Kumamoto Manga Arts, a hands-on manga and anime goods shop in Kumamoto operated by Coamix, is expanding its popular "Manga Pen-Inking Experience" workshop. With cooperation from Akita Shoten, a new manuscript option based on the hugely popular schoolgirl fishing manga Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater—set in Kumamoto's Ashikita—joins the lineup.
What Is the Manga Pen-Inking Experience?
The Manga Pen-Inking Experience lets visitors pick up the same professional-grade "G-pen" and ink used by working manga artists and try their hand at inking, one of the most rewarding steps in manga production.
The workshop's manuscript lineup now adds a page from Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater, a series beloved by fans for its depiction of Kumamoto's beautiful sea, rich nature, and the everyday life of the Breakwater Club.
Staff carefully support anyone who isn't confident in their drawing skills or is picking up a G-pen for the first time, so guests of any age can relax and enjoy creating their own original artwork.
About Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater
Hina Tsurugi, a first-year student at Umino High School, is an indoor type who isn't good with creatures. While walking along the breakwater one day, she meets her upperclassman Kuroiwa and ends up drafted into the mysterious "Breakwater Club," where she takes up fishing. Surrounded by a cast of distinctive club members, what will become of Hina's high school life?
(Quoted from Akita Shoten's official website for Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater)
©小坂泰之（秋田書店）2017
Four Highlights of the Manga Pen-Inking Experience
Put your soul into every line—the thrill of recreating an iconic scene
Working from a beautifully drawn reference, guests ink in the characters' expressions and the lively surface of the sea. The time spent focused on this work feels just like being a professional manga artist, and it's easy to lose track of time while immersed in it.
Take home your piece, framed
The manuscript you complete is a one-of-a-kind artwork. It's handed over in a frame suited to the piece, so you can enjoy the memory of creating it at home anytime.
Keep the G-pen and ink you used
The "G-pen" and "ink" set used during the experience is yours to take home, so you can continue creating right away at home.
A record of the craftsmanship—timelapse filming stands at every seat
Every seat is equipped with a smartphone stand for video recording. The process of applying ink is captured as a timelapse video, and the footage is provided from an in-store terminal—perfect for keeping as a memory or sharing on social media.
Workshop Overview
- Name: Manga Pen-Inking Experience
- Approximate duration: 60 to 120 minutes
- Price: ¥5,000 (tax included)
- Includes framing of the completed artwork and a G-pen & ink set to take home
- Location: Kumamoto Manga Arts (4-1 Tetorihonmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, 大劇会館 Basement 1F)
- Hours: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (closed Wednesdays)
- Reservations: Available through the "Manga Pen-Inking Experience" page on the Kumamoto Manga Arts official website.
