So those bits were really fun and easy, almost like I wasn’t even doing any work. And sometimes while writing, the dialogue would just flow so naturally, as if I were taking dictation while listening to the characters talk. The scene at the end of Chapter 10, when Tina is walking home from work, came to me while I was listening to the song “Rebirth” by 10cm. Sometimes random scenes would just come to me, nearly perfectly intact, while I was listening to music or something. What was your favorite part about writing Himawari House ? What was the most challenging part? I went back and redrew those beginning chapters for the graphic novel, but by the time I finished the book I wanted to redo them again…. The first 6 or so chapters were written and drawn before I got the job illustrating They Called Us Enemy, so in between chapters 6 and 7 I got a whole lot more experience. The story is actually a bit shorter than what I had initially envisioned, and the art has evolved quite a bit. I thought to myself, well, what’s something that I know well enough to fill a couple dozen chapters or so? And I decided to write about languages, which I’m really passionate about, and study abroad, which I have a decent amount of experience with. Two short comic series that I had just posted on Instagram had done really well, so I wanted to try drawing something more long-form. Though each of them has her own motivations and challenges, they all deal with language barriers, being a fish out of water, self discovery, love, and family.Ĭongratulations on your solo graphic novel debut! How did you come up with the idea for Himawari House ? How has the story or art changed or evolved since you published it first as Himawari Share on Tapas? Nao came to Japan to reconnect with her Japanese heritage, while Hyejung and Tina came to find freedom and their own paths. The three of them became fast friends through living together in the Himawari House in Tokyo and attending the same Japanese cram school. Living in a new country is no walk in the park-Nao, Hyejung, and Tina can all attest to that. Ī young adult graphic novel about three foreign exchange students and the pleasures, and difficulties, of adjusting to living in Japan. Today we’re thrilled to welcome Harmony Becker to the WNDB blog to discuss Himawari House.

Himawari House by Harmony Becker