Profs and Comrades: Professor Kukui

The previous Pokémon Professor I discussed as part of my "four fours" posts this month admittedly carried the quality of being "understated", even compared to his predecessor, who instead carries a "quintessential" quality. This would also apply to some of his successors, though there are exceptions... the one about to be discussed being one of them. Professor Kukui (for which his name means "candlenut" in Hawaiian) is of course the one representing Alola, and he is by no means "understated"; in fact, there is particular emphasis on the "comrade" aspect, as something that I've carried throughout this month's discussions.

For those who played the seventh-generation games, they'll note how involved Kukui is (was) in the affairs of the region beyond the research aspect, though this last bit is still involved through the player Trainer in some ways just like in other regions. Going back to those affairs, the involvement is from the beginning - also like in other regions, with the selection of a "first partner - all the way to the end, not only setting up the pinnacle that is that "end" but also becoming a part of it, which somehow I consider to be still pertinent for others to discover by themselves. That's still plenty of involvement in the "professor" aspect.

And then, for those well-versed in the anime, they'll know how close Kukui is (was) to Ash during his time in the region. The involvement could be said to parallel that in the games as above, although in one important sense it is more personal and somewhat deeper, as Ash was literally living alongside him. In this sense, the "comrade" aspect is more emphasized, and this even includes a certain "personification" of Kukui himself, which is actually also indicated in the games. There is still a true "comrade" aspect involved here.

It seems the aspects of "professor" and "comrade" are very much evident for Professor Kukui, in a manner that seems unlike other Pokémon Professors, save from (and second to) the first and original one for whom the aspects are also evident in many ways. Emphasis ("emphatic") remains the best descriptor in many ways considering both aspects, and like the substance represented by his name when set alight, both aspects heat up and light up the soul of this rather emphasized Pokémon Professor in all his ways.

One year ago: My Personal PvP Preferences

Two years ago: Cosplay: ChibiCon 2022

Three years ago: Let's Talk About (Im)Perfect Timings

Four years ago: BEMANI-Pokémon Connections

Five years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 2

Six years ago: A Raid Group Gathering

Seven years ago: On Cosplay Props and Prop Makers