When did we learn that leaves burn if you set them on fire?
The first time I saw the world of Pokémon was on the Cycling Road.
Not in the starting town, nor when receiving a starter from Professor Oak. It was the path between the second and third gym badges.
I must have been about six years old when I borrowed my father's DS. Inside was a cartridge for Pokémon Diamond. Since my father had already progressed partway through, my adventure started in the middle of the story.
From there, I got hooked on Pokémon. Eventually, I started over from the beginning and chose my first partner.
I still remember that Cycling Road clearly. Strangely enough, the scenery I encountered in the game remains more vivid in my memory than what I was studying at the time.
When children are playing games, adults often feel compelled to say, "Stop playing games." I grew up hearing that too.
But looking back now, I realize it wasn't just the scenery that stayed with me.
Reflecting on it today, that game taught me three things.
① Pokémon Taught Me Natural Laws
Leaves burn when exposed to fire. Fire is extinguished by water. Electricity flows into the ground.
As a child, I knew these things instinctively. When I look back at where I learned them, one source is undoubtedly Pokémon.
Grass types are weak to Fire. Fire types are weak to Water. Electric types don't affect Ground types. Anyone who grew up with Pokémon knows this well.
Of course, type matchups are game rules, not real science. In reality, there is a mechanism called "grounding," which reduces the risk of electric shock by directing leaked electricity into the earth. But that doesn't mean electricity becomes ineffective on the ground. You cannot use game logic as a direct explanation for reality.
Still, for the child I was, it was an entry point.
Fire and water are related. Strength depends on the opponent. No matter how strong something seems, it has weaknesses.
I wasn't thinking anything profound like, "Is this true in reality too?" But somewhere in my head, the fact that leaves burn and the compatibility within the screen were faintly connected.
② I Wanted to Win. That Alone Drove My Trial and Error
Losing a battle was frustrating. So, I tried again.
There were days I cried while looking at my partner Typhlosion after being beaten badly by classmates.
I changed which Pokémon I sent out. I changed moves. I changed healing timing. If I still couldn't win, I made them stronger.
Since doing the same thing wouldn't lead to victory, I tried changing my approach on my own. That was how I played obsessively.
I had zero awareness of forming hypotheses or verifying them. I just wanted to win.
But looking back at what didn't work, changing methods, and trying again—that was the earliest trial and error I remember.
③ I Read Text Because I Wanted to Progress
"Surf," "Rock Smash."
I learned the words for waterfall and smash on the screen. I didn't memorize them as isolated text; I learned them alongside what happened right before my eyes.
Pokémon is surprisingly text-heavy. Move descriptions. Item effects. Conversations with townspeople. To know what to do next, you need to follow the text.
I wanted to know more. I wanted to move forward. That’s why I read.
In the process, I learned about professors, detectives, and that "fire" means flame and "thunder" means lightning.
I never once thought about studying. I was just chasing what I liked, and my knowledge grew.
From the outside, I was just a kid playing games. Deep down, I was picking up science, ways of thinking, and language.
Memories of Discovery Last Longer Than Memories of Being Taught
Educational psychology has a concept called intrinsic motivation.
Based on the theory by researchers Deci and Ryan, people continue to learn without external pressure when they feel autonomy (doing it by choice), competence (getting better), and relatedness (connection with others).
You do it because it's interesting. You research because you want to know. Interest in the activity itself becomes the reason to engage.
That’s probably why I was reading text for the sake of Pokémon back then.
"Super Effective" Depends on the Opponent
On the day I borrowed my father's DS, I wasn't given teaching materials. I was just lent a game.
Yet, within it were laws, trial and error, and knowledge.
Now, I work in education. As an "online tutor who doesn't teach studying," I spend my days engaging with children's interests, nurturing their curiosity and critical thinking.
Working with kids, I frequently see moments where knowledge expands from what they love.
For example, once I looked at Van Gogh's Starry Night with a child who loved drawing. The child said:
"Looking at this painting makes me feel anxious."
This isn't the standard answer from an art class. But when we researched it together, we found out it was painted during his stay at a sanatorium. We also learned that Van Gogh was a painter who poured his mental state into his work.
Starting from the feeling of anxiety, we ended up exploring the artist's life.
With another child, we talked about Precure All Stars F. Enemy characters included names like Agasene and Goemon.
While chatting about how weird those names were, we realized Agasene might be Arsène Lupin, and Goemon might be Ishikawa Goemon. It seemed they were puns on famous thieves and rebels. This led us to ask: Who is Lupin? What did Goemon do?
With a child who loved Pokémon cards, we counted on our fingers to calculate attack power based on card effects. Attack power increases if conditions are met. How many points added equals what total? For that child, it wasn't a math drill; it was a necessary task to win.
Whether it's art, names, or numbers, the entry point doesn't matter. If you follow what the child finds interesting, new worlds open up.
Just as "super effective" changes depending on the opponent, the interest that sparks learning differs for every child.
Expand Learning From "What the Child Is Talking About"
None of what I've written requires special preparation.
What does your child most want to talk about right now? Games, anime, insects, trains—anything is fine. They will probably start talking about it without you even asking.
- Don't deny it; enjoy it with them.
- Look up any words or questions that come up together.
- Share your feelings with each other.
After watching a Chiikawa movie, simply ask, "What would you do?" That is enough. Learning starts naturally.
Of course, I don't want to turn all play into assignments. Growth isn't the purpose of play. The moment an adult says, "This is educational," the fun likely disappears.
Realistically, there are exams. There is the competition to reach fixed correct answers faster than anyone else, and the practice of posing questions in places with no correct answers. Children are required to balance these two opposites simultaneously. I don't have the answer to how to reconcile them yet.
Still, learning lies scattered everywhere. Even if adults haven't prepared materials, and even if the child doesn't think they are studying, they are absorbing everything around them.
I was proof of that myself.
So, before deciding what to teach, I want to know what the child finds interesting. If we can find the learning within that together, that would be wonderful.
If they like Pokémon, start with Pokémon.
My entry point was also that Cycling Road displayed on my father's DS.
That day, I thought I was just starting to play. But I was actually learning a lot.
What have you learned from so far?
Thumbnail image source: Official Pokémon website
(https://www.pokemon.co.jp/30th/
I operate 'Scholar Jump', an online tutoring service that doesn't teach traditional studying.
Sengoku period, space, sharks, insects. Your child explores their 'likes' one-on-one with university student tutors, nurturing intellectual curiosity and self-esteem. ▼ Free consultation & service details here
Founded the company while in college, having tutored over 800 children cumulatively.
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