Making Comics in Japan

Looking at creative work for foreigners in Japan.

I sometimes think that artists like Anton McKay would do very well here in Japan with his European art style reminiscent of the popular 'Tin Tin' (Here renamed 'tan tan' due to 'tin tin' sounding [in Japanese] very much like the slang used to describe the male reproductive organ).

Online, its easy to find posts on many forums from foreigners here in Japan lamenting about not being able to find work. Their dreams of becoming a Manga-ka or computer game designer are shattered when they get here and find that the only (seemingly) available work is as an English teacher.

Yes, it is hard to find creative work here and I hardly consider myself a success. I have been in Japan for 8 months and have - to date - only done three pieces of commercial design work (and completed one 80 page comic book). My income is supplemented by teaching English at a corporate level, which I feel has been beneficial to me at any rate. Since finishing my Degree, my writing skills had kind of... well... taken a bit of a dive. I do after all, consider myself a comics writer and artist and take this position as a way sharpening those those long dormant skills.

Going from working as a Designer to working as, essentially, a freelancer has it's pitfalls. And there are many; balancing a 'real' job until you are able to sustain yourself on just the design or illustration or writing (or whatever it is that you are pursuing) are but one of many. Working as a Freelancer - and I believe that working in comics you need to have the mindset of a freelancer to succeed - involves dedication, skill, great time management and a good business head.

I could go on and on about being a freelancer, but I wont. I will leave it up to you to research that for now (or until we publish a piece here). Many people dream of finding their dream job or creating their own. The only difference in doing it in another country is that you have more to consider (living, visas, tax etc...) and that you are leaving some of the essentials behind (business associates, friends and basically your entire safety network).

And then there's Language. Japan is a country that teaches English in school. Now, I did about 4 or so years of Italian back when I was an Oompah loompah. I used to read kids books in Italian. I loved 'Asterix' and 'tin tin' (the book people. The book.) But do you think I can remember a word of Italian today? Well, yes. But there in lies my point. I remember a word. Or two.

The Same is true of Japanese people. Although there are many people who speak English well, there are also many who can't speak English at all. It would make for a difficult work environment if you couldn't speak any Japanese. As an employer, I have to say that I would not hire somebody who was unable to communicate effectively with all of my staff. Would you?

Thats not to say that you can't get creative work here without being able to speak Japanese, but it makes life much easier. Being able to communicate ideas is very important in any creative work. I knew that after my first freelance job here, but was recently made more concrete given my close proximity to some people in some very cool positions at top computer game and Animation studios.

There exists a small community of ex-pats in creative positions here; foreigners have worked for Studio Ghibli, Advertising Agencies such as Dentsu, on television and in other companies and areas such as Michael Arias - the first foreign director to enter Japan's cult domain; who directed 'tekkonkinkreet' - released earlier this year. And then there's the amazingly popular Eisner Award winning Paul Pope who has worked for Kodansha, Japans best-known Manga publisher, DC comics and slew of others.

When all is said and done, when all the odds are stacked up against you, When it all seems to difficult and you feel as though your dream is breaking your back, remember that it can be done. It has been done. And that you can do it. I am sure that even big names like Paul Pope had his moments of doubt.