's Trainer
• Miki (Japanese: サツキ Satsuki) - Jolteon's Trainer
• Kuni (Japanese: スモモ Sumomo) - Vaporeon's Trainer
• Zuki (Japanese: タマオ Tamao) - Umbreon's Trainer
• Naoko (Japanese: コウメ Koume) - Flareon's Trainer

Bill's mother was once a Kimono Girl.

Kimono Girls have been seen in the Johto Battle Tower.

Quotes

Naoko

"You have lovely Pokémon. May I see them in battle?"

"Oh, you are very strong."

Sayo

"I always dance with my Pokémon. Of course, I also train them."

"Oh, so close! I almost had you."

Zuki

"Isn’t my barrette pretty? Oh. A Pokémon Battle?"

"I don’t have any Pokémon left…"

Kuni

"Oh, you’re a cute trainer. Would you like to battle?"

"You’re stronger than you look."

Miki

"Do you like my dancing? I’m good at Pokémon too."

"Ooh, you’re good at Pokémon too."

In the anime

The Kimono Sisters in street clothes. Left to right: Koume, Satsuki, Sumomo, Tamao

The Kimono Sisters in the anime, talking with Misty.
Left to right: Koume, Tamao, Sakura (in red), Sumomo (in green)

The Kimono Girls (called the Kimono Sisters in the anime) were featured in two episodes, Trouble's Brewing and Espeon, Not Included. In Japanese, Satsuki is voiced by Yumi Tōma. In English, Satsuki is voiced by Lisa Ortiz, Sumomo is voiced by Kayzie Rogers, Tamao is voiced by Megan Hollingshead, and Koume is voiced by Tara Jayne.

In Trouble's Brewing, right after Ash's win at the Ecruteak Gym, the gang bump into Sakura, who takes them to the tea ceremony her sisters are running when they ask where it was being held. Sumomo is the first sister they meet, greeting them formally. Tamao is seen next, demonstrating flower arranging to a small audience. Later, they pass by the lone Koume playing her shamisen. Finally, they are treated to a quiet display of the art of tea making a drinking by Satsuki. Needless to say, Brock was entranced by them all, and grows frightened when they're all together and call him out on his praise (this also happens early on in Espeon, Not Included).

The sisters are skilled trainers as well as tradition keepers. Upon proposing a challenge to the trio to battle for Sakura to join them, Sumomo and Satsuki both display their Vaporeon's and Jolteon's abilities against Misty's Poliwhirl and Ash's Pikachu respectively. Vaporeon defeats Poliwhirl and Pikachu defeats Jolteon, but the latter only after Team Rocket's daily interruption.

When Sakura changes her mind about leaving at that time, Satsuki admits that she and the other three aren't against Sakura leaving to begin her journey, only that they want her to not be dependent on others when she finally does.

In Espeon, Not Included, the four elder sisters aren't focused on much, however they were tricked by Team Rocket into handing over their Pokémon for dancing lessons. With the help of Sakura's Eevee, now an Espeon, the other four evolutions are rescued, and the episode ends with the sisters wishing Sakura well on her journey.

All five girls retained their Japanese names in the English dub; they did not use the names given to them in the English version of Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Satsuki and her Jolteon

Sumomo and her Vaporeon

Tamao and her Umbreon

Koume and her Flareon

Pokémon

On hand

→ Eevee → Jolteon (Satsuki's)	→ Eevee → Vaporeon (Sumomo's)
→ Eevee → Umbreon (Tamao's)	→ Eevee → Flareon (Koume's)
→ Eevee → Espeon (Sakura's)

Names

Trivia

• Kuni's Japanese name is the same as that of the Veilstone City Gym Leader Maylene in Sinnoh.
• In two languages, the name Keiko was used for different Kimono Girls.