Shoukichi

Shōkichi (正吉), also known as Shōkichi of the Shadow Forest (影森の正吉, Kagemori no Shōkichi), is one of the main protagonists in Pom Poko. He is voiced by Makoto Nonomura in Japanese and Jonathan Taylor Thomas in English. His older self, narrating the film, is voiced in Japanese by Kokontei Shinchou and in English by Maurice LaMarche.

In film
Shoukichi's father used to warn him about how "sick, cruel and heartless" humans are. By contrast, Shoukichi is curious about humans and wishes to understand them in order for him and the other tanukis to survive.

During Operation Spectre, he joins the parade disguised as the god Fukurokuju.

At the end of the film, the Narrator reveals himself to be an older Shoukichi, and that since going to live among the humans he has taken a desk job.

Appearance
Shoukichi is a small, brown-furred tanuki with dark fur covering almost all of his face. When he takes on a human form, he appears as a lean young man with the appearance of a teenager or young adult, with tufts of hair sticking out of the top of his head.

Okiyo
Shoukichi has a very healthy relationship with Okiyo. They get along very well, and work together to drive the humans from their land, most notably using their secret Operation Twin Star. They try to hold off from having cubs, but Okiyo finds she can't keep her hands off of him and Shoukichi becomes a father of four.

Gonta
Shoukichi is constantly at odds with Gonta, but is ready to help him out in almost any situation and often tries to understand his point of view. Neither tanuki has ideas that work, but both still insist the other is right. Their feud comes to a head after an all-night debate when, after Gonta decides to strike out on his own with his followers, Shoukichi dismisses the idea that anyone could listen to him, and they start to brawl. After this, Shoukichi tries to stop Gonta from going into battle with the police, and is in despair when he's too late to save him.

Ponkichi
Ponkichi is Shoukichi's childhood friend, and his closest. The two play and hang out together. The two have different lifestyle ideas, however. Shoukichi is fascinated by humans, wishes to study them as much as he can and is capable of transforming into one. Ponkichi cannot transform and, in hindsight, Shoukichi realizes that Ponkichi just wants to be a normal tanuki.

Name
Shoukichi means "Correct Fortune", and "Kagemori" means Shadow Woods.

Gallery
Shōkichi 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ