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Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey #1
Trait pour trait, Tome 1
Akiko Higashimura (Princess Jellyfish, Le Tigre des neiges) livre avec Trait pour trait, dessine et tais-toi ! un portrait intime et courageux. Une oeuvre entre regrets, nostalgie et hommage, qui nous dévoile autant le parcours de cette femme que des informations sur les coulisses du monde du manga. Une série unique, à n'en pas douter et multi-primée.
Akiko Hayashi est lycéenne, et elle habite dans la préfecture de Miyazaki. Très jeune, elle savait qu'elle voulait devenir dessinatrice de shôjo mangas, et avait déjà fantasmé tout son plan de carrière : l'âge auquel elle enverrait des premiers travaux aux éditeurs, l'âge auquel elle serait publiée, l'âge auquel son manga serait adapté en anime... Persuadée que son génie auto-proclamé suffirait à lui ouvrir toutes les portes, elle va pourtant être rattrapée par la réalité. Car en dernière année de lycée, sa rencontre avec un prof d'une petite classe d'arts à l'écart de tout, va violemment la ramener à la réalité. Ce professeur étrange, plutôt sévère et armé de son sabre en bambou, va profondément changer sa vie.
Akiko Hayashi est lycéenne, et elle habite dans la préfecture de Miyazaki. Très jeune, elle savait qu'elle voulait devenir dessinatrice de shôjo mangas, et avait déjà fantasmé tout son plan de carrière : l'âge auquel elle enverrait des premiers travaux aux éditeurs, l'âge auquel elle serait publiée, l'âge auquel son manga serait adapté en anime... Persuadée que son génie auto-proclamé suffirait à lui ouvrir toutes les portes, elle va pourtant être rattrapée par la réalité. Car en dernière année de lycée, sa rencontre avec un prof d'une petite classe d'arts à l'écart de tout, va violemment la ramener à la réalité. Ce professeur étrange, plutôt sévère et armé de son sabre en bambou, va profondément changer sa vie.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2012
32 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
January 26, 2020
A slacker teen with an interest in drawing manga finds herself falling under the sway of a gruff and abusive art teacher in this graphic memoir. Frankly, I had trouble warming up to either of them in this first volume, but I've already read the next two and know this mentoring relationship quickly deepens and the quality of the story keeps increasing.
December 3, 2019
The art and characterization are excellent. Unfortunately, the author depicts herself as so banal that it was kind of boring to read about her. I think I'll stick to her fiction!
August 18, 2019
An autobiographical manga about Akiko Higashimura’s times when she was learning to become an artist from a peculiar and kinda abusive teacher. It’s a masterfully told story that I couldn’t put down once I picked up the book. This reminded me a bit of Bakuman, only with a lot more focus on the actual art and creativity, and without any creepy hormonal teenage boys. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
January 10, 2023
I was relieved to see someone else mention that it took them time to warm up to this volume because I did find myself feeling the same way. It wasn't boring, but for some reason, I wasn't super engaged at first, despite that Higashimura always has an interesting way of storytelling.
With that said, I do plan to continue the series (especially with the high amount of recommendations I've received LOL) because I did feel that the more I read, the more interested I became, especially with the ending. I'm curious as to how she handled things because I too would have felt awful despite knowing what kind of world it is. (Super vague on purpose since I don't want to spoil the end LOL)
I'll also note that her artistic journey is nothing like I imagined. Ha! I have even MORE respect for her than I did before because I feel I honestly would have given up drawing at some point with a teacher as she had…
Overall, this was a good volume. I'm curious to see where it goes next!
With that said, I do plan to continue the series (especially with the high amount of recommendations I've received LOL) because I did feel that the more I read, the more interested I became, especially with the ending. I'm curious as to how she handled things because I too would have felt awful despite knowing what kind of world it is. (Super vague on purpose since I don't want to spoil the end LOL)
I'll also note that her artistic journey is nothing like I imagined. Ha! I have even MORE respect for her than I did before because I feel I honestly would have given up drawing at some point with a teacher as she had…
Overall, this was a good volume. I'm curious to see where it goes next!
July 24, 2019
This autobiographical manga starts with Higashimura as a young manga fan who draws for fun, and moves on to her time in the studio with an unusual, to say the least, group art tutor in her area. "Sensei" is the perfect foil for the ambitious and self-confident, but somewhat lazy girl.
As with all of Higashimura's manga I've read so far, this is a great mix of funny and relatable.
As with all of Higashimura's manga I've read so far, this is a great mix of funny and relatable.
September 6, 2020
Un joli mangas autobiographique sur le parcours d’une jeune fille qui veut devenir mangaka. J’ai beaucoup aimé le récit, l’originalité de la construction de l’histoire, et l’ambiance générale… Hâte de lire la suite !
January 3, 2025
I read this a few years back and loved it. I'm sorry I lost my copy of the book in a forest fire.
The author tells her story of art development from early childhood until now. Very impressive, and fun to read.
The author tells her story of art development from early childhood until now. Very impressive, and fun to read.
July 15, 2020
4.5/5 stars
Blank Canvas is the autobiographical manga of Akiko Higashimura, best known for her Princess Jellyfish series. We follow Hiyashi on her journey to become a shoujo mangaka. In this first volume Hiyashi is in high school and is trying to get into a good art school for university.
I was recommended Blank Canvas by a friend, partially because I myself enjoy art. Ultimately, I do agree that if you are an artist, or do art as a hobby then this is a fantastic read to pick up. I can definitely relate to some of the pigheadedness Hiyashi feels in regards to her skillthough all I need to turn it down a notch is to admire artists who are more talented than myself, and there are plenty and I found her determination to pursue her passion very inspiring. Higashimura’s talent also pops off the page and this manga does well to showcase her skill. She has a pretty distinctive style, so much so that when I was reading this volume my husband felt compelled to ask me if I was reading manga because the art is so different from what I tend to read.
In regards to the story, Higashimura is a really talented storyteller and her memoir is extremely engaging and entertaining. There’s also a melancholy air throughout the story, but more on that later. Something of interest for me in this volume was learning about the Japanese university entrance system at the time. In particular, the methods Hiyashi used to study for her entrance exams were extremely shocking, but very entertaining. Also, if you’ve ever been a university student or applied to university there’s a lot that’s easy to relate to here, overconfidence, failure, that bond between yourself and potential cohorts (these scenes in particular were some of my favourites). While nothing particularly ground breaking is happening in the story, Higashimura successfully captures every day life while still making things both entertaining and relatable.
As for the characters, Hiyashi’s overinflated ego should be off-putting, but its balanced out well by humour. She’s extremely likeable and charming, and though her attitude towards school is less than ideal, her ambition towards art is extremely motivating and inspiring. The side characters are all likeable, though not particularly fleshed out. I don’t actually have a problem with this though, because I feel it reflects on how self-centred Hiyashi is. The most important character, aside from Hiyashi, is Hiyashi’s mentor and teacher, Hidaka. Hidaka is an incredibility talented artist, and an incredibly harsh teacher. Hiyashi does not get along with him initially, but we see their relationship change over time, and its this relationship, and Hiyashi’s attitude towards it later in life, that brings about the melancholy atmosphere that is pervasive throughout the story. So a bit of backstory on me, two years ago I lost one of the prominent father figures in my life. He was someone who always supported every interest I had. I was a math major and he was the only person outside of my math peers who would wish me happy pi day, or send me math memes. He was interested in what I read, and got me to read the Hunger Games, and would tell me about the rare times he watched anime. Hidaka reminds me a lot of him in the way Hidaka supports and looks after his students, and ultimately wants what’s best for them. The chapters in this volume often end with Hiyashi reminiscing on times with Hidaka, and there is something about these moments that really just takes me back. They’re often impactful enough scenes, at least for me personally, that they have me close-to or in tears and I just never expected a story to be able to have such a profound impact on me. I know this story isn’t going to hit everyone the same way it’s gotten to me, but because I’ve made a personal connection with this story it’s become so important to me and I love it so much.
Blog | Instagram (main account) | Instagram (manga account) | Twitter
Blank Canvas is the autobiographical manga of Akiko Higashimura, best known for her Princess Jellyfish series. We follow Hiyashi on her journey to become a shoujo mangaka. In this first volume Hiyashi is in high school and is trying to get into a good art school for university.
I was recommended Blank Canvas by a friend, partially because I myself enjoy art. Ultimately, I do agree that if you are an artist, or do art as a hobby then this is a fantastic read to pick up. I can definitely relate to some of the pigheadedness Hiyashi feels in regards to her skill
In regards to the story, Higashimura is a really talented storyteller and her memoir is extremely engaging and entertaining. There’s also a melancholy air throughout the story, but more on that later. Something of interest for me in this volume was learning about the Japanese university entrance system at the time. In particular, the methods Hiyashi used to study for her entrance exams were extremely shocking, but very entertaining. Also, if you’ve ever been a university student or applied to university there’s a lot that’s easy to relate to here, overconfidence, failure, that bond between yourself and potential cohorts (these scenes in particular were some of my favourites). While nothing particularly ground breaking is happening in the story, Higashimura successfully captures every day life while still making things both entertaining and relatable.
As for the characters, Hiyashi’s overinflated ego should be off-putting, but its balanced out well by humour. She’s extremely likeable and charming, and though her attitude towards school is less than ideal, her ambition towards art is extremely motivating and inspiring. The side characters are all likeable, though not particularly fleshed out. I don’t actually have a problem with this though, because I feel it reflects on how self-centred Hiyashi is. The most important character, aside from Hiyashi, is Hiyashi’s mentor and teacher, Hidaka. Hidaka is an incredibility talented artist, and an incredibly harsh teacher. Hiyashi does not get along with him initially, but we see their relationship change over time, and its this relationship, and Hiyashi’s attitude towards it later in life, that brings about the melancholy atmosphere that is pervasive throughout the story. So a bit of backstory on me, two years ago I lost one of the prominent father figures in my life. He was someone who always supported every interest I had. I was a math major and he was the only person outside of my math peers who would wish me happy pi day, or send me math memes. He was interested in what I read, and got me to read the Hunger Games, and would tell me about the rare times he watched anime. Hidaka reminds me a lot of him in the way Hidaka supports and looks after his students, and ultimately wants what’s best for them. The chapters in this volume often end with Hiyashi reminiscing on times with Hidaka, and there is something about these moments that really just takes me back. They’re often impactful enough scenes, at least for me personally, that they have me close-to or in tears and I just never expected a story to be able to have such a profound impact on me. I know this story isn’t going to hit everyone the same way it’s gotten to me, but because I’ve made a personal connection with this story it’s become so important to me and I love it so much.
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July 2, 2020
3.5 -
I didn’t know this til I got a chapter into this, but this is actually an autobiographical manga about a girl improving her art so she could be a shojo mangaka.
That being said, it is revolved around artsy things (ex. drawing busts/sculptures). It also included stuff about her schooling and a few friends she made along the way. It’s not necessarily a slice of life, but it can be labeled as one.
The storytelling is charming and told from a mature adult’s perspective of their younger immature self. It flows fairly well, except for when the time jumps happen. It tries it’s hardest to explain and connect but it doesn’t quite get it.
I actually like the art in this one. I started out not liking it as much but then I got further in and I appreciated it more. It’s proportional and pretty cute!
As an artist, this inspired me. I haven’t really worked on my realistic skills lately, like the author is doing in this one, so it sort of hit home. I was taught sort of similar to the author and this reminded me of what I needed to be doing and had been slacking off on.
My major complaint as an artist is the sensei’s method of teaching. His way will not work for everyone, no matter how hard the student tries. But I can see his perspective of “don’t give up until you’ve got it down” and of pushing the students past what they boxed themselves into.
I might just keep reading this series to feel inspired to do art lol. Who knows.
I didn’t know this til I got a chapter into this, but this is actually an autobiographical manga about a girl improving her art so she could be a shojo mangaka.
That being said, it is revolved around artsy things (ex. drawing busts/sculptures). It also included stuff about her schooling and a few friends she made along the way. It’s not necessarily a slice of life, but it can be labeled as one.
The storytelling is charming and told from a mature adult’s perspective of their younger immature self. It flows fairly well, except for when the time jumps happen. It tries it’s hardest to explain and connect but it doesn’t quite get it.
I actually like the art in this one. I started out not liking it as much but then I got further in and I appreciated it more. It’s proportional and pretty cute!
As an artist, this inspired me. I haven’t really worked on my realistic skills lately, like the author is doing in this one, so it sort of hit home. I was taught sort of similar to the author and this reminded me of what I needed to be doing and had been slacking off on.
My major complaint as an artist is the sensei’s method of teaching. His way will not work for everyone, no matter how hard the student tries. But I can see his perspective of “don’t give up until you’ve got it down” and of pushing the students past what they boxed themselves into.
I might just keep reading this series to feel inspired to do art lol. Who knows.
May 31, 2020
An autobiographical manga that's part nostalgia, part self-deprecating humor. There were some moments that made me laugh and others that made me cringe just a little. It's fitting for Higashimura, and if you like any of her works or are attempting to be an artist yourself, it's a good read.
May 16, 2019
I'm a different enough person than Higashimura that this felt like reading a diary I couldn't relate to. I can't help feeling like she wrote it for herself rather than the reading public.
August 12, 2019
Oof...this hits a little too close to home.
February 13, 2021
As much as I really liked the anime adaption of “Princess Jellyfish”, I got bored while reading the 9th chapter author’s manga autobiography. Unfortunately I have to drop this, rather disappointed that it just wasn’t engaging enough for me... :/
Btw I would hate to have a teacher like sensei again, secondary school definitely had one of those for me to experience-_-
Btw I would hate to have a teacher like sensei again, secondary school definitely had one of those for me to experience-_-
March 10, 2022
Bah j'ai pleuré, voilà tout.
August 17, 2019
Delightful! I love Princess Jellyfish and have a rocky relationship with Tarareba Girls, but this fulfills my every autobio itch. A few instances of brief fat shaming, but that is a theme in Akiko's work, just an fyi if that's an issue for you.
Definitely reading the next volume!
Definitely reading the next volume!
April 12, 2022
看了《藍色時期》之後想說來看另一部談美術院校的寫實得獎作，作者自敘的內容太多，一開始來很難進入狀況，但一集就考上了完全不拖沓，而且和其他作品及個人經驗比較滿有意思的，算是倒吃甘蔗的閱讀經驗吧。
p.5 不太習慣這種作者第一人稱敘事法，漫畫裡很少見。
p.32「將青春年華的周末假日（還有平日的晚上）全部用在畫室上課。」
好像是這樣上課沒錯，而且我的老師講話也是很直接……
前陣子我夢到老師，醒來後內容全忘光了（大概又是模擬考我構圖有問題之類的），赫然想起我現在正是上榜那年老師的年紀。
p.38「不分老少，各式各樣的人都會來這裡上課」
如果說《藍色時期》東京的美術補習班有像臺北的升學畫室，那作者進到的這間鄉下美術教室就比較像當年我去學畫的地方……
p.114
這段很有趣，就《塗鴉日記》和《藍色時期》對照，東村考大學時（1995），美大的術科第一關考題類型（石膏像）和二十多年後（莫名搞怪的拼湊式素描課題）大相逕庭。
p.116
「國公立大學教育系的美術學系」這句應該是「國公立大學教育學院的美術學系」吧。
教育學院與藝大體系的差異TW也是有但沒有這麼大，印象中同學去日本教育學院交換之後也說過日本這種體系的學生術科不深；TW除了少數幾間完全不看術科成績的院校（記得當年花教大是這樣），師範體系的美術系大多還是關注術科成績的，不太可能「參加美術社團」或「上過幾堂講座」就考上……至少要像《藍色時期》那樣進畫室磨個兩年吧。
p.5 不太習慣這種作者第一人稱敘事法，漫畫裡很少見。
p.32「將青春年華的周末假日（還有平日的晚上）全部用在畫室上課。」
好像是這樣上課沒錯，而且我的老師講話也是很直接……
前陣子我夢到老師，醒來後內容全忘光了（大概又是模擬考我構圖有問題之類的），赫然想起我現在正是上榜那年老師的年紀。
p.38「不分老少，各式各樣的人都會來這裡上課」
如果說《藍色時期》東京的美術補習班有像臺北的升學畫室，那作者進到的這間鄉下美術教室就比較像當年我去學畫的地方……
p.114
這段很有趣，就《塗鴉日記》和《藍色時期》對照，東村考大學時（1995），美大的術科第一關考題類型（石膏像）和二十多年後（莫名搞怪的拼湊式素描課題）大相逕庭。
p.116
「國公立大學教育系的美術學系」這句應該是「國公立大學教育學院的美術學系」吧。
教育學院與藝大體系的差異TW也是有但沒有這麼大，印象中同學去日本教育學院交換之後也說過日本這種體系的學生術科不深；TW除了少數幾間完全不看術科成績的院校（記得當年花教大是這樣），師範體系的美術系大多還是關注術科成績的，不太可能「參加美術社團」或「上過幾堂講座」就考上……至少要像《藍色時期》那樣進畫室磨個兩年吧。
November 25, 2019
This series is 5 volumes long, and originally ran from November 2011 to January 2015. It was published in Japan by Shueisha and in English by Seven Seas Entertainment. And it's filling the rather obvious spot of nonfiction manga challenge number 15 in Manga Hoarder's 2019 challenge.
As far as warnings go, I don't really see any except for a very strict instructor who yells a lot.
My favourite mangaka by far for some time now, I guess I'll say that Akiko Higashimura writes josai manga and beyond the fact that I've already talked about her a lot this is an autobio comic so talking about her now feels redundant. I guess I will say that, like many of my favourite authors, Higashimura is ready to laugh at her younger self's over confidence and naivete. Obviously, now the creator of several awesome manga series, Higashimura has reached some amount of success, but she's not cutting herself any slack and it's hilarious.
As far as a description of the volume itself, here we go: High schooler Akiko has big plans to become a popular mangaka before she even graduates, but she needs to get much better at drawing if she ever wants to reach her goal. Looking for an easy fix, she signs up for an art class, thinking all her problems will soon be solved. She's in for a surprise: her new instructor is a bamboo sword-wielding taskmaster who doesn't care about manga one bit. But maybe this unconventional art teacher is just what she needs to realize her dreams!
The art, as I've come to expect with Higashimura, was excellent and expressive. Unlike Tokyo Tarareba Girls and Princess Jellyfish however, I thought all the models seemed pretty unique and not like I'd seen them before.
Race, like most manga, is not touched on except the slightly related note that apparently Greek Statues are apparently THE THING when it comes to Japanese art school. I guess this gives a bit more context to the series MARS?
Sexuality is also largely ignored so far. The author has always aspired to write shojo manga that one would expect would involve heterosexual romance, but the focus of her life in the story is manga and not much else. And besides maybe a few small digs at Shojo manga overall gender is generally represented in ways that are empowering.
I didn't notice class as being a thing.
As far as warnings go, I don't really see any except for a very strict instructor who yells a lot.
My favourite mangaka by far for some time now, I guess I'll say that Akiko Higashimura writes josai manga and beyond the fact that I've already talked about her a lot this is an autobio comic so talking about her now feels redundant. I guess I will say that, like many of my favourite authors, Higashimura is ready to laugh at her younger self's over confidence and naivete. Obviously, now the creator of several awesome manga series, Higashimura has reached some amount of success, but she's not cutting herself any slack and it's hilarious.
As far as a description of the volume itself, here we go: High schooler Akiko has big plans to become a popular mangaka before she even graduates, but she needs to get much better at drawing if she ever wants to reach her goal. Looking for an easy fix, she signs up for an art class, thinking all her problems will soon be solved. She's in for a surprise: her new instructor is a bamboo sword-wielding taskmaster who doesn't care about manga one bit. But maybe this unconventional art teacher is just what she needs to realize her dreams!
The art, as I've come to expect with Higashimura, was excellent and expressive. Unlike Tokyo Tarareba Girls and Princess Jellyfish however, I thought all the models seemed pretty unique and not like I'd seen them before.
Race, like most manga, is not touched on except the slightly related note that apparently Greek Statues are apparently THE THING when it comes to Japanese art school. I guess this gives a bit more context to the series MARS?
Sexuality is also largely ignored so far. The author has always aspired to write shojo manga that one would expect would involve heterosexual romance, but the focus of her life in the story is manga and not much else. And besides maybe a few small digs at Shojo manga overall gender is generally represented in ways that are empowering.
I didn't notice class as being a thing.
December 19, 2019
I loved this so much!
As someone who spent too much time trying to get into art college and has taken a number of different art classes I totally related to this.
I think if anyone found the teacher too harsh is someone who has never taken art classes outside of high school. I've had way harsher teachers and I never actually went on to art college. Even my graphic design teacher was much harsher.
I am so excited to get more of the volumes for sure.
As someone who spent too much time trying to get into art college and has taken a number of different art classes I totally related to this.
I think if anyone found the teacher too harsh is someone who has never taken art classes outside of high school. I've had way harsher teachers and I never actually went on to art college. Even my graphic design teacher was much harsher.
I am so excited to get more of the volumes for sure.
Read
January 10, 2020I got this because I really was enjoying Princess Jellyfish and the mini-stories she told about her own life as a fan, but I was a bit disappointed. The pacing feels off. The ominous allusions to the art teacher feel like forced wistfulness. I wonder if she could have evoked that elsewhere? I regret purchasing it but actually do want to continue reading it. I just don't think I'll ever reread it... So I'll just get the rest of it from the library!
(Don't pirate manga, folks.)
(Don't pirate manga, folks.)
May 24, 2023
Really interesting and sentimental shoujo/josei manga, without missing the funny element in any way. Interesting emphasis on the teacher/ student relationship as well as friendships while growing up.
Interested to read the next volumes for sure.
*Read as a part of a uni course. Read in both Japanese and English.
Interested to read the next volumes for sure.
*Read as a part of a uni course. Read in both Japanese and English.
March 21, 2020
This is a nonfiction manga which is a memoir of the mangaka Ms Higashimura. Since young, she was fascinated with shoujo manga and thought she could draw and become a mangaka when she grew up. So most of her schooling years wasted with this idea. When it's time to go to college, before sitting down for the entrance exam, Ms Higashimura faced the fact that her art may not be good enough for her to go to her university of choice. Hence, one day, she went to an art cramp class where she first met her sensei. Throughout the first volume, there is a lot of time she addresses this sensei as someone she's grateful for.
I've read 1 of her manga and saw the adaptation of her other manga and all I can say is that she's kinda 'crazy' and exaggerate in her storytelling. However, I found that as one of the charms in her stuff. As far as Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 1 series, I saw that she shared her life story when she was in school at the end of every volume. I don't think Blank Canvas is the collection of that snippet since it focuses totally on her creative life and how she becomes a published mangaka and a successful one at that! Totally enjoying the series.
January 14, 2023
I loved Princess Jellyfish as much as the next 2010's teen weeb discovering their penchant for shoujo was at odds with their budding queerness - but really did not vibe with Higashimura's Tokyo Tarareba Girls (go figure considering the subject matter). So it took me a while to finally pick up this series because of my mixed feelings about her work. But I'm really glad I did.
One of my favorite things about Higashimura's books were her diary comics at the end. Even when reading Tokyo Tarareba Girls I was basically just looking forward to those more than reading the main story. Higashimura is a really wild person, a character straight our of her own manga. It made me respect her ability to writer characters so well because she sometimes can so overwhelming in her own right. I think she does a fantastic job cataloging her life as a budding artist and the follies of being a stuck up teenager from the boonies. I relate a to her general plight and struggle of finding her artistic voice between burnout and procrastination (I swear I'm not as bad as her though).
One of my favorite things about Higashimura's books were her diary comics at the end. Even when reading Tokyo Tarareba Girls I was basically just looking forward to those more than reading the main story. Higashimura is a really wild person, a character straight our of her own manga. It made me respect her ability to writer characters so well because she sometimes can so overwhelming in her own right. I think she does a fantastic job cataloging her life as a budding artist and the follies of being a stuck up teenager from the boonies. I relate a to her general plight and struggle of finding her artistic voice between burnout and procrastination (I swear I'm not as bad as her though).
August 30, 2019
I have been waiting for an English edition to be (physically) published for the longest time, and it's finally here! I first read this series online by a friend's recommendation because I was already a huge fan of Higashimura sensei's other works (namely Princess Jellyfish), and needless to say I was reduced to tears by the end of this series.
I was surprised by her honest raw critique of herself which she put onto the pages, which I think is one of the biggest charms of her storytelling - to be able to call a spade a spade, especially in uncomfortable situations. I look forward to collecting the remaining books in the series, which I will likely continue add to by Goodread shelf but without reviews (because the journey should really be viewed as a complete package instead of in parts, at least to me).
Highly recommended to existing fans of Higashimura sensei's other series and of the josei and autobiographical comics genre.
I was surprised by her honest raw critique of herself which she put onto the pages, which I think is one of the biggest charms of her storytelling - to be able to call a spade a spade, especially in uncomfortable situations. I look forward to collecting the remaining books in the series, which I will likely continue add to by Goodread shelf but without reviews (because the journey should really be viewed as a complete package instead of in parts, at least to me).
Highly recommended to existing fans of Higashimura sensei's other series and of the josei and autobiographical comics genre.
January 16, 2022
an autobiographical manga by Akiko sensei. In this manga, she tell us who is the one who teach her drawing, her journey from high school to college student and into mangaka. All comes from one person, her sensei.
at first, I was taken aback on how abusive the sensei is, he really smack his students lmao. But I'm tearing up a bit because I can feel their relationship deepened. I love how sensei is straightforward toward Akiko-san. He straight up telling her what is lacking in her drawing, teaching her even though its so strict. I love how Akiko also slowly opening up, trust, and depend on him. I can feel I will cry a lot reading the next volumes.
I couldn't say it heartwarming, but its inspiring. If you have read bakuman, or blue period, then you will also love this one, as its also explained detailed about the art. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
at first, I was taken aback on how abusive the sensei is, he really smack his students lmao. But I'm tearing up a bit because I can feel their relationship deepened. I love how sensei is straightforward toward Akiko-san. He straight up telling her what is lacking in her drawing, teaching her even though its so strict. I love how Akiko also slowly opening up, trust, and depend on him. I can feel I will cry a lot reading the next volumes.
I couldn't say it heartwarming, but its inspiring. If you have read bakuman, or blue period, then you will also love this one, as its also explained detailed about the art. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 26, 2022
Manga autobiografis Akiko Higashimura ini dibuka dengan impian Higashimura sejak kecil yaitu menjadi seorang shoujo mangaka. Ia direkomendasikan teman sekelasnya, Futami, untuk ikut kursus lukis di tempat yang cukup terpencil dengan guru yang luar biasa galak. Hidaka-sensei mengajar murid-muridnya bak latihan tentara Sparta, terkesan kejam dan nihil belas kasihan, namun sesekali Higashimura menyaksikan sisi-sisi baik darinya dan mengenangnya hingga puluhan tahun kemudian. Hari-hari kursus dan belajar dengan keras untuk mengikuti berbagai tes diakhiri dalam volume ini dengan masa-masa mengikuti ujian masuk di tiga universitas pilihan penulis.
May 14, 2020
The first volume of an autobiographical manga by famous Akiko Higashimura was a delight!
I loved her self-deprecating humor, how honest she was about her own foolish teenage self. Honest but loving.
The art is lovely!
I loved Akiko as a protagonist and I loved the Teacher as the other main character.
I can’t wait to read more!
It’s a complete five-volume series, all books are already released in Russia by Istari Comics.
I loved her self-deprecating humor, how honest she was about her own foolish teenage self. Honest but loving.
The art is lovely!
I loved Akiko as a protagonist and I loved the Teacher as the other main character.
I can’t wait to read more!
It’s a complete five-volume series, all books are already released in Russia by Istari Comics.
June 4, 2021
An autobiographical story of the artist who became a best-selling manga creator
This has caught my interest enough to continue in the series, mostly because I (1) want to see how Higashimura goes from being rejected by art schools to becoming successful and (2) am blown away by her relationship with her art instructor - he seems so harsh that I want to see how it morphs into something that she's clearly sentimental about in a positive way.
This has caught my interest enough to continue in the series, mostly because I (1) want to see how Higashimura goes from being rejected by art schools to becoming successful and (2) am blown away by her relationship with her art instructor - he seems so harsh that I want to see how it morphs into something that she's clearly sentimental about in a positive way.
June 12, 2019
Favorite manga this year so far!
I f**king LOVE Akiko Higashimura. This is an autobiographical look at her teenage years, when she joins an art class to hone her skills under a rather eccentric teacher...
I f**king LOVE Akiko Higashimura. This is an autobiographical look at her teenage years, when she joins an art class to hone her skills under a rather eccentric teacher...
March 16, 2019
Un gioiello di leggerezza, onesta ironia e profondità di pensiero. Consigliatissimo!
January 24, 2020
i needa hurry and get vol. 2 to see if she got into art university! >__< her mini monologues at the end of each chapter are a bit corny lol otherwise this had me laughing throughout!
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