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[[File:TsunekazuIshihara.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Tsunekazu Ishihara]]
'''Tsunekazu Ishihara''' (''Tsunekaz'' also seen; Japanese: '''石原恒和''' ''Ishihara Tsunekazu'', born November 27, 1957) is the president and CEO of [[The Pokémon Company]], a producer of [[Pokémon]], and the founder and former CEO of [[Creatures, Inc.]] He manages all aspects of the Pokémon franchise including the {{pkmn|anime}}, {{pkmn|games}}, and the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]].

==History==
Ishihara graduated from the University of Tsukuba in 1983, with a master's degree in Art and Design. Soon after graduating, he joined Ape Inc., where he was the producer in such titles as ''{{wp|EarthBound}}'' and ''{{smw|Mario's Picross}}''. After Ape Inc. ceased production activity, Ishihara would later found [[Creatures, Inc.]] in November 8, 1995,<ref>[https://www.creatures.co.jp/en/company/ Creatures Inc. Company Outline]</ref> with the assistance of [[Satoru Iwata]].<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/interview/ipkj/vol1/ 社長が訊く『ポケットモンスター ハートゴールド・ソウルシルバー』]</ref><ref>[https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/pokemon/0/0 Iwata Asks : Pokémon HeartGold Version & SoulSilver Version : Just Making The Last Train]</ref>

In the early 1990s, Ishihara assisted in the development of {{game|Red and Green|s}}. Shortly after, he was inspired to create a trading card game based on the titles, ultimately resulting in the creation of the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]].

In April 1998, [[The Pokémon Company]] was established and Ishihara was given the position of representative director. In 2001, he was named the president.

In April 2023, Ishihara stepped down as CEO of Creatures, Inc., being succeeded by Yuji Kitano.<ref>[https://www.gamesindustry.biz/creatures-inc-sees-leadership-change-as-ceo-and-president-step-down Creatures Inc. sees leadership change as CEO and president step down]</ref>

==Game credits==
* '''{{wp|Mendel Palace}}''' (1989) - Special Thanks
* '''{{smw|Mario & Wario}}''' (1993) - Producer
* '''{{wb|EarthBound}}''' (1994) - Special Effects Artist, Line Producer
* '''{{smw|Mario's Picross}}''' (1995) - Director, Screen Graphic Designer
* '''{{smw|Mario's Super Picross}}''' (1995) - Director, Screen Graphic Designer
* '''{{game|Red and Green|s}}''' (1996) - Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Blue Version (Japanese)|Pokémon Blue]]''' (1996) - Producer
* '''{{smw|Picross 2}}''' (1996) - Director
* '''[[Game Boy Camera]]''' (1998) - Special Thanks
* '''[[Pokémon Stadium (Japanese)]]''' (1998) - Producer
* '''{{game|Yellow}}''' (1998) - Producer
* '''[[Hey You, Pikachu!]]''' (1998) - Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Trading Card Game (game)|Pokémon Trading Card Game]]''' (1998) - Producer
* '''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''' (1999) - Original Game Staff (Pokémon Products Supervisor; "Pokémon", "EarthBound" Produce)
* '''[[Pokémon Snap]]''' (1999) - Pokémon Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Stadium (English)|Pokémon Stadium]]''' (1999) - Producer
* '''{{game|Gold and Silver|s}}''' (1999) - Producer
* '''{{wp|Doshin the Giant}}''' (1999) - Executive Producer
* '''{{wp|Custom Robo (Nintendo 64)|Custom Robo}}''' (1999) - Producer
* '''{{nw|Monster Tactics|Monster Tactics}}''' (2000) - Co-Producer (with {{nw|Takehiro Izushi}} of Nintendo. Attributed to "Spiral" with {{nw|Marigul Management}} (Nintendo/Recruit) and {{nw|Sarugakucho}})<!--Source https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zro0WS2rwyo -->
* '''[[Pokémon Puzzle League]]''' (2000) - Licensing Supervisor
* '''[[Pokémon Puzzle Challenge]]''' (2000) - Production
* '''{{wp|Custom Robo V2}}''' (2000) - Supervisor
* '''{{game|Crystal}}''' (2000) - Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]''' (2000) - Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR!]]''' (2001) - Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Party mini]]''' (2001) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Pinball mini]]''' (2001) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Zany Cards]]''' (2001) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Puzzle Collection]]''' (2001) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''' (2001) - Original Game Staff (Product Supervision: Pokémon; Producer: EarthBound)
* '''[[Pokémon Tetris]]''' (2002) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Race mini]]''' (2002) - Executive Producer
* '''{{wp|Custom Robo GX}}''' (2002) - Special Thanks
* '''[[Pichu Bros. mini]]''' (2002) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Machop at Work]]''' (2002) - Producer
* '''[[Kingler's Day]]''' (2002) - Producer
* '''[[Togepi's Great Adventure]]''' (2002) - Executive Producer
* '''{{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}}''' (2002) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire]]''' (2003) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Channel]]''' (2003) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire]]''' (2003) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Colosseum]]''' (2003) - Executive Producer
* '''{{game|FireRed and LeafGreen|s}}''' (2004) - Executive Producer
* '''{{game|Emerald}}''' (2004) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Dash]]''' (2004) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]]''' (2005) - Executive Producer
* '''{{wp|Drill Dozer}}''' (2005) - Special Thanks
* '''[[Pokémon Trozei!]]''' (2005) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team]]''' (2005) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Ranger]]''' (2006) - Executive Producer
* '''{{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}''' (2006) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Battle Revolution]]''' (2006) - Executive Producer
* '''{{wp|Picross DS}}''' (2007) - Special Thanks
* '''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness]]''' (2007) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''' (2008) - Senior Supervisor
* '''[[Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia]]''' (2008) - Executive Producer
* '''[[My Pokémon Ranch]]''' (2008) - Executive Producer
* '''{{game|Platinum}}''' (2008) - Executive Producer
* '''{{wp|Picross 3D}}''' (2009) - Very Special Thanks
* '''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky]]''' (2009) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Rumble]]''' (2009) - Executive Producer
* '''{{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}''' (2009) - Executive Producer
* '''[[PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure]]''' (2009) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs]]''' (2010) - Executive Producer
* '''{{game|Black and White|s}}''' (2010) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure]]''' (2011) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Rumble Blast]]''' (2011) - Executive Producer
* '''[[PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond]]''' (2011) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Conquest]]''' (2012) - Executive Producer
* '''{{game|Black and White|s 2|Pokémon Black 2 and White 2}}''' (2012) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Dream Radar]]''' (2012) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity]]''' (2012) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Rumble U]]''' (2013) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon X and Y]]''' (2013) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Battle Trozei]]''' (2014) - Executive Producer
* '''[[The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon]]''' (2014) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Art Academy]]''' (2014) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]''' (2014) - Senior Supervisor
* '''[[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]''' (2014) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Rumble World]]''' (2015) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon]]''' (2015) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Picross]]''' (2015) - Executive Producer
* '''{{ga|Detective Pikachu}}''' (2016) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Sun and Moon]]''' (2016) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]''' (2017) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]]''' (2018) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''' (2018) - Original Game Supervisor
* '''[[Pokémon Sword and Shield]]''' (2019) - Executive Producer
* '''[[New Pokémon Snap]]''' (2020) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl]]''' (2021) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Legends: Arceus]]''' (2022) - Executive Producer
* '''[[Pokémon Sleep]]''' (2023) - Executive Producer (The Pokémon Company)

==Anime credits==

===Executive producer===
* [[Pokémon anime|Pokémon TV series]]
* [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!]]

===Production supervisor===
* [[Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire|''Pocket Monsters: Advanced Generation TV'' series]]
* ''[[The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon]]''
* ''[[M03|Spell of the Unown: Entei]]''
* ''[[Mewtwo Returns]]''
* ''[[PK10|Pikachu's PikaBoo]]''
* ''[[M05|Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias]]''
* ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
* ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''
* ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]''
* ''[[M09|Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea]]''

===Supervision===
* ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]''
* ''[[M02|The Power of One]]''
* ''[[PK17|Pikachu's Island Adventure]]''

==Appearances in games==
'''Ishihara''' (Japanese: '''Ｍｒ．イシハラ''' ''Mr. Ishihara'') appears in {{ga|Pokémon Trading Card Game}} as a Pokémon card collector. Ishihara owns over 10,000 cards. He's also written many books about the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]].

In the game, Ishihara can always be found in [[Mr. Ishihara's House|his house]] on the cape to the northwest after being told by someone in the game where he is. He will trade very rare promotional Pikachu cards to the player for rare colorless cards. In order, he will trade a {{TCG ID|Wizards Promo|Surfing Pikachu|28}} for a {{TCG ID|Jungle|Clefable|1}}, a {{TCG ID|Wizards Promo|Flying Pikachu|25}} for a {{TCG ID|Fossil|Ditto|3}}, and an alternate design {{TCG ID|Wizards Promo|Surfing Pikachu|28}} for a {{TCG ID|Base Set|Chansey|3}}. After all three trades have been completed, Ishihara will leave in search of someone who will give him the [[Phantom Cards]].

In [[Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR!]], Ishihara moves between his house and a new area, [[Mr. Ishihara's Villa|his villa]]. He will still trade cards with the player, but this time, he will be available to duel in his villa after all his trades are completed. He uses the {{TCG|Very Rare Card Deck}}, which contains many rare promotional cards.

===Sprites===
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; {{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{tcg trainer color dark}}; background: #{{tcg trainer color}}; font-size: 80%;"
|-
| style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{tcg trainer color dark}}; background: #{{tcg trainer color light}}"| [[File:TCG2 Ishihara.png]]
| style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{tcg trainer color dark}}; background: #{{tcg trainer color light}}"| [[File:TCG2 Ishihara Win.png]]
| style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{tcg trainer color dark}}; background: #{{tcg trainer color light}}"| [[File:TCG2 Ishihara Loss.png]]
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{tcg trainer color dark}}; background: #{{tcg trainer color light}} | [[File:Ishihara OD.png]]
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{tcg trainer color dark}}; background: #{{tcg trainer color light}} | [[File:TCG2 Ishihara OD.png]]
|-
| Main sprite from {{color2|000|Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!|Pokémon<br>Trading Card Game 2}}
| Win sprite from {{color2|000|Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!|Pokémon<br>Trading Card Game 2}}
| Loss sprite from {{color2|000|Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!|Pokémon<br>Trading Card Game 2}}
| Overworld sprite<br/>({{color2|000|Pokémon Trading Card Game (game)|GB1}})
| Overworld sprite<br/>({{color2|000|Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!|GB2}})
|}

==Videos==
===''[[Pokémon 20th Anniversary|#Pokemon20]]: The Pokémon Company's Tsunekazu Ishihara''===
{{youtubevid|R7S_b5BxaB0|user/pokemon|name=The Official Pokémon Channel|Pokémon|Pokémon}}

==Trivia==
* Images of Ishihara are often incorrectly identified as Pokémon creator [[Satoshi Tajiri]]. The origin of this error is unknown.
* Ishihara's favorite Pokémon is {{p|Exeggutor}} because he used it all throughout the debugging and testing of [[Pokémon Red and Green Versions]].<ref>(February 9, 2000). "[https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/09/abc-news-pokamon-chat-transcript ABC News Pokémon Chat Transcript]." ''IGN''.</ref>
** In a November 2002 interview for {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}}, Ishihara mentions that his favorite Pokémon is {{p|Pelipper}}.<ref>(November 2002). [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0211/01/01_05/index.html 1-5. 開発者よりみなさまへのメッセージ]。 『ポケットモンスター　ルビー・サファイア』大特集。 ''Nintendo Online Magazine'' (N.O.M). No.52.</ref>
* A hidden Easter egg in {{game|Red and Green|s}} sets the rival's default name to Ishihara as soon as the game is turned on. This name does not appear in the default names list and is overwritten as soon as the player has a chance to choose a name.
* One of the default {{player}} names in [[Pokémon Blue Version (Japanese)|the Japanese Blue]] is '''Tsunekazu''', much as "Satoshi" is for Red and "Shigeru" is for Green.
** Similarly, one of the default [[rival]] names in [[Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|Pokémon FireRed Version]] is '''Kaz''' (Japanese: ツネカズ ''Tsunekazu'').

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.nikkei.co.jp/digitalcore/core/pdf/gis2005report_e.pdf Global Information Summit, "Creating Contents that Reach Deeply into Our Lifestyles"]
* [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article1906979.ece "Master of the Pocket Monster Universe puts success down to better experience" at Times Online]
* [http://spong.com/feature/10109598 "Tsunekazu Ishihara: The Pokémon Interview" at SPOnG]
* [http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/074/074973p1.html "ABC News Pokémon Chat Transcript" at IGN]
* [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-head-pokytrainer-tsunekazu-ishihara/1100-6172003/ "Q&A: Head Pokétrainer Tsunekazu Ishihara" at GameSpot]
* [http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/514/514962p1.html "E3 2004: The Pokémon Creators Speak" at IGN]
* [[Media:Tsunekaz Ishihara magazine interview.jpg|Magazine article on Ishihara]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ishihara, Tsunekazu}}
{{Card GB NPCs}}
[[Category:Game cast and crew]]
[[Category:TCG GB characters]]
[[Category:TCG GB2 characters]]
[[Category:Anime cast and crew]]
[[Category:People]]

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