Exhibition - Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey

Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey Kakukaku Shikajika

HIGASHIMURA Akiko

19th Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Division Grand Prize
Publisher: Shueisha Inc.
Volume 1 published in 2012
Volumes: 5 (finished)
Copyright: © Akiko HIGASHIMURA / SHUEISHA

English Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment

Director’s comment

This masterpiece by HIGASHIMURA Akiko tells the story of HAYASHI Akiko, an alter ego of the author in this semi-autobiographical story. Akiko wants to learn how to draw because she wants to become a mangaka, and she ends up in the classroom of the art teacher HIDAKA Kenzo in her native southern Japanese island of Kyushu. HIDAKA-sensei is very strict –he even threatens the students who don’t “behave” with a bamboo sword!– and he believes in classical art as the foundation for all kinds of art. His mantra can be reduced to one single word: “Draw!”, as only through practice can one improve, whether in fine arts or in manga.

HIDAKA-sensei’s classes are very hard to follow and many students end up quitting shortly after they start. However, even though she attends the classes somewhat reluctantly and always complaining, Akiko soldiers on to fulfill her dream of being an art student at a specialized university… with the final goal of becoming a mangaka. A love-hate relationship between student and teacher develops and becomes the centerpiece on which this moving story and homage revolves.

Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey (5 volumes, finished) is available in English from Seven Seas Entertainment.

About the author

HIGASHIMURA Akiko

Born in Miyazaki. She debuted with the comic Fruits Komori in Bouquet Deluxe—New Year’s Special Edition (Shueisha) in 1999. From then, she has written extensively not only in shojo manga, but also with seinen and period manga. Her works are popular across genres. Her works include the fashion masterpiece Kisekae Yuka-chan, the monument to parenting Mama wa tenparist (Mama has a Temper), her painful autobiography Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey, the beautiful suspense comic Bishoku tantei Akechi Goro (Gourmet Detective Akechi Goro), and a comicalized version of novelist HAYASHI Mariko’s work Hypermedy Nakajima Haruko (all by Shueisha).

HIGASHIMURA Akiko Twitter
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Cocohana (Shueisha) website
Seven Seas Entertainment website

Exhibition of selected artworks

This semi-autobiographical story is primarily set in rural Japan, such as the southern island of Kyushu and the vicinity of Kanazawa.

Translation:
Kakukaku Shikajika
canvas 11

At the beginning, the protagonist HAYASHI Akiko introduces her teacher and her reasons for drawing this manga, using (in the original Japanese) the expression kakukaku shikajika (blah, blah, yadda yadda), which also becomes the title for the work itself.

Translation:
1. I spent countless hours with HIDAKA Kenzou-sensei, my teacher and mentor. 2. It’s been twenty years since that day... 3. and now I’m drawing this manga as part of my so-called “artist’s journey.”

HIDAKA-sensei’s persona is very tough and angry. But, in fact, he has a very sweet and caring side too.

Translation:
1. What? N-no! I’m fine, I’m fine... 2. Said yer stomach hurt, right?! I ain’t lettin’ you pass out in the street! 3. No, I mean… That was... 4. Just get on, dammit!!!

Even though Akiko’s dream is to become a mangaka, she is afraid to tell her teacher, who insists on fine arts.

Translation:
1. I continued going to sensei’s classroom without saying a word about manga.

Although HIDAKA-sensei has very bad manners, he is a good and caring teacher. Eventually, Akiko ends up helping him in his art academy.

Translation:
1. Listen up, dumbasses!! Don’t forget to check the time during yer exams, dammit!!! 2. If ya screw up yer times and don’t finish yer sketch, yer failin’ for sure!!! 3. This takes me back... 4. Other than that, just draw like always!! 5. HAYASHI!! You give ’em some advice, too!! 6. Oh! S sure. 7. …... 8. You guys... 9. It'll be fine! Just believe in yourselves!! 10. You’re all going to get in, I swear!!

This introspective work is poignant, with heart-touching scenes and reflections about student-teacher connections.

Translation:
1. “Faster!” 2. “Faster!” 3. “I want to sell my work!” 4. “I want to get famous!” 5. “I don’t want my peers to beat me!” 6. “I want to be the best!” 7. “I need more money!” 8. I’m sorry, sensei. 9. I was a greedy person who only ever thought about herself. 10. I knew you didn’t have much time left... 11. But I still abandoned you and ran away.