スーパー☆ラット (Super Rats) 3 Favorite 

​Chim↑Pom, a Tokyo-based art collective, garnered significant attention with their provocative project "Super Rat," which debuted in 2011. This work involved capturing urban rats from Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, taxidermying them, and transforming them into real-life representations of Pikachu, the iconic character from the Pokémon franchise. The artists painted the rats yellow, added red cheeks, and inserted wires into their tails to mimic Pikachu's distinctive lightning bolt shape. ​

The term "Super Rat" refers to a breed of rats in Tokyo known for their resilience and alleged immunity to common poisons, particularly prevalent in areas like Center Gai in Shibuya. These rodents have become a symbol of urban tenacity, thriving amidst the city's challenges.

Chim↑Pom's "Super Rat" serves as a multifaceted commentary on urban life, consumer culture, and the intersection of reality and fiction. In the super rats that continue to evolve vibrantly within the city and coexist with humans, the artists see a portrait of ourselves and the image of the Japanese people living in the aftermath of radioactive contamination.