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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 Ogerpon.
Oni are a common presence in Japanese mythology and fantasy. Usually translated as either demons or ogres in English, they can range from supernatural evil entities to slightly inhuman minor villains. In the Momotaro story, the Oni were on the less esoteric side.
These oni lived on an island and, in some more sanitized versions of the story, agreed to give up their evil ways after the heroes defeat them. Japan has as many myths and legends with Oni in them as Europe has stories with dragons. Today, Oni are most commonly seen in the form of fearsome wooden masks worn in kimono plays or as part of samurai helmets. I have one which I bought from a flea market outside a temple in Tokyo, and it is almost certainly the most cursed thing in my house.
Ogerpon fills the role of the Oni in the Kitakami region’s version of the Momotaro story. When we first arrive, the story is told to us that the heroic Loyal Three gave their lives defending the village from a fearsome ogre. The Loyal Three’s masks are worn in a festival celebrating them, and the player can even ride Koraidon or Miraidon into the Ogre Ousting minigame.
Only Kieran, a timid young boy in Mossui Town, believes the Ogre was misunderstood. As the player explores, we can meet Ogerpon and learn it was an innocent, childlike Pokémon who wore masks to visit the village without scaring people. The Loyal Three, on the other hand, stole its masks and bullied it.
The player can recover the masks and prove Ogerpon’s innocence, but in doing so it chooses us as trainer instead of poor Kieran, sending him on a bit of a villainous arc.
Teal Mask
Scarlet
This Pokémon's type changes based on which mask it's wearing. It confounds its enemies with nimble movements and kicks.
With its four masks, Ogerpon is able to switch between four different types. With the Teal Mask, its pure grass type, while in the Wellspring Mask it has a secondary water type, in the Hearthflame mask it has a secondary fire type and in the Cornerstone Mask it gains a rock type.
In the process of catching Ogerpon, one must battle all four types. It’s a really tough fight which I couldn’t do with my Kitakami team. I actually really regret just beating it with a level 100 Mewtwo rather than trying to use a team tactically.
Violet
This mischief-loving Pokémon is full of curiosity. It battles by drawing out the type-based energy contained within its masks.
It has a unique move, Ivy Cudgel, a very strong attack which matches its masks type. On top of that, it has an ability which sees its tera type look like the mask and boost those stats more.
The name Ogerpon of course comes from Ogre, often used as the English translation of Oni. The pon part comes from Ponkan, or dekopon, breeds of orange which players of Suica Game should recognize. As a grass type Pokémon with a little orange face, I guess it is an orange? Makes sense as an enemy for a Peach, I suppose.
The story of Ogerpon and the Loyal Three is deeper than it first appears – we’re not even quite done at digging down through the layers yet. An Ogre has layers – like an onion.
Music for Luke Loves Pokémon is composed by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork for the show is by Katie Groves. Writing, Producing and Editing is by me, Luke Summerhayes. Funding is provided by my lovely listeners. If you’d like to join them, to help keep the show online and find other podcasts by me and my pals, head over to Patreon.com/PodcastioPodcastius.
Coming up are Archaludon and Terapagos, so if you have thoughts about those or any other monsters, hit me up with a DM @LukeLovesPKMN or an email to LukeLovesPKMN@Gmail.com. And of course, I’d love if you could leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much just for listening.
I love Ogerpon. And remember. I love you too.