The President
| The President | |
|---|---|
| |
| Name | Chacho |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | Adulthood (over 50 years old[1]) |
| Eye color | Black |
| Hair color | Black |
| Home planet | Hocotate |
| Known related characters | Wife |
| Height | 1.9 cm (0.75 inches) |
| Voice actor | Kazumi Totaka (Pikmin 2[2], Pikmin 3 Deluxe[3]) |
| First game | Pikmin 2 |
| Latest game | Pikmin 4 (mentioned) |
The President (社長?) of Hocotate Freight is a playable character in Pikmin 2. He also plays a minor role in Pikmin 3 Deluxe during the Olimar's Comeback side stories. In Pikmin 4, he is depicted in both Olimar and Louie's logs. The only known family member is his wife, who occasionally sends mail to him.
During the events of Pikmin 2's story, it is revealed that the President is over 50 years old.[1] Assuming The President started working at the company at least after he was 10, he's probably over 60 years old. Additionally, Hey! Pikmin reveals that The President is older than Olimar, who is somewhere in his adulthood.[4]
Appearance and personality[edit]
Physically, the President has a single, curly black tuft of hair, a black suit, and a yellow backpack. Unlike Olimar, the President is larger and his nose is smaller. His spacesuit while on PNF-404 consists of the suit he wears while on Hocotate, a helmet with a blue light, and white gloves. Oddly, he has a yellow suit in the illustrations of the data files in Pikmin 3.
The President is known to be immensely greedy, wanting money more than anything else. He also is quite uncaring, as he immediately sends Olimar off to repay the debt in Pikmin 2, not even giving him a chance to see his family. He can also be selfish, giving the gold-plated Hocotate Ship a plush chair and TV for himself, while Olimar's seat remains unchanged.
Despite this, he immediately chooses to go to PNF-404 to save Louie, despite the immense danger, though the idea of finding more valuable treasure likely influenced his decision. In addition, he complements Olimar and Louie greatly in the Side Stories of Pikmin 3 Deluxe when they complete a mission, especially with a platinum medal. The President's most caring moment is shown in the Treasure Catalog notes on the Gigaton Bag, where Olimar says that one of his first missions was to deliver a satchel full of coins to his wife, which is why Olimar remains loyal to the President and thus Hocotate Freight despite everything.
Biography[edit]
Earlier life[edit]
When he was younger, the President used to live in a small shed.[5] He traveled throughout the universe when he was Louie's age.[6]
In Pikmin 2[edit]
He runs into financial trouble after Louie, a new employee, shipping a supply of the very valuable Golden Pikpik carrots, is reportedly attacked by a ravenous space bunny who is said to have devoured the entire cargo of carrots. The President takes out a large loan to reimburse the loss of the golden Pikpik carrots, as he has no way of repaying the enormous debt. He sells off the only company asset, Captain Olimar's ship, the S.S. Dolphin, in Olimar's absence. Selling it only makes a small dent in the enormous loan, as 
× 10,100 are still owed.
This, occurring after the events of Pikmin, surprises Captain Olimar who just returned to Hocotate. He is so surprised by the news, in fact, that he drops a souvenir he brought back from his adventure for his son. The souvenir, a bottle cap, is collected by the ship, which then evaluates the item as a treasure and worth × 100, reducing the debt to an even 10,000. The President then orders Olimar and Louie to recover more treasure so that the debt is repaid.
During their absence, the President sends periodic letters to the duo, being the main source of mail in before the debt is paid off. He eventually discovers that the loan came from the All-Devouring Black Hole Loan Sharks instead of Happy Hocotate Savings & Loan, and goes into hiding from the loan company's threats, temporarily living under a bridge[7][8], and eating grass[9] to survive. Eventually, he gets caught, and is threatened with death.[10]
After the debt is erased, Louie is left behind on the planet. The President goes to PNF-404 with along with Olimar to try and find Louie, while also collecting the planet's remaining treasures. He becomes a playable character from then on, and permanently takes Louie's place as a Pikmin leader. His whistle sounds more like a car horn than a regular whistle.
In Pikmin 3[edit]
At an unknown point after the events of Pikmin 2, the President squandered his newfound fortune on a failed business venture, consequently ordering Olimar and Louie to collect more treasure from PNF-404 to pay off Hocotate Freight's debts once again. He does not appear in person, having supposedly gone on vacation.
In Pikmin 3, he is seen in various different data files that explain controls and other mechanics. He is also referenced in some of Olimar's logs, such as comparing a similar looking snowman in the Distant Tundra, in which the nose is an iron ball that can be pushed out of place. He cameos in Bingo Battle as the Lucky Marble.
In Pikmin 3 Deluxe[edit]
In Pikmin 3 Deluxe, the President plays a minor role in the Side Stories mode. In it, following Olimar's rescue from the Plasm Wraith, he and Louie inform the President that they abandoned the Hocotate ship. Furiously, the President demands that they go back to PNF-404 to retrieve it. While not appearing directly, his correspondence provides hints for the player in the day select and loading screens, and he will also comment on the player's final score at the end of each level. He is also referenced in Olimar's Log Vol. 2, with one actually being a message sent by him complaining about Olimar's lack of updates.
In Pikmin 4[edit]
In Pikmin 4, the President is mentioned a few times, and he is seen in Olimar's log "Bad Dreams" and Louie's log "Full Report." Interestingly, the latter features a blurred screenshot of Pikmin 2's intro featuring the President.
In Hey! Pikmin[edit]
In Hey! Pikmin, the President is only mentioned, specifically in the notes for the Grown-Up Dynamo and the Gigaton Bag.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
The President appears as a trophy and as a sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
|
Description:
“The president of Hocotate Freight. After venturing into space in his youth, he made a shipping company. When it almost collapses after Louie's incident, and Olimar comes back from the Pikmin planet, the president discovers the outstanding value of Olimar's souvenir. He then sends his employees back to collect valuable treasures. His treatment of employees is questionable.
| |
| How to obtain: Random appearance. | Type: Fighter Related | |
Profiles[edit]
e-card[edit]
- Text: “ホコタテ運送の社長。経営センスはゼロだが、社員のケツをたたく馬力は宇宙一。無駄で非効率な計画でも、はたらくのは社員だからへっちゃら。でもダメなヤツほどにくめない。きっと長生きするタイプ。”
- Translation: “The president of Hocotate Freight. He has zero management sense, but the most horsepower in the universe to encourage his employees to work hard. Although his plans are pointless and inefficient, he is not bothered because his employees are the ones who do the work. But as hopeless as he is, he is hard to dislike. He is the type that will probably live a long life.”
Pikmin personality test[edit]
Text
“あなたの性格は…
社長です。
自分の気持ちに素直なのがあなたの長所。他人をグイグイ引っ張っていくエネルギーは誰にも負けません。
でも、もう少しだけ、他人の気持ちを考えたほうがいいかも。”Translation
“Your personality is…
the president.
Your strength is that you are honest about your feelings. Your energy in leading others is second to none.
However, maybe you should think a little more about other people's feelings.”Nintendo Today! / Pikmin Garden Crew bio[edit]
English[edit]
“The president of Hocotate Freight
Chacho
Hails from: Planet Hocotate
The president of Hocotate Freight. Money lover. Somewhat hateful character. He has travelled all around space.
Relationships: Wife (The true president of Hocotate Freight)
Hobbies: Making money
Dream: Make Hocotate Freight the best company in all of space”Japanese[edit]
Text
“ホコタテ運送社長
ル・チャチョー
出身星 ホコタテ星
ホコタテ運送の社長。お金に目がなく人使いが荒いが、どことなく憎めない性格。若い頃は宇宙をまたにかける大冒険家だった。
関係者 妻（ホコタテ運送の大社長）
趣味 お金もうけ
夢 ホコタテ運送を宇宙一の会社にすること”Translation
“President of Hocotate Freight
Ru Chachō
Home planet: Hocotate
The president of Hocotate Freight. He loves money and works his employees hard, but he somehow has a hard to dislike personality. In his youth, he was a great adventurer who traveled throughout the universe.
Related persons: wife (grand president of Hocotate Freight)
Hobbies: making money
Dreams: making Hocotate Freight the greatest company in the universe”Naming[edit]
As the President is usually referred to by his title, he mostly goes unnamed in the games. However, according to his profile on the Nintendo Today! app, his real name is "Chacho", a play on the Japanese word for "company president". This name can be heard in Pikmin 2 when switching to him. He also signs his name as チャチョー? (Chachō) in the Japanese version of Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and Nintendo's official Japanese website reveals that his full name is ル・チャチョー? (Ru Chachō).[11][12]
Names in other languages[edit]
- The President
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese |
社長? Shachō |
President |
 French |
Le président | The president |
 German |
Präsident | President |
 Italian |
Il presidente | The president |
 Spanish |
El presidente | The president |
- Chacho
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese |
ル・チャチョー? Ru Chachō |
From 社長? (lit.: "president") | |
 Chinese(traditional) |
路‧查綽 Lù Cháchuò |
From Japanese name | Used in the Pikmin Garden website. |
| French (NoE) |
Chacho | - | |
| Italian |
Chacho | - | |
 Korean |
싸장님 (Pikmin 3 Deluxe) Ssajangnim 사사장 (Pikmin Garden) Sasajang |
Mr. Ssajang Sasajang |
From 사장 (president) |
 Portuguese (NoA) |
Chacho | - |
Gallery[edit]
Artwork of the President in his spacesuit.
Ditto, side view.
Ditto, diagonal view.
Render of the President in his spacesuit.
Artwork of the President.
Side artwork.
Artwork of the President squinting.
The President and Louie in the intro cutscene of Pikmin 2.
The President in the intro cutscene of Pikmin 2.
An upset president from the intro cutscene of Pikmin 2.
The President saying he will go with Olimar to find Louie.
The President in a cave.
The President's cameo on the Distant Tundra, from an early version of the game.
The President as seen on the Exploration Notes. Note that this is the only depiction of him where he is colored yellow.
The President as seen in the "Bad Dreams" comic.
Trivia[edit]
- The President is one of three leaders with facial hair, the others being Captain Charlie, and the rookie Rescue Officer (if the player chooses to give them a moustache).
- In Olimar's voyage log, he mentions his boss was in charge of the Pilot Union.[13] It is not known if he is referring to the President.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Jump up to: a b “You know, Olimar, I've been in this business for over 50 years, and I've never heard of space bunnies in that shipping lane. I have some doubts about Louie's accident...” – The President in a piece of mail
- ^ Development staff interview for Pikmin 2 on Wayback Machine
- ^ Credits sequence for Pikmin 3 Deluxe on Pikipedia
- ^ “I hope that when I'm our president's age, I'm not like him at all.” – Captain Olimar in his notes on the Grown-Up Dynamo
- ^ “Today, I tried building a small room at the top of a tree. It reminded me of my younger days, when I lived in a little shed. Those memories help make this bearable.” – The President in a letter
- ^ “Louie... When I was about your age, I made my name thunder through the universe as a great explorer. Model yourself after me, son, and you'll go places. Persevere!” – The President in a letter
- ^ “Hello... I am still on the lam from debt collectors. For the time being, I've decided to live under the bridge, but if they catch me, I don't know what they'll do to me...” – The President in a letter
- ^ “Today, a group from the government offices paid me a visit. They kicked me out from under the bridge as if I were trash. The animals left... I have nowhere left to turn...” – The President in a letter
- ^ “I found some tasty grass today. It was the first time in a while that I could eat until I was full. I've become one heck of a grass and root chef... Maybe I'll write a book.” – The President in a letter
- ^ “I have a regrettable message. I have been caught. If I don't pay off the company debt right away, I'm to be buried in Hocotate Swamp. It's bleak here... Hurry!” – The President in a letter
- ^ "New Play Control! Pikmin 2" hidden information on Nintendo, retrieved on October 8th, 2024
- ^ Japanese "Pikmin Garden" website crew member list on Nintendo, retrieved on June 22nd, 2023
- ^ “When I am surrounded by legions of Pikmin, I always picture the face of my boss, the head of Pilot Union. He was always so sharp-tongued with his orders, but I imagine he must have felt much the way that I do now. It's funny, how a change in perspective can bring with it a deeper understanding of others.” – Captain Olimar in his voyage log
| hideCharacters | |
|---|---|
| Leaders | Olimar • Louie • The President • Alph • Brittany • Charlie • Rookie Rescue Officer • Oatchi • Moss |
| Rescue Corps | Collin • Shepherd • Russ • Dingo • Yonny • Bernard |
| Ships | S.S. Dolphin • S.S. Dolphin II • Hocotate ship • S.S. Drake • SPERO • S.S. Beagle • S.S. Shepherd |
| Other | Castaway • Leafling • Minor characters • Pikmin |