Growing up in Japan, Saiko Nakamura passed time in the classroom doodling cartoons in her notebook, eventually creating her own duck-like character, Tarabu. Today, as an illustration major at Cal State Long Beach, she continues to sketch him—along with friends of his—on somewhat of a daily basis.
Nakamura arrived at the university due to its relative proximity to Japan and its arts program. She has logged many hours in the International House—living in it for three years—learning about various cultures and making many friends.
Eventually, Nakamura anticipates graduating and moving back to her homeland. She hopes to design children’s books (some of them in an anime style) and bring joy to her readers. And even though Nakamura enjoys living stateside—“I love people in Long Beach,” she says—she feels her art is best-suited for a Japanese audience. Hopefully, she’ll be able to leave a little joy with us before heading home.
// NATE BROWN
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