Inspired by a short story of his life in the book Folk Tales of Japan by Kyota Ko.
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New ideas can be fun, but that doesn’t mean they’re good. © Khalid Birdsong
Mastering getting creative work done is one thing, but what happens if you don’t even know where to start?
Coming up with new ideas can be challenging.
Most people don’t have a magical Japanese Tanuki raccoon by their side to help them brainstorm. Fear not. You can always find inspiration in the world around you, the books you read, the shows you watch, and even in discussing current events with friends. When you expect to be inspired, you’ll look for exciting themes and discover ideas around you.
Okay, maybe it’s not that easy. Here are a couple of techniques I use to get inspired.
Free association can be a fun way to spill everything in your head and make connections by writing words and sketching them out in your notes.
Free association in psychology refers to a process of discovering your genuine thoughts, memories, and feelings by freely sharing all the seemingly random thoughts that pass through your mind. Usually, you are given a prompt like a word or image without context then, you say what it makes you think of. The person leading the exercise tries to create links between the prompt and your response to learn about how your brain makes connections between ideas.
Sigmund Freud was the first pioneer of the psychoanalysis technique of free association. Freud worked on developing this technique further between 1892 and 1898. This new method became a cornerstone of psychoanalytic therapy. Freud based free association on the theory of psychic determinism that informed all his work.
My way of doing this involves sitting down at my drafting table, staring at the wall, and writing down whatever comes into my head—even if it’s unrelated. For a project where I already have characters, like my Fried Chicken and Sushi comic strip, I might have one character in mind, like J, and throw out words that come to me when I think of him.
Some people say it’s crazy, but I also like asking my characters what they want to do next. I’ll often start sketching them in various poses, doing different things like cooking, playing sports, or dancing. Eventually, they answer me, and new ideas for strips emerge, sometimes quickly, after a lot of random writing and drawing.
If you’re trying to write a new story idea from scratch, you could pick a word for something you’re interested in, like football. Write down all the words that come to your mind to describe the game of football and what it means to you.
Can you create a character that wants to play football but can’t, or they only focus on becoming the best player in the world and neglects other essential parts of life?
Like Tanuki stated in the comic above, combining random ideas is fun, but a story is only interesting as long as there’s conflict.
This leads me to my next point.
Add opposites for conflict and contrast.
Anywhere you can put a character with an opposite personality to another, something that feels opposed to everything in the world you create, or an opposing view to the points in an article you write is compelling and will create even more ideas.
I’m still working on getting better at this, but whenever I’m stuck on an idea, whether writing or drawing, I go back to opposites.
Take two things you’re interested in and add something opposite.
Why? Putting two things together is easy but doesn’t make a story. Adding an opposite element to your idea gives natural conflict and possibilities to electrify your new project.
I made this comic by using the brainstorming technique with Tanuki above. © Khalid Birdsong
For example, say you’re interested in writing a fantasy short story. You think firefighters are incredible, and you love magic. Firefighters put out fires. The opposite could be a firefighter who starts fires. Or one who can start fires with magic. Is he doing it to give firefighters something to do? Is he crazy? Does he want to watch the world burn? In what kind of world are they living?
You see, just these three elements have me exploring questions and figuring out a world. Coming up with ideas isn’t as difficult as you might think. I bet you can create impressive new concepts with the above methods. The challenge is deciding which ideas are the best for you to take seriously and then start working on them regularly.
Choosing ideas to commit to long-term is a challenge we can discuss in a future post.
Stay tuned.
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All photos were taken by or illustrated by the author.
I like knowing I’m doing the right thing. Who doesn’t?
Making sure to meditate every morning is something I think I’m doing right, but I’m probably wrong. Accepting your biases and thinking your point of view may not be accurate is something I’m working on improving.
I can say, sitting in silence for 10–20 minutes first thing in the morning helps me face my emotions head-on. When it’s time to write or draw, it’s easier for me to plug into my creativity and get going.
There must be something to it.
I just recently returned from a phenomenal trip to Koyasan, a town on top of a mountain full of ancient Buddhist temples in the Kansai region of Japan. I’ve wanted to go for many years. Visiting my in-laws in Osaka allowed me to finally get close enough to make the overnight expedition happen.
Even if you’re not a practicing Buddhist, you can pray in the temples, as long as you throw a few coins in the donation bin before clapping your hands twice and bowing.
Getting up to the temples is no joke.
You can only take a cable car straight up the mountain. Beautiful views, but you definitely feel far removed from the regular world below.
I believe Kobo Daishi, the monk who established the town over a thousand years ago, meant it as a place for zen training and meditation. You can tell by the calmness all around the area.
Many of the original temples were burned down during wars or due to lightning strikes but rebuilt multiple times over the years and are gorgeous.
The temple we meditated in during our visit. The doors were open, but no pictures were allowed inside.
This is the temple next to the ryokan (Japanese traditional style hotel) we stayed in during our visit. The doors are closed now, but they were open for us to have an enjoyable meditation class inside in the morning.
You’re not allowed to take photos of the interior but believe me, the decorations were ornate and beautiful. We had two monks sharing how to pray and meditate.
I remember them mentioning sitting with your legs crossed with the left one under the right. Your hands are in your lap, palms up, with your left hand under your right as well. Somehow, you should close your eyes almost all the way shut, not fully closed, and look down at your nose.
They said this helps you focus more, but I kept closing my eyes after about twenty seconds.
We couldn’t be in the full crossed legs position because the monks had us sit on small benches inside the temple. Placing our hands together and breathing deeply for several minutes is something we could do while sitting.
Looking at my nose and holding my left hand under my right, palms up, helped me focus on being in the present moment. Now, when I’m at home practising, on the floor with my legs folded and my hands, I notice how much smoother I ease into deep meditation.
My mind wanders less at first.
Getting your body in the proper position and posture truly makes a difference. I knew sitting on the floor with my back straight helped before, but now I’m even more convinced stacking your hands and touching your thumbs together helps to center your mind.
The monks showed us that rocking side to side helps to loosen your body if sitting in the position is uncomfortable at first. I understood that even monks have days when sitting correctly may be difficult.
In the beginning, you can always find a way to make something work better for yourself.
We also practised writing calligraphy with a brush pen when we returned to our room. I couldn’t write Japanese, but it didn’t matter. I mainly had to trace.
The kanji characters were underneath; all you had to do was brush over them. The writing is about living a peaceful life, and the monks recited this during our meditation practice time. Writing with a brush pen was meditative and took more time than I thought, but I stuck with it.
I felt there was a lesson there.
The results of my calligraphy writing practice.
As a cartoonist, one of my favorite details about Koyasan, and just about everywhere in Japan, is how they have cute mascots.
This little monk character, Koyakun, was everywhere we went, giving advice and showing us around.
Koyakun was everywhere with helpful signs to guide you.
Koyasan monks practice Shingon Buddhism. Therefore, how they taught meditation goes along with how that particular sect practices.
Even with their advice, I still believe you can meditate any way you choose. It’s easier if you think about it openly and not full of strict rules.
You should start a meditation practice if you haven’t already. We hear some of the benefits of meditation, like more self-awareness and clear thinking, but is this true for everybody? The statistics would say so. In fact, a lot of folks are into “facing themselves” daily.
-It is believed that between 200 and 500 million people worldwide meditate.
-Data from the National Health Interview Survey in 2017 showed that 16.3% of women meditate, compared to 12% of men.
-The Headspace meditation app has been downloaded sixty-five million times. [10]
If you’d like to try meditation, I suggest relaxing your expectations with how you think it should look. Sometimes you can talk yourself out of something great because you feel it must be done a certain way. Like it would be best if you resembled a bald monk sitting cross leg with perfect posture for hours.
I try my best to sit their way, with my left leg under and right leg on top and hands in my lap palms up, but sometimes I sit in a chair.
The most challenging idea for me to accept is that it’s all about mindfulness and not how you sit. Being present when and where you are and noticing your body and thoughts.
That’s it, pretty simple.
Whether you’re doing this for ten minutes — which I think is the minimum amount of time to notice a difference — or an hour, you can focus on yourself anywhere. There are times when I’m stressed that stopping what I’m doing and taking three deep breaths helps to calm me down.
All the distractions in our modern world can block our thinking. You must deal with your emotions, swimming around, desiring your attention, and making space to work things out in your subconscious.
Meditating is genuinely part of a creative life. Add as much of it as possible to your day, and watch as you calm down and think clearly more often.
Of course, I could be wrong, but it’s the most specific change I made to my life over twenty years ago, and I continually see positive results. When life gets crazy, I meditate more.
Here are more stats if you need a push to get started.
-Research conducted in 2016 sought to discover the health benefits of meditation and understand the practice’s growth. Below is the list of reasons given for starting to meditate:
General wellness (76.2%)
Improving energy (60%)
Aiding memory or concentration (50%)
Anxiety (29.2%)
Stress (21.6%)
Depression (17.8%)
In the case of all the above conditions, 60% of the people questioned in the study reported that meditation helped them significantly.
-People who meditate can reduce their chance of being hospitalized for coronary heart disease by 87%. [10]
The groundbreaking research was initially conducted in 1989 and followed up fifteen years later to see if the mantra meditation was still working its magic.
It was found that the group who used the technique had a lower CV mortality rate than those who didn’t participate in the practice.
The 1989 project focused on 73 residents, and further research has backed up the finding; however, it is still felt further research is needed to understand the full effects.
They, just like me, could be wrong.
-But wait! Did you know that 25% of people who meditate report having an unpleasant psychological experience? [23]
I guess meditation isn’t for everyone. A study of 1,232 participants found that a quarter experienced adverse effects such as anxiety, fear, and distorted emotions.
Sure, the study might have been confirmed, but we have no idea what was going on in the lives of the people in this study at the time. You know I’m open to hearing other arguments, but I believe most people will feel positive benefits from regular meditation if they try it for a month or more, and this should be enough time to turn it into a habit.
You don’t need to travel to Japan and ascend a mountain to practice meditation—hopefully, I helped you see that. When you practice, I bet you’ll appreciate my shared benefits.
I love how you can become more aware of what’s right for you when you meditate regularly. Your “still small voice” gets louder, and you make better decisions. Decisions that are based on what you truly desire.
Knowing how to pause before, say, picking your phone right up when notification dings and waiting to finish writing that page is what I love. You can have more control over yourself when you’re aware of what you’re doing.
Thanks for joining my Koyosan adventure and learning more about meditation.
How do you meditate?
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Japan’s population needs to grow faster, or it will cease to exist.
At least, this is what billionaire Elon Musk believes. Japanese people need to start making more babies for the country to survive. I agree, but I think it’s more complicated.
Living in Japan for several years as an English teacher taught me a lot about the culture. Being married to a Japanese woman and then visiting from America regularly over the past twenty years gives me an inside and an out-of-the-box view of the issues.
Even with this knowledge, I was surprised by Elon’s tweet.
Screenshot of Elon Musk’s comment on the Kyodo News article.
According to this article, he comments on; the birth rate has been a problem for many years now. I remember the Japanese government even pays people a thousand dollars, maybe more, to have a baby in the city of Osaka.
I’m not sure they can pull themselves out of this any time soon, but I don’t think Japan will “Cease to exist” in the way Elon thinks. But they need to change their views on what it means to be Japanese and adapt to the modern world.
Young people run away from marriage in Japan like crazy because you have to give up so much of your freedom. How is this different from everywhere in the world?
Most likely, old-world thinking and rigid gender roles.
In Japan, you live in prescribed roles to fit into society, and you’re expected to follow the rules of those roles.
It’s like 1950s America on steroids.
If you’re a husband working in a company as a salaryman, you must give all your life to your job and do everything your boss tells you, even if that involves going out for drinks until 11 pm after work each night. There’s a good chance you won’t have time for your wife or kids, and no one cares if you’re unhappy with that reality.
Overwork and sacrificing your health are how you show respect to Japan and its culture. This is why business people randomly sleeping on trains or park benches are seen as hard workers and well respected.
If you’re a woman, you’re expected to quit your job when you have children. At least you can keep your job after marriage now. A Japanese teacher I worked with while living there in her fifties said years ago that she quit her job to be a full-time housewife when she first got married. It was incredibly dull, and her husband worked all the time. She was lonely every day, wondering why she got married in the first place.
Raising kids is traditionally supposed to be for mothers without full-time jobs. If you work as a mother, it’s incredibly unfair because you’re expected to take care of all the household responsibilities, cooking, cleaning, even managing the finances, around your job, and taking care of the kids. The husband is expected just to work and be taken care of by his wife.
This is acceptable—not liked by most—but a part of Japanese culture. It’s no surprise that people there are against marriage and having children.
When they’re open to more people from many other countries coming in and having a fair chance to live and succeed in Japan, their population will grow. Not just by the influx of new immigrants, but with them marrying Japanese people and, in turn, having more children.
Closing itself off to the world has always been a part of Japanese history. Seeing themselves as unique and unlike any other country has caused too many issues to discuss here.
When you live in Japan as a non-Japanese person, you are consistently treated like and looked at as an outsider. You can’t come there, live for twenty years there, and be accepted as an equal citizen.
You’re always seen as a foreigner.
After two years of living in Osaka, I was fed up with working my butt off learning the language and cultural rules, only to realize because I’m a Black man, I will never be seen as Japanese.
If someone moves to the U.S., they may deal with discrimination for being from another country, but they can become “American over time.” Not so in Japan.
What makes a Japanese person as far as physical looks need to get upgraded. In America, we know Americans can look like many races, and Japan can grow in this area if they make it easier for non-Japanese people to get a visa and live, work, and start businesses.
Of course, this means that Japanese people will look more mixed-race as more foreigners mix with the population over the next ten to twenty years, but if this helps the country open its minds and grow, it might survive.
News outlets in Asia have been talking about this for what feels like forever. I’m no immigration expert, but I’ve lived abroad enough to know opening up your borders can positively affect countries.
I love Japan, but Japanese people have to gradually embrace that their society and ideals need to change to make it in the end. Being incredibly shy and insular is hurting the country.
Let’s hope that if more prominent voices like Elon Musk point out the challenges Japan faces, Japanese citizens can change their views so future generations will flourish.
Want more? If you’re struggling with doing original work, click here to join my (free) email list, and through comics, articles about culture, and living your truth, you can upgrade your mindset and share your art with the world.
In America, you dream of dating that perfect someone with hopes of hearing them say, “I love you.” Not only once but every day after. Gazing into your eyes and speaking those three magical words confirms the connection you both have for each other and also puts you at ease.
You know they want to be with you just as much as you want to be with them. All because of saying one little phrase.
It’s not the same in every country. I learned from living in Japan for two years, dating my wife, and now visiting with her for the past twenty—actions speak louder than words.
Saying “I love you” every day if you’re Japanese dilutes the feeling behind the words. I was surprised to learn couples there feel like you should show and not tell.
Or, you could look like a liar—someone who’s hiding something.
Why say the words when your deeds and actions make it very clear how you feel? Even in a Japanese family, you don’t have to show affection and use words to let loved ones know they mean a lot to you. Hugging and kissing all over your spouse? Nope. Telling your children, you love them? No way.
The fact that your delicious dinner was prepared with care and noticing the perfect way your clothes were folded neatly says it all. Picking up something your wife dropped right away and holding the door for her as you walk into a store are impressive gestures of love.
Even the tone of your voice to your partner speaks volumes. Small things, for sure, but vital to making your feeling for the other person clear.
I’m an affectionate person, and of course, growing up in America, I learned not only to show but to most definitely tell how I feel to express love. Learning to understand what my wife expected and needed in our relationship took time and a bit of trial and error.
The idea of having different “Love Languages” popularized by author Gary Chapman in his book series, ‘The Five Love Languages’ has become well-known in the states. Some of us feel more loved when our partner tells us or gives us compliments, and others enjoy physical touch or having someone give them gifts or help them around the house.
To be clear, all of these are fantastic ways to show love, and you should add them to your relationship. Normally, though, one of them makes your partner feel loved deeply. So much so, if you don’t give love in the language they need, they could feel like you’re not meeting their needs and become unhappy or leave.
In Japan, I’m not sure it works the same. Showing your love is all about actions, and what you do and how you show your love to your partner is what matters—part of showing that love means avoiding conflict as much as possible.
Love means keeping the home a peaceful place while keeping your strong opinions quiet for the good of the family and your marriage.
Perhaps ‘The Five Love Languages’ book is translated into Japanese, but I bet the meanings are different. Can you even have a chapter on verbal compliments as a love language? Maybe it becomes the opposite — your partner loves you more, the less they actually say it.
Or, the book is just one long chapter: The Language of Action
When we were dating, I would meet my wife at a train station in Osaka to walk around together and find a place to eat. If I arrived there early, even if she weren’t late, she would be running over to me, looking rushed. Showing me how important it was for her to get there and be with me.
At first, I didn’t understand the importance of this and told her she didn’t have to run over to meet me. Especially if she’s not late, but she didn’t stop doing it. After several dates, I realized how much she cared and wanted to show me how eager she was to meet for our date. It was a sweet gesture.
My love language is more about getting affection, but over time, I grew to appreciate the power of someone I love doing and showing how much they care by treating me each day.
Anyone can say they love you, but can they show it with how they treat you day in and day out for many, many years? I have experience, but I know I’m no expert, but it seems in Japan, you get more respect if you prove love lasts without only saying words.
Life in Japan is tough. People work long hours, commute far to work, and there are pages of cultural rules you must follow to fit in and be considered a good citizen. When you can make life a little easier for your partner by reducing their stress at home or showing them someone cares about their happiness, that’s huge.
I don’t believe, though, this means every Japanese wife is quiet and docile, bowing and obeying their husbands every want and need. Every husband is silent and ignores his family. Maybe some are, but most couples learn how to express their opinions and be honest with each other in a non-threatening way to keep a loving relationship alive.
There are times when so much can be said and understood with just a look or a subtle change in tone of voice.
The ones that don’t figure it out, who yell at each other back and forth, aren’t going to last long. It’s like that in America too, you say? Yes, but in the states, it’s easier to accept the passionate release of honesty as a way of learning more about your partner down the line. It’s a part of our culture of freedom of expression.
Making it a point to not only show love but garner respect over time is paramount. Going through all the inevitable tough times, life throws at you will prove much easier when you have someone who respects you as a person by your side.
My wife and I have learned how to have a nice balance between quiet yet open honesty and showing love through actions. I bet we’re not as loud as other couples when we’re angry with each other, a lot of using the silent treatment, but we know how important we are to one another and work things out.
In terms of long-term relationships, especially in Japan, respect is even more important than a passionate love affair.
You can add some Japanese forms of showing love by doing more little things for your partner. Helping them put on their coat, helping them set the table for dinner, holding your opinion when they’re complaining about work.
If you’re dating someone Japanese, be open to figuring out what works for you both. Discovering how many American and Japanese style relationship pieces to add takes time and is up to you.
Holding hands with your spouse is an accepted way to show love in public in Japan physically. I remember the big deal it was to walk with my wife holding hands in the street. Even bigger because I’m a tall African American, there was no hiding in public.
We hold hands together today when in Japan while walking together and, even though it’s a small gesture, it still feels special.
My wife and I say “I love you” to each other each day, but that’s because I shared what it means to me early on in our relationship. I’m sure because I’m not Japanese makes it easier for her to accept and enjoy hearing it from her husband.
You might not fully understand how another culture handles relationships, but it doesn’t mean they’re doing it wrong. It’s just different.
Opening up to new ways of expressing love can help you and your relationships grow.
Want more? If you’re struggling with making authentic work, click here to join my (free) email list, and through comics, articles about culture, and living your truth, you can discover how to upgrade your mindset and share your creative writing and art with the world.
Illustrated by the author.
I thought I held chopsticks correctly.
When I moved to Osaka, Japan, many years ago to teach English in junior high schools, I had a tough time adjusting to being a foreigner in a new country and barely speaking the language. I figured using chopsticks was one thing I had years of practice with, so there was no need to worry.
After only a week of living in Shimamoto, a small town just north of Osaka, I went out to eat with my Japanese coworkers. One of them observed me struggling to pick up a piece of sushi and, without words, showed me how to hold my chopsticks, which turned into a next-level upgrade.
As a cartoonist and storyboard artist, I decided to draw the scene and put it together as an animatic. Take a look at this silent 38-second clip that changed how I use chopsticks to this day…
I never thought holding your chopsticks further up would make such a huge difference. Now, it’s pretty easy to pick up just about anything.
My chopsticks technique grew immensely after that short lesson from one kind coworker. I feel indebted to him to this day. The best part is, I was able to pay it forward.
One evening a few years later, while back in the U.S., I ate out at one of those Benihana-style teppanyaki restaurants. You always sit with others and share a large table while the chef is cooking in front of you. I caught one of the people sitting at the other end, watching me pick up my food easily.
I smiled and noticed he was holding his chopsticks closer to the bottom. Remembering my experience in Japan, I pulled my hand down to open and close them to show how difficult it is to open them wide that way.
As soon as I pulled my hand back up and displayed how wide you can open chopsticks, the guy’s eyes popped wide open. He smiled, changed his hand position to further up, and enjoyed picking up every piece of food thrown at him during the rest of the dinner.
We didn’t even talk to each other, but I could see he appreciated the lesson.
How do you hold your chopsticks? If you learned something new, make sure to share it with others the next time you’re in a Japanese restaurant.
You never know how much it could change their confidence.
Want more? If you’re struggling with creativity and putting your work out regularly, join my (free) email list, and through comics and articles, discover how to upgrade your mindset here.
Image from CNN.com
Is a giant squid statue worth all the controversy it’s getting?
If you haven’t heard, in the coastal town of Noto, in Ishikawa, Japan, they spent $230,000 of the $6.2 million received from the government for Covid relief on a 43-foot sculpture of a flying squid. Could they have used their money on something more important — probably?
But I’m not mad.
In fact, I like that they spent some of their relief money on art. Mainly to promote tourism for their small fishing town. Apparently, the area is the center of squid fishing in Japan.
I never visited Noto while living in Japan. Still, now I’m interested in seeing the statue next time I can travel back to one of my favorite countries. Squid is a delicacy in Japan. Even though Americans might not be interested in eating it, it doesn’t mean the statue is a waste of money.
When it was unveiled, Japanese people were surprised by the timing, and so were people on Twitter. Guys, a ton of readers, most likely people who have never been to Japan, were upset about this giant flying squid.
According to this article by CNN news, someone commented, “No matter how you look at it, this is wrong. They have to return that money.”
Really? Is it that serious? Indeed, there are more important matters to get this upset about.
Here’s my take on why this isn’t such a huge deal.
In a town of around 16,000 residents, there have been fewer than 30 cases of Covid-19. Not that this is okay. It’s still a concern, but why can’t they take this opportunity to do something to put their area on the map?
I’m pretty sure that at the time this statue was approved and sculpted by the artist — most likely a year ago or so — Japan was doing pretty well controlling the virus. They probably thought it would be a positive way to celebrate victory over covid.
Unfortunately, cases have spiked in larger cities like Tokyo and Osaka, and hospitals have trouble keeping up with all the new patients. Scary times right now, for sure, and I’m hoping for the best. The Osaka area is my second home, and I want its citizens to stay healthy and the cases to drop.
Even though the statue’s unveiling timing is abysmal, I think they did what they thought was right when it was being created. Should we punish the town of Noto for that?
Even if Japan was doing well-handling covid, the virus was still causing huge dips in tourism. This town found an opportunity to provide funds to local artists and construction workers in this time of economic turmoil.
I bet this statue helped provide much-needed work while also investing in a new piece of fun, publicly accessible art — the perfect socially distanced tourist attraction.
Even I want to go and take a picture in front of it.
Art is essential and beautiful. Squid is delicious and well-loved by the people of Japan. If a family visits the town of Noto, you know the kids will laugh and smile while taking pictures. Parents and couples will share their squid photos all over social media.
This statue will bring not only tourists to the area but excitement and joy.
It’s easy for people outside of Japan to hear about this and think it’s ridiculous. Why? Is this an easy way to take a cheap shot at Japan? With all the controversy over the summer Olympics, should we cancel them or not, here’s another reason to be angry at Japan. I say, calm down and let a town beautify itself.
There are plenty of frustrating things about living in Japan and the experiences I went through. I didn’t fully understand why it’s that way. Still, I smiled, and whatever it was, let it go. As a Black man, having middle school students rub my skin to see if the brown would come off, for example, was one of those.
If I compare that to a small town deciding to use the money for a wild, eye-catching work of art to put their area on the map, I say go for it.
I’m confident Noto, Japan is not a corrupt town. If they needed the money to help save lives in their area, they would have used it for that purpose. Japanese people are pretty in tune with the needs of the many. Especially compared to other parts of the world where the culture revolves around thinking more about ourselves.
If I had any issue, it would be with the government giving so much money to an area with so few covid cases. They could have passed some of that on to bigger cities. Or, saved it for emergencies like the spike in cases happening right now.
With all the negativity, fear, and death in the world, let’s try and see the good in a tiny town trying to make the best of it all with the help of art.
Drawing Little Fried Chicken and Sushi comics on paper, during these crazy times, has been good for my soul. There’s so much magic in feeling the paper’s pull and having to be fully present with every line drawn in ink. Not to mention, I can take cool photos of my originals and share them with you.
Don’t worry. I’ll still make strips digitally as well. From here on out, I think the story will dictate whether or not I use Clip Studio Paint software or bristol board and Pigma Micron pens.
Listen to my BLOCKHEAD interviews on Apple podcasts HERE.
I’m honored to be back on the BLOCKHEAD podcast hosted by cartoonist Geoff Grogan! In fact, he split the interview into two—episodes 53 and 54. You can listen to them on Apple podcasts.
Part 1 is here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/khalid-birdsong-part-1/id1440223132?i=1000495947058
Part 2 is here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/khalid-birdsong-part-2/id1440223132?i=1000496965099
We talk about moving to Osaka, Japan, and falling in love. Also, how that experience inspired the original Fried Chicken and Sushi comic strips. In part 2, we talk more about starting Little Fried Chicken and Sushi and the controversy over ending the original FC&S strip to move to GoComics syndication. Should I have done it? You decide, and let me know what you think.
You can also listen to episodes 53 and 54 on Geoff’s website here:
https://geoffgrogan.com/blockhead/
Thanks for all of your support and I hope you enjoy discovering more about this FC&S comics journey.
Many thanks,
Khalid
As soon as you can.
Taking a break from the U.S. is not an option right now due to COVID-19, but I wish I could travel overseas. No country wants us to visit or move there during this pandemic, and I understand why. We look like crazy people.
The freedom we think we have gives us the confidence we feel we need to only care about ourselves — like it’s the natural way of things. Friends of mine in other countries are scared of Americans. The ridiculous mess we’ve made over here in regards to racism and the pandemic looks insane.
How we treat anyone who’s slightly different–yelling at an Asian person wearing a mask because you think they have COVID and then going out for FroYo without wearing a mask yourself because you feel it takes away your freedom.
I remember enjoying my break from America while living in Osaka, Japan, and teaching English. It’s certainly not an easy country to live in as a foreigner, but at least I didn’t fear for my life. You’d be amazed at how your country looks from the outside looking in. Yes, you miss some of what you love, but racism in America sticks out like a hamburger at a sushi restaurant. Be careful; you think it might taste good, but you know it’s wrong and shouldn’t be there.
I hear people saying things like leaving America shows weakness, and you should stay and make it work. Isn’t that like staying in an abusive relationship with someone because you think you can help them change? If you have a way out that can work for you and your family, take it.
Black people should do everything they can to experience living in another country, preferably one where people of color are in the majority. Move to Asia, Africa, or South America. Get a sense of what it’s like outside of white American ideals and perceptions.
Where will you travel when everything opens up again? Start planning, saving, researching now. I know it may seem impossible or out of reach, but it’s not. Take the first step by deciding you are a person who can travel and make a change.
Do it. Go on an adventure that changes your life and opens your mind. Then never look back.
Imagine watching nine massive steamships for the very first time in your life, something you never knew existed, approaching Edo bay near modern-day Tokyo in February of 1854. Commodore Matthew C. Perry landed his ships in Japan, uninvited mind you, in an effort to force diplomatic relations with the Shogun and open trade.
After over two hundred years of isolating itself from the rest of the world, Japan and the average Japanese citizen knew nothing of other countries or races. Witnessing white soldiers march off their metal ships and make the demand “Take me to your leader.” must have felt close to aliens from outer space landing on our planet.
The scare tactic worked. There was no way Japanese forces could have stood a chance against the might of the U.S. military at that time. On March 31, The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed between America and Japan. The country was open to the world. Even though it would take many years to establish international trade, Japanese people were thrust into accepting a new truth. They were not alone in the universe.
What limiting beliefs are you holding on to with little knowledge or experience to back them? The world is forcing us all to open our minds. Experiencing the pandemic and watching racial injustice and protests are making us realize we’re all human. Making us see that caring about the health and well being of people is what really matters.
The truths of our modern world have landed. Open your heart.
Photo by Galen Crout on Unsplash
Moving back home to the U.S. after living in Japan for two years was a shock to my system in more ways than one.
You always hear about how harmonious and helpful everyone is in Japan. I love the country, but it’s not an easy place to live as an ex-pat, especially if you speak very little Japanese.
Photo by Alexander Smagin on Unsplash
Life in the ‘land of the rising sun’ does have its perks, though. You can have a level of peace and solitude that I find difficult to come by in the United States. Crime is low and everyone is accustomed to living politely (and quietly) with their neighbors.
That tranquility among the noise is a massive part of what I miss about being in Japan.
I felt like a human being instead of a threat.
Living in Japan for two years as an African-American male was a challenge, but also liberating.
I was an English teacher with the JET Programme and truly loved the cultural exchange with the students and teachers in the Junior High Schools where I worked.
For me, in particular, I was not just a “black man” there, with all the fear and stereotypes that come along with it. I found I was lumped into one general category—foreigner.
Students saw me as a person from another country, fascinated with my hair and curious about what America was really like.
As I walked the streets of Osaka, I felt like a person and not someone the public would see as a threat. It was miraculous!
Sometimes people stared because I looked different.
Only because I wasn’t Japanese and not because I was black. Being six feet three, I found people were also mesmerized by my height.
It was astounding, no women clutched their purses as they passed or crossed the street when they saw me walking towards them on the sidewalk.
The biggest load-off my mind? Not worrying about getting shot by the police. I’m dead serious. That was a game-changer.
You should always be aware of your surroundings anywhere you go. Still, I’ll admit, I became pretty relaxed within the safety of the cities in Japan. Watching my back became a distant memory.
I felt like a person.
I love my country but after years of feeling like the “negative other” in America, I can forget I have value. Believe it or not, when I’m in the U.S., there are plenty of instances when I feel like saying the phrase popularized by Jesse Jackson, “I am somebody” to myself. Just to remember, I matter.
I have to consciously think about this when moving through life in the U.S. Tell myself I have value. Most of the negative stereotypes for black people perpetuated in the media and entertainment, tell a different story.
When I daydream about moving to a quiet rural area, where I can have solitude, reality always seeps in. It’s not the answer for all people. Jobs may be scarce, and if you’re not independently wealthy, you’ll need to pursue a career in a major city to make money to live the life you want.
Even as a black male, I’m afraid people living outside of big cities may have fewer interactions with people of color and be more closed-minded.
Living in Japan, experiencing each day as a different kind of “other”— compared to in America— was a special time in my life. I will say though, I do know through that experience, what it feels like to be seen as scary, only because I look different.
Photo by Laura Thonne on Unsplash
You experience prejudice as a foreigner in Japan. It’s just different.
Each day wasn’t perfect. There were times I would sit down on a subway train, and the person next to me would stand up and walk to a different area. Renting an apartment can be a challenge because some buildings do not rent to non-Japanese.
Getting together with other ex-pats helped relieve some of the microaggressions. You quickly understand that it doesn’t matter where you’re from or the color of your skin. If you do not look Japanese, you have situations where you are treated as a guest and not a citizen. Everyone could relate, come together, and vent their frustrations and also share what they love about living in Japan.
I often thought about how sad it was I had to leave my country of birth and move all the way to Asia to feel safe and at peace.
You don’t need to live in Japan to find yourself. Although, for an experience of a lifetime, visiting is most certainly recommended. The country is beautiful, rich in history and culture, and Japanese people are very kind to visitors. Things get more complicated when you live there for a long period of time.
Don’t let this scare you.
Have the courage to move to a new place if you feel the urge to experience something exciting and different.
I’m still searching for my next tranquil place to call home. Something close to what I had in Japan. The reality of moving to any new country will always stick with me, though.
Living abroad helps you understand that no country, city, or neighborhood, is perfect.
When I find my next tranquil home, I expect to enjoy the positives and take the negatives with a grain of firm salt.
It’s been one year since Little Fried Chicken and Sushi returned to regular updates after a year hiatus. Here are some of my thoughts on why I stopped and started again, and ideas for how you can move forward with new creative projects when you lose passion for your work.
Letting go can lead you to what you need
I’ll never forget, feeling so burned out two years ago from work and life that even drawing comics didn’t make me smile. In my mind at the time, ending Little Fried Chicken and Sushi comics was the only way to rest and heal.
And why keep it going? No new readers were discovering the strip. I had a decent amount of support on Patreon -even though it didn’t feel like enough to me. So, I ended Fried Chicken and Sushi completely. Finally! I would have time to rest and take things slower.
Not true. I started drawing for fun in my sketchbook more, and sharing those sketches on Instagram regularly, eventually feeling the drive to grow as an illustrator.
But that didn’t make me happy. Single images are fun, but I always yearn for more of a story -a sequence of events and the visual pacing only possible within panels.
Even though making comic strips two to three times a week is difficult, I had to face the truth. Making comics, made me happy. I needed it in my life.
So, I started brainstorming possible concepts and characters to develop a new comic.
I got close with a strip idea entitled “The Honeybuns.” The strip was named after a rabbit family of four, and the humor primarily revolved around their life living in Silicon Valley. My goal was to parody the stressful and ridiculously hectic lifestyle of bay area families, but instead of humans, using busy bunnies. Here are some of the sample strips from my submission packet.
What do you think? Should I have stuck with this concept? Are you happy I moved on? This is a small sample of my submission. If you would like to see more let me know in the comments.
Work on a project only you can create
No syndicates were interested. Not even GoComics, the one that syndicates FC&S online. I received some helpful feedback but ultimately had a choice to make. Either keep working on improving “The Honeybuns,” a more mainstream strip idea or start Little Fried Chicken and Sushi up again.
Sometimes, you just have to face the hard truth. Working on developing a new project would take a tremendous amount of time and energy I didn’t have
I knew the world and characters of Little FC&S best, so it would be easier to just start again. That way, I could get better with something familiar and have an easier time creating new strip ideas.
The big question for me was -why restart a comic strip that wasn’t that popular in the first place?
One answer was pretty obvious. The election of Donald Trump as president. What felt like a rise in Americans sharing their outright racist opinions in public, online, and through committing hate crimes, helped to light my motivational fire to continue drawing a positive black family in comic strip form.
I noticed there were few humor strips with people of color, let alone with both African-Americans and Japanese main characters combined. Fried Chicken and Sushi could be the voice of a new comics generation.
Or, at least, one voice from the minority perspective. A voice with the opportunity to speak to a broader audience about living overseas and being open to other cultures through the GoComics platform, where only a handful of comics with people of color are syndicated.
The other factor is authenticity. Only I could write and draw FC&S. Gag ideas come from my experiences as a black man who lived in and visits Japan. My unique worldview in writing would set it apart combined with my individual art style.
If it comes down to it, pick a project with a subject matter you know well or have a passion for and present it in a way that brings joy.
Work on a new project while producing your current one
Perhaps, creating new project ideas feels easier while you are writing and drawing an already established project because you’re working out your “idea muscle” every day. Taking a long break might just slow the process down and weaken your creativity.
There are benefits to keeping that creative fire burning!
Does this mean I have a new and better comic strip idea brewing in my head? Honestly, no, not yet. It’s fun to work on improving my gag writing and character development skills through producing Fried Chicken and Sushi comics consistently every week.
I hope you’re enjoying reading them and I look forward to your feedback.
Arigato Gozaimasu,
Khalid
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Goodness knows, Disney does not need my endorsement or free advertising, but I had to let you know how enjoyable it was at Tokyo DisneySea theme park in Japan.
Even in a typhoon. That’s right. A typhoon was ripping its way up the western side of Japan at the time, and we were so afraid of getting weather bashed-out of all the fun.
Fortunately, the weather cooperated, somewhat. We did get hit with strong winds and some rain, but generally, it was bearable. You want to know the best part?
Bad weather means fewer people at the park! So, there were shorter lines and less wait time for rides.
I have a feeling that DisneySea is not as famous as Tokyo Disneyland, so there are fewer visitors. It’s one park where as soon as I entered, I felt transported to another world!
The gorgeous architecture in the harbor grabs you as you first walk in and is influenced by the Mediterranean, with a bit of fantasy flair! Every area feels like another adventure and even when it’s busy, feels relaxed and comfortable.
I will admit that the rides are not as fantastic compared to Disneyland, but they are enjoyable and imagination filled. The more intense ones are in the Lost River Delta area where you can explore with Indiana Jones or take a roller coaster ride through Raging Spirits.
Raging Spirits ride!
One of my favorites was the FINDING NEMO ride at Port Discovery. It made you feel like you were in a small submarine going on adventures with Nemo and Dory through the ocean. If you get seasick though, this is NOT the ride for you. Plenty of rocking and gliding up and down!
In the American Waterfront area that looks like New York City in the 1920’s, you have the famous Tower of Terror ride, which we didn’t get on because we’ve been on it in America and the Turtle Talk experience where you can talk with an animated version of Crush the green sea turtle from Finding Nemo. This one was surprisingly fun, and even though it was in Japanese, relatively easy to understand.
I love the Toy Story movies but the ride, Toy Story Mania!, even in bad weather, was the one ride that was packed all day long with insane wait times, so we had to skip it. If you had a chance to make it in, let me know what you thought!
The Mysterious Island area looked the coolest, and we had fun riding 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. We will need to go back to the Arabian Coast and ride Jasmine’s flying carpets -even though it’s basically the Dumbo ride.
Because the weather was rough due to the typhoon, it was an excellent relief to head over to Mermaid Lagoon where they have an entire indoor play area with rides, food and a playground.
In front of the Mermaid Lagoon
Our absolute favorite show was in the Mermaid Lagoon Theater where a performer, dressed as Ariel, is suspended from the ceiling on wires and swings around over the audience below like she's swimming and sings well-known songs from the Little Mermaid film.
My eight-year-old daughter loves mermaids and almost didn’t see it. We waited forty-five minutes to get in and as soon as we sat down, with amazing seats, by the way, she says, “I need to go to the bathroom!” Really? We were just standing all that time, and you didn’t think about going then?
She couldn’t hold it so my wife, who watched this show here before, was kind enough to take her out to the restroom but of course, the theater needed to close the show so they couldn’t get back in.
They thought it would be best for me to at least stay and watch it since we waited all that time and I’ve never seen it. I must admit, it was pretty fantastic and felt like a small Cirque Du Soleil show!
When it was over, I was so ecstatic about the experience, my daughter was more than ready to stand in line again. She loved the performance, and I was glad to see it a second time! Make sure to look for the Mermaid Lagoon Theater, it’s pretty hidden in that indoor play area, and see the show when you go.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip to Tokyo DisneySea even in such a massive storm. We never got extreme rain, but some pretty strong winds hit us a few times. In the evening, we stayed to watch the Fantasmic Mickey Mouse light show that was pretty fun. They had to modify it a bit due to the weather but still worth watching.
For a new Disney parks experience, I strongly recommend taking your family there next time you’re in the Tokyo area. Ta-ta for now. See ya' real soon!
Khalid
Let’s just say you want your art, writing or comics to feel more genuine and appealing to your audience.
For this Little Fried Chicken and Sushi comic, I needed to show Tanuki using his magic and the theme for the week’s strips was Origami paper folding. That in and of itself pertains to Japanese culture, but I wanted to see if I could add more.
I jumped over to Google and looked up the most popular things to make with Origami. Cranes, shuriken, boats and paper cranes came up. A boat! They could be riding on a large origami boat that Tanuki made. But where?
It could be going down the river in their town of Shimamoto but the background is rural so would not look like any recognizable place in Japan.
Choosing the Yodo river that runs through Osaka city would give more choices of buildings and bridges to draw that readers who have been to the city would know.
Drawing the Umeda Sky Building behind them was a fun addition. The curving white bridge to the left of them- I have no idea what it’s named- is a well-known sight in Osaka as well.
That was an easy answer for this strip. The boat is made out of paper!
Perhaps, Tanuki’s magic is surrounding the paper boat and allowing them to stay afloat but the fact is the situation is odd. Come to think of it, so is a ‘paper’ boat!
You know, if this were real life, someone would have pointed that out. J is usually the character who thinks about important issues or solves problems creatively. So, it felt natural that he should be the one delivering the punchline.
When you’re writing or drawing, keep asking yourself how you can make it specific and general at the same time.
When I first started drawing Little Fried Chicken and Sushi comic strips my main goal was to make them timeless by not adding any current events or obvious pop-culture references.
After watching the Black Panther movie, I changed that goal. Breaking my rules looked scary. I couldn’t stop thinking about if I draw strips based on a popular movie, it will date the strip when I eventually collect them into books.
I had to do it!
Black Panther was spectacular in so many ways film wise and as a part of not only black culture but American culture as a whole. There was no way I wasn’t going to make strips about the film!
Of course, it also made about a bajillion dollars at the box office. Not bad for a movie about powerful African characters. There was definitely an audience for this.
First, I thought about how I felt right after seeing it.
The feeling of creating the boy characters J, Ryan and Karl as T’Challa, Klaue and Killmonger in the above strip was enormously fulfilling. This was my first time creating strips that directly related to real movie characters. I couldn’t believe how much fun I was having!
It took some research and a great deal of drawing details, but I did my final of three Black Panther strips on the women. Mom as Queen Ramonda and little Kasha as Princess Shuri.
Tanuki’s magic ended up being a great way to experiment with cosplay on the main characters and try my hand at adding in current events.
My mind is more relaxed with the idea now and it’s already churning away thinking of possible gags to add in more pop-culture references in future strips.
Yes. This means the strip changes into something more timely rather than timeless, but I’m pretty sure it will be enjoyable to make and hopefully fun to read.
All the best,
Khalid
New Little Fried Chicken and Sushi comic strips relaunched on Monday, March 26 here and on GoComics. There was one change to the strip. Did you notice?
That's right, Tanuki's character design got an upgrade! He's cuter and has actual hands that will make it easier to create gags where he needs to hold objects. Take a look at this model sheet I put together with pictures of actual Tanukis for comparison.
What do you think about his new design? Let me know in the comments.
Little prancing Batman ready to fight crime with a flair for the silly!
Saturday, September 17th 2016, marked Batman Day, a time to commemorate the creation of the Dark Knight and appreciate the cultural impact the character has had on the whole entire world! Special events were held around the globe and celebrities, artists and big companies joined in.
Me? I completely forgot!
Batman is my favorite superhero and even though life has been pretty busy lately, I squeezed in time to draw the above sketch. Actually, I didn't draw this one until a few days after Batman Day but it was still fun.
It's quite pleasurable to take serious characters and add a little silly to them. Can you imagine how odd it would look to see Batman prancing down the street at night? He'd probably scare off all the criminals. Batman's gone crazy!
I used blue pencil for the sketch and then black pen I got from the dollar store in Japan. It's called a Magic Drawing Pen by Rushon, 0.5 size. Even though it was cheap, I love inking with it!
Have a great day and do a little prance to commemorate good ol' Batsy!
Fried Chicken and Sushi is a Blog and humorous comic strip about living in Japan and Japanese pop-culture.
© copyright 2010 - Khalid Birdsong All Rights Reserved.
