Koga

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Koga
キョウ Kyō
"The Poisonous Ninja Master"
HeartGold SoulSilver Koga.png
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Gender Male
Eye color Black
Hair color Blue
Hometown Fuchsia City
Region Kanto
Relatives Janine (daughter)
Aya (anime only, sister)
Trainer class Gym LeaderWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.
Elite FourWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.
Team Rocket Commander (Adventures)
Generation I, II, III, IV
Games Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Stadium, Stadium 2
Leader of Fuchsia Gym
Badge Soul Badge
Elite Four of Indigo Plateau
Specializes in Poison types
Anime debut The Ninja Poké-Showdown
English voice actor Stan Hart
Japanese voice actor Hōchū Ōtsuka

Koga (Japanese: キョウ Kyō) was the Leader of Fuchsia City's Gym. He is a student of ninjutsu who specializes in Poison-type Pokémon. He handed out the Soul Badge to Trainers who defeated him.

He was promoted to a Master Poison-type Trainer, and became a member of the Johto Elite Four, at some time after the events of Generation I and its remakes, but before the events of Generation II and its remakes, thus leaving his daughter, Janine, in charge of the Fuchsia Gym.

In the games

Koga, known as the Poisonous Ninja Master, serves two roles in the Pokémon games. In Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen he is the Leader of the Fuchsia Gym, but is promoted to a member of the Elite Four in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver. Koga is a user of the Poison-type; he likes the despair and horror that Poison-type Pokémon can inflict on others.

Koga has studied medicine and antidotes; he makes his own potions to heal his Pokémon. He also serves as a teacher. Many students come to him to be trained in the arts of Ninjutsu and Pokémon. One of his students is his own daughter, Janine, who takes over his Gym in the Generation II/IV storyline. In addition to these roles, Koga also patrols the grounds of the Kanto Safari Zone, to ensure that the players of the Safari Game are safe from the wild Pokémon within.

In Generation I/III, Koga's Gym is typically the fifth to be challenged. He has built invisible walls in the Fuchsia City Gym, constructing a confusing maze out of them. Koga awaits challengers in the center of the maze, clearly visible, but a group of Jugglers and Tamers—Koga's students—must be fought first. Defeating him will earn the successful Trainer TM06 (Toxic) and the Soul Badge.

With the future of the Gym in his daughter's hands, Koga advances to a role in the Pokémon League of Kanto and Johto before the events of Generation II/IV. In these games, he is the second member of the Elite Four to be faced. The team he uses in this role is similar to his Gym Leader's teams; the main difference is the introduction of Pokémon not native to Kanto. Koga's battle style as an Elite Four member is designed to confound and destroy his opponent in battle. Rather than using brute force, Koga attempts to confuse, put to sleep, and poison his opponent.

Fame Checker

This is a list of the Fame Checker's information on Koga in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions.

Fuchsia City - Sign
  •  What does this person do?
"Fuchsia City Pokémon Gym
Leader: Koga
The Poisonous Ninja Master"
Fuchsia Gym - Koga
  • Favorite kind of Pokémon?
"Despair to the creeping horror of Poison-type Pokémon!"
Fuchsia Gym - Juggler Kirk
  • What is this person like?
"Even though I've lost, I will keep training according to the teachings of Koga, my ninja master."
Fuchsia City - Charine
  • Family and friends?
"My father is the Gym Leader of this town.
I’m training to use Poison Pokémon as well as my father."
Safari Warden's Home - Pokémon Journal
  • There’s a rumor...
"Koga is said to have a thorough knowledge of medicine.
He even concocts medicine to nurse his Pokémon to health."
Safari Zone - Man
  • What does this person do?
"The Safari Zone<sc>'s huge, wouldn't you say?
<sc>Fuchsia's Gym Leader, Koga, patrols the grounds every so often.
Thanks to him, we can play here knowing that we're safe."
Message from Koga
  • From: Koga
  • To: [Player]
"You and I, we must both set our sights higher and work towards meeting our challenges.
Now, I must go train my daughter."

Pokémon

This is a listing of Koga's Pokémon in the games in which he has appeared.

Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon Red and Green



Pokémon Yellow



Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal



Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen



Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

First battle



Second battle



Pokémon Stadium

Round 1



Round 2



Pokémon Stadium 2

Round 1



Round 2



Side games

Pokémon Zany Cards

Koga in Pokémon Zany Cards

Koga appears, along with Sabrina, as the Stage 4 opponent of Special Seven mode.

Quotes

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow

  • Before battle
"Fwahahaha! A mere child like you dares to challenge me? Very well, I shall show you true terror as a ninja master! You shall feel the despair of poison and sleep techniques!"
  • When defeated
"Humph! You have proven your worth! Here! take the Soul Badge!"
  • After being defeated
"Now that you have the Soul Badge, the defense of your Pokémon increases! It also lets you Surf outside of battle! Ah! Take this too!"
"TM06 contains Toxic! It is a secret technique over 400 years old!"
"When afflicted by Toxic, Pokémon suffer more and more as battle progresses! It will surely terrorize foes!"

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

  • Before battle
"Fwahahahaha! I am Koga of the Elite Four. I live in shadows, a ninja! My intricate style will confound and destroy you! Confusion, sleep, poison... Prepare to be the victim of my sinister technique! Fwahahahaha! Pokémon is not merely about brute force--you shall see soon enough!"
  • When defeated
"Ah! You have proven your worth!"
  • After being defeated
"I subjected you to everything I could muster. But my efforts failed. I must hone my skills. Go on to the next room, and put your abilities to test!"

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

  • Before battle
"Fwahahaha! A mere child like you dares to challenge me? The very idea makes me shiver with mirth! Very well, I shall show you true terror as a ninja master! Poison brings steady doom. Sleep renders foes helpless. Despair to the creeping horror of Poison-type Pokémon!"
  • When defeated
"Humph! You have proven your worth! Here! Take the Soul Badge!"
  • After being defeated
"Now that you have the Soul Badge, the defense of your Pokémon rises. It also lets you Surf outside of battle. Ah! Take this, too!"
"Sealed within that TM lies Toxic! It is a secret technique dating back some four hundred years."
"When afflicted by Toxic, a Pokémon suffers more and more. It suffers worsening damage as the battle wears on! It will surely terrorize foes!"

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

  • Before battle
"Fwahahahaha! I am Koga of the Elite Four. I live in shadows--a ninja! My intricate style will confound and destroy you! Confusion, sleep, poison... Prepare to be the victim of my sinister techniques! Fwahahahaha! Pokémon are not merely about brute force--you shall see soon enough!"
  • After sending out last Pokémon
"One Pokémon left? Ha ha ha! I've been counting on this one from the very beginning!"
  • During battle
"Ooooof..."
  • When defeated
"Ah! You've proven your worth!"
  • After being defeated
"I subjected you to everything I could muster. But my efforts failed. I must hone my skills. Go on to the next room, and put your abilities to the test!"

Pokémon Zany Cards

  • Before battle
"Ha ha ha! I am Koga! Ninja of Fuchsia Gym. I wield sleep, confuse, and more spells! Feel my power in battle!"
  • During battle
  • Using a card
"I can't be confused."
"Take this spell!"
"Ninja-style is the best!"
"I'm sticking with it."
  • Drawing a card
"Drawing more is my plan."
"This is not good..."
  • Hit
"It's ok. More spells."
  • Hit with Reverse
"Can't escape from me."
  • After battle
  • Second or third
"Tricked!"
  • When defeated
"Well done! Super!"

Artwork

Sugimorikogaoriginal.png 50px‎ FireRed LeafGreen Koga.png
Headshot from
Generation I.
Official artwork from
Red and Blue.
Official artwork from
Generation III.

Sprites

File:KogaBlue.png File:Koga 02.png File:SpriteKoga.png File:KogaHGSS.gif VSKoga.png
Koga's sprite from
Generation I
Koga's sprite from
Generation II
Koga's sprite from
Generation III
Koga's sprite from
Generation IV
Koga's VS sprite from
Generation IV
Koga I OD.png Koga II OD.png Koga III OD.png Koga OD.png S2 Elite Four Koga.png
Koga's overworld sprite from
Generation I
Koga's overworld sprite from
Generation II
Koga's overworld sprite from
Generation III
Koga's overworld sprite from
Generation IV
Koga's artwork from
both Pokémon Stadiums

In the anime

File:Koga.png
Koga in the anime

Koga's only anime appearance was in the episode The Ninja Poké-Showdown.

Koga is a ninja who trains in an old mansion, the Fuchsia City Gym, in the woods outside Fuchsia City. The Gym is filled with traps such as fake mirrors, invisible walls, pits, and many Voltorb. Aya, Koga's younger sister, is one of his students.

Ash, Misty, and Brock managed to overcome the traps in the Gym and Ash was finally able to challenge Koga. Although Ash's Pidgeotto initially lost to Koga's newly-evolved Venomoth, prompting Ash to call out Charmander, their match was interrupted when Team Rocket tried to steal Koga's large supply of Voltorb, although they had raided the Gym with the intent of getting Poison-type Pokémon. Team Rocket was stopped by Psyduck, allowing Ash and Koga to have a rematch. Pitting Charmander against Koga's Golbat, Ash triumphed and won the Soul Badge.

Pokémon

This listing is of Koga's known Pokémon in the anime:

Koga's Venonat

Koga's Venomoth
Venonat → Venomoth
When Ash challenged Koga, Koga sent out his Venonat, which Ash originally underestimated since he had previously defeated his sister's Venonat quite easily but then it instantly evolved into a Venomoth, and proceeded to get the upper hand in its Gym battle with Pidgeotto. The battle was interrupted by Team Rocket, and afterwards, Koga offered to trade Venomoth to Misty for her Psyduck, but she declined.

Venomoth's known moves are Stun Spore and Sleep Powder.

Debut The Ninja Poké-Showdown
Voice actors
Japanese
English Eric Stuart
Koga's Golbat
Golbat
Main article: Koga's Golbat

During Koga's and Ash's rematch, Koga used his Golbat against Ash's Charmander. Golbat eventually lost to Charmander's strong Fire-type moves, winning Ash the Soul Badge.

Debut The Ninja Poké-Showdown
Voice actors
Japanese Shin'ichirō Miki
English Eric Stuart
Koga's Scyther
Scyther
Koga's Scyther only appeared in a flashback in Bad to the Bone. Otoshi's flashback revealed that he defeated Scyther with his Marowak and obtained the Soul Badge.

None of Scyther's moves are known.

Debut Bad to the Bone

At Fuchsia Gym

Koga's Voltorb
Voltorb
Koga keeps these multiple Voltorb as traps in his Gym. They can be either hidden under the floor or be dropped from the ceiling. Ash, Misty, and Brock first came across one when Ash fell into a trap, stepped on one and it shocked him. Team Rocket attempted to steal the Voltorb from the Gym, and Meowth used these Pokémon as exploding bowling balls and threw them at the heroes.

Voltorb's only known move is Selfdestruct, which they usually use when a trap is set off. They also know an unknown electrical attack.

Debut The Ninja Poké-Showdown
Voice actors
Japanese
English Eric Stuart


Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 大塚 芳忠 Hōchū Ōtsuka
English Stan Hart
Polish Radosław Popłonikowski
Spanish Latin America Gerardo Vázquez
Spain Juan Fernández


In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Koga and Aya in The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Koga makes a cameo appearance in The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga in the chapter Pikachu's Excellent Adventure.

In the manga, Jessie, James and Meowth get trapped in Koga's Gym while searching for the Hidden Village with Ash's Pikachu, a Charmander, a Squirtle, a Kangaskhan and Tommy. Their battle is only shown briefly in a montage sequence and it is unknown whether Team Rocket was victorious or not. It is also never shown if Ash himself battles Koga.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

File:Koga Adventures.png
Koga in Pokémon Adventures

Koga was one of the three villainous heads of Team Rocket, and served under Giovanni.

Koga debuts in the Red, Green & Blue arc in Raging Rhydon searching the Moon Stone in Mt. Moon, here Koga fights with Red and Misty and forces his Rhyhorn to evolve with a mysterious injection, revealing what happened to Misty's Gyarados when it was kidnapped, however the mission fails. Koga later tries to bump off Red in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower, where he uses a Gastly to reanimate the corpses of dead Pokémon buried there. He also attacks Red with his Arbok. However, Blue has his Charmeleon slice Arbok in half. Under his boss's orders, he captures Articuno and brings it to Saffron City. He is once again defeated by Blue at Silph Co., albeit that he almost killed both of them by not allowing them to reach their Poké Balls by using his Muk, then almost freezing them to death with his Articuno. After he is defeated and knocked out Red gets Koga's Soul Badge and Blue uses his special Golbat to find out where Team Rocket is holding his grandfather.

Later, Koga helps the Pallet Town Trainers in the fight against the Elite Four at Cerise Island. Koga is paired with Blue and battles Agatha, but Blue first returns his Golbat to him. When the two of them finally meet Agatha, she separates them, making Blue and Koga's Golbat that he got paired up with again face Agatha's Golbat. Meanwhile, Koga's Arbok had to face Agatha's Arbok which could change its patterns allowing it to gain the upper hand over Koga. When Blue was paralyzed from a Haunter's Lick, Koga started throwing his shuriken balls. Agatha thought this was a desperate tactic, but in reality they were Pokémon holding Parlyz Heals. Koga was hoping just one of them would get to Blue, which it did. Blue then joins him, and Koga commands his Golbat to use Leech Life on himself. His blood is then put on Arbok's torso to prevent its ability to change its pattern. Without Arbok's ability, Agatha was defeated.

Or so it seemed. In reality, Agatha just pretended to be defeated and had her Gengar masquerade as Koga and Blue's shadow to slowly suck the life out of them hidden due to Koga's quick loss of blood. After traveling through the maze for a while, they found themselves back where they started with Agatha nowhere to be found. They then figured out her plan and defeated the Gengar, but not before Koga is nearly swept in the collapsing terrain of the destroyed battleground. He narrowly escapes using his Muk to defend him in his wounded state.

Unlike the other two Rocket Admins, who were instructed to return and manage their Gyms, Koga was not even reached by Giovanni. He then disappears for a time, leaving his daughter Janine in charge of the Gym. Janine is worried for her father, but opposes his criminal ties. Later in the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc, Koga reappeared with a new partner, Bruno, who had saved Koga when Cerise was about to collapse. They trained together for a while and both of them later met their former opponents Red and Blue, whose Rhydon was drilling underground towards Ilex Forest. Towards the end of the series, Koga and Bruno found Will and Karen in the Ilex Forest and persuaded them to work together. The new Elite Four was formed, but were not seen in action until the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc.

Two of Koga's Pokémon have unusual powers: his Arbok can regenerate itself as long as its head remains intact (see above); and his unusually small Golbat's mouth can be used almost like a magic mirror for scrying to see things from a distance, even if walls or land are in the way. Blue takes this Golbat and keeps it for quite some time before returning it to Koga at Cerise Island.

Koga also uses custom-made Poké Balls which can be thrown as shuriken—perhaps an inspiration for Falkner’s later boomerang Poké Balls.

Pokémon

This is a listing of Koga's Pokémon in the Pokémon Adventures manga.

Koga's Rhyhorn

Koga's Rhydon
Rhyhorn → Rhydon
Koga's Rhydon was introduced as a Rhyhorn, where it fought against Red and Pika. When it was losing, Koga injected in with a mysterious needle, forcing it to evolve. In its evolved form, it was too much for both Red and Misty to handle, and they had to escape the battle by distracting Rhydon with an electrically charged boulder. It hasn't been seen again.

Rhydon's known moves are Rock Throw and Horn Drill.

Debut Raging Rhydon
Koga's Gastly
Gastly
Gastly appeared in the Pokémon Tower, possessing the bodies of the dead Pokémon that were buried there, along with Blue and his Charmeleon. Red's Bulbasaur managed to destroy it by sucking up Gastly's gas form, and expelling it in a SolarBeam, freeing Blue in the process.

None of Gastly's moves are known.

Debut Sigh for Psyduck
Koga's Arbok
Arbok
Arbok is one of Koga's most powerful Pokémon. It can regenerate itself even if it's cut in half, so as long as its head remains intact. It was used against both Blue and Agatha. It also possesses the ability to temporarily control a detached body part, such as its tail.

Arbok's known moves are Acid and Glare.

Debut That Awful Arbok
Koga's Golbat
Golbat
Main article: Koga's Golbat

Koga's Golbat is much smaller than the average Golbat. Its Supersonic can be used to create a magic mirror for scrying to see things from a distance, even if walls or land are in the way. After Blue defeated Koga at Silph Co., he stole Golbat to locate Professor Oak but later returned it to its rightful owner on Cerise Island.

Debut That Awful Arbok
Koga's Grimer
Grimer
Koga wears a Grimer on his shoulder in the form of a ninja outfit in Pokémon Adventures. He used it extensively to smother Blue, preventing him from breathing and restricting his movements so that he would be unable to call on his Pokémon.

None of Grimer's moves are known.

Debut Go For the Golbat
Koga's Ekans
Ekans
Koga has an Ekans on his arm. It was used first to dispatch Blue's Scyther in Silph Co., and during the battle of Cerise Island to get a Parlyz Heal it held to Blue. Ekans was later used in the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc, where it fought with Bruno's Hitmonlee against Lance's Dragonite, but they were easily overtaken by its Hyper Beams.

None of Ekans's moves are known.

Debut Go For the Golbat
Koga's Muk
Muk
Koga's Muk was used on Cerise Island to battle the Elite Four, and proved useful in his survival after the island began to crumble. In the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc, it was used during the Circle Push event of the Pokéathlon.

Muk's only known move is Poison Gas.

Debut Karate Machop!
Koga's Weezing
Weezing
Koga's Weezing was used on Cerise Island to battle Agatha, mostly to bide time until Arbok regenerated.

Weezing's only known move is Smog.

Debut Weezing Winks Out
Koga's Koffing
Koffing
Koga used Koffing against Agatha on Cerise Island. It was instrumental in defeating her Gengar when it used its gas to convey a message to Blue.

None of Koffing's moves are known.

Debut Striking Golduck
Koga's Tentacruel
Tentacruel
Koga used Tentacruel to help Red and Blue as the two Pokédex Holders were digging to the Ilex Forest.

None of Tentacruel's moves are known.

Debut The Last Battle X
Released
Koga's Articuno
Articuno
This Articuno was originally seen at the Seafoam Islands. Even though Red stopped one attempt, Team Rocket was finally able to catch this legendary bird because of its energy loss, and had it sent over for Koga afterwards. During the battle between Red, Blue, Green and Lt. Surge, Koga and Sabrina, it was merged with Zapdos and Moltres to create Zapmolcuno after Sabrina took matters into her own hands. Once defeated and freed, it returned to the wild, where it was later caught by Green alongside its fellow legendary birds.

Articuno's known moves are Blizzard, Ice Beam and Fly.

Debut You know... Articuno!

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Koga in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Koga makes an appearance in Save The Chansey!! as he hired a Chansey torturer to kidnap the Chansey. Later, he was one of the participants in the No. 1 Pokémon Contest.


Pokémon

Koga's Koffing
Koffing
Koffing was sent out as an obstacle so Isamu and the others wouldn't get to Chansey.
Debut Save The Chansey!!
Koga's Grimer
Grimer
Grimer is another Pokémon of Koga's. It first appeared rising from the trash cans nearby.
Debut Save The Chansey!!
Koga's Ninetales
Ninetales
Koga sent out Ninetales to participate in the No. 1 Pokémon Contest.
Debut The No.1 Pokémon!!
Escaped
Chansey (multiple)
Chansey (multiple)
The Chansey were performers at a circus held by a Juggler. They were kidnapped by the Chansey torturer for Koga's greed. They were strong enough to break free from the ropes that were tying them.
Debut Save The Chansey!!

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

Koga is seen in the Safari Zone training his ninjutsu skills. He accidentally throws one of his stars at Satoshi but misses luckily. Afterwards, Satoshi's Ditto volunteers to battle him and wins.

Pokémon

Koga's Weezing
Weezing
Weezing is Koga's only known Pokémon. It was up against Ditto. When Ditto transformed into its master, Weezing became very confused and self-destructs afterwards, giving Satoshi the win.

Weezing's only known move is Selfdestruct.

Debut Fuchsia City

In the TCG

Koga has an eponymous Theme Deck in the Gym Challenge expansion.

Artwork

KogaTCG1.jpg KogaVS.png
Koga and the Soul Badge. Koga's updated VS art.

Cards

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Koga or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Koga's Pokémon
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Koga's Beedrill Grass Gym Challenge Rare Holo 9/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare Holo  
Koga's Ditto Colorless Gym Challenge Rare 10/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare Holo  
Koga's Arbok Grass Gym Challenge Rare 25/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare  
Koga's Muk Grass Gym Challenge Rare 26/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare  
Koga's Pidgeotto Colorless Gym Challenge Rare 27/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare  
Koga's Golbat Grass Gym Challenge Uncommon 46/132 Challenge from the Darkness Uncommon  
Koga's Kakuna Grass Gym Challenge Uncommon 47/132 Challenge from the Darkness Uncommon  
Koga's Koffing Grass Gym Challenge Uncommon 48/132 Challenge from the Darkness Uncommon  
Koga's Pidgey Colorless Gym Challenge Uncommon 49/132 Challenge from the Darkness Uncommon  
Koga's Weezing Grass Gym Challenge Uncommon 50/132 Challenge from the Darkness Uncommon  
Koga's Ekans Grass Gym Challenge Common 77/132 Challenge from the Darkness Common  
Koga's Grimer Grass Gym Challenge Common 78/132 Challenge from the Darkness Common  
Koga's Koffing Grass Gym Challenge Common 79/132 Challenge from the Darkness Common  
Koga's Pidgey Colorless Gym Challenge Common 80/132 Challenge from the Darkness Common  
Koga's Tangela Grass Gym Challenge Common 81/132 Challenge from the Darkness Common  
Koga's Weedle Grass Gym Challenge Common 82/132 Challenge from the Darkness Common  
Koga's Zubat Grass Gym Challenge Common 83/132 Challenge from the Darkness Common  
Koga's Crobat Grass       Pokémon VS Common 079/141
Koga's Forretress Metal       Pokémon VS Common 080/141
Other related cards
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Koga T Gym Challenge Rare Holo 19/132      
Gym Challenge Rare 106/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare  
Fuchsia City Gym T [St] Gym Challenge Uncommon 114/132 Challenge from the Darkness Uncommon  
Koga's Ninja Trick T Gym Challenge Uncommon 115/132 Challenge from the Darkness Uncommon  
Koga's Ninja Gym T [St]       Unnumbered Promotional cards    
 


Trivia

  • In the manga Magical Pokémon Journey, the ninja-in-training Walnut is an admirer of Koga.
  • Out of the original Generation I Gym Leaders, Koga has the fewest Trainer cards in the Gym Leader sets of the TCG. Incidentally, his only Trainer card besides the basic Koga card had to be edited because it featured a manji, which could have caused controversy between cultures; the infamous Nazi swastika is a reversed manji.
  • Because he became a member of the Elite Four in Generation II, he is technically the first member of the Elite Four seen in the anime, though he was not a member at the time he was shown. He is also the only one Ash defeated in battle (again, however, it was as a Gym Leader).
  • In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, the Ninja Boy on Route 217 mentions different kinds of ninja in the world. He says, "There are several kinds of ninjas. Are you an Iga or a Kouga ninja?" This is a reference to the two main schools of ninjutsu, Iga-ryu and Kōga-ryu, the latter of which Koga himself is named after.
  • Koga's Pokémon Yellow team is of a higher level than his Elite Four team in Gold, Silver, and Crystal and HeartGold and SoulSilver during the first match with him.
  • His Venomoth doesn't appear in games that have Sabrina using a Venomoth in her team.
  • Koga, Bruno, Lance, and Caitlin are the only members of the Elite Four who have appeared in more than one generation (excluding remakes).
    • Koga, Bruno, and Lance are the only members of the Elite Four who have appeared in all the generations prior to Generation V.
  • Koga's updated Sugimori artwork for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver has him in a pose identical to that of his daughter Janine's in her VS artwork, only reversed.
  • Koga is the first Elite Four member who was introduced in an earlier generation and then attained the title in a later generation. The second is Caitlin.
  • Koga is the second Trainer whose sprite animation shows him with an irregular entrance, coming from the right side. The others are Aaron, Janine, Marlon.
  • Koga's Muk and Koga's Swalot are the only Pokémon used in the Pokémon League who hold anything other than a Berry, holding Black Sludge and Leftovers.
    • He is also the only Elite Four member who has more than one Pokémon holding an item.
  • Koga is the only Gym Leader that does not appear in Black 2 and White 2.

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese キョウ Kyō The on-yomi of the kanji for "apricot" (杏). This kanji's kun-yomi is anzu.
English, French, German, Italian, Spanish Koga From 甲賀流 Kōga-ryū, a school of ninjutsu.
Korean 독수 Doksu Means poison fang which refers to his specialty in the Poison-type. Alternatively, 독수 can mean a vicious clutch.
Chinese (Mandarin) 阿桔 Ā Jié May be derived from 桔梗 jié​gěng (Chinese bellflower).
Chinese (Cantonese) 阿梗 Ā Gáng 梗 has the on-yomi "kyō" in Japanese.


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