Cat's Post Box

One summers day, Miko the cat headed out of her flat to drop off some mail at the local post office. On her way there, she had thought about her find Goro, her best friend that she hadn't seen since childhood. When the bus dropped Miko off at the post office, she was surprised to see that her long-lost friend had been working at her local post box office this whole time. The two friends shared a long and warm loving embrace. 

Ramen Warehouse

It was the dead of night when a thief had snuck though the gates of the Ramen Warehouse. Inside were boxes with the most premium and delicious ingredients for making an exceptional ramen. The thief wasted no time gathering fresh green onions, onsen eggs, and roasted bits of chashu. Luckily, he was able to escape with all items in tow due to the extreme laziness of the warehouse workers. 

Milk Apartment- Milk Series 1 of 2

Maruko the rabbit and her mother headed to the nearby milk shop to stock up on 4 bottles of delicious milk. Unfortunately, the store had been closed all day due to a store owner's unwillingness to do any work. Luckily for the mother, Maruko was smart and noticed a small leak coming from the building. It seems as the owner had failed to see a fresh stream of milk coming from the top of his house! Maruko thought fast and had filled up all four milk jars she brought to the shop! 

Omusubi Island

This story is about the 3 years I spent in the Omusubi (rice ball) restaraunt SUNNY BLUE! I worked here while my wife Audrey built her online sticker store. I wanted to make a piece that had all the staff I worked with during my time. Still to this day, I would LOVE the chance to go back there and work!   

Strawberry Croissant

This is a story about a family of farmers who grow and sell their own strawberries in a strawberry shop! I got inspired by the Japanese bakery OKAYAMA KOBO in Anaheim California!! 

Curry Pan Cave

A young father brings his two kids to a secret cave made of curry! This illustration is also inspired by my favorite japanese bakery Okayama Kobo!  

Calpico Konbini- Konbini Series 1 of 4

Kentaro, a young convenience store clerk stops working to catch a glimpse of Nanako, a little girl who frequently visited the shop with her mother. Ken couldn't quite put his finger on what he was feeling. His heart felt like it was about to come out of his chest! He had not known at that moment but he had fallen in love with the little girl. It wasn't until a couple of years later where he would work up the courage to confess his love for her.      

Karaage Konbini- Konbini Series 2 of 4

Years later, Kentaro the little boy would grow up into a young man in high school. His feelings could no longer be contained for Nanako and he was ready to make it known. So, one fateful day in front of the fried chicken Konbini, he decided to bite the bullet and hand her a love letter. Embarrassed at first, Nanako opened the letter and accepted his love in her heart. 

Katsu Sando Konbini- Konbini Series 3 of 4

 Even more years had passed and now Ken and Nanako have grown into adults together! Not only did they end up getting married, but they have also purchased their very own Katsu Sando Konbini together! It was opening day when all their friends from high school came out to celebrate the opening of their new store! 

Pocky Konbini- Konbini Series 4 of 4

After 50 years together, Nanako and Ken decided to settle down together and tend to their old pocky konbini in a rural part of Japan. Not missing the fast pace of the city, the two grow old together with love in their hearts! 

Dimsum Town

On one warm evening, Shu, a cook-in-training had received a handwritten acceptance letter to DIM SUM town, a secret village outside the city that trained pandas how to cook the most delicious dim sum dishes! Unfortunately for Shu, that summer accepted too many new students and the school was overrun with too many trainee cooks! Though the competition seemed fierce, Shu was determined to continue onwards and become the number one chef in Dim Sum Town! 

 Mochi World

Have you ever heard about the tale of the rabbit on the moon? It's an old asian folktale about a rabbit that makes mochi on the moon! This illustration is part based off that folktale and part based on a family I know that makes mochi in Los Angeles! The building design is also inspired by Fugetsu-do, a mochi shop in little Tokyo! 

Springtime Record Shop

Pink cherry blossoms float across the sky as we open on a family of rabbits who live above a record shop! The father tends to the record shop and is supposed to be helping his customers. Instead he's listening to music not giving any care in the world!  

Machiya Matcha House- Matcha Series 1 of 2

Centuries ago, a wandering samurai gets lost along his travels and stumbles into a dark forest. It was then, he stumbled across a little green spirit that showed him the way to the exit. Hours later, the samurai had come out of the forest only to find house made from the remains of a giant ceremonial green tea mixing bowl. The doors of the house open to reveal a friendly matcha witch who communicated with the green tea spirits. The spirit showed him the way into the house and together with the witch, they enjoyed a cozy evening drinking tea and telling stories. 

Spirits Matcha Latte Cafe- Matcha Series 2 of 2

Hundreds of years later after the samurai met the witch, the green tea spirits decided to one day become entrepreneurial and open up their own Matcha Boba latte tea house! I mean, if the humans can do it, why couldn't they? 

Coffee Springs

 Do you know the expression: "I love it so much, I can swim in it?" That was the thought I had as I drew this illustration! I LOVE all things coffee, and made the decision in my mind that if there were such a thing as a coffee hot spring, I would be the first one there!  

Vita Lemon Tea

 Hong Kong Lemon Tea is the best!!! This drink is the SOLE reason why most of these tiny worlds exist in the first place! Audrey and I drink Vita all the time to replenish our art spirit while we work! I made this illustration as an escape from life. A house where Audrey and I can go to work on our projects and get our things done! 

Mythical Boba City

One starry night in the hidden Boba city, the daughter of an elite family had gone missing. The mother had become impatient with the incompetence of the guards and demanded that they would find her daughter or they would pay the highest price! The guards fearing her threats had tripled their efforts and worked tirelessly thought the night trying to find the daughter. If they had only known that the daughter had hidden herself away high above the city to meet her one true love, a kind and tender bear. 

Heckelun Pudding Cafe- Retro Series 1 of 3

This tiny world is based off a real cafe in Japan that served the best caramel pudding. In an interview, the owner admitted that the popularity he gained is great, but he was sad that he couldn't serve every one of his customers due to the demand.  

I made this illustration to paint a picture of a scene where the customers helped him serve pudding and he would be able to give everyone his delicious pudding!

Sky Island Soft Cream

 Tucked away in the clouds lied a giant island made of soft serve ice cream! It had been inhabited by super sweet creatures who have lived there since the beginning. Unfortunately, humans have found this special little sky island and had turned it into their own tourist attraction! 

Melon Cream Soda Seaside- Retro Series 2 of 3

 This illustration is dedicated to my sister's family. I love how they all enjoy being outside and running around in the sun. I made this as part of my Retro Series "RETRO LAND" to honor them and their sunny spirit. 

Father & Son Iced Coffee- Retro Series 3 of 3

My dad and I love getting coffee together. As a kid I remember the days where he would sit down with me in front of my local bakery and drink coffee while I ate some sugar cookies. As he's getting older he can't go around as much but from time to time we still hop in a car and drive to our nearest cafe. 

Strawberry Milk Apartment- Milk Series 2 of 2

 This is the second in my milk apartment series! Maruko the rabbit and her mom had gone to a store that sold fresh strawberries and strawberry milk. Unfortunately for the mom, Maruko was too smart for her own good. As soon as she turned around her daughter was already carrying a large box of strawberry milk!  

Xmas Gingerbread House

 In 2022 I met the coolest group of people you'll ever meet! A couple of friends that make amazing art! This illustration was made during X-mas time when we were all selling our goods at Okayama Kobo Bakery! In the illustration Is Annabelle, the cookie-maker, Sharon the Pin-maker, Amelia the Illustrator, Rocky the owner, and Katie the creator! I love my fiends and I was so happy we could all meet this past year!  

Spam Musubi 

Sometimes, you are able to meet the right people at the right time. While starting on my Tiny World journey, I also met up with my childhood friend Luke, Japanese Community Center historian, and a new friend Michael, avid Japanese American culture conservationist. We had a vision to make a series that focused on the lives of Japanese American culture and the people that brought together all our childhood memories through food. In 2023, we were pleased to introduce our YouTube series, The Shokudo. 

Ramune Apartment

Why is there a marble stuck in the ramune bottle? In my mind, it comes from a story long ago of following basic family rules. Like many children, they may not understand simple rules that parents may have, such as "Never play on the roof." But as mischievous kids may try to test boundaries, they found their way to the roof to the "swimming pool." Turns out with the swimming pool, it is a one way entry. Luckily, the little marble boys can breathe underwater, but they do have to stay in there for a long time, while panicked dad has to find a way to get them out before mom finds out. 

Miki's Yakult Dream House

Miki was a famous Japanese singer in the 90s. She was at the top of her game, gaining attention and success with her amazing voice. In a later interview, she was asked if she had any regrets. She expressed that she wished she stopped her career long ago to live a simple life with her family and a daughter she never had time to raise. This tiny world is an alternative life for Miki to have her future of no regrets and to remind all of us of what really matters and what is considered a successful life. 

Mr. Tanuki's Cafe

If I wasn't doing my illustrator's dream job, a very close second would be opening my own cafe. I always imagined running an old retro-style Japanese cafe in our bustling modern world, trying to save the slow pace and timelessness inside my wooden walls. I would hire a nearby family of Tanuki, who would gratefully accept my offer to work in exchange for senbei crackers. Mr. Tanuki is the current owner of the cafe until I can retire stationery and take over for him one day.

Okeya Family Hotcake Shop

My grandparents raised their 4 children in Los Angeles. As third generation Japanese American parents, they wanted to raise their children to embrace the American lifestyle and fit in. In this tiny world, my aunties would be using their artistic abilities and engaging spirits to take care of their community with the best pancake shop in town. My dad, being the handyman, would be making sure the building looked good on the outside, while my aunts would make the building feel good on the inside.

Yuzu Izakaya

This was a project joined with Choya. Their drinks remind me of the night times in Japan, after a long hard day's work. Friends would get together to have a beer and yakitori and enjoy each other's company, releasing their ties and laughing until the time to pick up the last train.  

Rainbow Jello Potluck

My memories of summer were always centered around family potlucks. And in those potlucks, there was always a plate of beautiful glistening Rainbow Jello. By the end of the day, I must have had at least 10 pieces. Now as an adult, I realize how much time and effort it took to make the jello. It took such patience to wait for every layer to set and a new color to form. We often take for granted the things that we enjoyed in an instant that our friends and family such time to complete. To all of them that kept this memory going, thank you. 

Taiyaki Airship

This is a project I did for Taste of Japan in Anaheim. I imagine a young man grew up in his family Taiyaki business. He enjoyed his work and knew the importance of keeping the family legacy alive, but he also had a secret interest in mechanical engineering. He never pursued it, since it would seem that he would have to leave his family and business behind. But when his family found out, they offered him the money saved from their shop, so he could get schooling on engineering. When he was done, he came back home and decided to expand the shop, creating a Taiyaki airship so that the taiyaki store he loved could grow and be shared.