The Azabudai Hills district in Tokyo is home to the Azabudai Hills Gallery. In this gallery, the Pokémon x Kogei exhibit offers a mix of traditional craftsmanship and Japanese video games.
Pokémon is a franchise that has animated movies, games, and other merchandise, such as trading cards. Kogei represents a diverse range of traditional Japanese crafts, from textiles to stonework and ceramics. Together, the Pokémon x Kogei exhibit showcases the immense craftsmanship of traditional ways through the imagery of Pokémon, appealing to all age groups.
Throughout the exhibit, there were many different varieties of artwork, including pots, sculptures, and jewelry boxes, but the most eye-catching piece was the Pokémon forest, made by Reiko Sudo. Made in 2023, the Pokémon forest consists of small lace Pikachus suspended from the ceiling to create an immersive forest to explore. By walking through the forest, all features can be viewed up close, creating a magical experience to see all of the details of the artwork.
Jade W. (’27)
While the Pokémon forest may have been distinctive, the metalwork by Yoshida Taiichiro was one of the featured pieces of the exhibit. The sheer scale of some of the metal characters which reached the ceiling was captivating. Despite contrasting metal shapes, the pieces worked harmoniously to show the expressions on the faces.
With many sculptures around the museum, the fabric works contrast with the rest of the room. Saori Mizuhashi’s silk dyeing technique, yuzen, had elaborate designs that ranged from subtle to exploding with colour. Some of the more subtle pieces involved tessellating patterns related to Pokémon. The more colourful designs often had adorable images of scenery and Pokémon. Within each piece of fabric, there were new pictures to discover in the corners.
The artworks entertain both children and adults with characters from both old and new generations. The stunning uniqueness of the Pokémon x Kogei exhibition in the Azabudai Hills Gallery is a memorable experience.
Date: November 1, 2024 – February 2, 2025
Times: 10:00 – 19:00 (10:00 – 20:00 for Fridays, Saturdays and days before holidays)
Location: Azabudai Hills Gallery
Entrance Fee: 1,300 yen for high school and junior high school students (200 yen cheaper if ordered online)
