I witnessed the moment when the desire to draw overflowed. The story behind the birth of "Donki-chan" by author Taisuke Kinugasa [Unusual Communication #1]

December 20, 2023 COLUMN

Hello everyone. I'm Marie, a member of the HERALBONY staff.
Thank you very much for your continued patronage of HERALBONY.

Every day, as I carry out various activities, I have many wonderful experiences that come from interacting with unique artists. Each time, I feel a strong desire to share this with everyone who always supports me, so I have decided to start a new project.

We've decided to deliver reports on unique artists as content exclusive to our online store members, entitled "Unique Communications," with the feeling of sending a letter to all of you who always support us.

It makes you feel like you can relax a little and get some energy back.
This is aimed at all of my comrades who love the unconventional, with the feeling that I'm talking about my favorite idol.

Please stay tuned!

Incidents at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi "Unique Department Store"

August 2023. At the "Unconventional Department Store" held at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, various unconventional artists exhibited their art in public, adding a touch of uniqueness to the venue.

I really love the sight of artists creating their works with such vigor and excitement, and the many visitors, both men and women, of all ages, watching them.

Today, we would like to share with you an unforgettable episode that occurred when the unique artist Taisuke Kinugasa participated in the public art production.

Within the allotted time for the event, Taisuke beautifully completed a masterpiece depicting the landscape of Nihonbashi as it was in the past.

An announcement was made that the work had been successfully completed and the public art production time had ended!

As his mother Tamami was answering questions in the interview as a final greeting, my eyes and the fixed camera were capturing Taisuke, who was holding a small canvas in his hands and fidgeting with excitement...

And so the public art production event ended... but Taisuke immediately put the canvas he was holding on the table as if to say, "I want to draw more!" And he started drawing the rough sketch with incredible speed...

The whole experience felt like only about three minutes.
Before I knew it, it was all colored in, and the last word I wrote in a flash was "Donki-chan!"

(The red and blue make a cute combination of Dokin-chan and Kokin-chan...)

The other staff members who were there and I couldn't help but get excited and shout, "Donki-chan!!!"

"Donki-chan is the best!" I told his mother, Tamami, who replied that she had told Taisuke several times before the event started, "No Anpanman allowed (as the artist is planning to draw a work with Nihonbashi as its theme this time)."

The old Nihonbashi scenery that served as the model for the painting

After finishing his Nihonbashi piece to his heart's content and hearing the signal to end the event, perhaps at the very last moment he suddenly had an explosive desire to write a piece about his beloved Anpanman.

Or perhaps, since there were many children at the venue, it was a nice gesture to think, "Now that the event is over, let's draw some Anpanman characters that the children will enjoy!"

*Please refer to the guest episode of "HERALBONY TONE FROM MUSEUM ~Listening Museum~" featuring Taisuke Kinugasa.
https://store.heralbony.jp/blogs/journal/podcast07

It was an impressive and cute end to the public art project, as if they were playing their special song as an encore at the end of a concert (I'm quoting Tamami's wonderful words).