As you continue your walk through the very first booth of the exhibition, you’ll encounter another colossal masterpiece that looks like it was dragged straight from the ocean floor. Clinging fiercely to a pair of old fishing floats is the giant Water-type crab Pokémon: Kingler.
This is another brilliant creation by Kyoto-based ceramic maestro Sadamasa Imai (the same artist behind the Venusaur we explored in the last post). While his Venusaur felt earthy and ancient, this Kingler brings a rugged, salty realism that will make you look at this Generation 1 Pokémon in a whole new light.
The Texture of Ocean Shells: Shigaraki Clay
The most striking feature of this Kingler is its pure white, heavily textured underbelly and its coarse, orange-red shell. It looks incredibly jagged and calcified, just like a real deep-sea crab that has survived countless battles.
To create this rough armor, Imai utilized Shigaraki clay (信楽粘土), a traditional Japanese clay famous for its coarse, sandy texture and high iron content. The tiny white granules embedded in the clay burst through the surface during firing, perfectly mimicking the rough, encrusted bumps found on marine shells.
The Brilliant Narrative: Glass Fishing Floats
What makes this artwork a true masterpiece is the storytelling in its composition. Kingler is not just standing on a generic rock; it is perched on top of two large, dark-glazed ceramic spheres bound tightly with ropes.
These spheres are stylized versions of traditional Japanese glass fishing floats (浮き球 – Ukidama), which were historically used by Japanese fishermen to keep their nets afloat. The contrast here is visually stunning: the smooth, glass-like black glaze of the floats reflects the museum light beautifully, contrasting sharply against the dry, chalky texture of Kingler’s body. It instantly grounds the Pokémon into Japan’s rich coastal history.
The Massive Left Pincer
Kingler’s signature feature is its disproportionately large left claw, and Imai captured its terrifying weight flawlessly. The pincer is open, showing a dark, hollow interior that looks capable of crushing iron. Balancing such a top-heavy, massive claw in a ceramic sculpture without it cracking or collapsing during the drying stage is a true testament to the artist’s patience and technical mastery.
Outro
Looking at this single, dramatic shot, the play of light and shadow on the white clay makes Kingler look almost menacing—like a real guardian of the sea. Imai managed to strip away the cartoonish veneer of the character and replace it with a gritty, breathtaking organic reality.
How does this rugged, ocean-weathered version of Kingler compare to the one you remember from the games? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
