Hanami - by Julia Cejas (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Is there a better place than Japan for a comic artist and a video game composer? Join Julia and Marc as their year in Japan unfolds in a series of short adventures, both heartfelt and hilarious.

Julia and Marc are your average creative millennial couple, full of the anxieties and optimism of their generation. When the economy takes a downturn and Marc loses his engineering job, the pair realize that their relative lack of ties means they can pool their savings and his severance to embark on a new adventure: Moving to Japan! (Until the money runs out, anyway...)

The pair move into a tiny apartment and enroll in a local Japanese school as they begin to acclimate to the local culture. Whether learning about the local fire patrol or the beautiful terror of Japanese toilets, the pair embrace their new surroundings with equal parts fear and wonder.

Their journey is documented lovingly by Julia herself. Fans of anime and manga will notice the cheeky influence of noted mangaka (manga artists) like Akira Toriyama (DragonBall), Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma 1/2), and many more throughout the book, alongside thoughtful and heartfelt cultural observation.

Join Julia and Marc as they explore many aspects of Japan, from the culture to the natural wonders, all while growing as people and partners.

English language release includes bonus pages by Julia reflecting on her time in Japan years later.

About the Author

Julia Cejas is based out of Valencia, Spain, and studied in both Valencia and the prestigious St. Joost School of Art and Design in Holland where she attended as an Erasmus Scholar. She has won a number of awards and scholarships, including the National Prize in Valencia Crea, Creajoven, and more. She is known for her fluid and expressive style, as well as her varied influences, and primarily specializes in juvenile and editorial illustration. Hanami is her English language comics debut.

Holly Aitchison (they/she) is a comic book writer, publishing professional, and multimedia artist. They have contributed to several comic anthologies including Everything is Going Wrong and Corpus: A Comic Anthology of Bodily Ailments. They are a Chicago native based out of Los Angeles. Hanami is their first translated graphic novel, and they couldn't be prouder to be involved.