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Once upon a time, in a land far away, a gaijin drew comics
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Dive into the nuances of life in Japan while navigating the world of drawing comics—Posts about Japan every Monday. Posts about drawing comics every Friday.

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LATEST

26 Feb09:29
26 Feb09:29
Feb 2024
Feb 2024
Life of a Gaijin 4 - Personal Space Paradise

Life as a Gaijin 4: Personal Space Paradise

Hey there, fellow adventurers of the world! Living abroad can be a whirlwind of emotions. The excitement of exploring a new culture, the frustration of not being able to read the simplest signs, and, of course, the occasional wave of loneliness that crashes over you like a tsunami. But hold on tight, because in the heart of Japan, there’s an unexpected perk that arises from the foreigner experience – the art of disconnecting.

23 Feb18:28
23 Feb18:28
Behind the Scenes 13 – The techno comic Simulation. Theory

Behind the Scenes 13 – The techno comic Simulation. Theory

Hey fellow comic enthusiasts! Today, I’m diving into the exhilarating journey behind my collaboration with Curt Pires on Simulation Theory. Let me tell you, it’s been a blast traversing the realms of virtual reality and artistic collaboration. So strap in and let’s take a trip down the digital rabbit hole!

19 Feb06:28
19 Feb06:28
Explore Japan 7: How (not) to climb Mount Fuji

Explore Japan 7: How (not) to climb Mount Fuji

Greetings, fellow adventurers! Pull up a virtual seat, and let me take you on a journey back in time – a time when my idea of conquering Mt. Fuji went from “bucket list dream” to “couch potato calamity.” Fasten your mountain climbing belts; we’re diving into the tale of how (not) to climb Mt. Fuji.

16 Feb06:43
16 Feb06:43
Life of a Comic Artist 5 – Mastering Doubt

Life of a Comic Artist 5 – Mastering Doubt

Welcome, comic fans and fellow architects of imaginary realms! The life of an artist isn’t always a bed of roses. It’s a profession that is rife with inner turmoil. Maybe that’s why artists are often shown as having a screw loose and author’s are often portrayed as drunks – they grapple with a lot of inner demons. And today we’re going to talk about the artist’s arch-nemesis, the king of all inner demons – self-doubt.

12 Feb06:24
12 Feb06:24
Explore Japan 6: Kidzania – Mini Work Wonderland

Explore Japan 6: Kidzania – Mini Work Wonderland

Child labor – pretty much EVERYONE sees it as a bad thing. I, for one, am grateful that I didn’t have to work in the mines instead of going to school (although I was never happy to go to school). But here in Japan… well, no, it’s a bad thing here too. But! There is a place that you can pay $70 to have your kid work! You heard that right! And that worker wonderland is Kidzania – actually one of the best ideas ever!

about me

My name is Darryl Knickrehm. I’m the comic artist for Simulation Theory, Feeder, The Argus; writer/illustrator of The Immortal Resurrected, Lost Souls: Haywire; and full time gaijin. You can call me Darryl, or what people call me around this neck of the woods: Dariru. Because I live in Japan. I’m originally from the sunny shores of Orange County, California, but somehow found myself calling Japan home. How did I end up here, you ask? Well, grab a cup of your favorite caffeinated diuretic and settle in, because it’s a story filled with twists, turns, and a loooot of self-discovery.

 

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DARIRU

Japan Posts

Life of a Gaijin 4 - Personal Space Paradise
26 Feb: Life as a Gaijin 4: Personal Space Paradise

Hey there, fellow adventurers of the world! Living abroad can be a whirlwind of emotions. The excitement of exploring a new culture, the frustration of not being able to read the simplest signs, and, of course, the occasional wave of loneliness that crashes over you like a tsunami. But hold on tight, because in the heart of Japan, there’s an unexpected perk that arises from the foreigner experience – the art of disconnecting.

Explore Japan 7: How (not) to climb Mount Fuji
19 Feb: Explore Japan 7: How (not) to climb Mount Fuji

Greetings, fellow adventurers! Pull up a virtual seat, and let me take you on a journey back in time – a time when my idea of conquering Mt. Fuji went from “bucket list dream” to “couch potato calamity.” Fasten your mountain climbing belts; we’re diving into the tale of how (not) to climb Mt. Fuji.

Explore Japan 6: Kidzania – Mini Work Wonderland
12 Feb: Explore Japan 6: Kidzania – Mini Work Wonderland

Child labor – pretty much EVERYONE sees it as a bad thing. I, for one, am grateful that I didn’t have to work in the mines instead of going to school (although I was never happy to go to school). But here in Japan… well, no, it’s a bad thing here too. But! There is a place that you can pay $70 to have your kid work! You heard that right! And that worker wonderland is Kidzania – actually one of the best ideas ever!

Comics Posts

Behind the Scenes 13 – The techno comic Simulation. Theory
23 Feb: Behind the Scenes 13 – The techno comic Simulation. Theory

Hey fellow comic enthusiasts! Today, I’m diving into the exhilarating journey behind my collaboration with Curt Pires on Simulation Theory. Let me tell you, it’s been a blast traversing the realms of virtual reality and artistic collaboration. So strap in and let’s take a trip down the digital rabbit hole!

Life of a Comic Artist 5 – Mastering Doubt
16 Feb: Life of a Comic Artist 5 – Mastering Doubt

Welcome, comic fans and fellow architects of imaginary realms! The life of an artist isn’t always a bed of roses. It’s a profession that is rife with inner turmoil. Maybe that’s why artists are often shown as having a screw loose and author’s are often portrayed as drunks – they grapple with a lot of inner demons. And today we’re going to talk about the artist’s arch-nemesis, the king of all inner demons – self-doubt.

Life of a Comic Artist 4 – Fighting Toxicity
02 Feb: Life of a Comic Artist 4 – Fighting Toxicity

Hey there,fellow adventurers of the digital realm! Now, imagine this – you’re cruising along on the high-speed internet highway, sharing your artistic escapades, when out of the digital shadows emerges a troll, ready to turn your creative haven into a battleground. It’s an all-to-common experience, one I just talked about. It’s something everyone seems to live with nowadays, but this toxicity is even more detrimental to creative types (aka artists). So today we’re going to talk about that.

Make Comics 4: Learn to Draw
26 Jan: Make Comics 4: Learn to Draw

Today we’re going to talk about drawing, without which comics would be… well… books. I’m going to tackle questions like: what does someone need to know to draw comics? What does someone need to get better at drawing? And a lot more. Because you don’t need to be an ‘artist’ to be able to draw. I believe drawing is a skill that you can learn. And here are 4 skills to focus on.