This article is about the Pokémon Trainer from Ecruteak City. For the character whose Japanese name is also Sakura, see Daisy (anime).
Sakura
サクラ Sakura
Sakura.png
Sakura in the anime
Age 10 (estimated)
Gender Female
Eye color Blue
Hair color Magenta
Hometown Ecruteak City
Region Johto
Relatives Satsuki, Tamao, Sumomo, Koume (sisters*)
Trainer class Trainer
Generation II, IV
Games Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver
Anime debut Trouble's Brewing
English voice actor Kerry Williams
Japanese voice actor Mariko Kouda

Sakura (Japanese: サクラ Sakura), known as Sayo in the English language versions of the games, is a Pokémon Trainer who lives with her sisters, the Kimono Sisters, in Ecruteak City.

In the anime

Main series

 
Sakura in full costume

Sakura debuted in Trouble's Brewing. She struck a friendship with Misty after learning both were both the youngest in their families and had similar experiences with their older sisters. While she was training to be a Kimono Girl like her sisters, she dreamed of becoming a Pokémon Trainer instead and looked forward to challenging the Johto League. She even considered joining Ash and his friends on their journey. However, after witnessing Ash's group battling her sisters, she decided she wanted to train by herself first before embarking on her own journey.

In Espeon, Not Included, Sakura reunited with the group while passing through Ecruteak City. By this time, her Eevee had evolved into an Espeon. She used Espeon in a battle against Misty's Corsola, though she lost the match. She later helped the group to save her sisters' stolen Pokémon from Team Rocket. Afterwards, she decided she was ready to go on her own journey, and with her sisters' permission, she began her journey towards Violet City.

In The Blue Badge of Courage, Sakura was revealed to be challenging Gyms. She visited Misty in Cerulean City and mentioned that she already had three Gym Badges by that point: the Storm Badge, the Zephyr Badge, and the Hive Badge. After she helped Misty in rescuing Kinso's stolen Badges from the Gym Badge thieves, Sakura had a battle against Misty's Corsola once again. This time, Espeon was victorious, thus earning Sakura her fourth Badge, the Cascade Badge.

Character

Sakura shares a lot of parallels with Misty. In particular, she desired independence because she felt she never fit in with many of her sisters' activities and training regiments as Kimono Girls. Her encounter with Misty eventually motivated her to go on her own journey. By the end of Espeon, Not Included, Sakura put her training into practice, leading the offensive against Team Rocket and recovering her sisters' stolen Pokémon, in the process showing how far she had come as a Trainer compared to her old lifestyle.

Pokémon

This listing is of Sakura's known Pokémon:

 
Eevee → Espeon
Main article: Sakura's Espeon

Espeon is Sakura's main Pokémon. It first appeared as an Eevee in Trouble's Brewing. By its next appearance in Espeon, Not Included, it had already evolved into Espeon and had a battle against Misty's Corsola. However, it was defeated by the Water-type. It also appeared in The Blue Badge of Courage defeating Misty's Corsola, earning Sakura a Cascade Badge.

Debut Trouble's Brewing
Voice actors
Japanese Yumi Touma
English Kayzie Rogers
 
Wurmple → Silcoon → Beautifly
Beautifly first appeared in The Blue Badge of Courage, when Sakura used it to find the people who stole Kinso's Badges.

While the English dub never stated it, Sakura explained in the original Japanese version that Beautifly had evolved from the Wurmple she had caught.

None of Beautifly's moves are known.

Debut The Blue Badge of Courage
Voice actors
Japanese Machiko Toyoshima
English Rachael Lillis

Achievements

Badges obtained

 
Sakura's Johto Badges

This listing is of the Badges Sakura has obtained:

Johto League Badges
Indigo League Badges

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 國府田マリ子 Mariko Kouda
English Kerry Williams
Finnish Jenni Sivonen
Polish Magda Ostolska (EP183)
Katarzyna Łukaszyńska (EP226)
Brazilian Portuguese Tatiane Keplmair (EP183-EP226)
Priscilla Concepción (HS05)
Spanish Latin America Ana Lobo (EP183-EP226)
Ariadna Rivas (HS05)
Spain Sandra Jara (EP183-EP226)
Carmen Cervantes (HS05)


Pokémon Evolutions

Sayo appeared in The Show, where she and the other Kimono Girls reenacted the tale of Lugia and the destruction of the Brass Tower.

Pokémon

 
Jolteon
Sayo's Jolteon was used to enact the lightning storm that plagued Ecruteak City.

Jolteon's only known move is Thunderbolt.

Debut The Show

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese N/A
English Jackie Lastra


In the games

In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Sayo can be battled in the Ecruteak Dance Theater, along with her four fellow Kimono Girls. Once she and the remaining Kimono Girls are defeated, a man will give the player HM03 (Surf).

Sayo makes an appearance in the Gold and Silver remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver, as well. Unlike before, but as with other Kimono Girls in these games, she can be encountered outside of the Ecruteak Dance Hall. She first meets the player in the Ice Path when her sandals get stuck to the ice. She can be fought after the player receives the Rainbow Wing or the Silver Wing. Unlike before, she is in ownership of a Jolteon. Once she and the other Kimono Girls are defeated in a consecutive battle, the player receives either the Clear Bell or the Tidal Bell.

Pokémon

Generation II



Generation IV



Quotes

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

  • Before battle
"I always dance with my Pokémon. Of course, I also train them."
  • Being defeated
"Oh, so close! I almost had you."
  • After being defeated
"Rhythm is important for both dancing and Pokémon"

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Ice Path
"Me oh my… Is that you, <player>? Fancy meeting you here! To tell the truth…my sandals are frozen on the ice, and I am stuck here. In other words, my flip-flops are quick-frozen to the ground. Tee hee. Well, it's no laughing matter. Would you push my back?/Would you come around and push my back?"
No: "Don't be so cruel. You will push my back, won't you?"
Yes: (after shoving her free) "You really are kind. Thank you so much!"
Kimono Dance Theater
  • Before battle
"Excellent fighting spirit! You got me off the ice by pushing me from the back. I am the one who skates in sandals. I am Sayo--the Kimono Girl! I was listening in the Dragon's Den when you passed the test of the Elder. Allow me to challenge you and your Pokémon!"
  • Being defeated
"Oh, so close! I almost had you."
"We are rehearsing a dance."
Bell TowerHG/Whirl IslandsSS
  • If the player has not battled Ho-OhHG/LugiaSS
"This is all we can do for you… What you do now is entirely up to you…"
  • If the player catches/defeats/flees from Ho-OhHG/LugiaSS
"You've done a great job. Say hello to Professor Elm for us."

Sprites

       
Sprite from
Generation II
Sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Overworld sprite from
Generation II
Overworld sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver

Trivia

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese サクラ Sakura From 桜 cherry blossom.
English Sayo*
Sakura* From her Japanese name
French Yumiko*
Sakura* From her Japanese name
German Keiko*
Sakura* From her Japanese name
Italian Sayo* Same as her English name in the games.
Sakura* From her Japanese name
Spanish Bea*
Sakura* From her Japanese name
Korean 예솔 Yesol
Chinese (Mandarin) 櫻花 Yīnghuā* Means Cherry flower.
小樱 Xiǎo Yīng*


Anime characters
Protagonists Ash Ketchum (Pikachu) • Misty (Togetic) • BrockTracey SketchitMayMaxDawn (Piplup) • Iris (Haxorus) • CilanSerenaClemontBonnie (Dedenne) • LanaKiaweLillieSophoclesMallowRotom PokédexGoh (Grookey)
Rivals GaryRitchieHarrisonDrewHarleyMorrisonTysonSolidadPaulNandoZoeyKennyConwayBarryUrsulaTripBiancaBurgundyStephanGeorgiaCameronAriaAlainMietteTiernoShaunaTrevorNiniSawyerGladionHoracioHauLeonRaihanHoraceBeaLeague Conference participantsCoordinatorsPerformersWorld Coronation Series participants
Antagonists Jessie (Wobbuffet) • JamesMeowthGiovanniButchCassidyDr. NambaMatoriPierceDr. ZagerGozuTabithaMaxieShellyArchieHunter JSaturnCyrusMarsJupiterCharonColressAldithGhetsisBarretMalamarLysandreMableCelosiaAlianaXerosicBryonyTuppZippRappPlumeriaGuzmaVirenRoseOleana
Professors Professor OakProfessor IvyProfessor ElmProfessor BirchProfessor RowanProfessor CarolinaProfessor JuniperDr. FennelCedric JuniperProfessor SycamoreProfessor KukuiProfessor BurnetProfessor CeriseProfessor MagnoliaSoniaProfessor Amaranth
Relatives Delia KetchumDaisyVioletLilyJames's parentsFlintLolaForrestBrock's siblingsNormanCarolineJohannaChiliCressGraceMeyerLana's fatherLana's motherHarper and SarahRangoSimaMimoKiawe's grandfatherMohnLusamineGladionSophocles's parentsMolayneAbeMallow's motherUluWalkerCamilleHalta
Supporting Officer JennyNurse JoyMagikarp salesmanTodd SnapCharles GoodshowCaseyLizaSakuraLanceClairRaoul ContestaMr. SukizoSteven StoneVivian MeridianRobertScottLilian MeridianSolanaBrandonMarianYuzoRhondaCynthiaReggieAngieLookerIzzy and CaraLyraKhouryTobiasDon GeorgeElderAlderLukeFreddy O'MartianIngoEmmetJervisVirgilNAnthea and ConcordiaPorterAlexaSophieCosetteClembotSanpeiMairinAstridDianthaKorrinaGurkinnMonsieur PierrePalermoKeananMalvaSamson OakAnelaHobbesNinaAnnaLakiDanaYansuWickeFabaIlimaAcerolaDiaChloeChrysaRenParkerTaliaLeiDanikaQuillonHopGym LeadersElite FourFrontier BrainsIsland kahunasMany temporary characters
Supporting Pokémon FearowHo-OhSquirtle SquadPink ButterfreeHaunterJigglypuffMewtwoMimeyLapras herdGranbullPichu BrothersLugiaSilverDelibirdWynautLarvitarKyogre and GroudonArticunoDeoxysLake guardiansForces of NatureMeloettaReshiramSuper-ancient PokémonWooperFlorgesSquishyZ2Guardian deitiesBewearToucannon's flockStoutlandOranguruNebbyStuffulUltra BeastsGrandpa ForestNecrozmaLunalaShayminMewRotom PhonesPelipperThievul trioEternatusDrone RotomHero duoLatiasRecurring wild Pokémon
See also: Pokémon Horizons characters


  This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.