Sasha's Take on Pokemon

Yeah, she's obsessed--like a million other kids. Spends a small fortune on cards, buys packs like an addict--and she is one--rips them open like she's expecting to find a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's factory. But as usual, Sasha's got her own take on the obsession. For one, she teaches herself Japanese, figuring out translations with cards she has in both languages, and is learning to write Japanese characters. She's taken an interest in Japan and Japanese culture. Most interesting to me is that she follows which artists draw which Pokemon characters (I'll bet few people, even those intimately familiar with Pokemon cards, are aware that the artists' names are printed in something like 2 pt. type below each drawing), and knows their individual styles. Sasha's personal favorites are Naoyo Kimura and Atsuko Nishida (which she obliged me by spelling for me), who I'm sure would be thrilled to know that one Pokemonophile takes time away from her card collecting obsession and game playing to appreciate art.