Munkidori is a blue simian Pokémon with long black fur covering most of its body, except for its face, hands, feet, and part of its chest, the latter forming an arrowhead pattern. Its face has yellow eyes with black striped markings between them, and they have magenta colorations on its rear and ankles. Each of its hands has three fingers, and its feet resemble sandals, each with two toes. Part of its head hair is slicked back, and a magenta chain encircles its head like a headband. Munkidori is a male-only species with no female counterpart.
In Kitakami myth, it is said that Munkidori was once a clumsy, dim-witted Pokémon, but a longing for cleverness led it to discover Pecharunt’s Toxic Chain and wrap it around its head. Munkidori transformed as the chain enhanced its capabilities, stimulating its brain and causing its Psychic powers to bloom. It prefers to keep itself somewhere safe while toying with its enemies, using its psychic powers to induce intense dizziness. It traveled from a distant land with Okidogi and Fezandipiti to steal Ogerpon's masks and claim them for themselves, the trio sneaked into Ogerpon's cave and managed to steal three of them while Ogerpon's friend managed to protect one of them. After finding out, Ogerpon discovered about what happened and beat the trio up, Munkidori lost their life in the fight along with its partners. In the villagers' eyes though, it looked like the trio had fallen protecting the village from the enraged ogre, nicknaming them the Loyal Three and giving them a proper burial.
Munkidori, together with Okidogi and Fezandipiti, are known as the Loyal Three, the heroes of Kitakami. They are beloved by the people of Kitakami as heroes that once protected the land from the "evil ogre",[1] and stone statues bearing their likenesses were made by the people as an expression of their gratitude right where the three had been buried.[2] According to locals, worshiping Munkidori ensures one is successful in life and that everything will be hunky-dory. Even with its greedy and manipulative personality, Munkidori has great relationships with its teammates, talking to each other in private and acting together to defeat their oponents. By consuming the Kitakami Mochis, Munkidori can become a Titan Pokémon.
The Loyalty Plaza after being rebuilt.png
As seen on the signs around Kitakami
Origin
Munkidori may be based on a monkey, particularly the Japanese macaque, such as the northermost Japanese macaque from Aomori Prefecture. This is sort of reflected with its Shiny form, which gives it a slight tanned fur coat similar to Japanese macaques. Its regular coloration resembles a chimpanzee. The chain on its forehead resembles a headband. Its mischievous personality and Psychic typing could be a reference to the Satori, a yokai that takes the form of a mind-reading monkey and torments travelers.
Munkidori, together with Okidogi, Fezandipiti, and Ogerpon, may reference the Japanese folktale of Momotarō. The tale relates the titular Momotarō, a boy born from inside a peach, who traveled alongside a talking dog, monkey, and pheasant to fight a band of oni (a Japanese folkloric creature commonly equated to ogres in translations). The purple chain could be based on a shimenawa.
Name origin
Munkidori may be a combination of monkey and hunky dory (slang meaning that things are good).
Mashimashira may be a combination of 増し mashi (better, improving) and 猿 mashira (archaic word for monkey or ape).