I was invited to move here after receiving an award in the 1st COAMIX Kyushu International Manga Award. Yorifuji-san and Nopiyaka Kozue-san are acquaintances of mine from the industry, and they moved to the Artists Village before me, so I had already visited the Artists Village several times to see them. I felt that, in this environment, I could really focus on making my manga, so I decided to move here in November 2022.

The studio has no designated lights-out time, and manga artists can use the spacious manga creation area freely. If I get an idea late at night or early in the morning, I can draw it, regardless of the time, which I find to be very helpful. Every manga artist has their own daily rhythm, so I'm grateful that this facility accommodates everyone’s different schedule. There isn’t a lot of noise here, and the quiet surroundings make it easier to focus. Besides my own projects, I also work remotely as an assistant for other manga artists, and this environment also facilitates my work as an assistant.

I'm the type who likes to show my storyboards to others and get feedback, so having a lot of other artists around is a big plus. Everyone is very supportive of each other’s work, and I feel that being surrounded by other manga artists is a big benefit to working here. The library on the first floor is well-stocked with reference materials and manga. This allows me to explore genres I don’t usually engage with, which often brings me new inspiration.

Moreover, the facility takes care of meals and other necessities for daily life, so I hardly have to worry about anything outside of my work. Cleaning and laundry are about the only things I have to do myself. I’m grateful that I can dedicate a majority of my time to manga. Since moving into the Artists Village, I’ve experienced very little stress.

Aso, where the Artists Village is located, is surrounded by nature, and is actually a popular tourist spot. On weekends, I often join other manga artists or editors on trips to recharge. Since coming to Aso, I’ve become quite fond of hot springs. I was pleased to find out that there are plenty of places to eat and have fun near the Artists Village. I never get tired of eating local dishes, such as dengaku (grilled tofu or vegetables with miso) or dagojiru (white miso soup with dumplings). I also love there are goats, cows, and horses all within walking distance.

It depends on whether I'm working on my own project or working as an assistant. When working on my own manga, I spend the entirety of my day - from the time I arrive at the studio until I go to bed - working on plots for stories, creating character designs, or drawing. I will take a break and spend an hour or so walking to clear my mind.

When working as an assistant, my schedule depends on who I’m working with. Sometimes I start work at around 10 a.m., but other times I start in the afternoon or evening.

No matter my schedule, I do a drawing exercise every day. I do ten drawings of the human body in a variety of poses, and I spend 30 seconds on each pose. I also try to read for about ten minutes each day. These routines help me get my creative juices flowing.

I want to keep growing as a manga artist and continue to create even better works. I tend to pack a lot into my stories, so I want to get rid of some of those unnecessary elements. My goal is to create manga that can communicate more with less.

This is the perfect place to focus on drawing manga. Also, since Aso is in a mountainous area, the weather can change very quickly. If you come here, take care of yourself, so that you don’t catch a cold!