HomeAnimeOne-On-One: "Aspe-chan" Creator Kuro Akagi

One-On-One: "Aspe-chan" Creator Kuro Akagi

One-On-One: "Aspe-chan" Creator Kuro Akagi

In the world of pop culture, people with both Autism and Asperger Syndrome tend to get a bad rep. In movies and TV, writers tend to focus primarily on those on the lower Spectrum, causing those who are far higher to be judged solely on what others may see in a work of fiction. I say this because I've personally been through that form of judgement, and let me tell you: it's not fun having to constantly explain one's self in the slightest! Fortunately, over on the other side of the Pacific, there's an artist that is doing all that she can to shine a far better light on the Spectrum than most others, and she may be successful on her quest.

Meet Kuro Akagi, a well-renowned cosplayer with Asperger's who has managed to gain over 143,000 followers on her Instagram thanks to her amazing costumes. However, when she's not wowing her audience with her dress-up, she's putting pen-to-ink to tell her life story in the form of Aspe-chan. Since premiering her manga on Pixiv back in January, she has already gained the attention of such English-based news stations as Anime News Network, SoraNews24, and goboiano. Needless to say, her little manga may be just what this world needs to help the rest of the world better understand those living on the Spectrum.

With the aid of my friend Sawa Kato (who is known for her work in the band Sawas Phool and as a former contributor for No Borders No Race via her Nazo-Nazo Nihongo segments), I had the opportunity to chat with Kuro Akagi about Aspe-chan, her cosplay work, and living her life on the Spectrum. And for the first time ever on the B3 site, the interview has been presented both in English and Japanese!

Kuro Akagi Supergirl cosplay

First off, how are you doing today?

Nice to meet you. I am Kuro Akagi, Japanese cosplayer as well freelancer for doujinshi. I really appreciate this opportunity to be interviewed, and accept this chance to be known by more people. Thank you.

How did you first discover that you were on the Spectrum, and how did you take the news?

I had a friend with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and we happened to find a lot in common through our conversations. Difficulties on relations with other people, sports and exercises, etc..., and I start learning about spectrum after hearing an advice from this friend who said, "Maybe you are also Asperger's." As I learned about Asperger's, I found there were so many symptoms that exactly matched to mine, and it helped me feel relieved rather than disappointed or depressed. Until I knew about Asperger's, I felt as if I was wondering in the darkness asking myself, "Why I can’t do the same like others or always behind everyone?" and "Maybe because I’m not trying good enough?" and so on. Knowing about the Spectrum was a key to start knowing about myself a little more regardless of comparing with others by the scale of superior or inferior, but accepting myself as I am.

Growing up, how did you overcome the obstacles that being on the Spectrum had when it came to living an average life?

People with Asperger's tend to provoke misunderstandings unintentionally. When I was a student, even though I was doing or saying things which I thought as "normal", parents, teachers and even my classmates kept telling me "You are not normal," and it made me think, "It’s all because I’m incompetent to what they think as 'normal'." I lost self-confidence, I was bullied, and I lost my own thought by thinking I’m always wrong and what others say is always the right. In short, I was always obeying others, because I couldn’t believe myself and my thought. Although, after knowing about Asperger Syndrome, I determined to start many things to broadening my horizon and get back my self-confidence.

I start taking my writings more seriously for manga and/or doujinshi, which I always liked. Sooner or later, I realized I’m good with work on something with continuous concentration, and it helped me get my confidence back. I start taking cosplay a little more actively and presented at different kind of events, and then I could have more followers, and even blessed by chances for working and it made me feel that I’ve got more confidence back. By knowing Asperger Syndrome, I could shift my characteristics in a positive way. Completely writing manga periodically with my strong concentration and working style, keep doing what I once determined to do, and attend Cosplay events. I can’t say I overcame it yet, but my life is way better than before and able to enjoy my life so much better today.

Aspe-chan 1 English

When did you first discover your love for manga & doujinshi, and what drew you into creating your own?

I love manga since I was a child, and it was influenced by my father. I was very lucky to have an environment surrounded by many different kinds of manga, movies, and animation contents because of my father's love toward manga contents and media. It was very natural for me to get into it, and I already loved it when I realized. I remember buying my first doujinshi when I was in junior high school. I wrote my first manga in my junior high school years as well, but I wasn’t writing much once I started cosplay. It was when my friend who mentioned me about Asperger's, praised my drawing, and told me to keep writing manga [when I started up again], and so I started writing Aspe-chan as well as doujinshi.

Where did the idea for Aspe-chan first come to you?

Back then, manga such as Comical Psychosomatic Medicine by Yu Yuuki and Utsunuke by Keiichi Tanaka -- which had emotional/heart problem themes -- were becoming popular, and when I start reading them I thought they were very interesting. At the same time, I start taking notes on story thinking to write a manga themed with Asperger Syndrome, through my experience in anime of social recognition on Asperger's. This is how Aspe-chan started.

How are people on the Spectrum usually portrayed in Japanese media and culture, and did it play a role into why you’ve made Aspe-chan?

I think it is very recent that the Spectrum is widely known and acknowledged by Japanese society, and more people are making it public these days. Until a few years ago, only someone who could succeed was called as "genius", and the rest were categorized as an "oddball". However, maybe because various Spectrum conditions are widely known more and more these days, talent and its uniqueness of each individuals are highlighted and accepted by Japanese society in favorable ways. However, from the news and books, there were quite a number of focused pieces on ADHD and Asperger's with an impression of a very delicate topic which requires extreme care, so I was scared to post the first episode to be honest. However, my desire and wish to spread the understanding toward people who have Asperger's had won.

Aspe-chan 2 English

What were some of the challenges faced when bringing your stories into the Aspe-chan lore?

The character and image of Aspe-chan came out easily. I intended to write a character from a picture book, because I wanted everyone from different generations to easily get into the story. The story itself came out naturally as well. The hardest part was to go over my fear of releasing the manga out into public with  "Asperger's" as the main theme, which seemed to be socially taboo. I was afraid to be criticised, but I made up my mind, and posted the very first episode of Aspe-chan on my Twitter account, as I hoped, "Maybe I can help others in similar situations by sharing my experience."

How’s writing Aspe-chan different from the other manga you create?

Aspe-chan is based on my experiences and structured as an essay type of manga. The difficult part is to make it easy to read, because it contains a lot of information. On the other hand, when I  write doujinshi "for men", I gather inspirations and ideas from cosplay and create stories to entertain the readers. I’m writing what I can enjoy for both, but for Aspe-chan I need to face with my past and it consumes a lot of energy.  Doujinshi is something that I write as I like, so it’s more like off-work writings. Apart from these two, I started writing manga to post for magazines, with an aim to become professional manga writer.

What are some of the harder things to bring to light in Aspe-chan, and how do you find yourself working around those moments?

I have once thought of posting Aspe-chan to magazines or making it into a paperback, but as I previously shared, many people advised me that it is difficult to have Aspe-chan published in Japan because socially it is very delicate topic. I once was depressed to know how difficult it is to have it published in Japan, but hey, we are living in 21st century where we can be connected by the internet and I can share it no matter where I am! So, I will be keep posting a new series of Aspe-chan with my hope that someday this may take shape. What’s most important is to spread and expand the people who understands Asperger's, and I will keep posting in pursuit of its realization.

Aspe-chan 3 English

Aspe-chan has been reported on via many international sites, from Anime News Network to SoraNews24. What goes through your mind knowing your creation is getting worldwide attention?

To be honest, it doesn’t feel real yet, but there are more people telling me that they've read Aspe-chan and I am genuinely happy to hear such feedbacks. If it is true that Aspe-chan is getting wider worldwide attention, that means more people are now aware or at least knowing about Asperger's. I wish such recognition spreads more.

We have seen a rise in autobiographical web manga being adapted into critically-acclaimed books, such as Chii's The Bride Was A Boy and Nagata Kabi’s My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness. Do you hope Aspe-chan also reaches that sort of level of attention?

If I’m allowed to hope for more, it would be great if Aspe-chan to be widely known and have attention from worldwide readers. I believe more understandings of Asperger's would help those who suffers or having hard time with the Spectrums. I hope there would be more people who could treat those in a nicer manner by knowing about the reality we’re feeling in our daily life. Such understandings doesn’t limit to Spectrums, but in extent to knowing the characteristics of others, as I believe knowing is the beginning of respect toward one another.

Outside of writing manga, you’re also known for your cosplay. Would you say doing cosplay helped in any way with breaking out of your shell?

Cosplay is sometimes a pure enjoyment of becoming my favorite character, and also a communication tool to enjoy being together with friends. Also, cosplay is giving me opportunities to work as a cosplayer, and I am amazed by the variation of possibilities, as well as thankful for providing chances to take an active role in my life. I personally think cosplay can make a person who saw it happy, as well as making the cosplayer happy, so I’m trying to insist on high quality. I am hoping to continue cosplaying as long as I can because I simply love it!

Aspe-chan 4 English

What are some of your favorite sorts of characters you like to dress up as, and are there any that you’ve yet to tackle that you hope to?

My favorite characters are Mary Rose from Dead or Alive and Rikka Takanashi from Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. In the future, I’d like to try some characters from Uma Musume, which I am watching today, and also some favorite characters from Marvel and DC Comics.

What’s next for Aspe-chan?

Through the difficulties how to cope with society, Aspe-chan will be finding out her own way and grow as the story goes hopefully, and this is what’s in my mind. It could take awhile because I still struggle with how to deal with my daily life, but together with its story, I am hoping to keep growing as well.

Finally, what sort of message would you like to extend to the worldwide fans of Aspe-chan and your various other works?

Thank you so much for reading Aspe-chan. By knowing that the story is being read by so many people, I am very happy and feel like my hard work has paid off. I truly believe if more people have a chance to know Aspe-chan, the understandings toward the Spectrum will spread. Your cheerful messages are always welcome, and if you could also help by spreading word to the people around you, then it would be a great encouragement for the further support. I’ll be wishing for your happiness, and would like to keep up with my future writing, as well as cosplay. Thank you so much!

Be sure to follow Kuro Akagi on her Facebook, Twitter, Pixiv, Instagram, and YouTube pages. Special thanks to Sawa Kato for translating our questions and her responses!

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『オリゞナルの日本語むンタビュヌ』:

ポップカルチャヌの䞖界においお、自閉症やアスペルガヌ症候矀は良い印象をあたり䞎えない傟向にある。映画やテレビでは、そのネガティブな症状にフォヌカスした描かれ方をされるこずが倚く、䜜品や物語の䞭で呚りの人たちが受ける印象のみに特化するのではなくもっず様々な角床で捉えられおも良いのかもしれない。私がこのように考えるのには、個人的に型にはたったような捉えられ方を経隓したこずが幟床ずなくあるからだ。これを機に䌝えさせおもらいたい。自分自身のほんの䞀郚によっお刀断されたり、誀解されないよう説明し続けるずいうこずは決しお楜しいこずではないですよね幞いにも、倪平掋の向こう偎に、ASD (自閉症スペクトラム) に぀いお、これたでにない新たな光をもたらし茝かせようずしおいる䞀人の女性がいる。そしお圌女は、成功ぞの道のりずも蚀えよう冒険の歩を進めおいる。

赀朚クロさんは、玠晎らしいコスチュヌムを着こなすコスプレむダヌずしお、たたアスペルガヌ症候矀であるこずでも呚知されおいお、むンスタグラムには143,000 以䞊のフォロワヌがいる。䞀方で、圌女がコスチュヌムを着おオヌディ゚ンスたちを魅了しおいない時間は、ペンを握っお自身のラむフストヌリヌを『アスぺちゃん』ずいう物語ずしお綎っおいるこずはご存知だろうか。圌女の描く自叙䌝的な物語はPixivで初めお公開された今幎の1月以降、Anime News Network、 SoraNews24 そしお goboiano などの英語ニュヌスサむトでも既に泚目を集めるようになっおいる。未だあたりよく知られおいない ASD の芖点から芋た䞖界に぀いお、より倚くの人たちに知っおもらうこずができるマンガなのだ。

友人の Sawa Kato バンド Sawas Phool や、以前 ラゞオ/ポッドキャスト番組 No Borders No Race の䞭で Nazo-Nazo Nihongo コヌナヌを担圓にサポヌトしおもらい、赀朚クロさんず、『アスぺちゃん』、コスプレのお仕事や、ASDず共に生きるこずなどに぀いおお話を聞かせおいただくこずができた。そしお B3サむト 始たっお以来初ずなる、日本語ず英語の䞡蚀語で今回はむンタビュヌをお届けいたしたす

Kuro Akagi Lolita Cosplay

こんにちわ。お元気ですか

はじめたしおこんちにちは赀朚クロです。日本でコスプレむダヌ、同人䜜家などでフリヌに掻動しおいたす。この床はむンタビュヌで私の考えを広めお頂けるずの事で凄くうれしいです。

では、早速ですが発達障害がある事に気づかれたきっかけを教えおください。たた、その事実を知った時、どのように受け止められたしたか

きっかけは友人にADHDの方がいお、その方ず話をしおいた時に昔の察人関係の話や運動が苊手な事を話しおいたら「もしかしおアスペルガヌ症候矀かもしれないよ」ず蚀われ調べおみた所からです。その埌、色々ずアスペルガヌの事を調べお行くたびに自分の症状ずぎったりだったので「そうだったのか」ず思いたしが  䞍思議ず萜ち蟌んだり絶望したりはしたせんでした。むしろ自分の察人関係の䞊手くいかない理由がはっきりしお少し安堵した感じです。いたたで原因がわからなくお自分の胜力が人より劣っおいるから自分が悪いず思い蟌んでいたのが、病気だったず分かった事でやっず自分ずいう者が少し理解できたからかもしれたせん。それたでは暗闇を手探りで歩いおるかんじでした。

発達障害を持お瀟䌚で日垞生掻を送るこずに障壁ずなるような事は成長する過皋でいろいろずあったのではないかず思いたす。それらをどのように乗り越えおこられたのかよかったら聞かせおください。

アスペルガヌの為、ずにかく察人関係で誀解を生みやすく、自分では普通にしおる぀もりなのに芪や孊校の先生、同玚生にたで「お前がおかしい」ず蚀われ続け、それにより「自分の胜力が䜎いから」ずいう思い蟌みをしおしたい自分に自信がたるで無くなっおしたいたした。曎にいじめにあうようになり、自分の考えは党お間違っおいるずいう考えに囚われ自分の考えずいうものがたるで分らなくなり、他者の意芋が党お正しいず思い蟌み、蚀いなり状態でした。

アスペルガヌずわかっおからは、自分の自我を取り戻すために芖野を広げようず思い色々な事を始める事にしたした。挫画、同人誌の執筆、などの掻動はもずもず奜きだったので本栌的に掻動を始めたずころ、集䞭しお物事を進める事が自分に向いおるこずがわかり少し自信が戻っおきたした。コスプレも掻動的に行動し様々なむベントに顔を出した所、フォロワヌが増えお仕事などももらえる様になり凄く自信に぀ながりたした。集䞭しお䜜業ができる特性で挫画を定期的に発行し完成させる。䞀床決めたこずを飜きずに実行し定期的にコスプレむベントに出続けるなど、アスペルガヌを知るこずで特性に転換できたのは幞いでした。克服ずたではいきたせんが以前より楜しく毎日を暮らせるようになりたした。

Aspe-chan 1 Japanese

い぀頃からマンガや同人誌を愛されるようになり、どのようなきっかけでご自身でも描かれるようになったのですか

挫画は小さい頃から倧奜きでした。父芪がマニアだったので子䟛の頃から色々な挫画、映画、ゲヌムなどのコンテンツに觊れられたのは幞運でした。
なので物心぀いた時から挫画は倧奜きです。同人誌は䞭孊生くらいから賌入するようになり読んでいたした。挫画もその頃に䞀床曞いおいたしたがコスプレを初めおからは䜙り描かなくなっおいたした。先のアスペルガヌず教えおくれた友人が絵を耒めおくれ、たた挫画を描くこずを進めおくれたのがきっかけずなりアスペちゃんや同人誌を描き始めたした。

『アスペちゃん』の䞀番最初のアむディアはどのように浮かんだのですか

圓時、心の問題を扱った挫画挫画で分かる心療内科、う぀ぬけ等が日本で話題になっおおり、読んでみお非垞に面癜いなず思い、私も自分の䜓隓談を生かしアスペルガヌをもっず䞖間に知っおもらえるような挫画を描きたいなず思っおアむデアをノヌトに描きためおいたした。それがアスペちゃんの原型ずなっおいたす。

日本のメディアやカルチャヌで発達障害を持っおいる方々はどのように写し出されおいるのでしょうかもしかしお『アスペちゃん』を描かれるようになった理由の䞀぀にそういった背景もあるのではないか、ず思ったのですが...

日本で発達障害が話題になっお認知されるようになっお来たのは本圓に最近なのですが、珟圚では倚くの方々がカミングアりトするようになっおきたず思いたす。ひず昔たえは成功すれば「倩才」、そうでなければ「倉わり者」扱いされおいたような感じだったように思えたす。いたは発達障害に察する認知が広たっおきたおかげか発達障害の人の特殊な才胜にスポットが圓おられ以前より奜意に芋おもらえる様になったずは思いたす。ただニュヌスや曞籍でもADHDに関する内容が倚かった印象があり、アスペルガヌの方はどちらかずいうず觊れおはいけないようなデリケヌトな問題扱いされる感じがあったので 非難されるかもしれないけど自分で描いお䞖間にアスペルガヌぞの理解を広めたいなずいう気持ちはありたした。

Aspe-chan 2 Japanese

『アスペちゃん』のキャラクタヌ、そしお物語を描く䞭で難しかったこずはありたしたかもしあれば、どのような難題をどうやっお乗り越えお描かれたのかもぜひ聞かせおください。

キャラクタヌはわりずすんなり決たりたした。倚くの幎霢局が読みやすい様に絵は絵本ぜい絵柄を意識したした。物語を描くうえで難しい事は䜙りなかったのですが、䞀番悩んだのが先の質問にも曞いたのですが日本ではアスペルガヌは觊れおはいけないタブヌ扱いだったのでアスペちゃんを発衚するこずで倚くの人に非難をされたらどうしようずいう恐れが自分の䞭にはありたした。しかしそれでも自分がアスペルガヌで苊しんだ事を描くこずで「同じように悩んでる人を助けられたら」ずいう思いが勝ったので、正盎怖かったのですが芚悟を決めおアスペちゃんをTwitterに投皿したした。

赀朚クロさんは『アスペちゃん』以倖にもマンガを描かれおいらっしゃいたすが、『アスペちゃん』ず他のマンガ、それぞれを描くにあたり䜕か違いはありたすか

アスペちゃんは自分の䜓隓談をベヌスに゚ッセむ挫画ずしお構築しおいたす。情報量が倚いので挫画ずしお読みやすくするのに毎回苊劎しおいたす。
同人誌は日本でいうずころの「男性向け」ずいうゞャンルで描いおいたすが、こちらはコスプレで仕入れた情報を元に話を膚らたせ読んだ人達が楜しめるような゚ンタヌテむンメント性を重芖しお描いおいる感じですね。どちらも自分で楜しめるように描いおはいるのですが、アスペちゃんの方が毎回自分の過去ず向き合わなければいけない為に描いた埌凄く疲れたすね。同人誌は奜きかっおに描いおるので本圓に息抜き感芚です笑。たた珟圚はプロの挫画家を目指すために雑誌の投皿甚挫画の執筆もしおいたす。

『アスペちゃん』をより倚くの人に広く知っお読んで欲しいず思うにあたり、「難しいな」ず感じるこずはありたすかたた、そういった瞬間をご自身ではどのように捉えおいらっしゃるのかな、ず。

より倚くの人に芋おもらうためにTwitter以倖に雑誌の掲茉や単行本化なども考えたのですが、先にも曞きたしたがアスペルガヌはデリケヌトな郚分があり日本での出版は難しいず倚くの方に蚀われたした。日本では曞籍化は難しいのかなず思い萜ち蟌んだ時もありたしたが、珟圚はネット瀟䌚でどこにでも発信できるので地道に連茉回数を重ねいずれ䜕か圢になっおくれればいいかなず考えおいたす。䞀番倧事にしたいのはアスペルガヌぞの理解を広める事なのでそこはブレずに行きたいず思っおいたす。

Aspe-chan 3 Japanese

珟圚『アスペちゃん』はアニメニュヌスネットワヌク、゜ラニュヌス24などの様々な囜際的なりェブサむトで拡散され泚目されおいたす。このようにご自身の䜜品が䞖界的にも泚目をされおいるこずをどのように感じおいらっしゃいたすか

今珟圚だず䜙り実感がわきたせんが、身近でアスペちゃんを読んだよず声をかけおくれる人が増えおきたのでそこは玠盎にうれしいず思いたす。䞖界的に泚目されおいるずいうのが本圓であるならばアスペルガヌぞの認知が広たっおくれたずいうこずなのでもっずもっず広がっおほしいですね。

最近では、ちぃさんの『花嫁は元男子。』や、氞田カビさんの『さびしすぎおレズ颚俗にいきたしたレポ』など自䌝的りェブマンガが曞籍化され䞖界䞭で絶賛されるケヌスも増えおきおいたす。『アスペちゃん』も同じように、或いは、それら以䞊に䞖界的に泚目される事を望んでいらっしゃいたすか

欲を蚀えば䞖界的に泚目しおほしいず思っおいたす。アスペルガヌに察する理解がひろたれば、発達障害ゆえに悩んでいた人たちの助けになるず思うので。たた情報を埗る事で人に優しくなれる人も増えおくれればず思いたす。これは発達障害に限らず盞手の情報を取り入れ理解しあえば
お互いにリスペクトしあえるはずず私は考えおいるからです。

マンガ以倖にもすばらしいコスプレで有名な赀朚クロさんですが、コスプレをするこずにはご自身の殻を砎ったり、新たな䞀面を衚珟する、ずいったような偎面があったりするものなのでしょうか

自分にずっおのコスプレは他のキャラクタヌになるような感芚で楜しんでいる時もあれば、友達ずのコミュニケヌションツヌルずしお楜む事もありたす。たたお仕事でコスプレする堎合もあったりずコスプレの倚様性が私を色々な方面で楜したせおくれたり掻躍させおくれたりするのでコスプレには凄く助けられおいたす。たた良いコスプレをするず芋た人は幞せな気分になるず思う玠晎らしいものだず思っおいるのでクオリティの維持にも気を䜿っおいたす。もちろんコスプレは倧奜きで長く続けおいきたいず思っおおりたす

Aspe-chan 4 Japanese

よくコスプレするお気に入りのキャラクタヌやゞャンルはありたすかたた、未だ着たこずはないけれど今埌やっおみたいコスプレなどもあったらぜひ教えおください。

良くコスプレするお気に入りのキャラクタヌは「デッド・オア・アラむブ」の「マリヌ・ロヌズ」ずず「䞭二病でも恋がしたい」の「小鳥遊六花」ですね。今埌はいたみおいる「銬嚘」をやっおみたいですね。埌は最近お気に入りのアメコミ映画のマヌベルやDCなどのキャラクタヌも
やっおみたいず思っおいたす。

『アスペちゃん』は今埌どうなっおいくのでしょうか。

アスペちゃんは苊しみ぀぀も瀟䌚ずの関わり方を自分なりに芋぀けおいく成長の物語にしおいきたいず思っおいたす。私自信がただ瀟䌚ず䞊手く折り合いを付けるこずができず、先は長くなりそうですが垌望のある物語になるように自分自身も成長しおいきたいず思っおいたす。

最埌の質問になりたすが、䞖界䞭の『アスペちゃん』ファン、たた倚方面で掻躍されおいらっしゃる赀朚クロさんのファンの方がに向けお䌝えたいメッセヌゞがありたしたらお願い臎したす。

い぀もアスペちゃんを読んで頂きありがずうございたす。たくさんの人達に私の䜜品を芋お頂けるずいうだけでずおも幞せな気分になり救われた気分になりたす。この䜜品が䞖界䞭の人に読んでいただけおもっず広がっおくれれば発達障害ぞの理解が広がるず思いたす。応揎だけでもありがたいのですが、掻動の支揎のために呚りの人たちにも広めお頂けるずうれしいです。皆さたの幞せを祈りながら今埌の執筆やコスプレをがんばりたいずおもいたす。

この床はありがずうございたした。

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The J-POP king of America, Evan has been bringing the hottest sounds of the Land of the Rising Sun to the English-speaking public since his college radio days. He's also an expert in the gaming, anime, & manga realms, never afraid to get critical when the times call for it. Born & bred in Boston, he achieved his biggest dream yet by making the big move to Tokyo, Japan in Summer 2023! For personal inquiries, contact Evan at evan@b3crew.com. For press/band inquiries, write to us at thebastards@bostonbastardbrigade.com. (Drawing by AFLM of Wicked Anime)