What does it mean to write? Writing is a very simple task one can do with only a pen and paper. And yet, the possibilities are endless. This popular series from last year comes back with a new lineup of interviewees. To everyone who is involved in writing on a daily basis, what does it mean to write?

What does it mean to write?

Kamentotsu【３】

SEASON2 vol.3

Kamentotsu

I draw while experimenting
in the hope people will play with it.

Manga artist Kamentotsu worked in various fields before debuting as a manga artist when he was 27. Although he was good at going undercover and the pieces he uploaded as a report manga artist was often talked about, he struggled as an artist. However, the views on him changed after his piece Koguma’s Cake Shop (koguma meaning “bear cub” in Japanese) that he uploaded on Twitter became a hit in 2017. We’ll be looking into how Kamentotsu continues to experiment ways to draw that’s only possible because he publishes his pieces for free on the Internet and not on paper. Look out for the video of Kamentotsu drawing store manager Koguma towards the end of this interview!

ProfileKamentotsu

Born 1986 in Aichi prefecture. Manga artist who mainly publishes pieces online. His manga Koguma’s Cake Shop was uploaded to his social media in 2017. It was later published and sold 500,000 copies in just a year.

Homepage
Twitter@Computerozi

Table of Contents

Drawing Store Manager Koguma

ーー: In the Koguma’s Cake Shop, the Koguma runs a cake shop, but do you like cakes yourself?

Kamentotsu: No, it wasn’t something I was particularly interested in. I have books titled “Cute Sweets of the World” in my bookshelf as materials, but in the first episode of Koguma’s Cake Shop, cakes actually don’t appear. I think that’s because baking cakes weren’t in my interest. I simply thought a cute job occupation would be a patisserie.

ーー: Did you think about how things might develop when you first uploaded Koguma’s Cake Shop on Twitter?

Kamentotsu: No, I actually hadn’t. It’s probably more smart to say that all of this was planned out, but I really didn’t know where I was heading. The publishers for the Koguma’s Cake Shop, Shogakukan, wasn’t somewhere to publish books with content that derived from the Internet, or because it went viral on Twitter. So the Koguma’s Cake Shop was one of the first Internet mangas to cut its way through. That’s especially why I chose to make the size of the book similar to that of a smartphone screen and experimented a lot. I knew if I didn’t do it now, people who plan to debut on Twitter will be troubled later on.

ーー: So there wasn’t a base ground for Internet manga artists when Koguma’s Cake Shop was published?

Kamentotsu: I think it’s hard to bring in a Twitter artist unless you really search for it all the time. The whole industry probably hadn’t catched up. I think companies who create pieces feel uncomfortable with sharing and showing things online for free. They’re probably afraid if a book that’s available for free wouldn’t sell well. I’m sure they have pride as book makers not sharing a piece until one opens a book, too.

ーー: I’m assuming that the age group of readers will be high if your piece was solely to be shared on Twitter. With the Koguma’s Cake Shop turning into a book, it’s reached the kids as well.

Kamentotsu: You’re absolutely right. I was pleased to know that when my friend said “hey, that’s that manga from Twitter” to his niece reading Koguma, he asked him back “What’s Twitter?” I’m happy to know I’ve bridged the world of Internet mangas.

ーー: If you don’t mind, can we film you drawing shop owner Koguma?

Kamentotsu: Yes, of course. First, a rough draft. (Starts to draw the shop manager)

ーー: Please start whenever you like.

Kamentotsu: Because the theme is “what does it mean to write?” I think it’ll be better to show it like I’m writing something.

ーー: Are your rough sketches always with a mechanical pencil?

Kamentotsu: Yes, that’s what I use. Store manager Koguma normally doesn’t wear any clothes, so I’m currently into making him wear clothes. Hmm, like this I suppose.

ーー: This! It’s already so cute.

Kamentotsu: Before I color in black, I check how the ink flows on the edge of the paper.

ーー: With its fur appearing, I suddenly feel the warmth of this character.

Kamentotsu: Oh really? Maybe it feels like it “exists” there. That means this character couldn’t have been a polar bear.

ーー: I see you turn the paper around as you draw.

Kamentotsu: A lot of analogue artists can draw from any direction. That’s probably because we turn the paper around a lot.

Kamentotsu: Once I’ve dried this out with a hair dryer, I’m going to color in the white parts.

ーー: Oh, now that you’ve added in the white, it seems more fleeting. What’s your concept for his outfit?

Kamentotsu: I guess a quest, or exploring. Like thinking of what it means to draw but having fun at the same time.

ーー: Like an atmosphere of a role-playing game.

Kamentotsu: I’ve always liked that kind of worldview. If it’s a topic I can enjoy drawing, I myself think it’s good. Finally, touching up using the Fudenosuke brush pen... and this is how it’s turned out.

ーー: Wow, it’s so cute!! You then scan this drawing and color in digitally.

Kamentotsu: Yes, the colors are digital. I’ll finish this off later and send it to you.

ーー: Thank you so much! To think of it, even though you don’t have pens that a typical manga artist would have, you made the Koguma hold a comic g nib.

Kamentotsu: Yeah now that you say it, you’re right. Well, I guess as an item typical to mangas. When I started drawing mangas, I did try using a comic g nib, but stopped after realizing I don’t really need to use a pen that’s so symbolic.

ーー: Can I ask you one final question? Why do you think you were able to stick to your job as a manga artist after experiencing so many other jobs?

Kamentotsu: I think the occupation of a manga artist is actually troublesome. It’s hard and doesn’t have much security. I’m also not the most talented artist out there, so I think my position is the hardest to handle. I draw even so because I don’t know, I guess a sense of responsibility? It’s hard to put into words. I do love to draw. I’d always thought I couldn’t draw, but for some reason I was able to. I guess that’s the part of the dots connecting to become a line.

ーー: And at the continuation of that line is the Koguma’s Cake Shop and all the pieces you’re going to publish in the future. Thank you so much for your time today!

(End)

Share

SEASON 2

SEASON 1