
This fall has people across the globe down with a case of Pokémon fever, ever since the release of Nintendo’s first 3-D Pokémon game set, X and Y. Thanks to one of the game’s brand-new features, Pokémon Amie, it’s possible to build greater bonds with our battling monsters than ever before, by petting, feeding, and playing games with them. Still, not even that comes close to the adorable magic of having an actual creature to cuddle.
Niconico Douga user, Tatsuno’otoshigo (meaning seahorse), filled that hole in her heart by crafting her own Pokémon plushies with needle felting! Her ever-expanding pokédex of wooly little monsters is the envy of many collectors. But it’s hard to say if she’d be willing to trade. Her videos reveal exactly how much love she puts into each and every pokémon.
Needle felting is a craft that uses barbed needles to tangle wool into matted, 3-D forms. Tatsuno’otoshigo uses this slow but simple method to put together fluffy, little plushies of fanciful pokémon from all the generations’ games.
▼ Chespin wants to be your brand new starter. It’s hard to say no to that bucktooth grin.
▼ Sylveon confused us before we knew there was a fairy type.
▼ Plusle and Minon come as a pair, naturally.
▼ Flaffy’s wool looks suitably soft, but we’re told it’s also static electric.
▼ Flareon, with that fiery mane is a blast from the past, coming at us from Gen 1.
▼ Wooper, Pelipper, and Gulpin observe the birth of their brethren.
All-in-all these hand-crafted cuties are so sweet, I’d almost want to join Team Rocket for the chance to take one! But, that would be bad. So instead, I’ll just polish my Pokeballs and wait patiently for Tatsuno’otoshigo’s next miniature masterpiece.
Source: Net Lab (Japanese)
Images: Niconico Douga
▼ Check out Tatsuno’otoshigo’s Niconico Channel for the full list of her step-by-step felting videos, or stick around here to see a few of our favorites!






We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Ohaw? Ruibe? Pocche? While traveling in Japan’s north, we try Ainu cuisine for the first time
Japan’s double-decker portable rice cooker/bento maker is better than ever with new version
Narita Airport Transit & Stay Program returns after six years with free tours and festival experiences
Wait, some Shinkansen trains already have private booths that only cost 1,500 yen for an hour?
We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Ohaw? Ruibe? Pocche? While traveling in Japan’s north, we try Ainu cuisine for the first time
Japan’s double-decker portable rice cooker/bento maker is better than ever with new version
Narita Airport Transit & Stay Program returns after six years with free tours and festival experiences
Wait, some Shinkansen trains already have private booths that only cost 1,500 yen for an hour?
Osaka Starbucks has one of the city’s coolest photo vantage points, but it’s going away soon
Nagoya’s famous Shinkansen platform noodle shop has other, better branches nearby
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new interactive stationery dioramas that bring anime movies to life on your desk
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Studio Ghibli composer Jo Hisaishi just set three Guinness Records
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
7-Eleven Japan brings back best-selling flat croissant that became a hit on social media
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Foreign hiker on Mt. Fuji loses consciousness and dies, becoming climbing season’s second fatality
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Osaka Starbucks has one of the city’s coolest photo vantage points, but it’s going away soon
Nagoya’s famous Shinkansen platform noodle shop has other, better branches nearby
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new interactive stationery dioramas that bring anime movies to life on your desk
German woman rescued from Mt. Fuji after suffering altitude sickness symptoms, hiking to peak anyway
Winnie the Pooh cosplays as Yuzuru Hanyu for new plushie collaboration
The Japanese government is ending its Cool Japan Fund program
Masturbatory aid maker Tenga releases officially licensed anime versions in Japan and U.S.
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Universal Studios Japan partners with manga horror master Junji Ito’s Tomie
Studio Ghibli composer Jo Hisaishi just set three Guinness Records
KFC Japan unveils new Tsukimi collection that takes moon-viewing to extreme levels
Japanese airlines set to cut fuel surcharges for international flights in September and October