If you're a regular follower of Pokémon, you've definitely seen this face during "Pokémon Direct" or "Pokémon Presents" broadcasts. We're talking about Takato Utsunomiya, the current Representative Director and Chief Operating Officer of The Pokémon Company.
Recently, Japanese netizens on X unearthed a wild fact: Utsunomiya-san, the current COO, actually appeared on the official Pokémon TV show, "Pokémon Sunday" (ポケモン☆サンデー), which aired on TV Tokyo from 2004 to 2010! He even popped up in a comedy segment, leaving many fans shocked by his unexpected past. What's even more mind-blowing is his incredible journey to becoming COO, which has now become a hot topic online.
The netizen who posted the old photo of Utsunomiya-san commented, "Mr. Utsunomiya, who we always see on Pokémon Direct, was actually on 'Pokémon Sunday'! He was living that Pokémon-surrounded life with comedians like Akiyama from the comedy trio 'Robert.' I was genuinely surprised and laughed out loud!"
▼ You can also see how COO Utsunomiya transformed from a shy young man into a dashing, professional adult.
"Pokémon Sunday" aired from 2004 to 2010, featuring everything from the latest game and anime news to Pokémon battles, tutorials, nostalgic segments, and cultural projects. It also included what many Japanese netizens consider classic comedy skits and outdoor segments, often hosted by comedians like Akiyama, Baba, and Yamamoto from the 'Robert' trio, who would dress up as characters or explore Pokémon-themed activities.
But what truly blew netizens away was discovering that when COO Utsunomiya first joined The Pokémon Company, he was actually someone who had never even played Pokémon! It's absolutely wild how he went from a complete newbie to a Pokémon master.
Even more netizens pointed out that Takato Utsunomiya joined The Pokémon Company in 2005 and was promoted to Executive Director in just five years! He also spearheaded projects like "Pokémon GO" and "Pokémon Sleep," which led to a massive surge in sales for "Pokémon Center Tokyo." After serving as a Representative of The Pokémon Company for eight years, he became CEO & Representative Director in 2017, just 12 years after joining the company. He's truly an incredible, god-tier talent! The Pokémon brand's ability to penetrate so many diverse markets today is undoubtedly thanks to him.
This incredible journey has left netizens absolutely stunned. Who knew the COO we regularly see on Pokémon Direct had such a past, even appearing on a show with comedians? He truly is a god-tier individual who climbed all the way from the ground floor to the very top!