Amazing Possibilities Arise When Pokémon Meets Kogei

1. Convergence with the Craft Techniques of Kogei

The exhibition halls hum with the presence of Pokémon, brought to life through the delicate skills of Kogei, traditional crafts of Japan. We launched the exhibition “POKÉMON × KOGEI – Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft" in March 2023, beginning 
at the National Crafts Museum in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, before touring various locations across Japan and overseas.

Why did we decide to bring together the world of Pokémon with Kogei? A staff member from the Pokémon x Art Promotion team explains the concept:

“Kogei artists utilize various natural materials, such as clay, wood, and metal, to shape their crafts through master techniques. We anticipated that a fascinating chemical reaction would happen if we were to combine these traditional crafts with Pokémon, creatures from the virtual world."

We approached the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo’s Crafts Gallery* (now the National Crafts Museum) with this proposal. Director Masahiro Karasawa recalls seeing potential in the idea immediately, believing it could provide an opportunity for a wide range of generations to discover the beauty of Kogei.

“Usually, older audiences have shown the most interest in Kogei," Director Karasawa notes. “Pokémon, by contrast, has broad appeal, especially among the younger generations. We believed this project would be an excellent way to introduce the world of Kogei to a younger audience."

Starting from scratch, we held extensive discussions with the museum team, and together successfully realized this entirely new type of art exhibition.

2. Serious Battle Between Pokémon and Artists

Both sides agreed that, above all, an exhibition of Pokémon-themed Kogei had to feature items that would fully and authentically reflect the world of Pokémon. No superficial encounters would be allowed. This meant that all participating artists had to acquire a thorough understanding of the concepts behind Pokémon, to enable them to produce items in motifs, materials and techniques most appropriate to the project’s aims. Again, the overarching desire was to have them create works that would enthrall visitors of diverse generations and awaken their interest in the infinite possibilities enabled by Japan’s supreme craft techniques.

The National Museum of Modern Craft and Pokémon together selected 20 participating artists, ranging from Living National Treasures to up-and-coming talent.

Some of these artists had no prior experience with Pokémon. After joining this project, they deepened their understanding through various approaches: playing the video games, watching the anime, looking through the Pokédex, and so on.

One of the main concepts of this exhibition is the “Serious Battle.“ In the Pokémon series, Pokémon Battles, where the Pokémon use their unique moves, are a foundational part of the experience.

On the other hand, these artists had to confront their chosen materials. They had to determine which techniques and designs would best express their personal interpretations and impressions of a Pokémon. These artists, facing these challenges head-on to create their pieces, truly embodied a “serious battle."

3. Pokémon Viewed from Diverse Perspectives

“Pokémon are creatures from the virtual world. Observing and imagining an intangible existence through a screen was likely a new challenge for the artists. It was such a wonderful experience to see these uniquely interpreted Pokémon evolve into physical pieces of art that brought us many new discoveries." Says a representative from the Pokémon x Art Promotion team with a sparkle in their eye.

The artists selected the specific Pokémon they wished to use as their subjects. Chief Curator Yoko Imai of the National Crafts Museum, who was in charge of curating this exhibition, reflected on the process:

“Every artist has built their own style by refining materials and techniques unique to their craft. Because of this, we expected that the subjects each artist would find appealing would naturally differ."

As anticipated, the artists selected a wide variety of Pokémon. While there was some overlap, the distinct differences in expression highlighted the unique style of each artist, resulting in an intriguing lineup.

The exhibition features a diverse array of “POKÉMON x KOGEI” works, ranging from pieces that emphasize a Pokémon’s appearance or characteristic presence, to those that trace the protagonist's adventure or the setting of Pokémon games, and still others that focus on specific Pokémon moves.

4. Where Fan Interaction Unfolds Beyond Boundaries

As hoped for, the exhibition has attracted visitors of all ages, bridging the gap between Pokémon fans and Kogei enthusiasts.

Director Karasawa remarked with a smile, “I was particularly moved by the sight of three generations of families visiting together. It was heartwarming to see adults familiar with Kogei explaining the details of pieces to their grandchildren, while grandchildren returned the favor by teaching their families about the traits of the Pokémon."

Curator Imai summarized the best way to enjoy the exhibition:

“If you admire these works from various perspectives, you might discover aspects of Pokémon you never noticed before. There are infinite ways to appreciate them. I truly hope every visitor finds their own way to “catch" a unique “POKÉMON x KOGEI experience."

The exhibition currently features roughly 80 works. We plan to continue the traveling exhibition while further expanding the collection.