QotD: Why are there so few father figures in Pokemon?

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Welcome to the next Question of the Day!

The Question of the Day is a way to facilitate community discussion to help members ponder the unanswered questions of the world that are somehow relating to the hobby. Questionsj are many times open ended and up to interpretation. Feel free to post your thoughts in as much or as little detail as you’d like.

Helpful Considerations may or may not help some people focus their answer, these are blurred to not bother those who have their own ideas.

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Today’s Question:
QotD: Why are there so few father figures in Pokemon? (This was a suggested question)

Helpful Considerations: Is professor oak everyone’s dad? Are all the fathers off fighting a war? Did they all die?

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Maybe they are all chasing their dream to be pokemon masters! The sacrifices you make on the road to Viridian city. :melting_face:

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They are currently at Costco waiting for the next blooming waters restock, or they are at Home Depot

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It’s a common trope is Japanese media, especially anime. Dad is either away on work or gone altogether.

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Interestingly enough, the past three generations of the anime have showcased really strong paternal figures!

Sun / Moon had Professor Kukui
SW / SH had Leon
S / V had Professor Friede and Murdock

I do wonder if the general lack of father figures is related to the “salarymen” work culture in Japan, though.

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The game Earthbound/Mother 2 plays on this trope a lot in really clever and humorous way.

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I think so. When people miss the last train on a regular basis and have to use capsule hotels, many kids see their fathers very rarely.

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^ this

Work is often an escape from an unhappy marriage/cohabitation.

It was not unusual to see coworkers sleeping at their desk overnight or to meet couples that only spent time together on the weekend.

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