Exclusive Interview with Susumu Fukunaga on Pokémon’s Participation in IIT Bombay Techfest 2025
The night sky over IIT Bombay was illuminated this December with fan favorites such as Pikachu and Charizard, marking a significant milestone for Pokémon in India. As part of the 29th edition of Techfest, the event featured India’s first-ever Pokémon drone show, captivating thousands of students and fans. Amidst the excitement of the “Pokémon Fiesta,” we had the opportunity to sit down with Susumu Fukunaga, Corporate Officer at The Pokémon Company, to discuss the brand’s vision for the Indian market and future collaborations.
The Importance of College Campuses for Pokémon
During our conversation, we explored the significance of college campuses like IIT Bombay for Pokémon. Fukunaga emphasized the role of universities in fostering communities:
“This particular event at IIT Bombay is basically targeted at college students. We feel that colleges or universities are places where it’s very easy to develop communities. People get together with common interests and enjoy what they all like—their passions. We hope that people will get together for Pokémon and enjoy Pokémon together.”
Fukunaga also noted that the event attracted many local residents, broadening Pokémon’s reach beyond just students.
Fukunaga’s Favorite Moments with Pokémon
With 27 years of experience at Pokémon, Fukunaga reflected on his proudest achievements:
“I’ve been involved in many projects so far in the last 27 years. There was the PokéPark project in 2005, and there was Pokémon Air Adventures, which involved wrapping an entire aircraft with a Pokémon-themed design in 2022. But the most important thing from all the events that we do, including this one, is to see people enjoying themselves and seeing their smiles.”
He highlighted that the essence of Pokémon lies in entertainment and community enjoyment.
Future Collaborations and Indian Market Potential
When asked about the possibility of Pokémon-themed aircraft in India, Fukunaga expressed enthusiasm but acknowledged uncertainty:
“We would love to, but we don’t really know when as of now. If any airlines in India are interested in this idea, we would be happy to have a discussion with them.”
Fukunaga also shared insights on India’s potential as a major market for Pokémon:
“Our corporate mission is to enrich people’s lives across the world, both in the real world as well as the virtual world. We feel that our content hasn’t really reached the people of India completely yet, so our first objective is to actually get our content to them as much as possible.”
He emphasized the importance of community in Indian culture, noting that festivals often bring people together, which aligns with Pokémon’s goals.
Incorporating Indian Culture into Pokémon
As the conversation progressed, we discussed the potential for Indian designers and artists to contribute to Pokémon’s creative content. Fukunaga acknowledged the diversity of motifs in Pokémon media:
“There are a lot of different factors that become motifs in our content. Because we are an India-centric branding and marketing team, we aren’t directly involved in the creative side of it. However, we do believe that because India is a huge market, there may be future possibilities based on that.”
He expressed hope for future collaborations that could incorporate Indian themes and styles into Pokémon media.
The Future of Pokémon Trading Cards
We also touched on the value of Pokémon Trading Cards, which have become collector’s items. Fukunaga addressed the topic of digital cards and NFTs:
“As of now, we have no intention of turning our digital cards into NFTs. Digital cards are available to everybody, so there is hardly any possibility that their prices or value would go up drastically.”
He clarified that the focus remains on making Pokémon accessible to all fans rather than creating scarcity through digital collectibles.
Plans for Pokémon in India
Looking ahead, Fukunaga shared that The Pokémon Company does not have a detailed roadmap for India yet but is committed to expanding its presence:
“We want more and more people to enjoy Pokémon content, and there’s a lot of our content that we still haven’t even been able to launch in the country. Our job is to create a solid foundation based on which we can launch all the content in India.”
Fukunaga’s Favorite Pokémon
In a light-hearted moment, we asked Fukunaga about his favorite Pokémon:
“My favorite Pokémon is Mew. It’s a very mysterious Pokémon, and it’s one of the first mysterious Pokémon that was launched, so I like it because it’s mysterious.”
Conclusion
The interview with Susumu Fukunaga provided valuable insights into Pokémon’s vision for India and the importance of community engagement. As Pokémon continues to expand its presence in the country, fans can look forward to exciting developments and potential collaborations that celebrate Indian culture.
Note: The information in this article is based on an exclusive interview and reflects the opinions and insights of Susumu Fukunaga regarding Pokémon’s future in India.
