Pokémon and Japanese Craft Traditions Unite in a Fantastic Exhibition of 70+ Works

Taiichiro Yoshida, “Jolteon.” All images courtesy of Japan House Los Angeles, shared with permission

Two of Japan’s major cultural contributions converge in POKÉMON X KOGEI | Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft. On view at Japan House Los Angeles, the exhibition showcases more than 70 sculptures and installations that recreate the fantastical animated characters from Squirtle to Pikachu in ceramic, metal, fiber, and more.

Included are works by several artists featured on Colossal, including a menagerie of intricately layered creatures by Taiichiro Yoshida and Keiko Masumoto’s whimsical vessels in which heads and tails emerge from pots and plates. Similar to the natural materials used in Japanese craft like earth, water, and fire, the characters within the popular franchise are categorized by element, drawing another connection between the two.

POKÉMON X KOGEI is organized by the National Crafts Museum in Kanazawa and is on view in Los Angeles through January 7.

 

Keiko Masumoto, “Vulpix Shigaraki Jar”

Kasumi Ueba, from left, “Grookey with Arabesque Pattern,” “Scorbunny with Flame Pattern,” and “Sobble with Water Pattern”

Taiichiro Yoshida, “Eevee”

Taiichiro Yoshida, detail of “Flareon”

Taiichiro Yoshida, “Flareon” and “Jolteon”

Sadamasa Imai, “Squirtle”

Keiko Masumoto, “Piplup Underglazed Plate”

Reiko Sudo, “Pikachu’s Adventures in a Forest”

Reiko Sudo, detail of “Pikachu’s Adventures in a Forest”

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