{"id":516,"date":"2026-01-19T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.boundless-art.com\/?p=516"},"modified":"2026-01-19T12:15:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T03:15:28","slug":"%e3%80%90interview%e3%80%91illustrations-and-daily-life-of-chiaki-harada-finding-your-own-style-and-well-being-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.boundless-art.com\/?p=516","title":{"rendered":"\u3010Interview\u3011Illustrations and Daily Life of Chiaki Harada: Finding Your Own Style and Well-Being – Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Continuing from Part 1<\/a>, this interview features Chiaki Harada, an illustrator and artist renowned for her distinctive use of color, original characters, and poetic dialogue.\u00a0

<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How \u201cHorror\u201d Saved Her from a Creative Slamp<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re comfortable answering, is there anyone who you consider a rival?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada: In the past, I used to think of many people as rivals (laughs). But I started to have this mindset that each and everyone should just do what they love and since then, I stopped worrying much about others. If I had to name an eternal rival, or rather someone I truly admire, it would be Kazuo Umezu. My ultimate goal is to become an energetic elderly, just like Umezu.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0I saw in a past interview that you mentioned you want to write horror. Starting with Kazuo Umezu\uff08related article\uff1aFrom Horror to Grand Art: Kazuo Umezu<\/a>\uff09, artists who have inspired you also create horror works. How is the progress on the Chiaki Harada version of horror coming along?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada:<\/strong> Actually, there\u2019s been a proposal for a few years now to publish it as a book! But it\u2019s currently been held up. I really want to put it out, so I know I need to properly write the rest. I feel truly sorry to everyone at the publishing company\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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YouTube Channel\u300c\u30aa\u30ab\u30eb\u30c8\u90e8\u300d<\/a>Goods illustration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

That\u2019s very exciting! Was there an exact moment where it triggered you to want to do horror?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada:<\/strong> Originally, my illustration often used dialogues that were like insults. I wanted to draw things that everyone may be thinking in their head but don’t really say it out loud. From a certain point though, especially on Twitter, I felt like a lot more people were getting into \u201creply battles\u201d and easily posting whatever came to mind. I began to feel that posting my illustrations alone on that kind of timeline could make some people feel uncomfortable.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMy Last Wish for Her,\u201d released in 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that time, my personal life was also getting messy – I felt ill, was forced to move, and so many things came all at once. Combined with the COVID period, I went through a prolonged time of creative exhaustion, and found myself unable to draw illustrations or write literary essays. But I still wanted to draw something and had to support myself financially. I wanted to keep delivering my drawings to the viewers too. It was then that I realized insults were not enough, and as I reflected on what I genuinely loved, horror just came to mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I quietly added to my website that \u201cI can draw horror-themed illustrations,\u201d and then I started receiving requests from horror story YouTubers and true-crime\/urban-legend YouTubers. After I started creating horror artworks, I was really happy to realize that I still had things I could express.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SNS and Society. Everyone Should Do Their Own Unique Work.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now anyone can freely share their voice, but at the same time, I think there\u2019s also a risk associated with being publicly visible. As a creator who has made extensive use of SNS, is there anything you are conscious of?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada:<\/strong> While I don\u2019t get many chances to meet the viewers, I really love the people who follow my work. Buying my merchandise or saying that they \u201clike\u201d my work may require a little courage. That\u2019s why I want to make sure those people never feel embarrassed.\u00a0

If I post something extreme and get backlashed from it, the people who follow me may feel upset or embarrassed. I definitely want to avoid such a situation. I constantly try to keep in mind the wish that everyone would live a calm, peaceful, and happy life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some artists actively post social and political opinions on social media. How do you maintain your distance from society?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada: In my case, it\u2019s probably closer to watching quietly from afar. Recently,my musician friend made a political tweet that caused a huge controversy, but that didn\u2019t stop me from being friends with them at all. People often categorize us as \u201cmusicians\u201d or \u201cillustrators,\u201d but I\u2019ve been thinking lately that everyone is just fulfilling \u201ctheir own unique role.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if we draw similar pieces, my work is mine and their work is theirs. Even making political comments is part of that person\u2019s style and their work, at least that\u2019s what I think.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada\u2019s Daily Life. Gradually Resolving Long-Held Resistance Towards One\u2019s Parents Through the Act of Raising a Child.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you have a particular preference about fashion or appearance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada:To be honest, I don\u2019t have much interest in fashion\u2026 I don\u2019t care much about clothes, hair, or nails. I think I used to think about it a lot in my own way, but actually my mother was an overbearing type who decided everything I wore. Even when I wore clothes that I chose myself the first time, she kept saying \u201cthat doesn\u2019t suit you\u201d and \u201cthat looks weird.\u201d Out of rebellious spirit as a reaction to that, I think there was a time when I wore bright colored clothes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you go out with your child on your days off?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada: It\u2019s increased lately. I don\u2019t have many memories of my parents taking me out to play when I was a child, so I want to do things that I wished had been done for me when I was little for my child. It doesn\u2019t have to be anywhere special but I try to go for a walk at least once a day, or do chores together, or play together.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Feeding Dad\u2019s Bones to Shishimai (Lion Mask Dance)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/figcaption><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could you tell us a bit more about your parents?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada: <\/strong><\/strong>We really didn\u2019t get along in the past. When I was around fifth grade, my father just sort of disappeared. At that time, the atmosphere at home was bad, and I thought \u201cI don\u2019t want to be with Dad!\u201d In the end, my father and I ended up living separately and from then on, my mother\u2019s interest focused solely on me and we kept clashing.\u00a0

<\/strong><\/strong>Even recently, we were constantly fighting and weren’t on good terms, but after my child was born, my mother, my father, and my father\u2019s partner started coming over to visit. Although step by step, we\u2019ve gotten a little closer.

I myself had this feeling of questioning why I can\u2019t forgive my parents, but through raising my own child, it feels as if the resentment is slowly being cleansed. Creating some distance between us has ultimately made things easier for everyone.

<\/strong>\u00a0We\u2019d like to ask about your current work and what you\u2019d like to try in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiaki Harada:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> There are so many things I want to try. I would love to write a literary essay again, and I want to try horror too. Also, partly due to the post-COVID slump, I have this sense that I haven\u2019t fully returned to my original insult-style illustrations. But when my child starts going to kindergarten and I have a bit more time for myself, I want to draw girls in more detail.
<\/strong>
Another thing that I\u2019ve been interested in for a while is translating my illustrations and dialogue to share them internationally. Previously, I had translated versions of my books published in Taiwan and other Chinese-speaking districts, but this time I want to release them in English-speaking countries too. I want people from all around the world to see my work.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Many Chinese version works<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Right now, I\u2019ve been offered to publish a parenting essay manga, and I\u2019m hoping to release it successfully. I want to do my best to make it that far without running out of life first (laughs).\u00a0
<\/strong>
Over the course of a one-hour interview from her workspace, Chiaki Harada shared more dreams than could possibly be contained in that time. SNS, illustration, art, and parenting. As Chiaki Harada continues to cultivate various fields, we hope to continue watching her courageous journey – sharing both laughter and tears along the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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