It was an emotional finale for Pokémon Japanese voice actor Rika Matsumoto, the iconic voice of Satoshi, aka Ash Ketchum.
After 26 years, Satoshi’s final episode of Pokémon aired on March 24 in Japan. Two days later, Matsumoto wrote a message on her Instagram account in which she revealed that it was nearly impossible for her to finish her last recording when she entered the studio for the last time as a female. as Satoshi on January 27. According to a translation by Sora News 24, recently at the end of her recording, the moment Matsumoto realized that this would be the last time she would play the role of Satoshi, “her breasts are hers.” She’s constricted and I can’t speak.” The voice actor had to ask staff for a few minutes to calm down before she “put everything I had into Satoshi’s voice.”
Both of Ash’s voice actors bid an emotional farewell
Since the announcement of Satoshi’s departure from the series, Matsumoto has received numerous messages from fans expressing gratitude for the voice actor’s two-decade-long work, making Matsumoto burst into tears. “I would be happy if Satoshi could live forever in people’s hearts,” Matsumoto wrote. “As a performer, I will put my heart and soul into continuing to do my best as a way of thanking you for the love you have given me.”
Sarah Natochenny, the English voice actress, expressed the same sentiments as Matsumoto. Natochenny has been voicing Ash Ketchum for 17 years. She wrote, “It has been an extraordinary privilege to be the English voice of Ash Ketchum for 17 years. Whatever lies beyond his final chapter, he will live on in the hearts of generations to come.” In an interview with IGN, Natochenny left a message for fans, quoting Jason Page’s song: “‘Be the best you’ve ever been.’ And do it with love. Don’t be harsh. Don’t trample others to get what you want, but know what your goals are and do them to the best of your ability. Do them with passion and do them while loving the people around you and being kind.”
The journey of Satoshi, or Ash, is a long one — 26 years and 1,234 episodes in the making. Introduced as a boy from Pallet Town with dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master, Satoshi met hundreds of Pokémon, fought many strong opponents, and eventually became the World Champion in November 2022. Immediately after the victory, Pokémon confirmed that Satoshi and his best friend and partner, Pikachu, would be leaving. In the prologue to their final episode, Satoshi is reunited with some of his old Pokémon like Butterfree and Lapras, as well as his human friends like Kasumi and Takeshi, Misty and Brock in the English dub , corresponding. The preview of the final episode shows Ash promising Pikachu, “Pikachu, let’s be together forever.” The final episode of the two was “The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!”
Pokémon Horizons: The Series launches on April 14 and will feature Riko and Roy.
Source: Instagram, via Sora News 24
