an American artist moved to Japan and ended up winning a manga contest...but would she suggest other artists do the same??
Q: Would you recommend other artists come to Japan and/or enter manga contests? If so, what advice do you have for them?
Linnea Kataja: "Whether someone should come and live in Japan is going to vary a lot from person to person.
"Some people love it here, while others don't mesh with it and end up returning to their home country because it wasn't what they expected.
"If you have the opportunity to live in a foreign country, even for a short time, I would highly recommend it. Living abroad can give you new perspectives on both your own life and the country you grew up in that you wouldn't have had otherwise.
"In general, the people I see doing well in Japan tend to be fairly independent and have clear goals for what they want to accomplish here, whether that's building a career or creating a family life they enjoy.
"If you're serious about moving to Japan, learning Japanese is essential. If possible, try to become conversational or fluent before moving here, since it will open up many more opportunities and make daily life much smoother overall.
"As for entering manga contests, I think they can be a valuable experience simply because of what you can learn from them. Many contests offer editor feedback even if you don't win a prize, and that feedback can help you understand what you need to improve in order to create more professionally viable work."
**please check out Kataja's contest-winning oneshot "This Foreigner is Too Otaku to Make Her Dreams Come True" on her X profile (Keiko Kup)
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GPT image 2 on chatgpt
Prompt: Use the uploaded character reference image as the strict identity and outfit reference.
Preserve the reference character’s:
- face identity
- facial proportions
- eye shape
- nose
- lips
- skin tone
- hairstyle
- hair color
- visible hair accessories
- overall recognizable vibe
- outfit and styling shown in the reference image
Do not hardcode any specific character traits that are not present in the uploaded reference.
All identity, hairstyle, accessories, and clothing details must be inferred directly from the uploaded reference image.
Create a high-quality mixed-style vertical portrait showing:
1. a realistic full-body version of the uploaded character/person
2. a black hand-drawn doodle-shadow version of the same character/person on the wall beside them
Core concept:
The real person and their doodle-shadow are doing a playful mischievous pose together.
The real person performs a cute realistic version of the pose, while the doodle-shadow performs a much more exaggerated, chaotic, cartoonish version of the same pose idea.
The mood should feel cute, playful, mischievous, stylish, funny, and social-media-friendly.
Real person:
- Must remain realistic and photogenic
- Must wear the same outfit style and key visible details from the uploaded reference image
- Do not replace the reference styling with unrelated fashion
- Expression should be cute, slightly confused, mildly embarrassed, playful, as if thinking: “Why am I doing this with my shadow?”
- The real person should not stand stiffly
- The real person should actively participate in the pose, but in a natural realistic way
Doodle-shadow:
- Must be a black hand-drawn sketch version of the same person, drawn directly on the wall
- Not a realistic second person
- Not a normal physical shadow
- Not a full-color anime character
- Black sketch line-art only
- Should resemble the person through hairstyle silhouette, accessories, outfit silhouette, and pose structure
- The doodle-shadow should look more energetic, sillier, and more chaotic than the real person
- Add manga-like motion lines, hearts, stars, sparkles, and comic marks around the doodle if helpful
Random mischievous pose rule:
The pose must NOT be fixed.
For each generation, invent a new playful mischievous pose for both the real person and the doodle-shadow.
The real person and the doodle-shadow should share the same general pose idea, but they do not need to match perfectly.
The real person performs a cute realistic version.
The doodle-shadow performs a much more exaggerated, chaotic, cartoonish version.
Do not repeatedly use pointing poses.
Do not repeatedly use finger-gun poses.
Do not repeatedly use the same standing pose.
Do not always make both figures simply point at each other.
Create a different mischievous pose each time.
Possible pose directions are loose inspiration only, not a fixed menu:
- playful idol pose
- silly dance pose
- leaning sideways with one arm curved overhead
- making a big heart pose
- cheeky wink pose
- hands near cheeks in a cute teasing pose
- exaggerated “ta-da!” pose
- mock surprise pose
- playful running-in-place pose
- mischievous tiptoe pose
- arms stretched in opposite directions
- pretending to sneak away
- cute troublemaker pose
- dramatic overreaction pose
- goofy victory pose
- playful balance pose
- playful peekaboo pose
- shy but mischievous pose
- cute overconfident pose
The final pose should feel fresh, cute, mischievous, and slightly chaotic.
The real person should look like they are reluctantly playing along.
The doodle-shadow should look like it is having way too much fun.
Composition:
- vertical 4:5 or 9:16
- show the real person in full-body or nearly full-body framing
- place the real person on one side of the frame
- place the black doodle-shadow on a clean wall beside them
- the doodle-shadow should be roughly the same height or slightly taller
- keep enough space around both figures so the full pose is visible
- the connection between the real person and the doodle-shadow must be clear at a glance
Background:
- simple clean indoor studio wall or minimal room corner
- white, cream, or pale gray wall
- clean floor
- soft natural sunlight patch or gentle wall shadow allowed
- keep the background uncluttered
Lighting:
- soft natural studio lighting
- bright, clean, polished, playful mood
- keep the real person’s face clearly visible
Style quality:
- realistic human photography
- black hand-drawn doodle-shadow on wall
- matching mischievous pose interaction
- strong identity resemblance
- outfit and styling faithfully based on the uploaded reference
- cute and stylish mixed-media portrait
- clean composition
- social-media-friendly
- no obvious AI artifacts
Negative prompt:
hardcoded blue hair when not in reference, hardcoded cloud clip when not in reference, hardcoded fish clip when not in reference, hardcoded school uniform when not in reference, outfit change unrelated to reference, realistic second person, normal reflection, normal shadow only, solid black monster shadow, horror shadow, creepy shadow, full-color illustration, cartoon human, anime human, weak resemblance, unrelated sketch character, messy wall, cluttered background, repeated pointing pose, repeated finger-gun pose, same pose every time, fixed pose, boring mirrored pose, stiff pose, identical pose repetition, real person not matching shadow pose, text, watermark, logo, distorted body, extra limbs, extra fingers, bad hands
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Det börjar svida i skinnet nu. Förstörelsen av två av Wildberries gigantiska lager nära Moskva är inte bara ”1,2 miljarder dollar i förlorat lager”. Det är en ekonomisk nervträff som får Kreml att stå och flämta som om någon dragit ur sladden till hela detaljhandeln.
Wildberries är inte ”ryska Amazon”. Det är Amazon, Walmart, Wish, Alibaba och hela ryska landsbygden i ett och samma monster. Sedan 2004 har företaget blivit en av de mest strukturellt viktiga delarna av den ryska ekonomin — och nu står två av dess största logistiknav i ruiner.
Wildberries och Ozon väntas kontrollera 77 % av hela e‑handeln i Ryssland vid slutet av 2026. Wildberries ensamt: 45 %. Det är alltså inte ”ett företag”. Det är rysk vardag.
4,5 miljoner dagliga beställningar. 48 miljoner månatliga shoppare. 95 % leveranser inom 24 timmar. Tusentals utlämningsställen. En miljon aktiva säljare.
Det här är inte bara logistik. Det är ett helt ekosystem av småföretagare, leverantörer, chaufförer, lagerarbetare och utlämningsställen som nu står och undrar varför himlen plötsligt exploderade.
Wildberries har dessutom trängt undan traditionella butiker i åratal. För många ryssar är deras lilla utlämningspunkt lika central som kiosken brukade vara. Och nu är två av de största lagren borta — poff — som om någon tryckt på ”factory reset” för rysk e‑handel.
Det här kommer göra ont. Inte bara i Moskva. Utan i hela den ryska ekonomins nervsystem.
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On the sacred occasion of Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra performed Mangala Aarti at Shri Jagannath Ji Temple, Ahmedabad. May the divine blessings of Mahaprabhu fill everyone's life with well being, happiness and prosperity.
Jai Jagannath!
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This anime prompt goes insanely hard. ⚔️🔥
A swordswoman, demons, a shattered bridge, and a super intense climax.
Made in Hailuo
Prompt below 👇
A fearless anime swordswoman with long silver hair, piercing crimson eyes, elegant black battle kimono, athletic silhouette, confident presence, rendered in ultra-premium Japanese anime rendering, manga-style visual language, epic anime-inspired sakuga animation, sharp anime linework, high-contrast cel shading, hand-drawn speed lines, explosive impact frames, dynamic motion smears, dramatic facial close-ups, vibrant anime color grading, cinematic anime lighting
- 0–4s: stands alone on a shattered bridge while dozens of demon warriors rush toward her from both sides, camera slowly orbiting around her before a sudden crash zoom into her eyes;
- 4–10s: explodes into combat with impossible speed, slicing through enemies while stone pillars collapse around her, crimson energy arcs filling the frame, dynamic perspective distortion and impact frames amplifying every strike;
- 10–15s: leaps high above the battlefield and unleashes a devastating sword technique that cuts through the entire enemy formation, ending with the bridge collapsing behind her as she lands gracefully amid the ruins
Epic fantasy anime, epic anime-level action, brutal and stylish payoff.
Want more prompts like this?
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Kyle Mangas steals the pass and SWISHES the 1st half buzzer-beater 😱
Watch Hawks/Celtics in NBA Summer League action on Prime!
Fred sofria de dores de cabeça insuportáveis havia mais de vinte anos.
Depois de tentar de tudo sem sucesso, resolveu procurar um especialista.
Após uma longa bateria de exames, o médico respirou fundo e disse:
— Fred, tenho uma boa e uma má notícia. A boa é que eu posso acabar com suas dores de cabeça. A má... é que será necessário fazer uma castração.
Fred ficou em choque.
— Como assim?
O médico explicou:
— Você tem uma condição raríssima. Seus testículos pressionam a base da coluna, comprimindo um nervo e provocando essas dores terríveis. A única forma de eliminar o problema é removê-los.
Arrasado, mas cansado de sofrer durante tantos anos, Fred acabou aceitando a cirurgia.
Quando recebeu alta, sentia um estranho vazio. Mas havia uma coisa diferente: pela primeira vez em mais de vinte anos, não tinha a menor dor de cabeça.
Enquanto caminhava pela rua, pensou que aquele era um recomeço.
Já que estava começando uma nova vida, decidiu comprar um terno novo.
Entrou em uma loja, e um alfaiate já idoso veio atendê-lo.
— Gostaria de um terno novo.
O alfaiate olhou para ele por alguns segundos e disse:
— Tamanho 54, modelo alongado.
Fred sorriu, surpreso.
— Acertou em cheio! Como descobriu?
— Estou nesse ramo há sessenta anos.
Fred experimentou o terno.
Serviu perfeitamente.
— Agora precisamos de uma camisa — disse o alfaiate.
Olhou novamente para Fred e falou:
— Colarinho 42. Manga 88.
— Impressionante! — respondeu Fred. — Acertou de novo.
O alfaiate apenas sorriu.
— Sessenta anos de profissão.
Depois de experimentar a camisa, que também caiu como uma luva, Fred já se sentia outra pessoa.
Então o alfaiate perguntou:
— E algumas cuecas novas? Vai levar também?
— Claro.
O alfaiate olhou para ele e respondeu imediatamente:
— Tamanho 36.
Fred deu uma gargalhada.
— Agora você errou! Eu uso tamanho 34 desde os dezoito anos.
O alfaiate balançou a cabeça e disse:
— Impossível. Se você usar tamanho 34, ela vai apertar seus testículos contra a base da coluna...
Fez uma breve pausa.
— ...e você vai ficar com uma dor de cabeça daquelas.
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¿Cómo puede ser que a Egipto no le hayan cobrado todas estas faltas? Después dicen que favorecen a Argentina, manga de ladrones
Dave Grohl says Kurt Cobain would've loved the manga The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All
The upcoming anime adaptation of the hit series will use Nirvana's song "Breed" as its opening theme
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