In Japan, Pikachu is called Pikachu and written in katakana as ピカチュウ. The official Japanese Pokémon site says the name is used in every country, so there is no Japan-specific alternate name.
How is Pikachu written in Japanese?
The Japanese spelling is ピカチュウ, read “Pikachu.” The official Japanese Pokémon reference lists the character as National Pokédex No. 025, an Electric-type Pokémon known as the Mouse Pokémon: Pokémon Daisuki Club’s Pikachu reference.
What does the name Pikachu mean?
Pokémon designer Atsuko Nishida described combining “pika,” an expression for flashing light in Japanese, with “chu,” a mouse-squeak sound. But she said she was not initially thinking of a mouse: she chose “chu” because it sounded good and suited the character’s size. Her explanation appears in The Pokémon Company International’s creator interview.
So the sounds evoke both an electric flash and a squeak, but Nishida’s account does not describe the name as having been coined simply to mean “electric mouse.”
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- CAPTAIN PIKACHU: Get ready to set sail with Captain Pikachu
- SPECIAL HAT: 8-inch Pokémon plush is super soft and wears a special captain’s hat
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Plush looks like it jumped right out of the Pokémon Animated Series
- TEAM BUILDING: Collect other 8-inch Pokémon plush and build your own unique team
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares
Rank #3
- ICONIC POKÉMON: Get cozy with Pokémon and the new Velvet Pikachu Plush
- UNIQUE DESIGN: Unique 8-inch plush is woven with high quality velvet
- SELECT SERIES: Velvet Plush is a part of the Select Pokémon plush series
- LIMITED RELEASE: This limited line is only available for a short time in 2023
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares
Rank #2
- POKÉMON PLUSH: Choose to cuddle Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon.
- SPECIAL MATERIAL: Snuggly 12-inch Pokémon plush is made with super soft material.
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Pikachu looks like it jumped out of the Pokémon Animated Series.
- TEAM BUILDING: Collect other 12-inch Pokémon plush and build your own unique team.
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares.
#1 Best Overall
- POKÉMON PLUSH: Choose to cuddle Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon
- SPECIAL MATERIAL: Snuggly 8-inch Pokémon plush is made with super soft material
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Pikachu looks like it jumped out of the Pokémon Animated Series
- TEAM BUILDING: Collect other 8-inch Pokémon plush and build your own unique team
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares
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