On April 12th, 2024, the official Japanese AniPoke Twitter account posted comments from Kotono Mitsuishi who plays Kaede.

Liko, Roy and Dot's Terastal training starts in the next episode, episode 47, where the three of them will head to Cercle Town to visit Liko's assessment test opponent, Gym Leader Kaede! We've received a comment from Kotono Mitsuishi-san, who plays Kaede, the character we'll meet next episode:

I am Kotono Mitsuishi, and I will be playing Kaede in the Pocket Monsters anime TV series. In episode 47, Kaede will be battling Liko-chan, a character whose distress I think a lot of people empathize with. I put a lot of care into how I played Kaede, and particularly emphasized her sentiments towards Liko-chan by virtue of her role as a Gym Leader. I believe you'll enjoy both the "sweet" Kaede and the "bitter" Kaede you'll get to see in this episode, so please look forward to it!
Kotono Mitsuishi, the voice of Kaede

次回、第47話よりリコ、ロイ、ドットのテラスタル研修がスタート
3人は、リコの基礎テストの相手となるジムリーダー・カエデがいるセルクルタウンに向かいます！
次回登場するカエデを演じる #三石琴乃 さんからコメントが到着しました

A press release and interview was posted on April 18th, 2024 and the official AniPoke PR Twitter reposted the tweet promoting it. The new character Kaede will be making her debut in the popular anime Pocket Monsters (airs on the TV Tokyo Network every Friday at 6:55pm, officially abbreviated "Anipoke") with episode 47 (airing on the 19th). To celebrate this, we've interviewed her voice actress Kotono Mitsuishi about her Pokémon memories and more.


Episode 47 depicts Liko and Nyarote's Terastal training, and involves Liko, Roy and Dot going to visit Kaede, the Gym Leader of Cercle Town, for Liko's Terastal training assessment test. However, Sango from the Explorers barges in and the situation somehow turns into a confectionery cooking competition!


Q: Mitsuishi-san, you've appeared in the Pocket Monsters TV show several times before, including as Domino in the TV special "Mewtwo! I Am Here". Please tell us how you felt when you got picked to play Kaede.
Mitsuishi: I've been offered roles in previous Pokémon series several times, and I'm happy the timing finally worked out and I was able to say yes to such a request.

Q: Do you have any memories or personal stories related to Pokémon, not including the anime, that you would like to share?
Mitsuishi: One of my hobbies is playing video games, and that includes Pokémon. The first video game I played was Pocket Monsters Red/Green, where I picked Fushigidane as my partner. My "oshi Pokémon" is Metamon, but I also think Kaede's Himeguma Kuma-san is really cute. I'm also currently playing Pokémon Sleep.


Q: Kaede makes her first appearance in episode 47. How did you go about making the role your own?
Mitsuishi: Kaede stretches the last vowel sound of her words a lot, like when she goes "Domoooo, Kaede deeeesu" or "Ara araaaa". Since I didn't want people that had played the games to think the Kaede in the show felt too off in the way she talked and acted, I initially just tried performing her lines in an easy-going and relaxed manner like the script had them. However, since animation requires you to "act" a role, I made adjustments to how I played it as I discussed the role with the sound director.

Q: Exactly what kind of adjustments were these?
Mitsuishi: I started particularly emphasizing the "sentiments" she has towards others by virtue of her role as a Gym Leader. A Gym Leader's day-to-day work involves working directly with children and giving them supportive pushes and encouragement, you know. So instead of paying so much attention to the specific way Kaede talks and stretches her words, I instead focused on how she pushes Liko-chan to grow and mature and brings out the best in her.


Q: In other words, you focus more on what the character is like rather than the exact words in the script?
Mitsuishi: Yes. This means I occasionally deviate from what's actually in the script or in the video game dialogue, but that's just what you have to do sometimes if you want to sell the idea that these characters and Pokémon are real beings that actually exist in the world we're portraying. This is something I think adults need to put serious effort into doing in order to prevent the end result from being superficial and lazy, especially when producing something that's watched by so many children. Thankfully the staff that produces Pokémon feels just as strongly about this, so it's a very enjoyable show to work on.

Q: Finally, can you tell us the highlights and the things we should look out for in episode 47, the episode where Kaede appears?
Mitsuishi: In this episode Kaede will be battling Liko-chan, a character whose distress I think a lot of people will empathize with, and I hope you'll see just how much energy Kaede invests into her. The episode also has a scene where Kaede gets into a spat with Sandwich-chan, played by Ikue Ohtani-san, and I think that scene gets across just how much fun I had while playing it (laughs). I believe you'll enjoy both the "sweet" Kaede and the "bitter" Kaede you'll get to see in this episode, so please look forward to it!


三石琴乃の『ポケモン』生活 推しはメタモン!カエデのヒメグマにも興味 アニメ19日放送回に登場人気アニメ『ポケットモンスター』（テレビ東京系 毎週金曜 後6：55～　※放送日時・内容は地域によって異なる）の第47話（19日放送）より、新キャラクターのカエデが登場する。これを記念して、カエデ役の三石琴乃にインタビューを実施し、ポケモンの思い出などを聞いてみた。

【写真】その他の写真を見る
第47話は、リコのテラスタル研修・基礎テストのため、リコ、ロイ、ドットの3人はセルクルタウンのジムリーダー・カエデの元へ向かう。しかし、エクスプローラーズのサンゴも乱入してきて、なぜかスイーツ作り対決に！　リコとニャローテのテラスタル研修の行方が描かれる。

――三石さんはテレビアニメ特別編『ミュウツー！我ハココニ在リ』ドミノ役など、テレビアニメ『ポケットモンスター』には何度か出演しています。今回、カエデ役として出演が決まった時のご感想を教えてください。
【三石】　これまでのシリーズで何度かオファーをいただいていたのですが、今回ようやくタイミングが合ってお受けすることができたのでうれしいです。

――三石さんご自身はアニメのほかに、『ポケモン』との思い出やエピソードはありますか？
【三石】　ゲームは仕事ではなく趣味のひとつとして楽しんでいるので、『ポケモン』も遊んでいます。一番初めにプレイしたゲームは『ポケットモンスター 赤・緑』で、フシギダネをパートナーにしていました。「推しポケモン」といわれるとメタモンなのですが、カエデのヒメグマ「クマちゃん」も可愛くて好きです。今は「ポケモンスリープ」で遊んでいます。

――第47話で初登場となるカエデですが、カエデの役柄をどのように作っていきましたか？
【三石】　「どうも～カエデで～す」「あらあら～」など、カエデは語尾に「～」が付いた喋り方をしますよね。ゲームを遊んだ方々が目にするカエデのセリフや印象に違和感をあまり持たせたくなかったので、最初は台本のとおり、のんびりフワっとした喋り方でテストに臨みました。ただ、アニメーションの現場は“お芝居”を成立させなくてはならないので、音響監督ともディスカッションをしながら調整をしていきました。

――お芝居を成立させるために、具体的にはどのように調整していったのでしょうか？
【三石】　カエデのジムリーダーとしての“気持ち”を主軸に考えていきました。ジムリーダーたちは日々子どもたちを相手にしていて、バトルを通して背中を押してあげていますよね。なので、語尾を意識するのではなく、今回でいうとリコちゃんの良いところを引き出して「立派に育ってね」と背中を押してあげるというスタンスで演じました。

――台本にある言葉ではなく、キャラクターの気持ちに重きを置いて演じているんですね。
【三石】　先行して出ているゲームや台本の活字の印象とズレてしまうこともあるのですが、本当にそのキャラクターやポケモンたちがこの世界に存在している思ってもらえるように作っていかないといけない。たくさんのこどもたちが観ている番組こそ、上っ面の作品にならないよう、大人がちゃんと考えて本気で作らないといけないと思うんです。「ポケモン」は、そうした強い想いを持ったスタッフさんがいらっしゃるので、とても気持ちの良い現場だと感じます。

――改めて、カエデが登場する第47話の見どころや注目ポイントを教えてください。
【三石】　第47話ではリコちゃんとバトルをすることになりますが、彼女の苦悩に共感する子も多いのではないでしょうか。そんなリコちゃんに対して、カエデがどれだけエネルギーを注ぎ込めたのかを見てもらえたらと思います。そして、大谷育江さん演じるサンドウィッチちゃんと絡むシーンもあるので、役者としても楽しかったという気持ちが出ていると思います（笑）「あま～い」カエデと「ビター」なカエデの両方をお楽しみいただけると思いますので、是非放送を楽しみにしてください。

The official Japanese AniPoke Twitter account posted facial expression illustrations of Kaede on April 18th, 2024.

Pokémon Anime Spotlight:
We present facial expression illustrations of Kaede, the Gym Leader of Cerlce Town. Kaede is not only a Gym Leader who commands Bug types, but also a patissier, and her skills at both battling and making confectioneries are top notch. By the way, it appears a certain person got a part-time job at the shop she's the manager of...!

Kaede (voiced by Kotono Mitsuishi): Both the Gym Leader of Cercle Town and the manager of popular western confectionery "Patisserie Mukuroji". Uses Bug type Pokémon.

アニポケ ピックアップ
セルクルタウンのジムリーダー・カエデの表情イラストをご紹介
むしタイプを扱うジムリーダーであり、パティシエでもあるカエデは、バトルもお菓子作りも一流の腕前！
ちなみに、カエデが店長を務めるお店では、とある人がアルバイト中のようです…！

The official Japanese AniPoke Twitter account posted pictures and a brief summary of this episode on April 17th, 2024.

AniPoke Next Episode Featured Points
Liko, Roy and Dot make it to Gym Leader Kaede's shop "Patisserie Mukuroji", where they take a quick break to enjoy some of the patisserie's specialty, "Tamantu la Torte"... or at least they meant to, but then the limited-edition-treat-obsessed Sango from the Explorers barges in?!

アニポケ 次回注目ポイント
ジムリーダー・カエデのいる「パティスリー ムクロジ」にたどり着いたリコ、ロイ、ドット
まずは、名物「タマンチュ・ラ・トルテ」を食べて、ほっと一息！
…と思いきや、限定スイーツには目がない
エクスプローラーズのサンゴが乱入してきて!?

On April 19th, 2024, the official Japanese AniPoke Twitter account reminded that this episode was available to watch on the official Japanese YouTube channel. The video was region locked to Japan only. It was available from April 19th, 2024 to May 3rd, 2024. This episode was specifically labeled as a missed-program webcast (見逃し配信).

The episode was also available on the TV Tokyo YouTube channel and the Official Corocoro Channel and were labeled as limited-time delivery (期間限定配信). The TV Tokyo version included the series trailer at the end of the episode where as the Corocoro version had beginning and ending bumpers promoting Corocoro.

AniPoke Episode 47 Liko and Nyarote, Put All Your Heart Into It
What did you think?
Liko and Nyarote made this cake in a confectionery cooking competition.
It looked delicious!
Meanwhile, Sango and Onigirl's works are......
You can watch it on the missed stream!
The next broadcast will be on 5/3 (Fri)
The missed stream will be available for 2 week from today!

アニポケ 第47話「リコとニャローテ、心をこめて」
いかがでしたか？
リコと ニャローテ がスイーツ作り対決で作ったケーキ
おいしそうでしたね！
一方でサンゴとオニゴーリ の作品は………
見逃し配信で！
次回の放送は5/3(金)
見逃し配信期間は本日より2週間です

CoroCoro Comic's Official website posted an article about this episode just before the original airing on April 19th, 2024.


Anipoke is just around the corner! Training begins in Cercle Town! Liko's, first time Terastallizing!


Broadcasting every week from 6:55 pm! The anime "Pocket Monsters" will start airing soon! In this article, we'll introduce you to the Pokémon and characters that will appear in today's episode, as well as comments from the voice actors and director, and other information you won't find anywhere else!

Liko, Roy, and Dot attend the Orange Academy to learn about Terastallizing while the Brave Asagi is under repair. Today is the start of the Terastal training course that will take them around the Paldea region! At the beginning of the training, Liko heads to Cercle Town with Roy and Dot to take a basic test!


▲ The Gym Leaders in the Paldea region will be waiting for them to do the basic Terastal training test! They're excited to see what kind of training awaits them!!


▲ Liko seems a little unsure of herself as she has never performed a Terastallization before.


▲ Rumour has it that Kaede, the Gym Leader that Liko will take the basic test from, is a pastry chef...!?

When the three of them arrived in Cercle Town, they were lured by a delicious smell and ended up at the Patisserie Mukuroji! This is the store that Gym Leader and pastry chef Kaede runs! They thought they were going to start their training right away, but then Sango from the Explorers showed up, and things took an unexpected turn!


▲ Sango calls herself "Sandwich" and is also doing the training at the Orange Academy. Is she monitoring Liko and the others......!?


▲ What Kaede proposes to Liko and Sango is not a Pokémon battle, but a “sweets making showdown”!!? ......but there's a disturbing atmosphere?


▲ Practice is also important in Terastal training!? Liko is going to battle against Kaede......!?


▲ And finally...... Liko and Nyarote make their Terastal debut!!?

The continuation of this interesting battle will be on AniPoke at 6:55 today!

【アニポケまであとちょっと！】セルクルタウンで研修開始!! リコ、はじめてのテラスタル!!?
セルクルタウンで研修開始!!リコ、はじめてのテラスタル!!?
毎週金曜よる6時55分から放送中！
アニメ「ポケットモンスター」まもなく放送開始!!
この記事はアニメ放送前に、今日の放送回に登場するポケモンやキャラクターの紹介、声優さんや監督からのコメントなどなど、ほかでは聞けないアニポケ情報をお届けするコーナーだ!!
ブレイブアサギ号のメンテナンスのあいだ、テラスタルについて学ぶためにオレンジアカデミーに通うことになったリコ、ロイ、ドットの3人。今日からいよいよパルデア地方をめぐるテラスタル研修が始まるぞ！　研修のはじめに、リコは基礎テストを受けるためにロイ、ドットとセルクルタウンへと向かう!!
▲テラスタル研修の基礎テストで待ち受けるのは、パルデア地方のジムリーダーたち！　どんな研修が待っているのかドキドキ!!
▲まだ一度もテラスタルをしたことがないリコは少し自信がない様子。
▲リコが基礎テストを受けるジムリーダーのカエデは噂によるとパティシエだというが……!?
セルクルタウンについた3人が、いいにおいに誘われて着いたのはパティスリー
ムクロジ！　何を隠そうここが、セルクルタウンのジムリーダー兼パティシエ、カエデのお店!!　さっそく研修開始かと思いきや、エクスプローラーズのサンゴが現れ、まさかの展開に!!?
▲自らを「サンドウィッチ」と名乗り、同じくオレンジアカデミーで研修を受けているサンゴ。リコたちを監視しているのか……!?
▲一触即発のリコとサンゴにカエデが提案したのはポケモンバトルではなく「スイーツ作り対決」!!?　……のはずが何やら不穏な雰囲気？
▲テラスタル研修では実践も大事!?　リコがカエデとバトルすることに……!?
▲そしてついに……リコとニャローテがテラスタルデビュー!!?
気になるバトルの続きは今日よる6時55分からのアニポケで！

This episode was reposted to watch on the official Japanese YouTube channel on April 19th, 2024. The video was region locked to Japan only. It was available from April 19th, 2024 to June 28th, 2024. This episode was specifically labeled as a Limited Time all-at-once Stream (期間限定一挙配信).

All episodes of the current arc of the Pocket Monsters anime are being distributed for a limited time until around noon on Friday, June 28th, 2024!
アニメ「ポケットモンスター」のエピソードを6月28日（金）正午ごろまで、期間限定で一挙配信中！

The official Pokémon X account announced a watch party on April 10th, 2025 for Pokémon Horizons: Season 2 - The Search for Laqua episode 1 Welcome to Naranja Academy! and episode 2 Put Your Heart into It!. They were broadcast on April 11th, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. PST.

Join us tomorrow at 3pm PT for a watch party on our official YouTube channel and catch the first two episodes from Pokémon Horizons: Season 2—The Search for Laqua. We can’t wait to see you there, Trainers!

The official Japanese Anime PR Twitter account posted a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this Anipoke episode with a production artwork piece on April 18th, 2024. The picture featured Kaede.

An original drawing of Kaede from episode 47.
She has a gentle smile, but apparently she's not all sweet while battling.

第47話より、カエデの原画をご紹介
にっこり優しい笑顔
でも、バトルは甘いだけじゃないようです