Creativity Is Like Being a Pro Athlete: A Journey Toward Becoming an Art Director

Could you start by introducing yourself?

I work at an interior furniture import company, where I coordinate and style new collections, handle photo shoots, and take part in planning projects. At the same time, I’m studying to become a graphic designer. On the side, I create zines as a hobby and started exhibiting at zine festivals about a year ago. Since then, I’ve taken part around five times. I also make things I personally enjoy, like calendars themed around furniture. I’ve been running a pop-up inspired by a “beach house” with my friend. It’s not a real one—we actually rent a beach house that her grandmother used to run, and hold events there. We also host pop-ups in Tokyo two or three times a year.

Could you share how you first stepped into the creative world?

I’ve always loved furniture. Not so much building it, but drawing it. Actually making furniture takes a lot of knowledge and time, but for me, the fun is in sketching out the pieces I imagine in my head and bringing that vision to life on paper. Rather than pouring all my feelings into one piece, I enjoy mixing and matching different elements together. I think I have this “ideal world” in my mind, and lately it feels like I’m starting to give that world a shape. I’ve always liked drawing, but I really started taking it seriously when I was working at a staffing company in a planning role. It was my first fully remote job, which gave me extra free time—and that’s when I began drawing more seriously. That was the real starting point. I had been to zine festivals a few times as a visitor and always thought, “Someday, I want to be on the other side of the table.” But it took me a while to actually take the leap. Then I found out one was happening at my local PARCO, and thought, “Well, if it’s here in my hometown, I might as well try.” I was nervous at first, but it ended up being so much fun. Until then, I had friends I got along with, but none who were also into design or making things. Meeting people like that for the first time was huge. I really wanted to understand the kind of people who put their work out into the world. It felt like I had finally found my people—I finally belonged. That first time, I had no idea what I was doing, so I didn’t even invite any friends. But people who were genuinely interested naturally stopped by, and lots of them were wandering around checking out different booths. Since it was my first time, I went in with the mindset of just greeting people and striking up conversations. And then, having someone I’d never met before pay for my work was such a joyful moment. It was so much fun. For my second time, I exhibited alone again, but for the third, I teamed up with a senior colleague who loves photography. We made a zine together and even collaborated on keychains. For me, zine festivals are all about community. They’re a place where I can meet people I’ve always wanted to meet and connect with others who share the same passions. Honestly, being part of zine fests pushed me to go to design school. It really changed my life.

What’s the most enjoyable moment for you when you’re creating something?

The most exciting moment for me is when an idea suddenly comes to mind. I have pretty strong ADHD tendencies, so I often find myself thinking about something completely different while someone’s talking. But then, out of nowhere, an idea pops up and I think, ‘I need to bring this to life!’ That rush is the best feeling. It’s like time doesn’t exist anymore. In terms of focus and passion, maybe creativity is a lot like being a professional athlete. On the other hand, what I struggle with are assignments I’m not interested in. In my photography class, for example, there were projects like ‘shoot something magical’ or ‘make an ordinary cake look incredibly appetizing.’ To me, it felt kind of fake, and I just couldn’t get into it. That’s also why I’m not very drawn to advertising. When it’s all about exaggerating something just to sell, it doesn’t really feel like my thing. But when it comes to brand design, I really enjoy it. For one class, I came up with a concept for a pottery studio combined with a café, where regulars could keep their handmade mugs on-site and use them whenever they visited. I loved the idea that something as simple as a cup could spark new conversations and connections. That café is something I’d love to actually bring to life someday. My dad’s a chef, so I’d also like to take on the branding for his restaurant. And beyond that, I want to be involved in projects that give back. Like supporting cat rescue initiatives or working with non-profits. I prefer not to set firm goals like, ‘By this age, I’ll have done this, and I’ll be earning this much.’ I think putting that kind of pressure on myself would only make me unhappy. This October 4th, I’ll be showing my work at the zine festival in Asakusa with a friend. And looking further ahead, I’d love to make a book—a magazine-style publication in print. One of my biggest dreams is to shoot an album cover for Ayano Kaneko, an artist I really admire. I also want to design T-shirts. There are so many things I want to try.

What title do you use to describe yourself?

When I think of an artist, I picture someone pouring their personal message into their work. But that’s not really me. For me, it’s more about doing what I love—and if someone else connects with it and thinks it’s good, that makes me happy. There was a time when I felt down, wondering, ‘If my work doesn’t have a strong message, does that mean I’m not an artist?’ But then I learned about the difference between art and design at school, and it clicked: what I really want to do is design. I’m interested in solving problems. I’ve got a lot of energy, so I don’t really need a perfectly “balanced” way of working. If it’s something I truly want to do, I don’t mind sacrificing my private time—I’d rather dive all in. I actually admire a work-centered lifestyle. For me, being able to enjoy conversations is really important in any job. I’m not great with overly streamlined, online-only communication. I’d much rather meet people face-to-face and connect directly.

How have you changed since you started creating?

Since I started creating, I’ve really gained confidence. I realized there are people out there who like the things I like, and that was such a powerful feeling. It made me think, ‘You’ll never know unless you try,’ and that mindset has made me even more positive. Of course, I do have moments when I feel down—but honestly, I forget about them pretty quickly. I’ll remember that I was struggling with something, but forget the reason why, so I end up making the same mistakes again (haha). Still, I’d say my mental health is really strong.

How do you feel about Tokyo as a city?

I live in the Kanto area, but I can’t say I love Tokyo. To me, it feels like a city that’s both close and distant at the same time. The distance between people feels a bit far, too. But at the same time, Tokyo is where I met amazing friends and peers, so in that sense, it’s been the perfect place to connect with people. That said, the city can be draining. Seeing the trash in Kabukichō or Shibuya makes me feel sad, and I’m not good at dealing with the negative side of people. That’s why staying in the city for too long feels draining. My ideal lifestyle would be splitting my time between the countryside and the city. I’d prefer to actually live in the countryside, but since the people I care about are mostly in the city, I’d like to balance the two—maybe work remotely part of the time and go into the office part of the time. Even if I moved to Hokkaido, I’d want to go into the office every day at first to build close relationships, but ideally, I’d spend about half the month back in Kanto for work. There’s a design company in Sapporo whose work I absolutely love. When I visited Hokkaido, I found this adorable café, and later I discovered that the company I admire had actually produced it. That felt like such a special connection.

Do you have a message you’d like to share with people who are starting something new?

If someone asked me how to get started in design, I’d say: just download Illustrator, pick something you want to make, and dive in. That feeling of ‘I really want to be able to do this’ is the strongest source of energy. When I first started playing guitar, there was one song I was dying to play. To get there, I practiced the F chord over and over, even though it was tough. Having a clear goal, and working towards it until you can actually do it, I think that’s what matters most.