Shopping Guide
From Star Wars to Ghost in the Shell to One Piece, the traditional Japanese art form of Ukiyo-e has been combined with popular culture in a movement to revive the woodblock printing method popular in the Edo Period in Japanese history.
This time, it's Pokémon's turn to get the Ukiyo-e transformation as the Pokémon Center online shop in Japan unveiled two beautifully crafted woodblock prints. Carved and colored by seasoned craftsmen and printed onto handmade paper using a technique that's preserved from over 2000 years ago, this Pokémon Ukiyo-e is a fusion of the best forms of art from the ancient and the contemporary.
The first print available is a scene from Vermilion City in the Kanto Region, while the second is the Pikachu V.S. Snorlax battle scene with Red.
Each print costs 48,600 yen (about US$466) but considering the centuries of history and countless hours of craftsmanship in the art, the price is hardly surprising! Pre-orders in Japan have opened and ends on December 18. Learn more on the official site here (Japanese only).
