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 Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the real-life Kantō region, on January 12, 1968. His family would vacation in the Kyūshū region, 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 Mendel Palace, which was released in 1990. He also composed for Nintendo's Mario and Wario in 1993 and Sega's Pulseman in 1994. He also co-produced the Game Freak title Drill Dozer.

Work with Pokémon

Video games

Masuda was the sole composer for the handheld games Pokémon Red and Green. 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 Pokémon Gold and Silver and has directed or co-directed every core series Pokémon game since Pokémon Crystal as well as Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire. He served as an adviser for Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium 2, and Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, and he was the supervisor for Pokémon Channel.

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 Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, 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 revealed diamond dust to players of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl 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, Zoroark 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, Zorua.

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 revealed information about the mysterious character N, including his name and its origin.

On February 26, 2012, Masuda appeared on Pokémon Smash to announce Black 2 and White 2.

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

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

Anime

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

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: 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

Mendel Palace (1989) - Music, Sound Effect
Yoshi (1991) - Music
Magical Taluluto-kun (1992) - Music, Sound Effects, Sound Program
Mario & Wario (1993) - Programmer, Music
Pulseman (1994) - Program, Music, Sound Effects
Pokémon Red and Green (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
Pokémon Yellow (1998) - Programmer, Music, Sound Effects
Pokémon Stadium (1999) - Advisor
Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999) - Sub Director, Music, Sound Effects, Game Design
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (2000) - Pokémon Supervision
Pokémon Crystal (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
Machop at Work (2002) - Very Special Thanks
Kingler's Day (2002) - Very Special Thanks
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (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
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (2004) - Director, Music Composition, Game Designer
Pokémon Emerald (2004) - World Director, Music Composition, Game Designer, Scenario Plot
Pokémon Dash (2004) - Special Thanks
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (2005) - Pokémon Games Designer
Drill Dozer (2005) - Additional Tuning, Producer
Pokémon Ranger (2006) - Game Design Adviser
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (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
Pokémon Platinum (2008) - Music Composition, Plot Scenario, Producer
Pokémon Rumble (2009) - Game-Design Advisor
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver (2009) - Music Composition, Producer
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (2010) - Game Design Advisor
Pokémon Black and White (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
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (2012) - Pokémon Black Version and White Version Music, World & Plot, Producer
Pokémon Dream Radar (2012) - Supervisor, Producer
HarmoKnight (2012) - General Producer
Pokémon Rumble U (2013) - Game-Design Advisor
Pokémon X and Y (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)
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014) - Producer
Pokémon Rumble World (2015) - Game-Design Advisor
Pokkén Tournament (2015) - Very Special Thanks
Tembo the Badass Elephant (2015) - General Producer
Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016) - Producer

Discography

Masuda's work appears on the following CDs:

Song Credits

Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue

Title Screen -- Composition & Arrangement
Pallet Town Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
Professor Oak -- Composition & Arrangement
Professor Oak's Laboratory -- Composition & Arrangement
Fanfare: Pokémon Obtained -- Composition & Arrangement
A Rival Appears -- Composition & Arrangement
Road to Viridian City: Leaving Pallet Town -- Composition & Arrangement
Fanfare: Item Obtained -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
Victory! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
Pewter City Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
Pokémon Center -- Composition & Arrangement
Pokémon Healed -- 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
Jigglypuff'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
Silph Co. -- Composition & Arrangement
The Sea -- Composition & Arrangement
Cinnabar Island Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
Pokémon Mansion -- Composition & Arrangement
Evolution -- Composition & Arrangement
Fanfare: Evolution -- Composition & Arrangement
Fanfare: Professor Oak's Evaluation 1 -- Composition & Arrangement
Fanfare: Professor Oak's Evaluation 2 -- Composition & Arrangement
The Final Road -- Composition & Arrangement
Final Battle! (Rival) -- Composition & Arrangement
Hall of Fame -- Composition & Arrangement
Ending Theme -- Composition & Arrangement

Game Boy: Entire Pokémon Sounds Collection CD

Pokémon Techno -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Yellow

Title Screen -- Composition & Arrangement
A Trainer Appears (Jessie & James Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
Pikachu's Beach -- Composition & Arrangement
Game Boy Printer -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Gold and Silver

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
Route 29 -- 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
Route 30 -- 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
Route 34 -- Composition & Arrangement
A Rival Appears! -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Rival) -- 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
Route 38 -- Composition & Arrangement
Olivine Lighthouse -- Composition & Arrangement
Route 42 -- 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 Radio: Pokémon Channel -- Composition
Pokégear Radio: Unown -- Composition & Arrangement
Pokégear Radio: Pokémon March -- Composition & Arrangement
Pokégear Radio: Pokémon Lullaby -- Composition & Arrangement
Pokégear Radio: Poké Flute -- Composition & Arrangement
Victory Road -- Composition & Arrangement
The Pokémon League -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Champion) -- Composition & Arrangement
The Hall of Fame -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Crystal

Battle! (Suicune) -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Team Aqua/Team Magma) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Brendan/May) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Team Aqua/Team Magma Leaders) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Super-Ancient Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Regirock/Regice/Registeel) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Steven) -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Ruby & Pokémon Sapphire: Super Music Collection

Steven Stone -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Battle! (Deoxys) -- Composition

Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen: Super Music Collection

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

Pokémon Emerald

Rayquaza Appears! -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Rival) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Team Galactic) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Team Galactic Commander) -- 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! (Dialga/Palkia) -- Composition & Arrangement
Lake Caverns -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Azelf/Mesprit/Uxie) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Legendary Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition & Arrangement
Battle! (Champion) -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Platinum

Battle! (Giratina) -- Composition

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Arceus -- Composition & Arrangement

Pokémon Black and White

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! (Reshiram/Zekrom) -- Composition
Decisive Battle! (N) -- Composition
Battle! (Ghetsis) -- Composition
Battle! (Battle Subway Trainer) -- Composition
Battle! (Legendary Pokémon) -- Composition
Battle! (Strong Wild Pokémon) -- Composition
Battle! (Kyurem) -- 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! (Xerneas/Yveltal/Zygarde) -- Composition
Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition
Battle! (Champion) -- Composition
Battle! (Mewtwo) -- Composition

Videos

#Pokemon20: GAME FREAK's Junichi Masuda

By The Official Pokémon Channel

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

Trivia

In an interview with Wired UK in December 2014, Masuda stated that he didn't originally work in Pokémon Gold and Silver as he was working on another project; however, he was brought back when the team faced issues during development.^[1] Whereas he worked as a programmer and composer in Pokémon Red and Blue, 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 alternative music and techno. He says that he is most inspired by the classical music composer Stravinsky.
Masuda's favorite Pokémon is Victini, his favorite move is Surf, and his favorite type is the Water type.^[2]
- Prior to Generation V, when Victini was introduced, his favorite Pokémon was Pichu.
The character Barry's optional name Jun could be a possible reference to Masuda.
- In the Battle Tower in Pokémon Crystal, there is a Guitarist named Masuda.
- The anime 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.