From Aomori to Art and Freedom

Please introduce yourself.

I’m from Aomori, and I work as a mechanical designer at a manufacturing company. I started drawing illustrations in May 2023 and began posting them on Instagram. Whether it’s for work or as a hobby, I really enjoy making and expressing things. Besides drawing, I sometimes make playful music tracks just for fun.

What inspired you to start illustrating?

I’ve always liked doodling in notebooks, especially drawing things that have a certain “look” to them. I liked the idea of signing my drawings in the corner. It makes them look like real illustrations, right? I wanted to try that. Around 2023, my younger sister gave me her old iPad, and I thought, “Why not draw something?” I signed the drawing and posted it on my Instagram Stories, and to my surprise, people reacted positively. I thought, “Maybe I should keep doing this,” and that’s when I began drawing seriously. Eventually, someone suggested, “Why not put your art on a T-shirt?” So I did, and it felt great to have something that no one else had. That made it even more fun, and I started creating things like T-shirts and LINE stickers whenever I felt like it. It’s not really about making money—it’s more about drawing things I love and having everyone enjoy them together. Once, I traced a family photo and turned it into a wine label as a gift for my parents’ wedding anniversary. They were so happy, and that made me want to keep creating in ways that my friends, family, and I can enjoy together.

What kind of illustration style do you draw in?

I usually divide my work into three main styles. The first is my Animal Series. Sometimes I match the colors to those of the actual animal, but other times I think, I want to make it this color, and go with something colorful or a completely different palette from reality.The second is what I call Tracing, where I trace characters from anime I like, then finish them off using my own coloring style. The third is my original illustrations that I create entirely from scratch. I call this the Who Series, meaning characters that could apply to anyone. When I first thought, I wanted to draw something, animals were the first thing that came to mind. There are so many kinds of animals, with all sorts of patterns and shapes. Even with just dogs, each breed is completely different—it’s fascinating. That’s why I decided to start with animals. I’ve always loved nature. As a child, I often went bug hunting and fishing. There was livestock farming nearby too, so I got to touch cows at friends’ houses. My home was surrounded by rice fields, and hearing frogs croak was an everyday thing. So when I moved to Tokyo, I felt it was cold and strangely barren. There was no soil, just asphalt everywhere. In Aomori, when snow piles up, it actually feels warm to me. I came to Tokyo for work, but I find the city’s fast pace of change exciting. In the countryside, change happens slowly. One reason I moved here was to experience that speed of change. But living in Tokyo has also made me appreciate the good things about my hometown and rural life all over again.

What’s your secret to keeping such a high posting frequency?

I made my first post in May 2023, and I’ve posted every single day since. At first, I thought I’d take weekends off, but now I post on Saturdays and Sundays too. On weekday mornings, I draw during my train ride to the office. Usually, that’s time people spend looking at their phones, reading, or napping. But I thought, "Wouldn’t it be interesting to draw instead?" Sometimes an older woman sitting next to me will watch me draw and say, “Nice colors,” and I’ll reply, “Really?” It turns into a small conversation, which I enjoy. I’ve never had a day when I thought about quitting. I’m always thinking, What should I draw next? Friends sometimes request drawings, or I’ll draw something inspired by a friend. When it comes to coloring, I go with my own sense of what feels right. If it doesn’t feel quite right, it can take me longer. In those cases, I’ll pick something from my backlog. The key is not thinking of drawing as an obligation. I draw however I like. It’s a hobby—so no matter what anyone says, I draw what I want. I’ve decided to post daily, but I don’t see it as a duty. I’m simply drawing for fun. I also avoid spending too much time on a single piece, no more than 20 minutes. My drawings aren’t delicate or precise. I might scribble, leave gaps, or use colors that don’t match reality. I draw with momentum, and when I’m satisfied, I stop. If I spend too long, it turns into pressure to “make it a good piece,” and that’s not what I want. Drawing quickly keeps it fun and light. Surprisingly, when I look back later, I often think, Hey, this actually has some charm. I try not to be negative about my illustrations. Even if I personally think a piece isn’t that great, sometimes someone will tell me, “I really like this one.” Moments like that remind me that everyone’s sense of taste is different.

What do you think about while drawing?

I don’t decide in advance exactly how I’m going to draw something, it’s more like I just let my hand move. Even with colors, I rely entirely on my sense of "this color should have this kind of depth" rather than planning it out. If I overthink, it takes too long, so I prioritize instinct. That said, I always make sure the coloring feels right to me. With the Animal Series, I tend to think more about color. Sometimes I’ll spend a moment figuring it out until I’m satisfied. On the other hand, with tracing, once I’ve decided "this is the color", I just go with it. Even if it’s not the actual color, I’ll think, No, this works. Sometimes I’ll draw a gorilla in purple. Sure, gorillas aren’t really purple, but why not? Once I’ve drawn it, that’s the right answer. That’s why I don’t worry much about what others think. Because there’s no single "correct" answer, it’s incredibly freeing. I’ve loved making things since I was a kid. Especially building toys like LEGO or PythagoraSwitch-style contraptions. Those don’t have one correct way to build them. So if someone said, "What’s that supposed to be?" I’d just answer, "It’s this kind of thing." I think those experiences made me love expressing myself. I love imagining things. Maybe you could even call it daydreaming. In elementary school reading comprehension, when we were asked, "How did the main character feel?" I’d end up inventing an entire after-story. In middle school, I even tried writing a novel, complete with character relationship charts and a full plot outline. But I gave up because I couldn’t type fast enough.

Can you tell us about the Who Series?

The Who Series is about drawing people in a way that could represent anyone—I want to capture a variety of human expressions. A single gesture, like a fist pump, can mean so many things: excitement, anger, triumph. I want to make pictures that can be interpreted differently depending on who’s looking at them. Human expressions are incredibly diverse. Someone might smile with sad eyes, or look like they’re about to cry while still smiling. I’m fascinated by expressing those kinds of complex emotions, which is why I keep drawing this series. At the core, I like people. If I feel like I can’t get along with someone, I simply lose interest—but I don’t hate anyone. It’s either “I like them” or “I’m not interested.” When I meet someone with a perspective I don’t have, I find it intriguing. The Who Series is like an emotional diary for me. When I’m feeling down, I can only draw somber images; when I’m excited, I naturally draw bright ones. The other day, after having an argument, I made a drawing that expressed both my frustration and my desire to make up. When I was stuck in bed with the flu, I drew a picture saying “I’m down for the count.” Above all, I always feel the urge to express something. Drawing lets me convey my feelings exactly as they are. If I’m sad, I draw something sad; if I’m happy, I draw something happy. It’s also a way to release stress. Sometimes, after finishing a drawing, I realize, Oh, so that’s how I’m feeling right now. When I’m low, I naturally gravitate toward darker colors.

Of all the pieces you’ve drawn, which is your favorite?

My very first drawing, a lion. To me, lions have a gentle image, and I wanted to capture that using a variety of colors. Normally, lions are brown, right? But I deliberately combined red, yellow, and blue, and gave it emerald-colored eyes. When I was in junior high, I went to see The Lion King by Shiki Theatre Company, and I was completely overwhelmed by its power. There was a lyric that mentioned ‘emerald eyes’ and it stuck with me ever since. So when I decided what my first piece would be, I knew it had to be a lion.

When do you feel, ‘I’m glad I did this’ or ‘This is fun’?

Recently, someone asked me to draw their dog that had passed away. They sent me photos, and I started working on it. My approach was, I’ll take payment if you feel like it. I’d send updates, ’How about this?’ and they’d give feedback saying "Could you change this?" until it was done. When it was finished, they asked, "Thank you! How much do I owe you?" I said, "A thousand yen is fine." They replied, "That’s way too little, please set the price." I told them to just give whatever they wanted on top as a tip, and they happily added more. Moments like that make me really happy. There was also a time when the owner of a bar I used to frequent really liked my work, so I gave him a giraffe painting. He posted it on Instagram, which made me so happy. I even told him the backstory. What I was feeling when I drew it. He offered to pay, but I told him, "I don’t need money, just enjoy it." When money gets involved, it can bring ulterior motives. That’s why, when I receive a request, I try to forget about money entirely while drawing. I just tell them "1,000 yen is fine," and leave the rest up to them. That way of doing things suits me.

Have you ever felt like quitting?

Only once—when someone asked me, “What are you even aiming for?” I showed a friend my drawings, and that’s what they said. It stung a little. But I’m not aiming for anything specific. I just draw what I like. Later, when I showed that same person another drawing, they said, "Wow, that’s great." That made me happy. Other than that, I’ve never had any discouraging experiences.

What does drawing mean to you?

In one word—freedom. Since becoming a working adult, I’ve often felt ‘I’m not really free.’ There are rules, and you have to work within them. But with illustration and art, there are no rules. That’s why it’s so fun—I can do exactly what I want. Before entering the workforce, I actually liked living within certain boundaries. I believed following the rules was just normal. I was very serious. Growing up in the countryside, the community was small, and any little difference stood out. If you dressed strangely, word spread instantly. But in Tokyo, there are so many people that no one notices or cares if you dress differently. In the countryside, it was easier to blend in. But coming to Tokyo changed my values. I realized, because there are so many people, I can express myself freely. No one cares, so I can do what I like. That’s how I started feeling.

What’s your biggest goal right now?

To hold a solo exhibition. Even if only my friends come, that’s fine. I just want to try it. All my current works are digital, but I’d love to print them, frame them, and actually display them. Whether there’s demand or not doesn’t matter. When I feel like doing something, I want to just do it. If even one person sees my work and thinks, This is nice, that’s enough for me.