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A weekly Pokédex Podcast from Bald Man in Japan Luke Summerhayes. A different Pokémon family every week.
I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Bounsweet.
The Mangosteen has been called the Queen of Fruits. Grown only in particularly tropical regions, and with a very short window, it is a rare and expensive delicacy in most parts of the world. Those lucky enough to have tried it compare it to delectable desserts. The significant queen of Englan, Queen Victoria, was said to have offered a considerable bounty to anyone able to deliver a fresh one.
The mangosteen resembles a round, red fruit but this outer layer is an inedible rind. The edible part is actually the white flesh within. The tree is able to reproduce asexually, essentially cloning itself. While it appears to have a gender, no male has even been found – this queen needs no king.
Bounsweet is a grass type Pokemon, a round, pink, berry-like monster with leaves for hair and some white druit showing at the base making it look like a baby. Like a Mangosteen, it is known for its flavor.
Sun
A delectable aroma pours from its body. They are often swallowed whole by Toucannon lured by that wafting deliciousness.
Shield
When under attack, it secretes a sweet and delicious sweat. The scent only calls more enemies to it.
Scarlet
Its sweat is sweet, like syrup made from boiled-down fruit. Because of this, Bounsweet was highly valued in the past, when sweeteners were scarce.
This bountiful sweetness seems to bring the pokemon nothing but trouble. The Japanese name, Amakaji, combines amai, sweet, kajitsu, fruit and maybe ji, for child. It’s a little sweet baby fruit. At level 18 it may grow up a little when it evolves into Steeny.
Steeny’s leaf has opened up to form hair, and its body has stretched out into a more humanoid form, giving the appearance of a young girl.
Sun
The sepals on its head developed to protect its body. These are quite hard, so even if pecked by bird Pokémon, this Pokémon is totally fine.
Moon
This Pokémon is always bouncing around energetically. Other Pokémon are attracted by its lively appearance and pleasant aroma.
The name, Steenee, comes from Mangosteen, but for Breaking Bad fans this sweet element brings to mind Stevia, the plant-based artificial sweetener sometimes used in lieu of sugar in tea or coffee. The Pokemon’s Japanese name is Amamaiko, again taking the word Amai, or sweet, this time combining it with a maiko. A maiko literally translates to dancing girl.
Sword
As it twirls like a dancer, a sweet smell spreads out around it. Anyone who inhales the scent will feel a surge of happiness.
The Maiko is an apprentice to the famous Geisha, or more accurately Geiko. Geisha means a practitioner of the arts, but one should more properly call them a Geiko, a master of the arts. Steeny is not yet wise in the ways of the world, but if it is levelled up while knowing the move stomp, it can evolve into Tsareena.
Tsareena has a taller, more adult figure. Atop her luscious locks she wears a crown. Her eyes are topped by elegant lashes, and her legs are long and wrapped in boots.
Moon
A Pokémon known for the beauty of its well-shaped legs, it sometimes appears as a mascot in advertisements for beauty salons.
Of course, Tsareena’s boots are not just made for walking but are perfect for stomping.
Ultra Sun
A master of grand and beautiful kicks, it can knock out even kickboxing champions with a single blow.
Shield
A kick from the hardened tips of this Pokémon's legs leaves a wound in the opponent's body and soul that will never heal.
The name Tsareena applies the Mangosteen spelling to the Russian word for queen, Tsarina. The Japanese name, Amaijoo, uses the word Joo, which does mean queen but is also a nickname for a dominant woman. With the long boots, disdainful expression and the moves like stomp, punishment and power whip, she does fit the bill.
ra Moon
A Pokémon with an aggressive personality and a mastery of kicking, it cackles every time it kicks an opponent.
Sword
This feared Pokémon has long, slender legs and a cruel heart. It shows no mercy as it stomps on its opponents.
Tsareena has wonderful attack stats, and to enhance its niche in the competitive game it also has the ability Queenly Majesty, preventing opponents from using priority moves like quick attack. It doesn’t have the best speed or bulk, but it has just enough of either that many options are available to it.
Pokemon fans should know better at this point than to underestimate any living thing – a rare tree, a delicious fruit, a female-only plant that grows only in the most delicate conditions – these sound like disadvantages, but they add up to make a powerful queen.
Comfey and Oranguru.