Samurai

Samurai (Japanese: サムライ Samurai) is a young boy who lives in Viridian Forest and dresses up in samurai armor. He specializes in Bug-type Pokémon and carries around a sword and a bug-catching net. He appears to have been inspired by the Bug Catchers in the Pokémon games, with the exception of the samurai armor.

Samurai

He is the very first character of the day in the anime and the first Trainer Ash had a fair battle against.

In the anime

Samurai appeared in Challenge of the Samurai. Ash and Misty were traveling through Viridian Forest since Ash intended to catch more Pokémon. As Ash was about to catch a Weedle, Samurai jumped out of the bushes and threatened him with his sword, asking him if he was from Pallet Town. Samurai challenged Ash to a battle, having already lost to Gary and the other two Trainers from Pallet Town.

Because of the confusion caused by Samurai's yelling and sword-waving, the Weedle escaped. Samurai insulted Ash, saying that he is a "bad Trainer". Because of that, they challenged each other to a Pokémon battle. Samurai's powerful Pinsir knocked out Ash's Pidgeotto. Ash sent out his Metapod and made him use Harden to damage Pinsir's pincers. Samurai sent out his own Metapod, and the two Pokémon, being unable to use any move besides Harden, were locked in a complete stalemate for a long time.

Their match was interrupted by a swarm of Beedrill, apparently angered by Ash attacking the Weedle earlier. The Beedrill snatched Ash's Metapod and flew off. The trio hid in Samurai's cabin, where the boy continued to berate and insult Ash, saying that Ash was not a good Trainer to his Pokémon because he didn't go rescue his Metapod when the Beedrill attacked.

Ash eventually gained Samurai's respect when he used his newly evolved Butterfree to put the Beedrill to sleep by using Sleep Powder and reunited with his Pokémon. At the end of the episode, Ash, Misty, and Samurai say goodbye, and the two boys promised to battle again some day.

He reappeared in flashbacks in Battle Aboard the St. Anne and Bye Bye Butterfree. He also made a cameo appearance with his Pinsir in the second opening theme and its English dub counterpart, Pokémon World.

Pokémon


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This listing is of Samurai's known Pokémon:

 
Pinsir
Pinsir was the first Pokémon Samurai used in his match against Ash. It was able to defeat Pidgeotto easily with Tackle (though Pidgeotto was already weakened from its previous battle against a wild Weedle), but when it tried to break Metapod in half with its pincers, Metapod used Harden and the attack backfired.

Through a flashback, it is known that Samurai also used Pinsir to battle the Charmander and Bulbasaur that Professor Oak gave to the other Trainers from Pallet Town, and lost.

Pinsir's known moves are Vise Grip and Tackle*.

Debut Challenge of the Samurai
 
Metapod
After Pinsir's failure against Ash's Metapod, Samurai sent out his own Metapod. Since neither Pokémon could use any move other than Harden, both Trainers ordered their Pokémon to use Harden again and again for several hours, until they had to stop their battle due to being attacked by a swarm of Beedrill.

Through a flashback, it is known that Samurai also used Metapod to battle Gary's Squirtle and lost.

Metapod's only known move is Harden.

Debut Challenge of the Samurai
Voice actors
Japanese
English Eric Stuart

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese ゆきじ Yukiji
English Jimmy Zoppi
Arabic فدوى سليمان Fadwa Souleimane
Czech Radek Kuchař
Finnish Arto Nieminen
European French Nessym Guetat
Hebrew אביתר אדיר Evyatar Adir
Hungarian Sandór Szűcs
Italian Patrizia Mottola
Norwegian Eirik Espolin Johnson
Polish Renata Berger
Brazilian Portuguese Vágner Fagundes
Spanish Latin America Irwin Daayán
Spain Juan Sainz Maza


In the manga

 
Samurai in The Electric Tale of Pikachu

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Samurai makes a cameo appearance in Pikachu's Excellent Adventure, where he, along with A.J., Ash, and Brock, makes plans to find the Hidden Village, where powerful wild Pokémon supposedly live. Samurai is particularly interested in the level 99 Slowpoke and Magikarp rumored to live there. He and A.J. are separated from Ash and Brock when Pikachu goes missing.

Samurai appears to be a little older in the manga than he is in the anime. He also appears taller and thinner, with a predilection for using words like "Verily!"

Trivia

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese サムライ Samurai From 侍 samurai.
English, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese Samurai Same as Japanese name.
French Samouraï Same as Japanese name.
Spanish Samurái Same as Japanese name.
Chinese (Mandarin) 武士 Wǔshì Chinese term for samurai.


Main characters
Ash KetchumPikachuGary OakRitchieMay OakProfessor OakDelia KetchumJessieJamesMeowth
Gym Leaders
BrockMistyKogaSabrinaGiovanniRudyDrake
Other
A.J.AyaBillDamianDarioDuplicaEevee brothersGiselleJeanette FisherOfficer JennyJoeNurse Joy
Lara LaramieMahriMelanieMikeyMimiProfessor OrvillePotterFlorinda ShowersRubySamuraiTommy


  This article is part of Project COD, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each one-time character of the Pokémon anime.