'Pokemon' creator Satoshi Tajiri has apparently turned the victim to one of the most shocking death hoaxes spun on the internet. While several rumored deaths have cropped up from time to time, increasingly in the recent past, including the most recent one of Charlie Sheen at the height of raging discussions over the scandalous 'Two and Half men' actor, the Tajiri hoax is quickly gaining momentum due to its association with the devastating Japan earthquake and tsunami.
The online rumors doing the rounds on social media platforms like networking site Facebook and microblogging site Twitter, besides forums like Yahoo Answers, suggest that the creator of a widely successful media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo was among the hundreds killed in the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that jolted Japan's Pacific Coast on Friday afternoon.
While there are no confirmed reports on Tajiri's death, the hearsay is quickly gaining strength on the world web web as it is attached to the most read and talked about news on the Japan quake. On Twitter, for instance, the rumor continues to explode as tweets on the 'Pokemon' creator are being tagged with trending hashtags such as #Japan and #tsunami.
The most retweeted post read: "The creator of Pokemon died today in the #tsunami, #Japan. RIP: Satoshi Tajiri. #prayforjapan."
Another variation of the tweet says: "I am extremely sad to hear that Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokemon, has passed away today in Japan. I have no words."
"The creator of 'Pokemon', Satoshi Tajiri who was 45 years old, died in Japan today. Thanks for my childhood, Satoshi," was also receiving a large number of retweets.
Meanwhile, as is the case with all hoaxes, there were forces in active efforts to nullify the rumors.
PokeFacts tweeted: "There's been some rumors going around that Satoshi Tajiri, creator of Pokemon, died in the Japan earthquakes. Nintendo confirmed that's fake."
User sundryandco, wrote: "Apparently the reports about Satoshi Tajiri, creator of Pokemon, are untrue? He is still alive!"
Urging a retweet, another message aiming to kill the death hoax said: "Japanese Tweets says #Pokemon creator Satoshi Tajiri is ALIVE. Please retweet."
Some users even reported that Nintendo has confirmed that the news of Tajiri's death is fake.
"There's been some rumors going around that Satoshi Tajiri,creator of Pokemon,died in the Japan earthquakes.Nintendo confirmed that's fake."
Subject: 'Pokemon' creator Satoshi Tajiri rumored to have died in Japan earthquake 
Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:39 pm