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Shigeru (Gary Oak)'s Real Name: Named after Shigeru Miyamoto
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Shigeru (Gary Oak) (シゲル) 本名: Named after Shigeru Miyamoto (宮本茂)
Answer: Ash's rival Gary Oak is called Shigeru (シゲル) in Japan, after Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto (宮本茂), whom Satoshi Tajiri saw as a mentor.
In the original Pokémon Red and Green games, the rival's default name is Shigeru, and the anime rival uses it as well. Satoshi Tajiri has said in interviews, including with Time in 1999, that he named the rival after Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario and Zelda, whom he looked up to. Miyamoto helped Game Freak during development.
The pairing is a deliberate homage: the young creator (Satoshi) and his senior role model (Shigeru) are the hero and rival. In English the rival is Blue in the games and Gary Oak in the anime.
FAQ
Who is Gary Oak named after in Japan? Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo.
What is the rival's name in the English games? Blue (in Red and Blue).