JOURNAL ジャーナル

June in Hiroshima: The Start of H-Air!

This month, I adapted to Hiroshima and participated in several official events. In the first week, there were two parties. Everyone welcomed us warmly, making the unfamiliar environment enjoyable.

<Official Events>

1. The first official schedule of H-Air! We held a screening event. We had an interview at Hijiyama University and introduced ourselves to the students. In the evening, we had a screening session, and I was thrilled that many people attended. It was a tiring day due to the tension of the first event, but the beer after finishing all the schedules was the best.


2. The second presentation: I went to the university and had the opportunity to introduce my work in more depth. I thought 30 minutes would be quite long, so I included many things, but in the end, it was too much to show everything. However, I was both happy and a bit embarrassed to share my past works that I had never shown to anyone before.

<Every Corner of Hiroshima>

1. Tokasan Festival

Shortly after we arrived in Hiroshima, a very large festival took place. The red lanterns looked beautiful in the city, which had become calm due to the rain. In the middle of the festival, everyone was dancing to the music, but I was too shy to join in, so I clapped enthusiastically from the back. Everyone was wearing colorful and cute yukatas, and they looked so adorable that I want to try wearing one myself someday.

2. Nature of Hiroshima

I went on a short hike with Daniel and Britt. The weather was perfect, and since the hike was only about an hour long, it was just the right amount of walking to enjoy ourselves. We almost got lost in the mountains at one point, but even that was thrilling and fun.

3. Mischievous Crows

There is a large river in front of our accommodation (I really like this river). I was taking a break from work, sitting on a bench by the river to relax. While I was enjoying my rest, three crows approached and started cawing loudly. At first, I thought, “How rude of these crows, this is a shared space,” and ignored them. But soon, I realized that their cawing was directed at me. One of the crows even threw a broken branch at me. Thankfully, it didn’t hit me, but I got scared and left the spot without finishing my coffee.

<Work Progress>

First of all, I took some time to organize the script I have been writing so far. After laying it all out, I found it too long and noticed many parts of the story that needed improvement, so I am working on enhancing it. At the same time, I am considering how to handle the artwork and how to design the protagonist.

1. Exploring Coloring Techniques

I thought of using watercolor techniques to express the protagonist’s gradually softening heart as they fall in love. However, it didn’t achieve the desired effect and didn’t seem efficient considering the time spent. Therefore, I plan to try other coloring methods as well.

2. Character Design
I am also contemplating the proportions and style of the character.

On the left is the original character proportion I was working on. It allows for easier expression of emotions through the character’s facial expressions and somewhat follows human proportions. I think this is suitable for depicting surreal situations contrasted with a realistic environment.

On the right, drawing in a simpler style might create an interesting image by contrasting with the more detailed elements.

3. Scene Illustrations

Once the character design is somewhat finalized, I plan to start illustrating the scenes I’ve been envisioning. I quickly sketched one scene, but I will redraw it later to match the finalized character design.


I can’t believe a month has already passed. In July, there are almost no official events that require preparation, so I plan to focus on my work and explore Hiroshima and various parts of Japan. Hoping to encounter lots of interesting inspirations!