Simplify the following text for a Grade 14 native English-speaking person.
Original: Tajiri noted in an interview that between Japanese and American reactions to the series , Japanese consumers focused on the character Pikachu , while Americans purchased more items featuring Ash and Pikachu , his PokÃ mon , together .
Simplified: Tajiri noted in an interview that between Japanese and American reactions to the series , Japanese consumers focused on Pikachu , while Americans purchased more items featuring Ash and Pikachu together .