“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
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 |
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 |
| だ | 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 |
| ぜ | sentence-ending particle ぜ adds force and shows strong desire (primarily used by younger males) | ze | |
| ー | indicates a long vowel (zee, aa, ii, uu, ee, oo) | (ze)e | |
| ッ | glottal stop (indicates an abrupt cut-off) (implies excitement or irritation) | – |
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 |
| 火 ひ | fire | hi | |
| の | particle の in (the) fire (indicates possession/link) | no | |
| 中 なか | in inside among, within center, middle, … | naka | |
| 水の中 | mizu no naka | ||
| 水 みず | mizu |
Line 3 (from 0:00) – Kusa no
| 草の中 | a | tsuchi no naka | |
| 土 | |||
| 森 |
Line 4 (from 0:00) – Tsuchi no
| 土の中 | a | tsuchi no naka | |
| 土 | |||
| 雲 |
Line 5 (from 0:00) – Ano ko no
| あのコのスカート | a | tsuchi no naka | |
| あの | |||
| コ | |||
| の | |||
| スカート | |||
| の | |||
| 中 | |||
| 土 | |||
| 雲 |
3. Chorus (from 0:22)
Line 6 (from 0:00) – Naka-Naka
| なかなか | naka-naka |
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 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 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 |