Vinny: Hello Akire, please introduce yourself to our readers!
Akire: Hello Vinny. Thank you for this interview. I’m Akire, I live in Germany, and I’ve been drawing since I was little. Over time, I gradually specialized in manga, and now I feel most comfortable working on mystery manga.
Vinny: We met many years ago at the retro game store “Gamers Heaven” in Aalen. I still remember how the owner spoke about you with such enthusiasm and was eager to introduce us. That was over ten years ago—a time when manga artists were quite rare. What inspired you back then to start drawing manga, and what keeps you motivated today?
Akire: Yes, I remember that very well too. I think reading manga inspired me the most. It’s fascinating to bring an entire world full of characters to life on paper. Nowadays, my biggest motivation is definitely you and Jasmin. You both have always believed in me and pushed me forward, haha. Aside from that, watching videos of mangaka working on their projects makes me really happy and reminds me why I started drawing in the first place.
Vinny: Together with the author Jasmin Whiscy, we formed a small creative group. Although our tastes often differ, we all benefit greatly from exchanging ideas. How important is collaboration with other artists and writers to you? And what makes our creative exchange so special?
Akire: I’m so grateful for our collaboration—it’s always a lot of fun. What makes it special is that we complement each other so well, and through discussion, we quickly find satisfying solutions. I’ve learned so much from and with you both.
Vinny: Do you remember how the idea for our isekai parody of “Carrier of the Mask” came about? What motivated you to bring the project to life?
Akire: Not exactly, but I suspect we were talking about long isekai titles and said, “The longer the title, the better the isekai.” That quickly led to, “What would your characters be like in an isekai?” I also remember that I wanted to practice drawing manga pages for my worldbuilding, so I asked if I could borrow your characters to bring this fun idea to life.
Vinny: Every creative project comes with its own challenges. What was the biggest challenge for you when working on the isekai manga of “Carrier of the Mask”?
Akire: The character designs. I think I redesigned Dion three or four times completely. And you can even see that in the manga, haha. I wanted to use my own style to enhance the parallel-world effect, but at the same time, it was really difficult to draw him in a way that still made him recognizable. Whenever I used your original design as a reference, he suddenly looked almost like you had drawn him yourself.
Vinny: Is there a character from “Carrier of the Mask” who is especially close to your heart?
Akire: That would definitely be El. And that’s because of the long backstory—I’ve known her for such a long time. I think I’ve drawn at least five El fan arts to this day.
Vinny: You’ve already published several works, including “Appdicted” and “The Box.” Can you give our readers a little insight into your upcoming projects? What are you currently working on?
Akire: I’m working on a mystery series set in a fictional ancient world.
Vinny: Through our years of collaboration, I know that you’re not only a talented artist and storyteller but also an exceptional teacher. Your ability to explain complex concepts in an understandable way is impressive. Could you tell us more about your workshops and webinars?
Akire: First of all, thank you for that. I really enjoy sharing the knowledge I’ve gained. That’s why I decided to offer workshops on the topic of “Being a Mangaka.” The workshops take place weekly in small groups, and participants also have the opportunity to ask questions about their personal manga projects.
Vinny: Thank you for the great interview! Would you like to say a few final words to our readers?
Akire: Thank you so much for reading Vinny’s and my works. I hope our isekai project has brought you a lot of fun and laughter.
Vinny: Here’s to many more creative and inspiring years—and to our uplifting friendship!
Check out Akire's website to learn more about his works.
About the Isekai Manga
The isekai truck driver took a wrong turn and ended up in Shelteron. There, he accidentally runs over Dion and transports him to an ancient parallel universe. Suddenly, Dion has his arms back! What will he do?
A hilarious parody by Akire Aizumito for fans of the dark fantasy manga series "Carrier of the Mask."
Language: German
Genre: Isekai, Parody, Comedy
34 pages, Softcover, Din A5
€5.00 incl. VAT, plus shipping
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