[Botan] Mommy Botan here!  Where are my two little brats!?  801-chaaaaaaaan!?  Tomo-chaaaaaaaaan!?
[801-chan] Mommmmmm~~y!
[Tomo-chan] Mommmmmmmmmmmmmm~yy!
[Botan]  Awh, here they are!!  *Big group hug! Group hug!*

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

I hope you got your wish list for Santa and being good!  With 801-chan and Tomo-chan, their wishes are always the same:  “Mommy Botan, please draw me pretty.  Please make me look good!” and “lots of bishonen, bishonen and more bishonen!”  LOL  *sigh*   I hope I’m living up to their expectation!  It’s not easy being their creator!  Ya know!?

Have you been to MULTIMEDIA section yet?  I hope everyone enjoy what you see there.  I want to thank Kumana-chan for the design and layout.  Kumana-chan, you did a fantastic job!  Makes 801-chan and Tomo-chan look 100 times cuter!  Bravo!  Oh, in case you are wondering, the calendar for July and beyond will be coming in March 2010.  I’m working on that - so please stay tuned!

I read a whole bunch of news on DMP and 801 Media’s new licenses for next year.  Oh wow, congratulations on thsoe awesome titles!

Oh, I also wanted to say congrats and thanks to those 801-chan four panel comic contest winners.  It was alot of fun working with your stories.  I hope 801 Media will do more of that next year.

Thank you everyone for taking good care of 801-chan and Tomo-chan!  And thank you, 801 Media for making this all possible!  I’ll be back soon to check up on them!  Until then, be good!

Peace and Love,
Botan

[801-chan & Tomo-chan]  Merry Christmas, mommy Botan!

(Translated by Crayon)
Thank you 801 Media for contacting me for this special occasion … and ma’an, did 801-chan had tooooons of questions for me.  And I honestly think she is just a nosey girl.  Am I right, or am I right?

[Background]  Hi, I’m Fuuri.  Born and raised, where else, in Japan.  And I’m still living in hometown.  I love this city.  Lots of fun memories, lots of childhood memories… I could never leave this place.  I loved drawing since I was little.  I used to draw lots of things.  And then one day, someone says to me, “you know, you can make a living being a mangaka…”  So I said, “um…okay…” LOL -  I think, I was 13 or 14 then.  And so, here I am.  Ta Da~~  me as a professional mangaka.  Sorry, I wish I had more interesting and inspirational story to tell you, but I don’t.

[Work]  Yesss! I’m always working!  Just working on my BL manga right now!  Just lots and lots of BL! My memorable and unforgettable work is my debut piece.  I always reflect and tell myself – how blessed I am to have made it thus far.

[Outside of work]  I take good care of my birds - cockatiels.  I have like… 10 of them…  they are by babies.  They are so cute and I love them.  On my days off, I spend most of my time with them. And then I go out with my friends.

[Dreams]  I’d love to travel to outer space.  – oh, I also like Sci-Fi movies and things.  And if I could, I wanna meet Edgar Cayce and Peter Frankl.

[re: USA]  I’ve been to Hawaii and west coast once.  I saw lots of pretty birds in Hawaii – here I go with birds again.  I know… it’s an obsession, really.  And west coast was so beautiful.  I felt like I was in a movie or something. When I get a chance, I definitely want to visit again.  When my publisher told me that my book is being published in the US, I screamed, “Yeeehaw!”  <– American Style! How awesome!  May be I should buy my own US copy and study English.  I hope you can all cultural differences aside, and just enjoy my manga -  I’ve Moved Next Door To You   ‘Cuz I want you to feel my LOVE!

~Fuuri

(Translated by Crayon)
…ok… Let me turn off my Okami 大神 game and get back to work…

Hello!  This is Rie!  Stop right there!  It’s pronounced “Ree-Eh.”  But those of you know how to read Roman-ji already knew that (^_^) So How are you?  Honestly, when I heard that Love Skit was being licensed by 801 Media, I was half jumping in joy going “yaaaay!” and the half… a bit nervous going “re…really…?”   I love a good story with a couple with a big age difference!  I think that way, people are more prone to troubles, don’t you think?  I kept that in mind when I worked on Love Skit.  I hope you like it    Feedbacks and honesty is greatly appreciated!

So here we go!  This is me!  See if you can profile me and figure me out (my answers are in BOLD):

Mountain or ocean?  Ocean
Coffee or tea?  Coffee
Train or bus?  Train
Policeman or fireman?  Policeman
Digital or analog?  Analog
Bath or shower?  Bath
B&W or color?  Color
TV or movie?  Movie
Pen or pencil?  Pen
Beer or sake?  Sake
Ramen or udon?  Udon
Rice or bread?  Rice
Zoo or aquarium?  Aquarium
Christmas or New Year?  New Year
Escalator or elevator?  Escalator
Candles or oil lamp?  Candles
Shoes or sandals?  Sandals
Sun or Moon?  Sun
80’s or 90’s?  90’s
Card games or mahjong?  Card games
Earthquakes or typhoons?  Typhoons
Satin or linen?  Linen
Doctor or dentist?  Doctor
Dogs or cats?  Cats

So?  What do you think of me now? 

Love, Rie

(Translated by Crayon)
Hi everyone!  Kazuka Minami here!  Nice to meet you!  I was excited when 801-chan  contacted me with this opportunity!  I just wanted to say thank you!  …aaaand, thank you everyone for reading my manga.  I want to be sure to answer all of the questions (801-chan gave me 3 pages!) and hope you get to know me better at the end of this blog!

First of all… All I can think of is-  YaoiCon 2009!  You have no idea how excited I am!  And I can’t wait!  I’ve never been to America before and I am soooo looking forward to it!  I just want to get there and take it all in! Did I tell you?  I love love love American movies – mainly horror, suspense and fantasy movies.  My favorite actors are:  Bruce Willis, Keifer Sutherland, Wentworth Miller, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki!  (I’m thinking – how can I possibly meet them during my stay…) If any of you have a connection, please let me know!!!

I’m actually an Anime Otaku!  My current obsession is Code Geass! Last time I cried, got little teary-eyed was when my favorite character died during the episode of Code Geass >_<   Yes, I’m an emotional person!  Speaking of anime – anime inspired me to become a manga artist.  Back in the day, I used to attend dojin-events and the publisher saw my work and recruited me.  I am very grateful of my career and I cherish every moment of it.  I have to say my most memorable work is 仔羊捕獲ケーカク!  (Kohitsuji Hokaku Keikaku! – “Capturing the Lambs”) because it was a made into PS2 game.  I felt very honored that they picked my work.  For my R&R, I like to take a loooong bath and then sleep as much as I can!  Oh, and of course, being otaku! But I don’t think I’ll be doing much of that since two of my new series of work starts this fall.  But I hope I can still fine the time to relax somehow… and also somehow find the time to go on my dream vacation, to Egypt!

Truly – thank you for support!  I want to deliver entertaining and interesting Yaoi/BL manga to your library collection!  So I’m going to get back to work and draw, draw, draw!

Love, Kazuka

[801-chan]:  Hi Everyone, it’s 801-chan here!  We have a special guest today with us today.  It’s my mommy, Botan Yamada!  She created me!  So let’s get this party started!

[801-chan] (801)   Hi mommy Botan!  (hugs!)
[Botan Yamada] (BY)  Hi 801-chan!  How’s it going?  (hugs!)
[801] Good!  Good!  Before we get started, I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you do!  It’s great to see me all cute and cuddly in every 4panel comic strip!
[BY]  (Chuckles)  You are very welcome!  I try my best…
[801]  So let’s get this party started!  What made you become a manga artist?
[BY]  Hm… I know you get this answer by other artists too… simply I just love reading manga - ever since I was a little girl.  So naturally, I said to myself, “I wanna become a manga artist too!”  … so here I am!
[801]  And where did you come up with your pen name “Botan?”
[BY]   When I first became a manga artist, I used to work together with a friend of mine.    We both needed a pen name but we couldn’t decide on it for a while.  Then one day, we were randomly talking about things and we both happen to like this pair of Japanese comedians named Nakata Botan & Kausu.  They are hilarious comedians!  Anyways, we liked them so much… so we got our names from them; we decided I’d be Botan and my friend be Kausu!
[801] That’s awesome!  I’ve seen them on TVs! They are funny!
[BY]  And my friend, Kausu and I, we still work together from time to time!
[801]  Friends are forever!  Just like me and Tomo-chan!  Speaking of work, Botan, What are you working on right now?
[BY]  Oooo… I have a lot on my plate right now but the priority goes short story for BL Comics!  … that reminds me… when is my deadline?   (chuckles)
[801]  I hope you aren’t stressed…
[BY]  No, no.  I’m not stressed.  I’d like to keep myself busy, but manageably busy!  I hate to stress out.  I’m very easy going for the most part, I don’t like being uptight.
[801]  Is there anything you’d want to do besides manga?
[BY]  Um… sometimes I wish that I were a school teacher…  I know it’s challenging but seems fun working with kids!
[801]  What’s your favorite movie?
[BY]   Spiderman!  Loooved it!
[801]  What’s your favorite drink?
[BY]  Coffee! Can’t live without it!
[801]  (Giggles)  What else can’t you live without?
[BY]  My family.  My cat.  Beauty sleep.  Udon & sukiyaki!
[801]  Udon & sukiyaki!?
[BY]  Yes, udon & sukiyaki!  My favorite things to eat!  Can’t live without them!
[801]  How about things you hate the most?
[BY]  ….. bugs….  I hate bugs…  nothing in particular… just ALL kinds of bugs…
[801]  hahaha.  No camping for you!
[BY]  Oh no no no!
[801]  What’s on your Christmas wish list for Santa this year?
[BY]  ……(a long pause)…….
[801] ……. Okay… I’m under the impression that your list is long?
[BY] …. Yes….  But if I had to choose ONE… I’d like a top-of-the-line scanner for work.
[801]  Botan, for my Christmas, would you draw more bishonen for us?
[BY]  Of course, 801-chan!  Any time!  Well, thanks for the fun one-on-one interview today!  And thank you for making me a part of this blog.  I hope everyone enjoyed it and got to know me a little better!  You can find my personal blog page here (it’s in Japanese)  http://yamadabotan.blog85.fc2.com/   Everyone, please take good care of 801-chan for me!

Hope to see you around!
Lots of love, Botan

(Translation by Crayon)
Hi everyone!  How do you do!  I’m Ruri and you have no idea how ecstatic I am that my book is being published in America!  I hope you enjoy!  Thanks a million to 801Media (and Digital Manga Publishing!)  *kisses*  Truth be told, my English is very limited - but I DO know how to say “hello,” “thank you,” and “where is the restroom?”  LOL    And how is it fair that my characters in my book are able to speak fluent English just-like-that?  Wish I had the same ability… I’m very envious!  LOL

Monsoon season is just around the corner for Japan -  expecting lots of rain and thunder storms in some parts of the country.  It’s muggy from time to time and I’m starting to feel lots of moisture in the air.  I wish I can take you around my neighborhood, purple hydrangea flowers are in full bloom and they are absolutely beautiful!

Okay - so little about myself:  earlier, 801-Chan asked me what inspired me to become a manga artist?  Well, manga is my passion!  Manga is my life!  I loved drawing and I loved reading manga as long as I can remember.  I’ve always carried pencils and papers everywhere I went.  I always knew that I wanted to become a manga artist.  I’m working on 2 new projects right now, I’m still penciling and in a stage of rough sketches though but they are coming along very well!

When I’m not working, I like to decompress and relax with my favorite movies:  SEX and the CITY, The Phantom of the Opera, Great Detectives Poirot… well, don’t get me started with my favorite movies list… cuz I have tons more and I can’t choose!   My taste buds are keen on soba, sushi and Chinese food!  *awh… drool*  I’m also a wine, tea and coffee connoisseur!  My current obsession includes: aromatherapy <-- highly recommended! very therapeutic!  Cosmology - okay I admit, I don't know much about it but it sounds interesting and I want to learn more!  ...and of course, SEX and the CITY!  <-- love this movie!  I'm hoping my next vacation destination will be Manhattan New York!  I’m dying to check out all the hot spots and all the buzz from the movie!

Thank you for reading my blog!  And thank you 801-Chan for this opportunity!  And oh, please visit my official website:  http://butterflykiss.rocket3.net/top.html  for more info!  (it’s in Japanese)  It is single-handedly maintained by me!  Yes, everyday!

Best, Ruri