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Junichi Masuda is a Chief Creative Fellow at The Pokémon Company and one of the founding members of Game Freak. He is known for his work on the Pokémon games, mostly as producer, director, and composer.
History[]
After studying computer graphics at the Japan Electronics College, Masuda was one of the founding members of Game Freak in 1989, along with Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori. For the company's early video game works, he was initially in charge of programming, music and sound design on several titles. His first projects with Nintendo's involvement include Yoshi and Mario & Wario.
In Pokémon Red and Green, he composed all the music, made all of the sound effects and Pokémon cries, and also worked on programming as well. In Gold and Silver, along with composing he became a sub director, and eventually replaced Satoshi Tajiri as the director of the franchise with Crystal. He later directed Ruby and Sapphire, FireRed and LeafGreen, Diamond and Pearl, Black and White, and X and Y. He gradually took on the role of producer and main supervisor of the Pokémon franchise as a whole, with Shigeru Ohmori taking over his directorial role.
Since Ruby and Sapphire, Masuda's involvement with the music of the games decreased as he took on directorial roles, although he has still produced most of the main battle themes. He also composed all the music of Pokémon GO, and was the director of Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go Eevee!, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
In June 1, 2022, Masuda left his position as Managing Director at Game Freak and moved to The Pokémon Company, where he was appointed as Chief Creative Fellow.[1]
Game Works[]
- Mendel Palace (1989) - Music, Sound Effects
- Yoshi (1991) - Music[2]
- 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
- Pocket Monsters Stadium (1998) - Advisor
- Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (1998) - Programmer, Music, Sound Effects
- Click Medic (1999) - Director, Program, Planning
- Pokémon Pinball (1999) - Sound Direction
- Pokémon Stadium (1999) - Advisor
- Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999) - Sub Director, Music, Sound Effects, Game Design, US Coordination
- Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (2000) - Pokémon Supervision
- Pokémon Crystal (2000) - Director, Music, Sound Effects, Game Design, Game Scenario, US Coordination [note: credited as Co-Director in the international release]
- Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000) - Advisement & Original Sound
- Pokémon mini (2001) - Supervisor
- Pokémon Zany Cards (2001) - Pokémon Theme Music
- 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 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
- 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) - Pokémon Games Design Adviser
- Pokédex 3D (2011) - Game Design Advisor
- Pokémon Rumble Blast (2011) - Game-Design Advisor
- Pokémon Conquest (2012) - Game-Design Advisor
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (2012) - Pokémon Black and White Music, World & Plot, Producer
- Pokémon Dream Radar (2012) - Supervisor, Producer
- Pokédex 3D Pro (2012) - Game Design Advisor
- HarmoKnight (2012) - General Producer
- Pokémon Rumble U (2013) - Game-Design Advisor
- Pocket Card Jockey (2013) - General Producer
- Pokémon X and Y (2013) - Director, Music, World & Plot, Producer
- Pokémon Battle Trozei (2014) - Pokémon Game Design Adviser
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014) - Producer
- Pokémon Rumble World (2015) - Game-Design Advisor
- Tembo the Badass Elephant (2015) - General Producer
- Pokémon Picross (2015) - Game-Design Advisor
- Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Duo (2016) - Game-Design Advisor
- Pokémon GO (2016) - Music[3], Game-Design Advisor
- Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016) - Music, Producer
- Giga Wrecker (2017) - General Producer
- Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017) - Sound, Producer
- Detective Pikachu (2018) - Game-Design Advisor
- Pokémon Quest (2018) - General Producer
- Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go Eevee! (2018) - Director, Original Music, Concept, General Producer
- Giga Wrecker Alt. (2019) - General Producer
- Little Town Hero (2019) - General Producer
- Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019) - Producer
- Expansion Pass (The Crown Tundra) (2020) - Sound
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (2021) - Director, Music, Concept & Plot
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022) - Supervisor
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022) - Composer, Supervisor
- The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (2023) - General Producer
Special Thanks[]
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) - Original Game Staff (Director: Pokémon)
- Pokémon e-Reader Cards (2002)
- Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire (2003)
- Pokémon Dash (2004)
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) - Supervisor (Original Games)
- The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon (2014)
- Pokémon Art Academy (2014)
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014) - Supervisor (Original Games)
- Pokémon Shuffle (2015)
- Pokkén Tournament (2016)
- Pokémon Duel (2016)
- Pokémon Magikarp Jump (2017)
- Pokkén Tournament DX (2017)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) - Original Game Supervisor
- Pokémon Masters (2019)
- New Pokémon Snap (2021)
- Pokémon Sleep (2023)
Song Credits[]
Please note that this section only includes brand-new work and not music that was referenced from previous titles or motifs from other in-game tracks
As sole composer[]
Junichi Masuda is known to have composed the entire soundtracks for the following titles:
- Mendel Palace
- Yoshi[2]
- Magical Taluluto-kun (Mega Drive)
- Mario & Wario
- Pulseman
- Pokémon Red and Green / Pokémon Blue
- Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha
- Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition
- Pokémon GO[3]
Pokémon Gold and Silver[]
- Opening Demo -- Composition (w/Go Ichinose), Arrangement (w/Go Ichinose)[4]
- Opening Demo 2 -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Title Screen -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- An Adventure Begins! -- Composition[5]
- New Bark Town -- Composition (w/Go Ichinose), Arrangement (w/Go Ichinose)[4]
- Hurry Along -- Composition, Arrangement (w/Go Ichinose)[4]
- Elm Pokémon Lab -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Route 29 -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Battle! (Wild Pokémon - Johto Version) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Cherrygrove City -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Pokémon Center -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Battle! (Trainer Battle - Johto Version) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Route 30 -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Sprout Tower -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Union Cave -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Ruins of Alph -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Battle! (Team Rocket) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Route 34 -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- A Rival Appears! -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Battle! (Rival) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Evolution -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Battle! (Gym Leader - Johto Version) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Received a Gym Badge! -- Composition[5]
- Received a TM! -- Composition[5]
- Bicycle -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Burned Tower -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Route 38 -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Olivine Lighthouse -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Route 42 -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Radio Transmission -- Composition[5]
- Team Rocket HQ -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- A Rival Appears! (Version 2) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Tin Tower -- Composition & Arrangement[4] [note: re-translated as "Bell Tower" in HeartGold & SoulSilver]
- Ice Path -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Dragon's Den -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Battle! (Gym Leader - Kanto Version) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Mt. Moon -- Composition (arr. Morikazu Aoki)[4] [note: unused fanfare from Red & Green]
- Pokégear Radio: Pokémon Channel -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[4]
- Pokégear Radio: Unown -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Pokégear Radio: Pokémon March -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Pokégear Radio: Pokémon Lullaby -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Pokégear Radio: Poké Flute -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Victory Road -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- The Pokémon League -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- Battle! (Champion) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
- The Hall of Fame -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
Pokémon Crystal[]
- Opening Demo -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Title Screen -- Composition & Arrangement[6]
- Battle! (Suicune) -- Composition & Arrangement[4]
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire[]
- Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Battle! (Team Aqua / Team Magma) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Fallarbor Town -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[7]
- Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Battle! (Brendan / May) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Mt. Pyre -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[7]
- Battle! (Team Aqua / Team Magma Leaders) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Battle! (Super-Ancient Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Battle! (Regirock / Regice / Registeel) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
- Battle! (Steven) -- Composition & Arrangement[7]
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen[]
- Battle! (Deoxys) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[8]
Pokémon Emerald[]
- Rayquaza Appears! -- Composition & Arrangement[9]
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl[]
- Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Rival) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Team Galactic) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Team Galactic Commander) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Team Galactic Boss) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Spear Pillar -- Composition (w/Go Ichinose), Arrangement (w/Go Ichinose)[10]
- The Legendary Pokémon Appears! -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Catastrophe! -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Dialga / Palkia) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Lake Caverns -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Azelf / Mesprit / Uxie) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Legendary Pokémon) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
- Battle! (Champion) -- Composition & Arrangement[10]
Pokémon Platinum[]
- Battle! (Giratina) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[9]
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver[]
- Arceus -- Composition & Arrangement[5] [note: unused song from Diamond & Pearl]
Pokémon Black and White[]
- Coronation Day -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[11]
- Battle! (Cheren / Bianca) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Team Plasma) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Route 4[12] -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[11]
- Battle! (N) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Reshiram / Zekrom) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Decisive Battle! (N) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Ghetsis) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Battle Subway Trainer) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[11]
- Battle! (Legendary Pokémon) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Strong Wild Pokémon) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Kyurem) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
- Battle! (Champion) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[11]
Pokémon X and Y[]
- Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[13]
- Battle! (Trainer Battle) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[13]
- Battle! (Gym Leader) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[13]
- Battle! (Successor Korrina) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[13]
- Battle! (Xerneas / Yveltal / Zygarde) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[13]
- Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[13]
- Battle! (Champion) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[13]
- Battle! (Mewtwo) -- Composition (arr. Shota Kageyama)[13]
Pokémon Sun and Moon[]
- Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[14]
- Battle! (Trainer) -- Composition (arr. Minako Adachi & Go Ichinose)[14]
- Battle! (Solgaleo / Lunala) -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Battle! (Elite Four) -- Composition & Arrangement[14]
- Battle! (Tapu) -- Composition (arr. Go Ichinose)[14]
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon[]
- Battle! (Necrozma) -- Composition & Arrangement[15]
Pokémon Sword and Shield[]
The Crown Tundra[]
- Battle! (Calyrex) -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Battle! (Glastrier / Spectrier) -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
- Battle! (The King of Bountiful Harvests) -- Composition & Arrangement[16]
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet[]
- Home -- Composition (arr. Minako Adachi)[17]
- Cabo Poco -- Composition (arr. Minako Adachi)[17]
- Poco Path -- Composition (arr. Minako Adachi)[17]
- Battle! (Wild Pokémon) -- Composition (arr. Minako Adachi)[17]
- Battle! (Trainer) -- Composition (arr. Minako Adachi)[17]
Interviews[]
- N.O.M.: Gold and Silver (translated by GlitterBerri)
- N.O.M.: Ruby and Sapphire
- N.O.M.: Diamond and Pearl
- Iwata Asks: Black and White
- Iwata Asks: Black 2 and White 2
- Iwata Asks: HarmoKnight
- Iwata Asks: X and Y
- #Pokémon20: GAME FREAK's Junichi Masuda
References[]
- ↑ https://corporate.pokemon.co.jp/media/news/detail/223.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/dir_english/2007/03/index.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-go/
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 4.42 https://vgmdb.net/album/15237 (this soundtrack features the "GB Sounds" versions of the songs as heard in HeartGold & SoulSilver)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 https://vgmdb.net/album/15237
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/dir_english/2008/02/index.html
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 https://vgmdb.net/album/1024
- ↑ https://vgmdb.net/album/4336
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://vgmdb.net/album/33367
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 https://vgmdb.net/album/3945
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 https://vgmdb.net/album/20831
- ↑ Includes "Spring", "Summer", "Autumn" and "Winter" versions
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 https://vgmdb.net/album/41066
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 https://vgmdb.net/album/61193
- ↑ https://www.4gamer.net/games/383/G038332/20180512011
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 https://vgmdb.net/album/134815
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 https://vgmdb.net/album/134816