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| Welcome to Dogasu's Backpack, a fansite for the Japanese franchise Pocket Monsters! For 22 years this website has been your guide for the Japanese version of Pokémon and contains content you can't find anywhere else. Stuff like detailed comparisons between the Japanese version and the English version of the animated series, interview translations, information on Japan-only manga, a lyrics database, a home video guide, and much more! So whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newbie just getting into Pocket Monsters, this site has something for every fan to enjoy. | ||
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Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire -- Vol. 4
May 9th, 2022
Dogasu @ 09:15 JST -- I'm a bit late on this but here's my write-up for the July 22nd, 2012 episode of Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire.
The main attraction here is the interview with Yuuji Ueda, the man behind the voices of characters like Takeshi, the Rocket-Dan's Sonansu, and many others!
Part of this reason this write-up is so late is because of real world committments (I started a new job in April and have been very busy with that) and part of it is because there was even more content to cover this time around compared to the previous episodes. You see, the way I usually do these write-ups is I'll listen to the radio version of the episodes first, do my first draft based on that, and then listen to the CD version to double check that there aren't any significant differences between the two. Up until now there haven't really been any but this time around the CD versions of both the special guest interview and the Double-Q merchandise segment had additional content! So truth be told the episode's write-up probably would have been late even if I hadn't been logging in so much overtime at work lately.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the write-up!
New information on the upcoming Pokémon Legends Arceus web series
April 27th, 2022
Dogasu @ 1:00 JST -- The first substantial details about the upcoming Studio Wit animated web specials based on the Pokémon Legends Arceus video game -- this is the one first teased during the Pokémon Direct that came out on Pokémon Day -- were made public last night and so I've compiled it all in a new page dedicated to the mini series.
The series, which I'm currently calling Footprints in the Snow (this may change if I come up with a better way to render the series' nearly impossible-to-translate title) will begin streaming on YouTube starting May 18th at 22:00 JST. Translations of the plot synopsis, character bios, and cast & staff list from the series' official site have all been archived on the page linked to above.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Translation: Oricon News Interview with Mariya Ise
April 3rd, 2022
Dogasu @ 12:38 JST -- On March 13th the entertainment website Oricon News posted an interview with Ms. Mariya Ise, the voice actor who played Eureka in the Pocket Monsters XY and Pocket Monsters XY&Z TV series, to commemorate her character's return in the Pocket Monsters (2019) TV series. I somehow missed the interview when it was first posted but saw it after it got retweeted a few days ago and so I went ahead and translated it.
In this conversation we learn about Ms. Ise's history with the franchise, how she feels about Eureka's Dedenne, and what it's like raising a child as a Pokémon voice actor. I don't believe we've gotten many interviews with Ms. Ise in regards to her roles in Pocket Monsters before so this is actually something of a rare treat!
Episode Comparison: "Snack Attack"
March 28th, 2022
Dogasu @ 23:57 JST -- We've now reached the episode where Satoshi gets his first new Pokémon since he left the Kanto Region! Here's the comparison between the English version and the Japanese original of the Orange Islands episode "Snack Attack."
This
episode is home to a number of puzzling rewrites, especially in the
first half, so there were plenty of changes to document. Hope you enjoy!
Discuss this on Facebook | Twitter | BMGf
Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire -- Vol. 3
March 6th, 2022
Dogasu @ 13:39 JST -- We're currently in the middle of a month-long (and counting!) Rocket trio drought in the Pocket Monsters animated series so I guess it's up to me to provide the Rocket trio content in the meantime! So here's my write-up of the July 15th, 2012 episode of Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire.
The guest this time is Megumi Nakajima, the voice actor / singer who provided the voice of Meloetta in the then-current movie Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! The Movie "Meloetta's Dazzling Recital." They talk about...well, they talk mostly about non-Pokémon stuff but they do touch upon the challenges a singer like Ms. Nakajima faces when dealing with a character who sings but isn't able to use lyrics. There's also an opening sketch involving Nyarth trying to fall asleep, a product review of a creepy-looking toy, and chit-chats about what they want to do with the show next! As always, tons of footnotes and other translation tidbits are included as well.
List of Pokémon - Pocket Monsters Scarlet & Violet Update
February 28th, 2022
Dogasu @ 01:17 JST -- New games, new Pokémon! The games we're all assuming are going to kick off Generation 9 were revealed late last night and so I've whipped up a new page in the List of Pokémon section for the new creatures that were just revealed.
As
always, I've also included as much information as I could about the
possible name origins of each of these Pokémon so that we can
figure out as much as we can about these new characters.
Discuss this on Facebook | Twitter | BMGf
Daniel Arsham "A Ripple in Time" Art Exhibit
February 15th, 2022
Dogasu @ 23:57 JST -- Right now there is a series of Pokémon art exhibitions up throughout Tokyo called Daniel Arsham "A Ripple in Time" Art Exhibit. I managed to go to four of the five exhibits this past weekend and so I've put all the photos I took and compiled them all into a new Event Report in the Features section.
I took photos of just about every piece of artwork I could so there are a lot of photos for you to go through. Japan's borders still closed to foreign tourists because of COVID and so I wanted to offer those of you unable to go to this exhibit yourself a chance to experience at least a taste of what's currently on display.
What do you think? Is there anything else you'd like to see in this feature? Let me know what else I could add via any of the links below!
Toshiya Ueda, 1933 - 2022
February 14th, 2022
Dogasu @ 16:46 JST -- Earlier today the Japanese voice talent agency 81 Produce announced that one of the voice actors who had been working with them, Toshiya Ueda, passed away earlier this month on February 8th, 2022. Mr. Ueda was 88 years old.
In Pocket Monsters, Toshiya Ueda was the voice of the Kanto Gym Leader Katsura as well as Dabu, one of Ship's old friends from Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation The Movie "Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea, Manaphy."
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Outside of Pocket Monsters, Mr. Ueda was known for roles such as Tomio "Grandpa Tommy" Tamura in Ojarumaru, Vilk in The Promised Neverland, Georges Lazare in Vampire Wars, the Warden and Zhang Shangui in Riki-Oh: Tokatsu Jigoku, Ran Ōtei in Akai Hayate, Kakugen Yokoyama in Kennel Tokorozawa, and Noriaki Watanabe in Midoriyama Koukou Koushien-Hen, the voice of Owl in the Japanese dubs of the Winnie the Pooh series, among many, many others.
Condolences to Mr. Ueda’s family and friends. May he rest in peace.
Episode Comparison: "Navel Maneuvers"
February 11th, 2022
Dogasu @ 00:09 JST -- Tonight I've got a comparison between the Japanese and English versions of the Orange Islands episode "Navel Maneuvers!"
The episode features a lot of dialogue edits (what else is new?) but also contains some neat trivia I haven't seen compiled all in one place before and so I hope it'll make for an interesting read. As always, any feedback you have about this write-up can be sent via any of the links below.
List of Pokémon - Pokémon Legends Arceus Update
February 4th, 2022
Dogasu @ 10:30 JST -- It's now been a full week since Pokémon Legends Arceus came out so I figured it's time to update the List of Pokémon with the new species that debuted in the Nintendo Switch game.
The list contains spoilers for the new games, I guess, so please be aware of that when click on the image above.
"Dogasu's Backpack" Turns 22
February 1st, 2022
Dogasu @ 01:52 JST -- Today is my website's 22nd anniversary! To commemorate I've done what I always do -- I wrote a self-congratulatory humble brag post talking about how great I am before making predictions about what's going to happen in the year 2022! It's my one time of the year to be self-indulgent so check it out!
Here's to another year of making weird, niche-y website updates!
Pocket Monsters "The Arceus Who is Known as a God"
January 28th, 2022
Dogasu @ 18:25 JST -- Earlier today the final two episodes of the four-part Amazon Prime exclusive Pocket Monsters "The Arceus Who is Known as a God" came out and so to commemorate this I've created a section in the Movies & Specials Guide dedicated to it!
The new section has the usual; a story synopsis, premiere date and runtime information, behind-the-scenes tidbit, and a complete translation of each episodes' cast and staff lists! Check it out!
Pocket Monsters "The Arceus Who is Known as a God" is a series of four special episodes released to promote the Nintendo Switch video game Pokémon Legends Arceus. The episodes feature Satoshi, Gou, Hikari, Takeshi, and Shirona working together to stop a rampaging Headran unleashed by the remaining members of the Ginga-Dan. The four episodes are currently streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime in Japan.
Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire -- Vol. 13
January 26th, 2022
Dogasu @ 21:56 JST -- The day after tomorrow is going to be the day the Rocket duo of Yamato and Kosaburou return to anipoke for the first time in over a decade. Most people understand that the last time the duo appeared on the TV series was in a 2008 episode of Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl but did you know that this isn't the most recent time Masako Katsuki and Takehito Koyasu played those characters? Four years after that Diamond & Pearl episode first aired the duo would return for the 13th episode of Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire and so today I'll be providing a write-up of that episode in honor of their return to the animated series!
This episode features a brief takeover of the show by Yamato and Kosaburou, an "interview" with Megumi Hayashibara and Shin-ichiro Miki, a segment where Musashi proves just how bad she is at drawing, a music quiz, and a special message from Sakaki-sama himself! I've also added a ton of notes about how Vol. 13 was originally scheduled to be (and promoted as) the final episode of the radio series as well as various other translation notes and trivia about the episode.
Episode Comparison: "The Joy of Pokémon"
January 24th, 2022
Dogasu @ 09:00 JST -- My first new episode comparison of the year is...well, it's a boring Orange Islands filler episode known as "The Joy of Pokémon" but it has a lot of rewritten dialogue so it at least gave me plenty to write about!
In other news, I am now officially 1/3 of the way through the Orange Islands saga! I know it's taken far too long to get to this point so one of the resolutions I'm making for 2022 is to try to pick up the pace a bit when it comes to releasing these write-ups. Whether or not I'm actually able to do that is another story but I'll certainly give it a try!
Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire -- Vol. 02
January 15th, 2022
Dogasu @ 00:42 JST -- This year is going to be a big anniversary for a number of different animated Pokémon-related things. April 1st marks the 25th anniversary of the first episode of the original Pocket Monsters TV series, April 8th is going to mark the 25th anniversary of the day the world was introduced to the Rocket trio, December 16th will mark the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon Shock incident, and so on.
This year also just happens to mark the 10 year anniversary of the broadcast of Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire.
For those of you who may not remember, Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire (Pokémon Radio Show! ロケット団ひみつ帝国) was a radio show broadcast on 76.1 interFM in Tokyo, Japan every Sunday night from July 1st, 2012 until December 23rd, 2012. The premise of the radio show is that Musashi (Megumi Hayashibara), Kojirou (Shi-ichiro Miki), and Nyarth (Inuko Inuyama) are trying to recruit the earth's population of 7 billion people into the Rocket-Dan to help their beloved boss Sakaki realize his dream of world domination. To do this, the Rocket trio decide to host a secret radio show every week to entice listeners to join them.
I have some coverage of the 26-episode radio series on the site -- far more than most anywhere else, actually -- but the one thing I never got around to doing was to prepare detailed write-ups of each and every episode. I've got summaries for Episode 01 and Episode 26 but none for any of the episodes in between and so today I'm starting an attempt to fill in that gap.
My first step on this journey is Pokémon Radio Show! The Rocket-Dan's Secret Empire Vol. 02: Unshou Ishizuka!
The episode, which came out July 8th, 2012, features a Little Red Riding Hood parody for an opening sketch, a rare interview with the late Mr. Unshou Ishizuka, a weird product placement segment, music from Pocket Monsters Best Wishes!, and more!
The radio show is a whole lot of fun and I absolutely cannot wait to continue doing these write-ups in between Orange Islands episode comparisons throughout the rest of the year.
Look Back - Predictions 2021
January 1st, 2022
Dogasu @ 21:58 JST -- Every year I make an attempt to predict what will happen in the World of Pokémon and then post those predictions on my website as a sort of fun little game. Part of that game is to then check back on those predictions a year later to see how I did. So let's take a look to see if any of the stuff I thought would happen in 2021 ended up coming true in my 2021 Predictions Check-In!
I actually did pretty terrible LOL, but half the fun of these is just thinking up of predictions to make in the first place.
I'll be posting my 2022 predictions when I do my website's anniversary write-up later this month
Episode Comparison: "Bye Bye Psyduck"
December 31st, 2021
Dogasu @ 00:58 JST -- I had to squeeze one more of these out before the end of the year so here we go; a comparison between the Japanese and English versions of the Orange Islands episode "Bye Bye Psyduck!"
The episode has its good moments, in regards to it being faithful to the Japanese original, but there was also quite a few significant rewrites worth writing about as well. So in other words, it was your typical 4Kids episode!
And that's a wrap on 2021! I realize that this year wasn't a super productive one when it comes to episode comparisons -- I only managed to do seven episodes and one movie -- but I did manage to get a few cool features out that I had been planning for years so I'm happy about that. In any event, I'm going to do everything I can to post more of these comparisons in 2022 than I did in 2021.
But before that, I'll be taking a look back at the predictions I made for the year 2021 to see how well I did. Until tomorrow!
Movie Comparison: "Pokémon The Movie: Secrets of the Jungle"
December 25th, 2021
Dogasu @ 09:00 JST -- It is now December 25th here in Japan, which means it's officially the one year anniversary of the release of Pocket Monsters The Movie "Koko"! To commemorate this I decided to finally tackle the one major thing I was missing in my coverage of the film; a comparison between the Japanese version and the English dub!
So today's update is my write-up on Pokémon The Movie: Secrets of the Jungle. It's generally a very, very good adaptation of the Japanese original but there are still some issues with the version they put out so I have plenty to talk about. The days where I can say "this adaptation is great, there is nothing much for me to say" aren't here yet but I do feel like we're getting closer, little by little. I've gotta say that, as someone who's been waist deep in 4Kids Pokémon dubs lately (yes, my comparison of "Bye Bye Psyduck" is coming soon) getting the chance to look at something with good voice acting where every other line of dialogue isn't rewritten is a nice little break.
As always, let me know what you think via any of the links below!
Pocket Monsters: The Arceus Who is Known as a God
December 15th, 2021
Dogasu @ 20:18 JST -- Earlier today Amazon Japan announced a number of special promotions for the upcoming Nintendo Switch game Pokémon Legends Arceus. These include special in-game clothing items for pre-ordering the game through them as well as a four-part animated special called Pocket Monsters: The Arceus Who is Known as a God (ポケットモンスター神とよばれしアルセウス).
| In this cartoon set in the Sinnoh Region,
Satoshi and Gou are joined by Hikari and other friendly faces we
haven't seen in a while, as well as members of the Ginga-Dan who are
working on a
mysterious scheme and an Arceus who is known as a god. This is a series
of special episodes that'll get you pumped up for the release of Pokémon Legends Arceus. シンオウ地 方を舞台にしたこのアニメは、サトシとゴウに加え、ヒカリをはじめとする懐かしの仲間たちや、謎の計画をたくらむギンガ団、神とよばれしポケモン・アルセ ウスが登場。『Pokémon LEGENDS アルセウス』の発売を盛り上げるスペシャルエピソードとなっています。 |
(This tweet from the animated series' official Twitter page clarifies that the "friendly faces we haven't seen in a while" come from Sinnoh)
The following four promo images were also released with the following text:
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| Satoshi, Gou, and Hikari are wearing the
Gablias kimono sets you can only by ordering Pokémon Legends
Arceus from Amazon.co.jp. And what is this person holding in their
hands? Monster Balls we've never seen before that made out of wood...? 『Pokémon LEGENDS アルセウス』のAmazon.co.jpオリジナル特典であるガブリアスの着物セットを着ているサトシ、ゴウ、ヒカリ。 その手には、木でできた見慣れない形のモンスターボールが…？ |
Those special Gablias kimono sets, by the way:
The promo images continue:
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| What connection does the Mythical
Pokémon Arceus have to the cataclysm befalling the Sinnoh
Region? The Legendary Pokémon Agnome, Yuxie, and Emrit show up
as well. シンオウ地 方で起こる異変に、幻のポケモン・アルセウスがどう関係するのか。伝説のポケモン・アグノム、ユクシー、エムリットの姿も。 |
The special four-part special will be streamed exclusively on (the Japanese) Amazon Prime Video service. Parts 1 & 2 come out Friday, January 21st and Parts 3 & 4 will come out Friday, January 28th (the same day Pokémon Legends Arceus is released).
Amazon Prime Video is the streaming service in Japan that hosts (basically) every single episode of every single Pocket Monsters series to date and so it's not all that surprising that Amazon and Pokémon would strike a deal to offer new animated content exclusively on the streaming service. Could we see more exclusive content like this in the future...?
Kaori and her hiatus from voice acting
December 6th, 2021
Dogasu @ 12:10 JST -- This is another one of those "I've had an idea for an article for years and years but just never got around to writing it" type updates; a page entitled Kaori and her hiatus from voice acting.
Kaori is a former voice actor / singer who's probably best known among Pocket Monsters fans as the voice of Haruka in Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation and Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl. She's since taken a hiatus from voice acting, with most fans in the West vaguely understanding she has some sort of medical issue keeping her from continuing on as a voice actor, but there's not much else out there about what happened or how she's doing now. So for today's update I took various blog entries, most of them written by Kaori herself, to provide you with that information. I'm positive the overwhelming majority of the information in this article will be brand new to you.
As always, feel free to contact me via any of the methods below if you have any feedback on this or any other article I've posted on the site.
Found an error? Spot an omission? Please help me keep this page current and error-free by e-mailing me with a description of the error or omission.
