Who conceived the original Pokémon game concept?

Satoshi Tajiri conceived the original Pokémon game concept.

Tajiri grew up in Machida, near Tokyo, where he enjoyed collecting insects and exploring natural areas. That childhood interest became the foundation for Pokémon’s central idea: discovering, collecting, raising, and exchanging creatures.

Tajiri founded Game Freak as a video-game magazine in 1983 and later turned it into a development company with illustrator Ken Sugimori. He presented the Pocket Monsters idea to Nintendo around 1990, and then directed the project during its unusually long development.

Sugimori was crucial to the visual identity of the series, while Junichi Masuda composed music and contributed to programming. Tsunekazu Ishihara produced the project and later became a major executive in the Pokémon business, but Tajiri is credited with originating the concept.