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Satoshi (Ash Ketchum)'s Real Name: Named after Satoshi Tajiri
creator confirmed
Satoshi (Ash Ketchum) (サトシ) 本名: Named after Satoshi Tajiri (田尻智)
Answer: The Pokémon hero Ash Ketchum is called Satoshi (サトシ) in Japan, after Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri (田尻智).
Satoshi Tajiri founded Game Freak and created Pokémon Red and Green (1996), inspired by his childhood hobby of collecting insects. When the Pokémon anime began in 1997, its main character was named サトシ (Satoshi) after him. In English versions he became Ash Ketchum, a name based on the slogan "Gotta catch 'em all."
Tajiri discussed the naming in interviews, including a 1999 interview with Time magazine. The naming of the hero after the creator is part of the official history of the franchise, and Satoshi remained the anime's main character until 2023.
FAQ
Why is Ash called Satoshi in Japan? He is named after Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri.
What does Ash Ketchum's English name mean? It is a play on "catch 'em."