Like fellow Pokémon card artist Yuka Morii, Asako Ito creates scenes with physical props and settings. Where Morii uses clay and real environments, Ito’s work is based around crocheted art, using a technique known as Amigurumi. Ito’s cards are full of whimsy and character, making her an unsurprisingly popular artist among Pokémon fans. Let’s take a look at the cards she’s created which are the most sought after by fans, as we reveal the most valuable Asako Ito Pokémon cards!
10. Poliwag – Sun & Moon, Common, 30/149
As one of the original 151 Pokémon, from the very first video games, Poliwag is very dear to the hearts of many fans. Seeing the adorable Water type Pokémon in crocheted form, against a puffy cloud sky and crafted lily pads, is a new level of cute! So we’re not surprised to see this card on the list of the most valuable Asako Ito Pokémon cards. What is surprising is that it’s a Common card, and is still affordable too; you can’t say the same for most cards on our Pokémon lists!
9. Wigglytuff – Fusion Strike, Uncommon, 111/264
Another Pokémon who hails from the original 151, Wigglytuff looks adorably silly on this lovely Asako Ito card. It’s worth noting that this is an Uncommon card, so you can see that it should be much more affordable to build a collection of Asako Ito cards than it is for most other Pokémon artists.
8. Dunsparce – Journey Together, Common, 120/159
Again proving our last point, this Dunsparce is a Common card, so it should be both relatively widely available and affordable. The colors on the crocheted Dunsparce really pop here, perhaps also due to the more muted, earthy background colors. Not quite an OG Pokémon, Dunsparce hails from the second generation of Pokémon video games.
7. Snorlax – Crown Zenith, Rare, 109/159
We’re back to the 151 again with this yawning Snorlax, snoozily relaxing on an idyllic backdrop. One of Ito’s strengths is in creating not just Pokémon, but their natural surroundings too. All using physical, tangible craft materials.
6. Cherubi – Ultra Prism, Common, 10/156
Contrasting with the other Pokémon we’ve seen on this list so far, Cherubi is a relatively late bloomer, having first appeared in the fourth generation Pokémon games. If it’s unheard of to see a Common card on our most valuable Pokémon card lists, it’s even more so to see one halfway down the list!
5. Luvdisc – Celestial Storm, Common, 44/168
Third generation Pokémon Luvdisc appears on another Common card, which just goes to show how popular Asako Ito cards are at every rarity! This Luvdisc is even more creative than Ito’s usual work, given that this Pokémon is floating underwater with all elements in the photo being physically crafted!
4. Pyukumuku – Unbroken Bonds, Uncommon – 53/214
I have to admit that seventh generation Pokémon Pyukumuku is one I don’t think I’d even heard of before seeing this card. Of course, with over 1000 Pokémon now in the Pokédex, there are bound to be a few that slip through the net, and this is obviously one of them for me!
3. Altaria – Crown Zenith, Ultra Rare, G19/GG70
This may well be not only my favorite Asako Ito card ever, but also my favorite Pokémon card of all time. It’s packed full of cute details and impressive craftwork, and I just love checking out everything that Ito has managed to get into this picture without it feeling cluttered or busy. It’s like a snapshot of a Pokémon’s actual home life, and when do we ever see anything like that, let alone physically created?
2. Electrode – Team Up, Holo Rare, 39/181
Another detail-packed card, this Electrode and various, sneaky Voltorbs are brilliantly realized in this photo. The main appeal of Ito’s work is how tangible it seems, and this Holo Rare card’s art really does have a very physical feel to it.
1. Audino – Black Bolt, Illustration Rare, 151/86
I love this Audino card, featuring the fifth generation Pokémon collecting flowers, on a big tree stump, next to a river. It’s clear that Pokémon fans are also very enthusiastic about this card, as it’s currently the most valuable Asako Ito card of them all. It’s still nowhere near as expensive as many cards on our other lists, which means that if you do choose to collect cards only by certain artists, Asako Ito is a good choice in ensuring that you don’t need to break the bank for her cards. With only 36 cards having been created by Ito, it’s not even hard to catch ’em all!
Check out our lists of the most valuable Pokémon cards in the Pitch Black and Chaos Rising sets.
