On June 3rd, 2022, Shogakukan released a press release summarising the upcoming episodes and also posting comments from voice actors. The official Anipoke Twitter account also posted the voice actors comments.

Satoshi's former rival Shinji, who traveled in the Sinnoh region, reappears for the first time in about 12 years in the TV anime Pocket Monsters, which airs every Friday at 6:55 p.m. on the TV Tokyo network!

In addition, Hop, the younger brother of the formidable champion Dande, makes his first appearance in the Anipoke! The featured voice actor is Takuto Yoshinaga!

June 10th, 2022 - Fire Training Battle! Satoshi VS Shinji!!
Satoshi and Go are training for the Masters Tournament when Professor Okido calls them to come to the Okido Laboratories. Satoshi receives enthusiastic encouragement from his Pokémon at the lab, and he is suddenly fired up. To his surprise, he is reunited with Shinji, Satoshi's rival from back when he was traveling through the Sinnoh Region! Shinji and Satoshi decide to battle three-on-three with no substitutions!

June 17th, 2022 - The Curtain Rises! The Masters Tournament!!
The Masters Tournament, the greast Pokémon battle tournament in history, has begun, and Satoshi and Go arrive at Shoot Stadium in the Galar region, the site of the decisive battles. There, Satoshi meets Dande's younger brother, Hop, and suddenly a battle begins! Go and the others then decide to watch the matches with Hop.

Comments from Kiyotaka Furushima, who plays Shinji, and Takuto Yoshinaga, who plays Hop!

Comments from Kiyotaka Furushima, who voices Shinji
I played Shinji for about four years in the Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl TV anime series, and I am very happy to reprise the role 12 years later. He had a lot of depth to him, and he is one of the few characters that I felt I had a solid "understanding of". He is a very pragmatic guy, who doesn't back down, and many of the things Shinji's said were "so like" him. I hope that viewers will pay attention to Shinji's first words when he meets Satoshi again, as well as his feelings behind his actions!

Comments from Takuto Yoshinaga, who voices Hop
When I was cast in the role of Hop, I was nervous, but excited like a little boy! This time, Hop is watching the battles in the audience at the Masters Tournament, similar to all the viewers. I was so excited to see the super strong trainers from all over the world battling it out! I'm really looking forward to it myself, and I hope to experience the thrill and excitement of the tournament through Hop! Hop wants his brother to win, so he will be more enthusiastic in cheering for Dande. I hope everyone can look forward to seeing Dande's cool battles, which make you want to say along with him, "Way to go, bro!"

This time, even though he's on the cheering side, I'll do my best to make you think that Hop's presence makes you feel like it has a purpose, and that you like him!

【シンジ役・古島清孝さんコメント】
シンジはテレビアニメ「ポケットモンスターダイヤモンド・パール」で約４年演じさせていただきましたが、12年経って再登場というのがとても嬉しいですね。彼には掘り下げるだけの深みがありましたし、自分の中でしっかり「人物像が出来た」と思えた数少ないキャラクターです。一本筋が通った人間で、根底にある芯を曲げないところがあり、再登場したシンジの言葉からも「らしいな」と感じる部分が多かったです。視聴者の皆さんには、サトシと再会した時の第一声、そして、行動の裏に隠れたシンジの気持ちにも注目して観て頂けたらと思います！

ホップ役で出演が決まった時は、緊張しましたが少年みたいにわくわくしました！　今回ホップは、マスターズトーナメントという豪華な大会の観客席でバトルを見ていて、視聴者の皆さんと近い立ち位置にいます。各地方から集まった超強いトレーナーたちのバトルが見られるなんて！と、僕自身もとても楽しみですし、ホップと一緒にトーナメントのハラハラドキドキ感を味わいたいなと思います！　ホップ的にはやっぱりお兄ちゃんに勝って欲しいという気持ちなので、ダンデの応援にはより熱が入ってしまうのですが、皆さんが「さすがアニキ！」と言いたくなるカッコいいダンデのバトルを、ぜひ楽しみにしてもらえたらと思います。 そして、今回は応援する側だけど、ホップがいるだけでほっこりするな、好きだな、と思ってもらえるように頑張ります！

On May 30th, 2022, the official spoon.2Di magazine Twitter account reminded viewers that spoon.2Di issue 86 featured interviews with the Masters Eight, Project Mew and Shinji who appeared in episode 114. The issue went on sale on May 31st, 2022 for 1,227 yen.

The special feature is the opening of the Masters Tournament in the TV anime Pocket Monsters which is starting soon.

Series construction: Shōji Yonemura
Screenplay: Atsuhiro Tomioka

Interviews with the Masters Eight, Project Mew, and Shinji who appears in episode 114.

TVアニメ「ポケットモンスター」の特集は
まもなく開幕のマスターズトーナメントに向け
シリーズコンストラクション：米村正二さん
脚本：冨岡淳広さん
のインタビューをお届けマスターズエイトはもちろん『プロジェクト・ミュウ』や114話に登場のシンジのお話も

On June 10th, 2022, the official Japanese Twitter account reminded people 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 June 10th, 2022 to June 17th, 2022. This episode was specifically labeled as a limited time broadcast (期間限定配信).

Anipoke Highlights
Reuniting with fellow Pokémon in a long time and having a training battle with Shinji,
Watch out for a new battle strategy that Satoshi devised on the spur of the moment with Kairyu!
Check out the video link below!
Anipoke Episode 114 will be available for a week from today!
Please check it out!

アニポケ ハイライト
仲間のポケモンたちと久々に再会し、シンジと特訓バトル
バトルではサトシがとっさに編み出したカイリュー の新戦法に要注目
見逃し配信でチェックしてね
アニポケ 第114話の公開期間は本日より1週間!!
ご覧ください

CoroCoro Comic's Official website posted an article about this episode just before the original airing on June 10th, 2022. They also tweeted about the page on the official CoroCoro Comic Twitter account to promote it.

Anipoke is just around the corner! Just before the start of the Masters Tournament! A fiery reunion with rival Shinji!


The anime "Pocket Monsters" will start airing soon! It airs every Friday at 6:55 p.m. and it is very popular! 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 Anipoke information you won't find anywhere else! Satoshi's rival makes his first appearance in Anipoke in quite a while!!


After achieving his long-sought "Masters Eight" title, Satoshi continued to train for the tournament where the best Pokémon Trainers of all time are waiting for him. He received a call from Professor Okido, who says: "Why don't you come and see your Pokémon once in a while?", and he decided to go to the Okido Laboratory to get fired up before the important matches!


▲ Anyhow, he's going to get fired up! Satoshi is enthusiastic as usual, but he seems to have no plan.

Satoshi and his Pokémon are fired up after being cheered on by the Pokémon from Satoshi's former travels that are staying at the Okido Laboratory. Training together, are they ready for the fierce competition of the tournament!!?


▲ Satoshi's Pokémon also seem to have achieved something from the special training!?

At the laboratory, Satoshi encoutered his old rival Shinji, with whom he had battled many times against when he was traveling in the Sinnoh region! Satoshi was surprised at the sudden reunion, but Shinji's appearance in front of Satoshi was not a coincidence......!?


▲ Shinji says he happened to be visiting Professor Okido, but......?


▲ He is quite competent as a Trainer, but he does not like to enter competitions because he dislikes the festivities surrounding them.

When it comes to reuniting with rivals...... it's not about getting reaquainted with each other. Above of all, it's about battling! It's been a while since we've seen Shinji's Elekible and Dorapion, which once tormented Satoshi during battle! Shinji's Pokémon are Gyarados, Gablias, and Metagross! Hmm? These Pokémon are somehow familiar...!?


▲ Gyarados is one of the Pokémon that the Masters Eight Kanto-Johto Champion has...


▲ Gablias is the partner Pokémon of the Champion of the Sinnoh region.


▲ And the Pokémon used by the Houen Champion is, a different colored Metagross......!

Is this really a coincidence or......? What is on Shinji's mind as his rival Satoshi is about to challenge the strongest Trainers? Check out this passionate reunion on today's broadcast!

【アニポケまであとちょっと！】マスターズトーナメント開幕直前！ ライバル・シンジとの熱き再会!!
マスターズトーナメント開幕直前！ ライバル・シンジとの熱き再会!!
毎週金曜よる6時55分から大好評放送中！
アニメ「ポケットモンスター」まもなく放送スタート！
この記事はアニメ放送直前に、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！　あのサトシの宿敵が久々のアニポケ登場!!
念願の「マスターズエイト」の座を勝ち取ったサトシは、歴戦の猛者たちが待つトーナメントに向けて特訓を続けていた。そこへオーキド博士から「たまにはポケモンたちに会いに来ないか？」という連絡を受け、大事な一戦を前に自分にとって最も気合の入る場所であるオーキド研究所へと向かうことに!!
▲とにかく気合を入れまくるぞ！　と意気込むが、いつも通りノープランの様子のサトシ。
オーキド研究所にいるかつてサトシが旅していた時のポケモンたちにエールをもらい、気合の入るサトシたち。共に特訓し、トーナメントの激戦に向けて準備はバッチリ!!?
▲サトシのポケモンたちも特訓で何かをつかんだ様子!?
そして研究所には、なんとサトシがシンオウ地方を旅していたころ何度もバトルした宿敵「シンジ」の姿が!!　突然の再会に驚くサトシだったが、シンジがサトシの前に姿を現したのは偶然ではなくある思惑が……!?
▲たまたまオーキドの元を訪れたと語るシンジだが……？
▲トレーナーとして実力はかなりのものだが、お祭り騒ぎが嫌いな性格から大会にはエントリーしてないようだ。
ライバルとの再会……とくれば、やることは語り合うことじゃない。まずはやっぱりバトルだぜ！　かつてサトシを苦しめたシンジのエレキブルやドラピオンのバトルが久々に見られる!?　……と思いきや、シンジの手持ちポケモンはギャラドス、ガブリアス、そしてメタグロス!!　ん？　このポケモンたちどこかで…!?
▲ギャラドスといえばマスターズエイトの1人、あのカントー・ジョウトチャンピオンのポケモン……。
▲ガブリアスはシンオウ地方のあのチャンピオンのパートナーポケモンだ。
▲そしてホウエンチャンピオンの使うポケモンは、たしか色違いのメタグロス……！
果たしてこれは偶然なのか……!?　ライバルであるサトシが最強のトレーナーたちに挑もうとしている、そのシンジの胸中とは一体!?　この熱すぎる再会は今日の放送で、その目でチェックしてくれ!!

The official Japanese Anime PR Twitter account posted an After Story comic on June 12th, 2022 by #もじゃクッキー @mojacookie.

Anipoke Episode 114 After Story
Shinji's reason for coming to the Okido Laboratory was to learn more about Pokémon.
Even after Satoshi and his friends left, he seemed eager to listen to Professor Okido's knowledge of Pokémon.
I wonder if Elekible is also interested...?

アニポケ 第114話アフターストーリー
オーキド研究所へシンジがやってきた理由は、ポケモンを深く知るため
サトシたちが帰った後もオーキド博士からポケモンの知識を熱心に聞いているようです
エレキブル も興味があるのかな…?

On June 29th, 2022, the official spoon.2Di magazine Twitter account reminded viewers that spoon.2Di issue 87 featured Shinji who appeared in episode 114. The issue went on sale on June 30th, 2022 for 1,227 yen.

The TV anime Pocket Monsters featured a Satoshi VS Shinji battle in episode 114: "Fire Training Battle! Satoshi VS Shinji!!"
What did Satoshi gain from his reunion with Shinji and the battle?
Battle standby!

TVアニメ「ポケットモンスター」の特集はサトシVSシンジのバトルが描かれた第114話「炎の特訓バトル！ サトシ対シンジ！！」を振り返ってお届けしますシンジとの再会、そしてバトルでサトシが得たものとは？ バトルスタンバイ！

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 June 9th, 2022. The picture featured Pikachu and Lizardon.

A glimpse behind the scenes of the Anipoke production
This time, it's an original drawing of Pikachu and Lizardon from episode 114.
Pikachu and Lizardon are smiling during their reuniting after a long time!

アニポケ制作の舞台裏をチラ見せ
今回は第114話の中からピカチュウとリザードン の原画をご紹介
久しぶりの再会に、ピカチュウとリザードンもニコニコ

The flashback scene features Ash's Aipom and Paul's Chimchar from their battle in DP3.

The flashback scene features Paul's Chimchar being released and joining Ash from DP51.

The flashback scene features Paul's Chimchar crying after its battle with Piplup from DP53.

The flashback scene features Ash's Infernape and Paul's Electivire battle from DP188.

The flashback scene features Paul waving back to Ash after his defeat in DP188.

At the end of the original airing of this episode on TV Tokyo, To Be Continued was replaced with the text: After the commercials, the Masters Eight match-up cards will be announced! (CMの後はマスターズエイト対戦カード発表！). A preview of the Masters Eight Tournament revealing the first round match-ups was broadcast.