In an interview with the BBC, the head of the Pokémon company spoke about the Pokémon brand and where he sees a potential danger.
Who is the CEO? It is Tsunekazu Ishihara, who has been leading the Pokémon company since 1998. He spoke in an interview with BBC News about the company, why it is so successful, potential dangers to the brand, and what the future looks like.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new series Pokémon Horizons:
Pokémon CEO sees a danger for the Pokémon company
When should Pokémon decline? Of course, the head of the Pokémon company does not wish for the decline of the brand, but he has a realistic view. He estimates that if the company continues to focus on its mission, it will definitely be able to celebrate its 50th or 100th anniversary.
According to him, the long-term goal of the company is “to enrich both the real and virtual worlds.” That is Pokémon’s greatest strength. This includes, among other things, Pokémon GO, which is still very popular almost 10 years after its release in 2016.
Where does the CEO see a danger for the brand? Tsunekazu Ishihara believes that if the company were to become “complacent” or “go with the flow,” it would “then go downhill for Pokémon.”
The success of Pokémon: Tsunekazu Ishihara finds that the biggest reason why Pokémon is so successful is the fact that the fans consist of “multiple generations.” According to his assessment, Pokémon has become a “means of communication” for the fans.
Since Pokémon is a private company and does not rely on the stock market, the company can fully focus on Pokémon, the CEO believes. He says: “Every profit we make from Pokémon is reinvested into Pokémon.”
Another major part of the Pokémon company is the trading card game, which is also very popular. With these cards, exciting card games can also be played, but the original idea of collecting and playing is increasingly lost, says MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen: Pokémon cards are often just a gamble for adults – And that makes me sad
