>>36640487Not only are Ash and Pikachu an iconic pair, Ash himself compared to the West is a beloved character in Japan because he embodies what GameFreak and TPC consider to be the "ideal Pokemon Trainer".
A hot-blooded youth with a straightforward universal goal (or, at least, it seems to be) who's determined to see it through that still has compassion and cares for his Pokemon to the best of his ability.
Compare that to most other trainers who are more lax and focused on singular hobbies or professions that, while they do hold a bond with their Pokemon, they haven't achieved a level like Ash's.
And most Champions are basically Ash if he were to ever hit a peak, which only further solidifies that he's on "the right path".
