How to Draw Japan

About this book

100 CHIBI CHARACTERS. 6 STEPS EACH. 600 STEP-BY-STEP DRAWINGS. EVERY SINGLE ONE TWO HEADS TALL.

"Just make the head bigger" is not a method. This book is the method.

Every character in this book — all 100, no exceptions — is built at true chibi proportions: the head is half the body, the eyes are big and set LOW, the nose is a dot, the mouth is tiny and centred, and both cheeks get their blush. Little bakers and school runners. Tiny furisode with sash bows drawn gloriously large. Children in mochi, taiyaki and strawberry-cake costumes. Cat-hood, bunny-hood and bear-hood friends. Cherry-blossom chibi, rainy-day chibi, and a whole chapter of sleepy moon-and-star pyjama chibi.

Each character grows one honest layer at a time — measured construction, face outline, features at the cute settings, hair and dress WITH the Step 4 kawaii motif (a big bow, a flower crown, hood ears, a night cap), details and a cute prop in Step 5, clean colour in Step 6. Nothing moves between steps — the face you draw in Step 2 is the exact face you colour in Step 6.

Inside: 20 everyday chibi · 20 kimono & festival chibi · 15 sweets & food chibi · 15 animal-hood & nature chibi · 15 seasons & weather chibi · 15 dreamy & starry chibi.

And after every character: a practice page. Trace the faint guide, then draw your own version in the empty frame. 100 characters, 100 practice pages.

The companion volumes teach general anime characters, samurai & kimono, and yokai & festivals at everyday proportions; this volume is 100% chibi, start to finish. All you need is a pencil and an eraser.