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I would like to convey the concept of Mono no Aware, always finding the transience of things around us fascinating. Each time, with a hint of sadness, I pondered why beautiful things always appear to last so briefly. Beautiful things are fleeting because, otherwise, they would be just ordinary things, much like the blossoming of Sakura, a brief moment of beauty to be savored because its time is limited. Embracing this awareness allows us to attain a bit of inner tranquility, recognizing that nothing is forever, and that's okay.
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I’m 28 years old, and I love drawing! I started my career as a graphic designer, the love for drawing has been with me since childhood, as I studied and emulated Japanese cartoons.
Currently, I'm taking my first steps into the world of illustration. I enjoy conveying concepts through attention-grabbing images, blending a pop style with a subtle Japanese influence. I'm fascinated by strong contrasts, the manipulation of perspectives and anatomies, all seasoned with a touch of humor.
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@ucci_ucci_christianucci

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The toy stores at Manarake, Nakano are one of the most inspiring places I've ever been to, and one of my favourite areas in Tokyo.
In a recent photo memory on my phone, some images of the toy cabinets at Manadarake, Nakano Broadway showed up. I remembered how seeing them for the first time blew my mind ~ these amazing collections of toys spanning decades, often juxtaposed together. Some designs being the strangest things I'd ever seen, while others works of art. I find the place so inspiring that illustrating it in some way for the cover finally felt right.
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I'm Emile, a kiwi illustrator and animator living in Japan.
Before becoming a freelance illustrator, I studied and worked as a graphic designer. Before living in Japan, I lived in the U.K. My main inspiration lately has been nostalgia and I'm currently exploring the concept of anemoia (nostalgia for something that doesn't exist.)
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www.emile.work
@emiletheillustrator

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Tokyo experiences through the eyes of Sundae Kids, from food to art to architecture to culture.
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Sundae Kids are two people who enjoy every kind of art. They are currently living and working in Bangkok, Thailand. They are best known for their comic strips with simple lines and wholesome stories. Their works are usually about relationships and moments in everyday life. They work across a variety of media, including illustrations, comics, graphic novels, and animations.
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@sundaekids

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I work close to Tokyo's Icho Namiki, lined with beautiful ginkgo trees that change with the seasons. My favorite time of year is autumn, where the leaves turn yellow and later, drop to the ground creating a golden path. But, spending many late nights at work, I also began to appreciate the path under a different light. For this cover, I was inspired by the lunar eclipses of early 2023 and the ginkgo leaves - tinting the nightscape with a lovely red glow.
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Laura Hernandez is a Costa Rican graphic designer and painter based in Tokyo, Japan. 
Drawing inspiration from everyday life, she enjoys working with color and texture to bring her ideas to life. 
A curious traveler, she enjoys exploring new places, reading,dancing and creating.
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www.laurahc.com

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The piece is inspired by the neighbourhood of Tomigaya where I grew up. Around 5 pm the sky turns into what we call "夕焼け小焼け" meaning "little burned sunset", signaling the time that children go home after school.
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Yo Hosoyamada is a London-based illustrator from Tokyo working across editorial, commercial, advertising and publishing projects. Her work often explores playful compositions, set within dynamic cityscapes and architectural spaces. Having graduated from the Bartlett School of Architecture in 2018 and Camberwell College of Arts in 2021, she has since worked with clients such as WIRED, Youtube JP, ELLE Magazine, Monocle Magazine, and NHK.
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instagram: @heyitsyoyo_
website: https://www.yo-hoso.com/

After my trip to Tokyo, I was left with a feeling of immensity, with a mix of tradition and modernity vibrating in concert. I also felt a sense of joy and wonder as I walked through this capital. I wanted to express that emotion in this cover.
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Roxane Campoy is a 2D director and illustrator from France. During her studies in both illustration and animation in Paris, she has developed the ability to work right from the concept of a film to its direction. She likes to focus her work, to consistently obtain each time, a harmonious mix of colors and composition. She also keep practicing gouache to achieve illustrations full of life and vibrancy.
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@roxanecampoy
www.roxanecampoy.com
Shop

I went to Tokyo in November last year and it was the most incredible place! The colours & lights were really inspiring, so I drew this street scene from a photo I took In Shibuya.
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Tess Smith-Roberts is a freelance Illustrator based in London. She approaches her work with humour, bold shapes, and lots of colour. Still life paintings, bad dance moves, and food (especially fruit!) are the main inspiration for her drawings.
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www.tesssmithroberts.co.uk
@tesssmithroberts - Instagram
@TessSmithRobert - X

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First of all, I wanted to express how incredible Tokyo is for me as an artist, as an animation fan. On the other hand, I wanted to show how extraordinary things in a city like Tokyo can be "normal" for many people. It's amazing how the incredible can seem banal to some. This kid walks with a "ROBOTO" as a friend and all around, people living their normal life do not pay attention to it. I hope people will try to see the beautiful all around, everyday, anytime they can, because it is the way to dream forever.

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Alexandre Osmoze Brakha is a multidisciplinary Director & Artist, Art Director and Concept Writer based out of Tokyo, Japan. AOB believes it is essential that the substance and the form come together, as is the key to creating a consistent and astonishing project. Above all, he always strives to create compelling visual styles that enhance the storytelling. As a post-graffiti and contemporary artist, Alexandre exhibits his vision and artistic commitments on various supports, from simple paper to a large wall. Solo exhibitions or group exhibitions, drawings, and paintings, also photographs and digitals, are the way to express other stories and emotions.
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www.alexosmoze.com
@osmoze_art

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This illustration was inspired by my first trip to Japan in 2019. Tokyo’s flashing neon lights and crowds of people at night made me feel like the protagonist of Lost in Translation. At that moment, I felt very small in this giant city at first but then became excited about the surrounding possibilities. I hope that this illustration will also bring you the unique charm of Tokyo.

Naomi Sun is a freelance children’s book illustrator from China. She likes to explore textures of mixed media and printmaking. She enjoys exploring the particular textures of mixed media and printmaking. She has an insightful eye that allows her to take inspiration from subtle detail of nature and everyday life. She also likes to use metaphors to express narrative with delicate emotions and atmospheres.
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www.naomisun-illustration.com
@naomi_sun_illustration

Through this illustration I wanted to sublimate the nature, design and traditional iconography of Japan through my own vision & style.

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As a child, I drew every day by copying my big brother's mangas. Coming from a family of artists, I headed for a creative profession while keeping my passion for Japan.

I had the opportunity to participate to an international design competition at Osaka in 2010 and I won first prize. It was a childhood dream to visit this country and this trip changed the rest of my creative life deeply. Whether for music, video games, books, art, culture & history, I am very involved in everything that transpires from this country.
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@esoteric_dust

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Joanne is a Chinese digital illustrator currently based in Bangkok, Thailand.
She believes in narration and imagination as the most powerful creative forces.
Drawing is at the center of her interpretation practice and provides constant reflection and observation of the world.
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www.joannejoo.com
@joannejoo

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It depicts a strange retro TOKYO
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Macrocarpa is a Japanese illustrator in Tokyo.
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@macro_carpa

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The ubiquitous presence of level crossings in Tokyo always fascinated me. But it wasn't until my daughter learned to wave at the passing trains that I was reminded of the charm of Tokyo's railway network.

As the hanami season is coming, I tried to capture the essence of this rail culture during this special time of the year.
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Joséphine Grenier is a french graphic designer working from Tokyo for 5 years. Deeply inspired by Japanese aesthetics, she blends it with her French roots to create colorful and graphic visuals.

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@josephine_grenier_furukawa
website

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I had the opportunity to travel to Japan in 2016 and 2019.

A trip that has changed me deeply, that's why I have created this symbol that I have called Emoji_on Tokyo. This icon is inspired by torii arches, which are doors that give way to another state of consciousness and in kawaii culture.

Tokyo has made me go through that sacred door of its culture and has made me a more positive, friendly and respectful being with my creativity and with everyone around me
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SAEL is a celebrated multidisciplinary artist and designer born in the city of Mar del Plata. Today based in Buenos Aires, Argentina he radiates his universe from the inside out where he constantly infuses the world with imagination, beauty and inspiration.

His multidisciplinary work bridges the gap between different genres and is a powerful and graphic hybrid of fine art, illustration, graphic design, public art interventions, murals etc. His lines, colors and geometry are instantly recognizable and a unique language that translates seamlessly from two dimensions to three dimensions through different scales throughout all his productions.

In 2020/21 he was selected as the only Argentine in *The Flag Project* at Rockefeller Center New York City, exhibiting his EMOJI_ON NYC Flag design alongside prestigious international artists such as Jeff Koons, KAWS, Marina Abramovic, Shantel Martin, Christian Siriano, Laurie Anderson among others.

His work is part of the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the archive-collection of the Rockefeller Center New York and the Musashino Art University Tokyo archive, Japan. In 2017 and 2018 he was awarded the Latin American Design Award.
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@saeluniverse

Taxis are ubiquitous with the city, and I based the cover off what a taxi driver might experience driving around Tokyo.

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Michael moved to Tokyo this year and likes illustrating using simple shapes and primary colours.

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@michael.towers

This illustration is inspired from my time wandering the streets along the Sobu and Chuo train lines The small shops and cafes below the train line were frequent points of interest in my walks and a welcome contrast to the larger department stores found throughout Tokyo.
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Marc Martin is an artist and illustrator based in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia. He splits his time between commercial illustrations, editorial work, illustrating children’s books and making fine art for gallery shows and commissions.

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@marcmartinillo
www.marcmartin.com

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The inspiration behind this cover is my first solo trip to Tokyo. I particularly fell in love with Asakusa and its mix of both tradionality and kookiness. Tokyo is for me a city of senses. There are so many sights to take in, it’s quite honestly baffling. I was fascinated by the smells and many food stalls. Dango, mochi, melonpan, senbei,-a dream for the palate. Asakusa really hit my sweet spot.
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Lisa AKA Kiku Lines is a self-taught artist from Luxembourg. My artworks are mostly influenced by 90s pop culture, old Hollywood and Japan.
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Instagram: @kiku_lines
Twitter: @kiku_lines

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This cover is inspired by the time I spent in Tokyo working for a Japanese company. Despite being in the fashion industry, leadership was often dominated by men, yet my female manager still navigated her way up successfully. I tried to represent her journey through this cover.
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Emma Li is a London based freelance illustrator from China. After studying Fashion Design at the Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, she worked as a fashion designer at a Japanese clothing company for 3 years. In 2020 Emma Li moved to London and has since been working as a freelance illustrator. Apart from drawing, Emma Li is also a big cat and plant lover.
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www.emmali.net
@emmali_illustration

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This piece was inspired by all of the hidden shrines scattered across Tokyo in the quiet little corners of the bustling city. I had seen many of these over the course of the time I spent during my residency in Tokyo, and one afternoon after it had rained I saw one covered in dew and it had a really magical feeling. I imagined a sort of goddess that enjoys these hidden, often overlooked shrines and takes care of them. I wanted to paint what that looked like in my imagination.
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Alexandria is an illustrator and muralist from the United States. She splits her time freelancing from her studio in Nashvillle, TN and traveling for on-site mural projects. Aside from painting and illustration, her biggest passions are digging around in her garden, making whimsical ceramic pieces, and learning Japanese.
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@alexandriaolivia
www.alexandriahall.com

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My illustration is a heartfelt tribute to Japan and the passion I share with the Japanese people, Golf!
In the background, a golfer has just made an excellent shot in the direction of the hole, symbolically depicted by the crater of Mount Fuji.
The instant is blocked just before the ball enters the hole, leaving the doubt of the goodness of the shot.
In this still image, the red golf ball takes on the appearance of the classic Japanese rising sun.
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Paolo Metaldi (Verbania 1980) freelance Italian designer/illustrator based in Milan. After one year at the Faculty of Architecture of the Politecnico di Milano, his interests focus on the graphics, product and interior design: in 2006 he graduated at the European Institute of Design in Milan.
He is currently in charge of the design studio for the Excélsa and Viceversa brands.
His connection with the territory and the attention to craft activities are typical of his training. He focuses his interests on the unexpressed potential of forms and materials to give them a new life. He strongly believes in the attractive value of an object: a good product design must be pleasant even regardless of its function.
Honored with several prizes at national and international competitions, in 2015 he won the Compasso d'Oro for the mincing knife Shy and in 2017 the Good Design Award.
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@paolometaldi
paolometaldi.com

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This fishbowl was the first thing I drew at my residency at Almost Perfect in Tokyo. It was my first time in Japan, and I wanted to inspire myself by walking around and getting to know the city. The ceramic fishbowls are all over Taito-ku, creating little gardens at peoples doorsteps. The kingyo (goldfish) was based on a lantern I saw waving in the wind in Asakusa.
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Iris van den Akker is an illustrator, 2D animator, enthusiastic art collector and overall supporter of creative women. She works from her studio in an 1892 warehouse located next to the IJ in Amsterdam. She loves to surround herself with her creative friends, her collection of plants and wine on Fridays. Iris loves colorful, graphic images that take reality with a grain of salt. She is happiest when fiddling with color and dragging with shapes, until she is satisfied. She works mainly for ad agencies, magazines, animation studios and publishers, but has also created work for architecture festivals, international popstars, tiny house communities and design retreats.
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@irisakka
irisvandenakker.com

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For this piece I wanted to portray vending machines, which you can find practically everywhere in Tokyo and that I particularly find fascinating, as an encounter of the more modern side of Japan with the traditional. Tokyo is known for its tall buildings, busy streets and also as a technological hub but if you wander enough, you can still find a vestige of old stores, restaurants, and other less-touristy spots that seem to have stopped in time. I think this combination is what makes Tokyo so interesting and what I wanted to portray through my drawing. 
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Designer and illustrator, Amy Maitland mixes digital and manual techniques to create playful compositions that tell stories. She likes to use vibrant colors, experiment with different textures and always seeks to evoke a little of her experiences and personal trajectory through her illustrations.
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www.amymait.myportfolio.com
@amymait

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When I first saw a sumo match at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, I experienced a mystical atmosphere that was different from everyday life. 

The large, robotic wrestlers, their shiny skin in the spotlight, the colourful Mawashi (belt), the audience packed into the seats.

I illustrated the sacred and lively scene of the event.
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Yuki Uebo is a Japanese illustrator based in Tokyo. Her work is heavily influenced by the the culture of the city; such as the busy streets, use of colours, and general messiness. Through her work she also aims to depict people whose conversations, characters and stories can be imagined.
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www.yukiuebo.com
@yukiuebo

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This cover is based on an encounter I had in Ryōgoku, before a day at the sumo. I had queued early for my ticket the morning after a monsoon storm. The lower division wrestlers began to arrive, hopping out of taxis and into the convenience stores for a quick onigiri.

The details hint at some of my favourite snippets of Japanese culture (and beverages!)
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Benjamin Mills is an illustrator, painter and creator of narrative GIFs. His work is inspired by ecology, animated film and life’s mundane little moments. He works from his loft studio in north London.
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www.benjamintmills.co.uk
@benjamintmills

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I was in Tokyo in November/December 2019 for a week. This is about a picture I took at the first japan metro station I saw (in Shinjuku). Actually, I still like the symmetry of it, like a Wes Anderson movie, specially the telephone in the middle, a weird urban object you don’t understand at these days with an occidental vision.

I visited the Imperial Palace that morning and Shibuya in the afternoon. This strong duality and contrast gave me the idea of playing with it, since this is one of the main things I really love about Tokyo. A contemporary and fashioned young girl full of colors walking in front of a traditionally old man with sepia color filter. Like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill 1 and Ryu Chishu in Tokyo Story.
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Jalcalara (Juan Alcalá) grew up in the 90’s amongst Wally books, Beatles’ songs or spending the afternoon drawing before studying architecture. Actually, he combines his knowledge of architecture with his work as an illustrator, collaborating with companies such as Alfa Romeo or Red Cross. Jalcalara’s creations are generated at a crossroads of elements, anywhere from architecture, everyday life and popular culture; European comic books from the second half of the 20th century, his vinyl collection or Wes Anderson films.
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www.jalcalara.com
@jalcalara

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"Peaceful street, Daikanyama" : located in the Shibuya district, the hilly district of Daikanyama is striking by its peacefulness...It was wonderful to stroll through its narrow tree-lined and colorful streets.

This particular street caught my attention because of its many charming restaurants, slightly crooked buildings and the little Tanuki posted on the balcony, the whole tied together by the background of jumbled electric wires that is so common in Tokyo.

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Ariane is a french watercolor artist and pattern designer. Deeply moved by her travels to Japan and eager to share the emotions the country of the rising sun sparked in her, she created her own brand and studio, called IRIYA, through which she is developing her creative, sensible and poetic artistic vision.

She seeks to convey through her art an invitation to travel to Japan tinged with a feeling of serenity and gracefulness : each watercolor revealing a memory, a story, a fleeting moment, an emotion.
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iriya.fr
@iriya_paris

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Drinking whisky highballs has been one of my many ways of reminiscing my time spent in Japan. I sought to pay homage to this beloved spring/summer beverage through the perspective of humble salarymen, celebrating life's small victories while anticipating better days and Spring.
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Kenn is an illustrator and visual artist with a deep interest in food and culture. My inspirations range from classical Japanese Ukiyo-e art to traditional Chinese medicine labels and Victorian headstones. I have had the pleasure of working with clients such as the Independent and Vittles, as well as having my work displayed in the New-York Historical Society Museum.
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@kennlam

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I realized this one because of the nostalgia I feel about Japan. I am waiting since 2019 to go back here and recently, I saw so much pictures about cherry blossom that started here. I wish I could be right now in japan, and feeling everything around me like the light of the sun that become warmer, through the tree's flowers. This feeling is pretty hard because I finished 5y of studies in October 2021and was waiting since few months to go back to Japan. Today I have to accept that it will be not for this year again, and that I have to look for a job in France now, and rely on my future free time. So I'm still drawing these scenes with the hope that I will be able to live in them as soon as possible.
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Solveig Sauvage is a french traditional and digital painting artist, living currently in Strasbourg. Mostly using poster colors and watercolors as a medium for painting, her style is influenced by her travels and Japanese animation.

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www.solveigsauvage.com
@solveigsauvage

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’Summer Night’ - A traditional Japanese festival "the summer festival" is the inspiration for me to create this cover. Especially the 'goldfish catching', which is a classic activity of the festival. the swimming red fishes, the reflection of the lights, the ripples in the pool, all of these elements construct a beautiful and mysterious picture.This drawing offers a fresh perspective--underwater, to look at this wonderful summer night.
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Miki Xu, an illustrator base in Shanghai, China. Most of her works are created with the watercolor texture by digital device. She uses colors and special composition to invite audiences into an illusion or a magical world that she build.
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@mkrosemiki

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Twilight In Tokyo : Whenever I'm in Tokyo, I love looking at every little detail of daily routine. I would like to stop time to remember every detail that I see. Especially at nightfall, in this special twilight, which gives this city the mood of a surreal painting.

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Dao Nguyen (Pampululu) is a French illustrator based in Montreal. She is a former animation designer, passionate about traveling in Japan. Her work is based on everyday life’s scenes with patterns and vegetal ornaments.

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www.daoartwork.com

@pampululu

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I remembered how plushies and pachinkos was something that was so fun when I went to Tokyo as a child. One day my dad got 3 cinnamon plushies on these machines, and we have them until now. I decided to put a lot of characters like Sanrio's, Domo, and others, to look a little bit chaotic, like the streets in Tokyo.
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My name is Paola Yuu Tabata and i sign like Papoulas Douradas since 2014. I am the third generation of japanese immigrants in Brazil, and i have already visited Tokyo once, after many candle wishes on birthday cakes when I was a kid! It was as magical and different as I imagined and I really want to be able to go back one day. I currently work as an illustrator and I have a shop of illustrated products, among things I love, are vegan food, cats and creative things.
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www.papoulasdouradas.com.br
www.behance.net/papoulasdouradas
@papoulasdouradas

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I’ll never forget the first time I visited Tokyo. I arrived on the train from Nagoya and was eager to find a good view of the city. I treated myself to a cocktail on the 52nd floor of the New York Bar in Shinjuku and found myself gazing out in awe across a dazzling blanket of neon; a solitary moment of electric beauty. Tokyo instantly had me hooked, and Japan became my haven.
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Molly Maine is a British illustrator and designer from London, who studied illustration at Nagoya University of Arts in Japan. She has spent the past five years working as a freelance illustrator whilst living and travelling throughout Asia. She is now based in Lisbon, Portugal and runs Molly Maine Creative, a remote design and illustration studio.
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www.mollymainecreative.com

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This image is based on our first time eating out in Tokyo at the well known Afuri ramen bar. We had an Incredible meal and It was a sign of things to come, everything we tried was fantastic during our trip. (except the fish flavoured crisps I accidentally bought, ha!)
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Mike Hughes is a UK based freelance Illustrator who’s biggest influence is golden era Anime. Much of Mike’s work looks like a freeze frame from an animation you can’t place but you’re sure you’ve seen. Expressive larger than life characters in dynamic situations are the hallmarks of his work.
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www.m-hughes.com
@badnewsmikehughes

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This art was originally called 懐かしい未来 (longing future). It's the feeling of nostalgia of our old routine before the pandemic. I decided to portray this feeling with a warming scene from Suidōbashi Station in Tokyo, where some friends are eating ramen before taking the subway.
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Kenji Lambert is an asian-brazilian illustrator and motion designer, born and raised in Brazil. He's currently working with TV shows at Rede Globo, a local TV channel, but has also worked for HBO, Ogilvy, animation studios and magazines. He's true passion is at studying the subtle details of backgrounds and landscapes, and trying to apply that to his drawings
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www.kenjilambert.com
@kenjilambert

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The first time I visited Tokyo I had Asakusa as my base and from my window I could see these Asahi headquarters buildings. Their presence hit me right away.
They were the first thing I saw in the morning and the last thing I saw in the evening while having a beer by the river with some friends.
For me Japan is like a magnet, it always attracts me and I always want to go back.
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I’m Giorgio aka requiescat and I'm an illustrator and motion designer based in Milan, Italy.
I like doing things in black and white with glitchy textures. I’m inspired most by retro technology, uncommon objects, everything that’s surreal and things that I see while traveling.
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www.requiescat.it
@requiescat_rqsct

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I was inspired how 和 (Japanese style clothing) style naturally blended in nowadays Japanese daily wear in a fashionable way. I like the fact how people chill with this new combination.
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Eve is an illustrator based in New york. She is an lifestyle illustrator and product designer with dreams of becoming a dog groomer. Recently, she is experimenting with animated artworks.
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www.eveliu.com

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My ongoing work on the perception of the urban landscape through memory (fragmented, subjective & personal) led me to a drawing strictly based on the neon signs, storefronts and typography from the streets of my beloved (and sorely missed) Tokyo.
Drawn mostly from the neighbourhoods of Shinjuku, Kabuki-chō, Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, Ikebukuro & Ginza. Plus a little homage to Shuetsu Sato (a subway security guard) and its handmade temporary signage.
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Vasco Mourão works on the perception, texture and memory of the urban landscape. Only with a pen and time, his practice obsessively focuses on the representation of cities through drawings on paper, wood, stone and metal.
Drawings of cityscapes and other architectural meanderings at large, rearranged on the canvas.

Inhabiting a place between fine art and illustration, Vasco Mourão creates bespoke artworks and large scale murals for various private clients, galleries and institutions, working also on selected editorial commissions. Originally from Portugal, now based in Barcelona (when not on the yearly work & travel walkabout).
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mistermourao.com
@vascomourao

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Happy New Year 2021!
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Tom Gastel is a licensed American architect working at Nikken Sekkei in Tokyo as an architectural illustrator. 
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www.behance.net/TomGastel
instagram: @TomGastel