New YA Graphic Novel Explores Life in Japan | Exclusive

Today we have a new book announcement: Hanami, a graphic memoir by Spanish artist Julia Cejas about her experiences as a newcomer living in Japan. Here’s the publisher’s description:

Julia and Marc are your average creative millennial couple, full of the anxieties and optimism of their generation. When the economy takes a downturn and Marc loses his engineering job, the pair realize that their relative lack of ties means they can pool their savings to embark on a new adventure: moving to Japan! Until the money runs out, anyway…

The pair move into a tiny apartment and enroll in a local Japanese school as they begin to acclimate to the local culture. Whether learning about the local fire patrol or the beautiful terror of Japanese toilets, the pair embrace their new surroundings with equal parts confusion and wonder!

Cejas, who has won several national awards in Spain, is making her English-language debut with this book. Her reflections on her new home are both humorous and thoughtful, often making allusions to anime and manga as well. The book will hold appeal to both YA and adult readers who are interested in exploring Japanese culture.

The 136-page paperback will be published by Humanoids on April 2, 2024.

Here’s a look at some of the interior art:

Filed under: Uncategorized