MISTAH MERRIKU — Nervous sweating man on a video call with an angry close-up of Junichi Masuda shown on a TV screen

MISTAH MERRIKU

2019copypastasemi-active

Published October 15, 2026

MISTAH MERRIKU / Bugs in Anusu / Masuda-posting began on 4chan's /vp/ board in July 2019 as Pokémon fans vented their fury at Sword and Shield's missing National Dex and reused animations. An anonymous poster drew Serebii founder Joe Merrick on a Skype call with a seething Junichi Masuda, mock-Asian accent and all, demanding he 'intensify your shilling.' By November 2019 the bit grew into fully voiced copypastas threatening to put 'BUGURU IN ANUSU.'

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Overview

Posts in the format imagine Masuda, long-time Pokémon director and producer, calling or kidnapping Joe Merrick to berate him for failing to shield Game Freak from criticism. Masuda's dialogue sticks to a cartoonish Japanese accent, using lines like 'why are they complaining?' and threatening physical harm if Merrick does not post more positive takes on Serebii1. Merrick's replies come nervous and apologetic in his own mock accent, with 'MISTAH MERRIKU' as the standard address5.

The 'bugs in anusu' threat became the signature escalation, with Masuda warning Merrick that failure will result in a bug being inserted somewhere unpleasant2. Longer variants from November 2019 added full dialogue scripts and voiced recordings, with the kidnapping premise lending the bit a horror-comedy edge3.

Origin & Background

Platform
4chan /vp/
Creator
Unknown
Date
2019

On July 29, 2019, during the backlash to Pokémon Sword and Shield's E3 reveal, an anonymous user on 4chan's /vp/ board posted the first image showing Joe Merrick on a Skype call with an angry Junichi Masuda. Masuda's dialogue, in a mock Japanese accent, asked 'why are they complaining? Intensify your shilling or there will be consequences'1. Fans were furious about the missing National Dex and reused animations, and Merrick's defenses of Game Freak online made him an obvious target5.

Game Freak and Nintendo developed Sword and Shield; the meme itself came from anonymous /vp/ posters who styled Masuda as a loan-shark boss figure barking orders at a defenseless superfan.

How It Spread

Within days, /vp/ users iterated on the format and added the 'buguru in anusu' threat, where Masuda warns Merrick that bugs will be inserted into his body if shilling does not intensify2. On November 16, 2019, an anonymous user posted a fully voiced copypasta describing Masuda kidnapping Merrick, carrying the same accents and dialogue beats3. A YouTube recording of that script circulated through later threads4.

Posters revisited the format during Pokémon Unite's reception and the February 2021 Pokémon Presents reveal of Legends: Arceus, with /vp/ reusing it whenever Merrick posted a defense of Game Freak5. Reach stayed concentrated on /vp/ and its archive mirrors rather than mainstream platforms.

Timeline

2019-06-11

Pokémon Sword and Shield is shown at E3, triggering backlash over the missing National Dex, animations, and textures.

2019-07-29

An anonymous /vp/ user posts the first MISTAH MERRIKU image, showing Joe Merrick on a Skype call with a furious Junichi Masuda.

2019-08

Follow-up /vp/ threads add the 'buguru in anusu' threat to the Masuda dialogue.

2019-11-16

An anonymous user posts a fully voiced copypasta of Masuda kidnapping Merrick, with mock accents for both.

2021-02-26

A Pokémon Presents reveals Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus, and /vp/ revives Masuda-posting.

How to Use This Meme

Write a short script or image macro where Masuda confronts Merrick about weak online defense of a new Pokémon game. Keep Masuda's lines in a cartoonish Japanese accent ('MISTAH MERRIKU'), include the 'buguru in anusu' threat as the stakes, and let Merrick stammer apologies2. Longer versions can turn into voiced copypastas with kidnapping or torture setups3.

Frequently Asked Questions