Found Edition

19 July 20206

Last week I mentioned that I lost my phone. Thanks for the condolences. This week I got it back! I’ll discuss that a little more later. And now the news, which might be of interest if you’re in Vancouver. I’m going to be doing a little reading from a short story as part of a free preview of the anthology Japanese Canadian Place and Memory on Saturday, 1 August 2026, 11:30 am at the Firehall Arts Theatre, presented by the Mata Ashita Writing Circle as part of the Powell Street Festival. Then, a few days later, I will be the emcee for book talks by two Japanese Canadian writers in Common Threads — An Evening with Suzanne Elki Yoko Hartmann, Keiko Honda and Raymond Nakamura on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, 5:30-7:00 pm at the Upstart & Crow bookstore on Granville Island. I saw an interview with Tom Holland, who talked about how fear and excitement can physically feel the same, but you just have to think about it in a positive way.

Monday

As part of the comics course I am taking, I came across the work of Johnny Damm who makes comics with collages of old comics and quotes by individuals he is critically examining. So I was trying out this idea of using a quote, but still drew my own pictures, perhaps not so subtly. I guess I’d been thinking about luck with respect to my phone and had crossed my fingers and toes when I somehow came across this quote, that I found amusing.

Tuesday

Some people don’t like online learning, but I am appreciating the opportunities to access a range of content at my own pace. We also have a live Q & A session once a week so I got to see the actual people involved from across Canada. I have a lot of respect for the experience and approach of the instructor/cartoonist Sarah Leavitt.

Wednesday

On Monday, I went to the Translink Lost and Found office after submitting a request on the weekend. The person told me that they don’t get objects over the weekend and would receive the first batch at 2 pm. Then on Tuesday morning, I got the email that they had my phone! So I went down and picked it up. A guy after me was picking up his wallet, which they said had $450 in it! The worker said their office is always a happy place. She said I should buy a lottery ticket, though I figured I must have used up my luck by then.

Thursday

If you are okay with cartoon violence, Deadpool and Wolverine was quite funny, while at the same time, unexpectedly warm-hearted. All the fourth wall shattering was in keeping with the character of Deadpool. It seemed to be a parody and an homage to superhero movies.

Friday

I have been making these daily 4 panel comics for a few years now. Part of the reason I use this format is so that I don’t have to think about the format. So in the online course, we were working on an exercise that specifically made me think about the components I tend to ignore. I think it’s useful to use unused muscles once in a while.

Saturday

I tend to watch movies in bits, but I was able to watch the latest Golden Kamuy more or less all the way through. I enjoyed the previous two as well and it looks like at least one more is coming. I am intrigued by the characters, the historical context, the Ainu culture, and the intrigue.

Sunday

This latest instalment of Not Made in Japan, my graphic memoir in progress of my experiences as a twenty-something studying marine ecology in the late 1980s at a rural marine station in southern Japan deals with Ikeda-san, who worked at the town office. One of my supervisors, Nojima sensei, introduced me to him and he turned out to be an especially kind and friendly person. Since I was in Japan, I thought I might as well try to study some martial arts. I may have made up the bit about the running on gravel, but it reminded me of my Dad’s stories of running barefoot through the snow as part of judo training while in an internment camp.

That was my week. I hope you had a good one, with a better one to come.