Mezase Pokemon Master (Pokemon Anime OP 1)

Mezase Pokemon Master” is the 1st opening song of the Pokemon anime. Listen to its Japanese lyrics, read the words and phrases written in kanji or kana, and study the English translations and Japanese grammar explanations that I have included to help you learn Japanese with anime songs.

The anime song “Mezase Pokemon Master” or『めざせポケモンマスター』in Japanese is sung by Rica Matsumoto, a Japanese actress, voice actress, and singer born in Yokohama. She is also the voice of Satoshi (Ash Ketchum). The song was released on June 28, 1997.

Pokemon Anime Opening 1

Song Title: Mezase Pokemon Master
日本語: めざせポケモンマスター
ひらがな: めざせ ぽけもん ますたあ
Romaji: Mezase Pokemon Masutaa
English: Aim to be a Pokemon Master

Anime: Pokemon
日本語: ポケットモンスター
ひらがな: ぽけっと もんすたあ
Romaji: Poketto Monsutaa
English: Pocket Monster

Type: Opening – OP 1

Mezase Pokemon Master – Rica Matsumoto

めざせポケモンマスター (Mezase Pokemon Master)

0. Song Title

めざせ
目指せ
Aim (to be)….!
Aim (at being) …!
(imperative form of 目指す)
mezame
目指す
めざす
to aim at
to have an eye on
to go toward, to head for
mezaseru
ポケモン
ぽけもん
Pokemon
pokemon
マスター
ますたあ
master
masutaa
Song Title – Japanese Words & English Translations

1. Intro (from 0:00)

Line 1 (from 0:00) – Pokemon Getto

ポケモン
ぽけもん
Pokemon
Pokemon
ゲット
げっと
get
getting (something)
obtaining (something), …
getto
Japanese copula 〜だ
Pokemon/them/I = get
(I will) get Pokemon
(I will) get them
(couples two things together)
da
ぜーッ
ぜえっ
ぜ + ー + ッ
works like a big exclamation mark “!”
zee
sentence-ending particle ぜ
adds force and shows strong desire
(primarily used by younger males)
ze
indicates a long vowel
(zee, aa, ii, uu, ee, oo)
(ze)e
glottal stop
(indicates an abrupt cut-off)
(implies excitement or irritation)
Line 1 – Japanese Words & English Translations

2. Pre-Chorus (from 0:13)

Line 2 (from 0:00) – Tatoe

たとえ
仮令
例え
supposing
supposing that
if, even if, no matter (what), …
tatoe
火の中
ひ の なか
in fire
in (the) fire
hi no naka

fire
hi
particle の
in (the) fire
(indicates possession/link)
no

なか
in
inside
among, within
center, middle, …
naka
水の中
mizu no naka

みず
mizu
Line 2 – Japanese Words & English Translations

Line 3 (from 0:00) – Kusa no

草の中
a
tsuchi no naka
Line 3 – Japanese Words & English Translations

Line 4 (from 0:00) – Tsuchi no

土の中
a
tsuchi no naka
Line 3 – Japanese Words & English Translations

Line 5 (from 0:00) – Ano ko no

あのコのスカート
a
tsuchi no naka
あの
スカート
Line 3 – Japanese Words & English Translations

3. Chorus (from 0:22)

Line 6 (from 0:00) – Naka-Naka

なかなかnaka-naka
Line 6 – Japanese Words & English Translations

Line 7 (from 0:00) – Naka-Naka

Line 8 (from 0:00) – Kanarazu

Line 9 (from 0:00) – Pokemon GET

4. Verse 1 (from 0:33)

Line 10 (from 0:00) – Masara Taun

マサラタウンMasara Taun
Marautaun
Line 10 – Japanese Words & English Translations

Line 11 (from 0:00) – Ore ha

Line 12 (from 0:00) – Pikachu!

Line 13 (from 0:00) – Kitaeta

Line 14 (from 0:00) – Nakama wo

5. Verse 2

Line 15 (from 0:00) – Itsumo

いつもitsumo
Line 15 – Japanese Words & English Translations

Line 16 (from 0:00) – Hoshou

Line 17 (from 0:00) – Sorya Sou

Line 18 (from 0:00) – Itsudemo

Line 19 (from 0:00) – Koitsu-tachi

(line 20 – 56 are only in the full version of the song)

6. Outro (from 2:10)

Line 57 (from 0:00) – Aa Akogare

ああaa
Line 41 – Japanese Words & English Translations

Line 58 (from 0:00) – Pokemon Mastutaa

Line 59 (from 0:00) – Naritai na

Line 60 (from 0:00) – Zettai natte