Junichi Masuda is born in Yokohama, Japan. His early life is characterized by a keen interest in music and technology, laying the foundation for his future career. He develops an appreciation for various musical genres, a trait that would later influence his compositional style for the Pokémon games.

Masuda joins Game Freak, a small independent game development studio. Initially, he works primarily as a programmer and composer. This early period allows him to hone his skills in game development and familiarize himself with the team that would later revolutionize the gaming landscape.