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| Bill Masaki | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Born | 31 December 1969 Goldenrod City, Johto | ||
| Died | 4 May 1997 (aged 27) Cerulean City, Kanto | ||
| Occupation | Inventor ⠐ researcher | ||
| Known for | Inventing the PSS | ||
| Spouse(s) | Kris Elm (m. 1994) | ||
| Parent(s) | Raoul Masaki Sakura Arisada | ||
William Sonezaki Masaki (December 31, 1969 - May 4, 1997) was a Johtoan-Kantonese inventor, engineer and Pokémon researcher. Masaki invented the Pokémon Storage System (PSS) in 1992 and the Time Capsule in 1995.
Masaki was awarded Person of the Year by Gold Magazine in 1992 for his invention of the Pokémon Storage System. He is also seen by many as one the most important inventors of the 20th-century.
On May 4, 1997, Masaki was killed by Team Rocket at his home north of Cerulean City during a home invasion. Masaki had ties with Giovanni Sakaki and allegedly bought Pokémon from Team Rocket.
Early life[]
Masaki in 1984
William Sonezaki Masaki was born on December 31, 1969, in Goldenrod City into a wealthy family. His father Raoul Masaki was the owner of PokéMart, the largest chain of Pokémon supplies in Johto, and his mother Sakura Arisada was a kimono girl and writer. Masaki was named after his two grandfathers, William Masaki and Sonezaki Arisada.
Masaki studying (1989)
Masaki grew up surrounded by Pokémon, as his family owned several rare and exotic species. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in these creatures and spent most of his time studying and observing them. His curiosity and love for Pokémon only grew with time, laying the foundation for his future accomplishments.
Masaki attended the prestigious University of Goldenrod, where he pursued a degree in economics. He dropped out of university in 1991 to focus on his invention, the Pokémon Storage System.
Career[]
Pokémon Storage System[]
Main article: PSS
At the young age of twenty, Masaki embarked on a mission to create a storage system for Pokémon. His father and uncle had tried and failed several times to develop such a system. However, Masaki was determined to succeed where they had failed.
With the support and funding from his father and the renowned Pokémon trainer Giovanni Sakaki, Masaki began working on the first version of the Pokémon Storage System. It took him a year of dedicated effort to perfect his invention. The first version of the PSS was tested by Giovanni Sakaki in 1991 and proved to be a success.
In 1992, the PSS was officially launched by Raoul Masaki's new company, Masaki & Son. The system was an instant hit among trainers, as it allowed them to store and carry their Pokémon easily. The PSS consisted of a small device that looks similar to a Poké Ball with a screen and button. It could store up to 100 Pokémon, making it convenient for trainers to carry and access their creatures at any time.
Cover of the 1992 Person of the Year issue
Masaki's invention of the Pokémon Storage System received widespread recognition and acclaim. He was awarded Person of the Year by the prestigious Gold Magazine in 1992 for his groundbreaking invention. Masaki's success and recognition were not only limited to Johto but also spread across other regions. Trainers from Kanto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, also benefitted from the PSS, and Masaki became a household name among Pokémon enthusiasts worldwide.
Time Capsule[]
After the success of the PSS, Masaki started working on a machine to send Pokémon to other regions. In 1995, Masaki finished the machine and called it the Time Capsule. Masaki gave the first Time Capsule to Professor Oak. The first two capsule were stationed at Oak's lab and the university of Goldenrod.
Other projects[]
Level Ball (1996)
Masaki started other projects after the invention of the Time Capsule. Most of those project never saw the light of day. Some blueprints of unfinished projects of Masaki are kept in a safe at the Goldenrod University.
Masaki perfected the revive medicine and created the Max Revive in 1996. He sold the Max Revive to Silph Co. after a long bidding process against the Devon Corporation.
In 1996, Masaki made the Level Ball in collaboration with Kudo Hagiwara for Silph Co.
Personal life[]
Masaki in 1991, after he dyed his hair
Masaki started dating Pokémon Trainer and coordinator Kris Elm in 1990. Masaki married Elm on the S. S. Anne on May 1, 1994.
Masaki grew up in Goldenrod City and moved to Saffron City in 1992. In 1995, Masaki bought another house north of Cerulean City. In an interview Masaki stated that he was fed up with life in a big city and wanted a house to spend the weekends at.
Masaki started to dye his hair green in 1991.
In 1993, Masaki started to collect rare Pokémon. His collection included Pokémon from every region. People, including himself, called him a PokéManiac because of his large collection of both common and rare Pokémon.
Murder[]
In the night of May 4, 1997, two Team Rocket grunts and Koga Kyo broke into Masaki's home north of Cerulean City. During the home invasion Masaki was shot three times. Masaki died on the spot. The grunts started a fire at the house, and fled shortly after. The shooting warned the locals and eyewitnesses saw three men flee the house.
House north of Cerulean City
Authorities arrived fifteen minutes after the shooting and arson. Masaki was found by Police officers in the living room of the house. After an investigation signs of a robbery and a fight between the intruders and Masaki were established. Several documents and a small amount cash were stolen.
Aftermath[]
The morning after the murder, the story was all over the news across the Pokémon World. Many prominent figures in the Pokémon World showed their grief.
Kris Elm was in Johto at her Gym during the home invasion. She left her duties at Gym and flew to Kanto.
After the murder an investigation was started. On July 11, 1997, Koga Kyo was arrested for involvement in the murder. Kyo was sentenced to life in prison during the Team Rocket trials for involvement in the murder and other charges. Kyo's arrestation led to the downfall of Team Rocket, with multiple whistleblowers revealing the truth about the crimes commited by Team Rocket.
Politics[]
Apart from his groundbreaking inventions, Masaki was also known for his strong opinions on the League System used in Kanto and Johto. Unlike most trainers and researchers, Masaki believed that the league system was inherently flawed and unfair. He argued that it gave an unfair advantage to the elite trainers and left ordinary trainers with no chance of success.
Masaki was a strong believer in democracy, and he wanted to see this ideology reflected in the Pokémon World. In 1996, he started a campaign to raise awareness about the flaws in the league system and the need for change. He traveled to different cities in Kanto and Johto, giving speeches and distributing flyers to spread his message of equality and fairness.
Masaki's campaign garnered considerable attention and support from the general public, but some saw him as a supporter of the elitist class due to his ties with high-ranked trainers and the upper class.
Controversies[]
Pokémon collecting[]
In 1993, a scandal broke out when it was revealed that Masaki had purchased rare Pokémon for his personal collection. Journalists and reporters dug further into these purchases and discovered that Masaki had bought these Pokémon from poachers in the Sinnoh region. This revelation sparked outrage among Pokémon welfare organizations.
Masaki initially denied the claims, stating that he had bought the Pokémon from a reputable seller and had no knowledge of their involvement in poaching. However, he later admitted that he was unaware of the origins of the Pokémon and apologized for his actions. Nevertheless, the controversy tarnished his reputation and many questioned his morals and ethics.
Team Rocket[]
After the murder of Masaki and the collapse of Team Rocket, people started to question if Masaki had any involvement with the organization. He had close ties with Giovanni Sakaki and it was rumored that Masaki had bought Pokémon from the organization for his collection.
However, there was no concrete evidence to support these allegations, and it is believed that Masaki was unaware of Team Rocket’s illegal activities.
Artistic depictions of Bill Masaki[]
Masaki is the subject of a number of books and films.
Films[]
- PSS (2000), documentary
- A Machine For Everyone (2009), documentary
- King of the Machines (2014), documentary
- Masaki (2017), portrayed by Dominick Tomono
- Bill Masaki (2019), documentary
Books[]
- BILL (2007), by Kris Elm
- Bill Masaki (2013), by TBA
| PSS | ||
|---|---|---|
| People | Founders | Raoul Masaki • Bill Masaki |
| Leadership | Cassius Crocea (CEO) • Fu Yohachi • Molayne Mullein | |
| Products | PSS | PSS (1992) • PSS II (1999) • PSS III (2006) • PSS IV (2013) |
| Vs. Recorder | Vs. Recorder (2015) | |
| Gold Magazine Persons of the Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | TBA (1976)⠐ TBA (1977)⠐ TBA (1978)⠐ TBA (1979) | |
| 1980s | TBA (1980)⠐ TBA (1981)⠐ TBA (1982)⠐ TBA (1983)⠐ Gilbert Hagiwara (1984)⠐ TBA (1985)⠐ TBA (1986)⠐ TBA (1987)⠐ TBA (1988)⠐ Joseph Stone (1989) | |
| 1990s | TBA (1990)⠐ TBA (1991)⠐ TBA (1992)⠐ TBA (1993)⠐ Bill Masaki (1994)⠐ TBA (1995)⠐ TBA (1996)⠐ Team Rocket (1997)⠐ Red Norisada (1998)⠐ TBA (1999) | |
| 2000s | TBA (2000)⠐ TBA (2001)⠐ Joseph Stone (2002)⠐ TBA (2003)⠐ Blue Oak (2004)⠐ TBA (2005)⠐ TBA (2006)⠐ TBA (2007)⠐ TBA (2008)⠐ TBA (2009) | |
| 2010s | TBA (2010)⠐ TBA (2011)⠐ TBA (2012)⠐ TBA (2013)⠐ TBA (2014)⠐ TBA (2015)⠐ TBA (2016)⠐ TBA (2017)⠐ TBA (2018)⠐ TBA (2019) | |