As someone who liked to play with plastic Ultraman superhero and Kaiju monster toys as a child, Izumi Kato has been long familiar with soft vinyl, and since 2010, the artist has been using it to create sculptures.

Unlike wood, which is often limited by its size, shape and form, soft vinyl is far more flexible as a medium and allows Kato to closely realize his quirky imagination. The new material also gives his work the appearance of pop art, which seems to counter the dark and mysterious nature of his recurring foetal-like motif and familiarizes it with its viewers; May 24-June 29.

Capsule; 2-7-12 Ikejiri, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. Sangenjaya Stn. 12 p.m.-7 p.m. on weekends only. Free admission. Closed Mon.-Fri. www.capsule-gallery.jp