Pop culture and traditional Japanese ukiyo-e have often been merged in efforts to provoke the interest of the younger generation toward woodblock paintings, an art form with over 400 years of history. Following the footsteps of works featuring characters like Captain America and Hatsune Miku, the Pokémon Center in Japan has created two beautifully crafted ukiyo-e paintings showing familiar scenes from the legendary franchise.

This collaboration between the traditional art form and Pokémon introduces a scene from Vermillion City, as well as a battle scene between Snorlax and Pikachu.

Kanto Region's Vermillion City

In this scenery of Vermillion City, you'll find monsters like Bulbasaur, Tentacool, Eevee, and Charmander against a background inspired by one of the paintings from The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō by artist Utagawa Hiroshige.

Pikachu vs. Snorlax

Using Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's Gojo Bridge, an Episode from the Life of Yoshitsune as the motif, this woodblock print captures Snorlax, Pikachu, and Red in battle under a bright, full moon.

Each print costs 48,600 yen (466 USD), and all are handmade with care by skilled craftsmen who have mastered the art of woodblock printing. Preorders for the works are currently being accepted until December 18th, and purchases are scheduled to be shipped in March 2017. Head over to the online store to get them!


By - grape Japan editorial staff.