Kōji Nishino

Kōji Nishino (Japanese:西野弘二Nishino Kōji) is a game designer of Pokémon games, currently working atGame Freak. He has been involved in nearly every main series Pokémon game sincePokémon Red and Green Versions. He has also assisted the animation producers forLucario and the Mystery of Mew.
Credits
Games
- Pokémon Red and Green (1996) - Parametric Design, Map Design
- Pokémon Blue (1996) - Parametric Design, Map Design
- Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha (1997) - Map Design & Balance Check
- Pokémon Stadium (Japanese) (1998) - Advisor
- Pokémon Yellow (1998) - Game Design, Parametric Design, Map Design
- Pokémon Stadium (1999) - Advisor
- Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999) - Game Design, Parametric Design, Map Design
- Pokémon Crystal (2000) - Game Design, Game Scenario, Parametric Design, Map Design
- Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000) - Advisor
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) - Original Game Staff (Planning: Pokémon)
- Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002) - Game Designer, Plot Scenario, Map Designer, Parametric Designer
- Pokémon Colosseum (2003) - Pokémon Advisor
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (2004) - Planning Leader, Game Designer, Parametric Designer
- Pokémon Emerald (2004) - Game Designer, Scenario Plot, Parametric Designer
- Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (2005) - Pokémon Advisor
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (2006) - Game Designer, Plot Scenario, Map Designer, Parametric Designer
- Pokémon Battle Revolution (2006) - Pokémon Advisor
- Pokémon Platinum (2008) - Game Design, Plot Scenario, Map Design, Parametric Design
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver (2009) - Game Design, Parametric Design
- Pokémon Black and White (2010) - Battle System Design, Pokémon & Trainer Parameter Design
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (2012) - Game Design, Map Design, Parameter Design
- Pokémon X and Y (2013) - Game Battle System Design
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014) - Game Battle & Contest System Design
- Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016) - Battle Planning
- Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017) - Battle Planning
- Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (2018) - Game Design
- Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019) - Battle Planning
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022) - Battle Team
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022) - Field Map Planning
Animation
- Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
- Character Staging
In the games
Generations I, III, and VII
- Main article:Erik and Sara
Erik (Japanese: コージKōji) may be a reference to Kōji Nishino. He appears in allGeneration I games, as well as theirGeneration III andVII remakes.
He and Sara (Japanese: アツコAtsuko) mention each other in their dialogue. She may be a reference toAtsuko Nishida.
Generation II
DJFern (Japanese: コージKōji) may be a reference to Kōji Nishino.
Generation V
InPokémon Black, White,Black 2, and White 2, Nishino appears inCastelia City in theGame Freak building. He also appears in the form of aHiker namedNishino (Japanese:ニシノ) in Black 2 and White 2, who battles the player once per day.
Pokémon
Pre–Hall of Fame
Post–Hall of Fame
Quotes
Pokémon Black and White
- "I'mSnorlax. No, no! I'm the Planner! I don't mean to butt in, but the itemLeftovers is important, isn't it?"
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- Before battle
- "I'm Snorlax. No, no! I'm the Planner! I don't mean to butt in, but the item Leftovers is important, isn't it? It's pretty useful in battle. Do you want to battle and test it?"
- No:"No?! Really? My Pokémon are pretty, though..."
- Yes:"I like to win using my favorite Pokémon!"
- Being defeated
- "Ah... I see... That was quite well thought out."
- After being defeated
- "Awww! What great Pokémon! The great number of steps seems to have increased their trust in you... I hope we can battle again tomorrow."
Trivia

- Snorlax's appearance and gluttony were directly inspired by Nishino.[1] Snorlax's Japanese name, カビゴンKabigon, was derived from Nishino's nickname of "Kirby" (Japanese: カービィKābī), afterthe video game character of the same name. According toJunichi Masuda, Nishino was nicknamed "Kirby" thanks to his large appetite.[2]
- In a July 2000 interview with the Japanese Nintendo Online Magazine aboutPokémon Gold and Silver, Nishino stated that maleSchool Kids grow up to beSuper Nerds, whileLasses grow up to beBeauties.[3]
- The logo for Cozy Fried Kitchen, a company offeringPoké Jobs inPokémon Sword and Shield, appears to bear Kōji Nishino's likeness. In the Japanese localization, "Cozy Fried Kitchen" is written and pronounced as コージーフライドキッチンKōjī Furaido Kitchin — the first word is homophonous to Nishino's given name.
References
- ↑Page 2 of Yomiuri interview withKen Sugimori, Kōji Nishino, andAtsuko Nishida (Japanese)
- ↑Shea, Brian (October 24, 2019). "More Burning Questions For The Pokémon Series."Game Informer (Archived on August 5, 2023.)
- ↑(July 2000).『ポケットモンスター』開発スタッフインタビュー (ページd)。Nintendo Online Magazine (N.O.M). No.23. (archive of translation by GlitterBerri)
Related articles
| This game character article is part ofProject CharacterDex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in thePokémon games. |



