Kōji Nishino

Kōji Nishino in 2018

Kōji Nishino (Japanese: 西野弘二 Nishino Kōji) is a game designer of Pokémon games, currently working at Game Freak. He has been involved in nearly every main series Pokémon game since Pokémon Red and Green Versions. He has also assisted the anime producers for Lucario 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

Anime

• 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 all Generation I games, as well as their Generation III and VII remakes.

He and Sara (Japanese: アツコ Atsuko) mention each other in their dialogue. She may be a reference to Atsuko Nishida.

Generation II

DJ Fern (Japanese: コージ Kōji) may be a reference to Kōji Nishino.

Generation V

In Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, Nishino appears in Castelia City in the Game Freak building. He also appears in the form of a Hiker named Nishino (Japanese: ニシノ) in Black 2 and White 2, who battles the player once per day.

Pokémon

Pre–Hall of Fame

GAME FREAK Nishino Castelia City Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $1280
Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Cute Charm Held item: Leftovers Clefairy♀ Lv.16 Growl Normal Status   --       DoubleSlap Normal Physical   --       Follow Me Normal Status   --       Encore Normal Status   --

Post–Hall of Fame

GAME FREAK Nishino Castelia City Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $6240

Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Cute Charm Held item: Leftovers Clefable♀ Lv.76 Cosmic Power Psychic Status   --       Sing Normal Status   --       Metronome Normal Status   --       Stored Power Psychic Special   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Huge Power Held item: Leftovers Azumarill♂ Lv.76 Double-Edge Normal Physical   --       Aqua Tail Water Physical   --       Superpower Fighting Physical   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Own Tempo Held item: Leftovers Lickilicky♂ Lv.76 Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Blizzard Ice Special   --       Power Whip Grass Physical   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Cute Charm Held item: Leftovers Wigglytuff♀ Lv.76 Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Hyper Voice Normal Special   --       Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Ice Beam Ice Special   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Hydration Held item: Leftovers Alomomola♂ Lv.76 Wish Normal Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Aqua Jet Water Physical   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Thick Fat Held item: Leftovers Snorlax♂ Lv.78 Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Yawn Normal Status   --       Superpower Fighting Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --

Quotes

Pokémon Black and White

"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?"

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. Snorlax's Japanese name, カビゴン Kabigon, was derived from Nishino's nickname of "Kirby" (Japanese: カービィ Kābī), after the video game character of the same name. According to Junichi Masuda, Nishino was nicknamed "Kirby" thanks to his large appetite.
• In a July 2000 interview with the Japanese Nintendo Online Magazine about Pokémon Gold and Silver, Nishino stated that male School Kids grow up to be Super Nerds, while Lasses grow up to be Beauties.

Related articles

Non-player characters in the core series games

Unova Professor Juniper • Mom (BW) • Mom (B2W2) • Cheren • Bianca • Bianca's father • Hugh • Hugh's sister • Cedric Juniper • Fennel • Amanita Cilan • Chili • Cress • Lenora • Hawes • Loblolly • Charles • Iris • Drayden • Alder • Benga • Curtis • Yancy • Brycen • Sabrina • Pop Roxie Hilbert • Hilda • Nate • Rosa • Ingo • Emmet • Cynthia • Looker • N • Colress • Morimoto • Nishino • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman Team Plasma • Clyde • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • PWT participants • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Judge • Magikarp salesman See also: Kanto Professor Oak • Mom (Kanto) • Mom (LGPE) • Red • Blue • Green • Trace • Daisy • Old man • Bill • Celio • Mr. Fuji • Safari Zone Warden • Copycat • Primo • Koichi Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Erik and Sara • Teala • Mina • Cal • Steven Stone • Maylene • Cameron • Mr. Game • Morimoto Team Rocket • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Professor's aides • Magikarp salesman • Name Rater • Day-Care Person • Mr. Hyper Johto Professor Elm • Professor Oak • Mom • Ethan • Lyra • Silver • Mr. Pokémon • Eusine • Lance • Red • Kiyo • Baoba • Magnus • Earl • Kurt • Carrie • Dude Mary • Buena • Radio Director • Haircut brothers • Webster • Master • Li • Wilma • Primo • Maximo • Jet • Caitlin • Cynthia • Cameron • Mr. Game • Felicity • Teala Team Rocket • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Frontier Brains • Kimono Girls • Week Siblings • Name Rater • Poké Seer • Day-Care Couple • Professor's aides Hoenn Professor Birch • Mom • May • Brendan • Wally • Wanda • Steven Stone • Wallace • Scott • Mr. Briney • Mr. Stone • Gabby and Ty • Lanette Brigette • Professor Cozmo • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Rydel • Winstrate family • Captain Stern • Trick Master • Treasure Hunter • Dock Apprentice • Pokémon Center Ladies • Old guys • Mr. Bonding • Teala • Aarune • Lisia • Zinnia • Looker • Inver • Chaz • Fossil Maniac • Kiri • Memory Girl Team Aqua • Team Magma • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Frontier Brains • Battle Chatelaines • Gym guide • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Stats judge Sevii Celio • Bill • Lostelle • Lorelei • Selphy • Teala Team Rocket • Day-Care Couple Sinnoh Professor Rowan • Professor Oak • Johanna • Barry • Lucas • Dawn • Cynthia • Looker • Stat Trainers (Cheryl • Riley • Mira • Buck • Marley) Bebe • Teala • Felicity • Roseanne • Rad Rickshaw • Eldritch • Wilma • Jasmine • Caitlin • Julia • Jordan • Dexter • Keira • Mr. Backlot • Morimoto Underground Man • Mr. Goods • Mr. Fuego • Pokétch Co. President • Dr. Footstep • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Helena • Ketch Appy Team Galactic • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Frontier Brains • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Professor's assistants • Stats judge Kalos Professor Sycamore • Grace • Calem • Serena • Shauna • Tierno • Trevor • Alexa • Cassius • Inver • Sina • Dexio • Gurkinn Bonnie • Diantha • AZ • Looker • Emma • Mr. Bonding • Phil the Photo Guy • Memory Girl • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman Team Flare • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Battle Chatelaines • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Judge Alola Professor Kukui • Mom • Lillie • Nebby • Hau • Rotom • Professor Burnet • Molayne • Samson Oak • Ryuki • Mohn Red • Blue • Wally • Cynthia • Grimsley • Colress • Sina • Dexio • Looker • Anabel • Necrozma • Morimoto • Iwao Team Skull • Aether Foundation • Ultra Recon Squad • Team Rainbow Rocket Trial Captains • Island kahunas • Elite Four • Name Rater • Judge • Mr. Hyper • Gester Galar Professor Magnolia • Mum • Hop • Bede • Marnie • Sonia • Leon Sordward • Shielbert • Mustard • Klara • Avery • Honey • Hyde • Peony • Peonia • Calyrex • Ball Guy Watt Traders • Ingredients Sellers • Digging Duo • Camping King Team Yell • Macro Cosmos • Dan • Gym Leaders • Morimoto • Cara Liss • Jack Hisui Cogita • Arceus • Choy • Anthe • Miss Fortunes (Charm • Clover • Coin) • Vessa Galaxy Team • Diamond Clan • Pearl Clan • Ginkgo Guild Paldea Professor Sada • Professor Turo • Mom • Nemona • Koraidon • Miraidon • Geeta • Arven • Penny • Heath Clavell • Jacq • Dendra • Miriam • Raifort • Saguaro • Salvatore • Tyme • Harrington Carmine • Kieran • Briar • Cyrano • Terapagos • Billy and O'Nare Team Star • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Pokémon League representatives Kitakami Carmine • Kieran • Briar • Caretaker • Yukito and Hideko • Ogerpon • Pecharunt • Perrin • Billy and O'Nare Koraidon • Miraidon • Jacq • Nemona • Arven • Penny • Terapagos • Professor Sada • Professor Turo Blueberry Cyrano • Briar • Carmine • Kieran • Koraidon • Miraidon • Geeta • Rika • Clavell • Perrin • Snacksworth • Synclaire BB Elite Four • Special Coaches • Guidance counselors

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.