When someone hears the words “cosplayer” and “mangaka”, they don’t tend to think these two professions could possibly intermingle. After all, what artist has time to create outfits when they have strict weekly manga deadlines? Well, it’s apparently not only possible, but it’s being done right now by a woman named Martha Asahi, a professional with an aspiring future.
Sitting at one of the snug corner tables for two at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located in Burlingame, CA, is Martha herself, who is also one of the special guests of honor for this year’s 2015 YaoiCon. Her slender hands grip firmly around her mechanical pencil as she quickly sketches out her character mascots with mastery onto a shikiji board. Her gaze is filled with concentration as she quickly finishes up the gift for one of the staff members of the convention.
After a few more minutes, she completes the board with one final twist of her wrist for her signature. She sets down her mechanical pencil next to her paper and markers that are currently strewn between us. The smile she gives me as she sits up straighter is one filled with an excitement that complements her perfectly lined, golden tinted eyes.
“I’m sorry for making you wait,” she says, as her long, dark blue sleeved shirt shifts along with her seat adjustment.
“Not at all. Thank you for this opportunity.” My eyes study her perfectly styled wig and well-done make-up. Who knew Aoba could exist in reality? Her blue-haired wig is parted in the exact style of Aoba with a realistic consistency to it. Even the jacket strewn across the back of her chair is perfectly designed to fit her just as snuggly as it does the original character. From her finely crafted apparel to her masterfully contoured features, it leaves no question as to why she is both a wig model and a professional cosplayer.
After getting comfortable in our seats and opening some apple juice and strawberry crumble ice cream, Martha began to tell me her story as a professional of a world many fans crave so much to be a part of.
It was when she was a young adult when her talents started to form. Although she began drawing in elementary school, it wasn’t until after high school that she seriously began to develop her art skills. During this time is when she also became infatuated with cosplaying and became a member of the cosplaying group VENaS.S Japan, which currently tours around the Asian continents with energetic and popular performances. For years, she has continued to juggle these two separate professions at the same time, doing cosplaying over the weekend, and manga over the weekdays. This is in addition to her being a model and a mom. With everything she does, how does she manage to do it all?
“It’s important to put priorities in order,” she says as she intertwines her fingers with a calculatedly thoughtful look. “Cosplaying is first, then family, and then manga.” When prompted on whether or not these priorities ever change order, she laughs humorously. “If there’s a deadline, then #2 and #3 switch.”
Cosplaying became her top priority after she won the 2011 King of Fighters Official Cosplay Contest in Japan. This was the high jump point in her career where she began getting offers outside of Japan.
Yaoi-Con was her first experience in the United States, and she definitely wants to come back again soon.
“I was expecting maybe 5 people at my panel since I didn’t think anyone knew who I was, but apparently I was wrong!” She laughs melodically with her admittance. “It was such a nice surprise seeing so many people.”
While it may seem she doesn’t have time for anything outside of her time-demanding professions, it doesn’t mean she isn’t a doting mother. As I sat across from her during our interview listening to her responses, I couldn’t help but grin as she glowed when asked about her son. She immediately pulled up one of her most recent images of him and turned her phone towards me. Her face beamed with joy. “My son is 1 ½ years old. Isn’t he so cute?” I couldn’t help but agree as she familiarized me with his chubby cheeks and big, glossy eyes.
From cosplaying, modeling, and motherhood, to being a mangaka, it is a wonder how this woman manages to juggle so much together. Although this may seem impossible for some of us, Martha not only gets this done, but is even tantalizing with the idea of doing voice acting.
“I’d love to give it a try. Definitely sometime in the future.”
The interview was soon wrapped up and with warm goodbyes and well wishes before we eventually went our separate ways.
With her trademark giggle and adorable smile as a farewell gift, I felt my heart melt.
I was left inspired and itching to write.
To those of you who think being a professional cosplayer and a professional mangaka aren’t doable either together or apart, just remember Martha Asahi. If she can juggle all of these professions at the same time, then why can’t you?
If you’d like to check out more about Martha Asahi, please visit her official website at am934.com, or follow her on Twitter @AsahiMartha.
©Martha Asahi. All Rights Reserved.
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