The Environmental Lesson that Inspired Pokémon

How a childhood spent collecting insects became a global phenomenon that quietly teaches ecological literacy

In a world increasingly mediated by screens, the distance between children and the natural environment grows wider by the generation. Yet one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time—ironically a digital distraction on its surface—actually contains a rather profound ecological message that its young audience absorbs almost unconsciously.

Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, was once known among his childhood peers as "Dr. Bug" for his love of the outdoors and insect-collecting habits. Growing up on the periphery of Tokyo in the 1960s and 70s, Tajiri witnessed firsthand the urbanization of the city encroaching on the ponds, fields, and forests where he once spent his days catching and cataloging beetles and butterflies. As concrete replaced soil and skyscrapers blotted out the sky, Tajiri wanted a way to recreate—and perhaps preserve—the wonder of his disappearing childhood for the next generation. The entire concept—catching different creatures, cataloging them, watching them evolve—mirrors the real-world joy of exploring nature in game form called “Pocket Monster” or better known as Pokémon.