Following the exhibition path at the “POKÉMON X KOGEI” exhibition, one of the earliest masterpieces to stop visitors in their tracks is this breathtaking scenery: Beautifly resting under large leaves after a rainstorm.
Crafted by the incredibly talented young woodworker Toru Fukuda, this artwork, titled “After the Rain” (雨あがり), looks so organic and alive that it’s hard to believe what you are actually looking at.
The Secret: Zero Artificial Coloring
When you look at the vibrant colors of Beautifly’s wings—the rich yellows, deep reds, and dark borders—your brain assumes the artist painted them.
But here is the shocking truth: No paint, dye, or artificial coloring was used at all!
Fukuda created the entire piece utilizing only the natural colors of different tree species. To prove this to the visitors, the artist displayed his incredible “nature’s color palette” right next to the artwork:
[Insert Photo of the Wood Color Palette Here]
This is the actual display showing the different types of wood Fukuda sourced from all over the world. From the pitch-black Ebony to the vivid red Padauk, and even grayish or yellowish grains—every single color on the Beautifly and the leaves comes directly from these raw, unpainted woods. It’s absolutely mind-blowing to see how he matched the exact palette of a live Pokémon using nothing but the harmony of nature.
The Mastery of 3D Wood Inlay (立体木象嵌 – Rittai Mokuzogan)
How did he piece all these different woods together without gaps? Fukuda is a master of a traditional Japanese technique called “Mokuzogan” (Wood Inlay). Typically, this involves carving out a intricate pattern on a flat wooden surface and fitting thin pieces of different woods into it like a perfect puzzle.
However, Fukuda took this traditional flat technique into the third dimension (Rittai Mokuzogan). He carved out the curved, three-dimensional bodies of the Pokémon, the slender stems, and the delicate leaves, seamlessly interlocking the different woods with absolute precision. No nails or messy glue lines are visible.
Hyper-Realistic Water Droplets
If you look incredibly closely at the surface of the wooden leaves, you will notice tiny, shimmering water droplets left behind by the rain.
Astonishingly, these translucent droplets are also carved entirely out of wood. By utilizing the natural grain, wood density, and specialized polishing techniques, Fukuda managed to mimic the light-refracting quality of real water. It gives the entire display an almost magical, frozen-in-time realism.
Outro
Fukuda’s work perfectly captures the “Bug/Flying-type” essence, making it feel as if Beautifly truly exists as a wild creature in our world’s forests. It is a perfect testament to how contemporary pop culture can push hundreds-of-years-old Japanese craftsmanship to new, unimaginable heights.
What do you think of this painted-looking wooden masterpiece? Let me know in the comments!
