Slowpoke Has a Pokémon Company-Approved Job Promoting Japan’s Smallest Prefecture and Revitalizing Its Traditional Craft

Slowpoke whitethorn beryllium 1 of the laziest-looking Pokémon, but helium really has a occupation promoting Japan’s smallest region. As portion of Kagawa prefecture’s ongoing authoritative collaboration with The Pokémon Company, the Water-type Pokémon is present connected a ngo to regenerate the area’s centuries-old accepted trade — Kagawa lacquerware.

As reported by section outlet KSB news, a radical of section commercialized schoolhouse students specializing successful Kagawa lacquerware person designed and made a scope of Slowpoke-themed pieces to rise consciousness of the accepted manufacture — and present their enactment is presently connected show astatine an accumulation successful Tokyo until February 17.

This is conscionable the latest portion of a wider authoritative collaboration with The Pokémon Company, arsenic Kagawa has been utilizing Slowpoke arsenic a mascot to beforehand the section country for implicit 7 years.

四国の高校生が制作した漆塗りヤドンを眺めに行ってきた。かわいいね。#ポケモン pic.twitter.com/jvwdjpzv2K

But of each the Pokémon, wherefore is Kagawa prefecture linked to Slowpoke? Located connected Shikoku, 1 of Japan’s 4 main islands, Kagawa prefecture is champion known for its thick, chewy wheat noodles, known arsenic Sanuki Udon. In Japanese, Slowpoke is called Yadon, which sounds a spot similar udon.

But that’s not all. Kagawa prefecture gets precise debased rainfall and has an institute that researches uncommon sugar. According to the Pokémon Local Acts website, these are conscionable immoderate of the reasons that marque the Water-based Pokémon that excretes saccharine sap from its process a bully fit. Indeed, Kagawa lacquerware is simply a method that uses layers of lacquer (tree sap) to springiness a durable, often multicolored decorativeness (a process you tin work much astir here).

Although the relation betwixt Slowpoke and Kagawa began successful 2015, it wasn’t until 2018 that the Pokémon officially became 1 of the archetypal section country ambassadors arsenic portion of The Pokémon Company’s Local Acts initiative, which pairs Pokémon with Japanese prefectures to beforehand each area’s charms.

Kagawa's mascot Slowpoke. Image credit: Pokémon via BK.

Slowpoke has since appeared connected Kagawa souvenirs, mailboxes and adjacent manhole covers. It’s not uncommon for idiosyncratic to don the Slowpoke mascot suit astatine assorted promotional events and festivals (Kagawa besides has different authoritative mascot quality Udonnoww, i.e. “Udon Brain”- who virtually seems to person udon connected their mind).

These latest Pokémon pieces were made by Takamatsu Technical High School's Creative 7 group, which focuses connected designing and making affordable Kagawa lacquerware items that radical volition privation to bargain — adjacent including telephone cases. The Pokémon items are conscionable 1 portion of the Kagawa Lacquerware PR Project, which aims to revitalize the section accepted creation and guarantee it is passed onto aboriginal generations.

Craft items created see a scope of snoozing Slowpokes with antithetic colored glazes and lacquered Pokéballs. These Pokémon-themed objects and different items by the radical volition beryllium connected show astatine the Kagawa-Ehime Setouchi Shunsaikan successful Tokyo’s Shimbashi territory for different week. Perhaps Slowpoke’s Regenerator quality tin assistance marque definite Kagawa lacquerware gets a figurative HP restore?

Image credit: Pokémon via BK

Verity Townsend is simply a Japan-based freelance writer who antecedently served arsenic editor, contributor and translator for the crippled quality tract Automaton West. She has besides written astir Japanese civilization and movies for assorted publications.