PROFILE
Pen Name: Roberto F.
SNS Profiles: X: Mr_Houseki, Instagram: mr.houseki, Facebook: mangaroberto
Country: Brazil
Favorite manga: Rurouni Kenshin, Fullmetal Alchemist, Blade of the Immortal, CLAYMORE

SMA4 Grand Prix Runner-UP: “PLAY”

“Everything you see and hear here is a source of inspiration for good manga.”

What made you decide to come to Japan?

I came to Japan because I love Japan and Japanese manga, and I saw it as a special opportunity to grow as a manga artist.

I have been a manga fan since I was a child, and at the age of 6, I was exposed to Japanese works such as “Dragon Ball” and “Saint Seiya”, and was hooked. This led me to draw manga with my friends when I was 14 years old.

In my home country of Brazil, I drew manga while doing freelance design work. My family and friends understood my desire to make manga my career and my interest in Japan. So when I was approached by COAMIX and decided to move to Japan, everyone around me was willing to support me.

What is your impression of Japan, Kumamoto, and Aso?

I think the scenery of this area is very beautiful and I really like the people I have met. There is respect, compassion, hard work, and a great sense of humor. Everything I see and hear here is a source of inspiration for good manga. Everything is information that I don’t have in my home country. For example, unlike Brazil, Aso has snow. The landscape is an inspiration for new stories.

How do you feel about the Artists Village Aso 096k’s location in Kumamoto as an environment for drawing manga? What’s your impression of the living environment and food?

The studio has everything you need for drawing manga. I also find it interesting to work with people of different nationalities in the same space. I also like the greenery around the facility.

I also love the food. Sushi, sashimi, udon, and all the other Japanese food in the cafeteria here is delicious, including the wasabi.

As for drinks, I was surprised by the iced coffee. You can’t find this in Brazil. Other than that, I am excited to try the vending machine drinks.

The residential building is a one-minute walk from the Art Studio, making it easy to come and go, and the rooms are easy to live in. The closets with sliding doors are especially convenient!

What does an average day at the Artists Village look like for you?

I am working on a webtoon series and my own original work, so every day passes quickly in terms of coming up with a story and character development. But I still find time to explore the  area around the Artists Village, make plans to go out with my fellow manga creators, attend various events, see movies, and go out to eat at restaurants.

What are your goals for the future?

I want to impress as many people as possible by creating and publishing as many manga as possible. I would also like to learn the language and get closer to Japanese culture, as I hope to become a fluent Japanese speaker.

Please give a message to those who are thinking about working at the Artists Village Aso 096k!

Japanese manga is unique in the way it is produced, and I believe this is at the core of its high quality. It will be a great pleasure for you to learn and draw manga here!

Thank you, Roberto F.! We’re eagerly awaiting your original manga debut!

Learn more about how YOU can join the Artists Village and create manga with us!