The reason was that I thought such opportunities were rare and found it interesting. I never imagined being able to work in Japan, let alone make drawing manga a profession overseas. My friends and family were delighted and supported me in my activities in Japan.

I’ve liked Japanese manga since I was a child and have been reading it. I think its characteristic is its wide range of expressions. Some are bright, or full of gag, while others are intensely dark and serious. Furthermore, within that gradient, various works jostle together. What they have in common is that they are generally easy to read and have devices that make it easy for readers to enter the world of the work. That’s why I think Japanese manga has become popular worldwide.

It’s a beautiful place with scenic views. From old buildings seen in shrines and temples to cute cafes in the city and seasonal landscapes, everything is beautiful. When I arrived in Japan, it was cherry blossom season, and it was unbelievably gorgeous.

On the other hand, Aso has many cash-only shops, so I, who was used to credit card payments in my home country where they are common, initially had trouble adjusting to this custom. To avoid becoming like me, who takes five minutes to buy a cup of hot chocolate, I recommend consulting others before going shopping (haha).

I think it’s a great place for drawing manga. As a working environment, it offers all the support for both digital and analogue work, and the atmosphere of the workspace and studio is conducive to drawing manga. You can switch between focusing and relaxing freely.

Additionally, it’s great to be able to work with artists from other countries who share the same purpose. While drawing manga is often seen as a solitary job, having fellow professionals nearby allows for considerable support in work. It’s also possible to lighten the mood by joking around with each other.

Furthermore, the staff at the facility are considerate and very flexible. I’ve never felt excluded.

The Artists Village also offers excellent meals. The chefs in the dining hall are fantastic, and the daily meals are always delicious. I personally enjoy sushi, fried chicken, and ramen. Since you can usually decide how much to serve yourself, I ended up gaining more weight than expected (haha).

I wake up around 8 a.m., have breakfast in my room, and prepare for work. If time allows, I’ll read novels or study the Bible.

I start working around 10 a.m. I spend the whole day working in the studio on the second floor of the facility. Lunch is around 12:30 p.m., and dinner is around 6:30 p.m. During this time, I work on drawings or writing at my desk, sometimes having meetings with editors.

After dinner, around 7 p.m., I have relatively free time. If there’s still work remaining, I continue with that. Otherwise, I might play board games with other artists, watch movies in the theater room, exercise at home, or go shopping.

Late at night, I usually call my family and have longer conversations with them.

Additionally, on holidays, I often play games, play the piano in the facility, or engage in activities other than work.

In addition to improving my skills as a manga artist, I want to experience serialization. I’m always conflicted between pursuing what I want to draw as an artist or aiming for something that sells well and is read by many people. However, as I have more discussions with editors, I’ve come to believe that these two goals can be reconciled. Since I am able to draw manga in this environment by coming to Japan, I intend to continue striving for commercial success.

If the timing aligns with your life, I highly recommend it. It’s an invaluable opportunity if you’re interested in making manga production your profession. The staff here warmly welcome us and provide generous support. It’s truly a blessing to be able to work with them.