Recap - January 2025
A snake on the bike
Hello, everyone! Thank you for coming back to Momo’s Doodle Den and welcome, new subscribers! Hope you had a wonderful New year! I usually post my Recap newsletter at the end of each month, but I despatched this one early because my two-week holiday in Japan was coming to an end and I would have to glue myself to the desk next three weeks once I get back to the UK 😭
The Year of the Snake
If you have read my last year’s January newsletter, you might know that I design my mum’s New Year’s card (年賀状/nengajo) every year and I always used eto (Chinese zodiac animals) for the main motif. 2025 is a year of the snake.
My first idea was a William Morris-esque design with a snake and flora, but I quickly ditched the idea. To find more inspirations, I looked into symbolisms of snakes. Although the symbolisms vary from culture to culture, snakes represent rebirth, transformation, immortality, and healing because they shed skins. I thought “change” and “new beginning” would be a perfect theme for a New Year’s card. So I further looked into symbols for the theme.
First, I thought of ouroboro (an ancient symbol of a snake or serpent eating its own tail) - too macabre! Then I came up with a design inspired by tarot cards because of the Wheel of Fortune trot card (wheels also represent change and progress) - too confusing (why trot card?)!
I went back to the drawing board once again. I still liked the idea of wheels to reinforce the theme of “change” and “new beginning” so I brainstormed for a simpler solution and I decided on a snake on a bike.
Once I sketched out the design, I coloured it in Photoshop. Plum blossoms are very popular symbol of luck in Japan and often used for New Year decorations so, after I consulted my trusted Dictionary of (Japanese mid-century) Colour Combinations, I picked spinel red (red plum colour), vandyke red and turquoise green for the main colour palette. I also incorporated traditional Japanese patterns - 一松 (Ichimatsu / repeated alternating dark and light squares) and 梅 (ume / plum blossom).
Et voila! The whole “new beginning” concept is no longer obvious but I like the simplicity and humour of the design. I also like the positive vibe of moving forward. It’s a fitting New Year message, isn’t it? Most importantly, my mum, who hates snakes, gave me a big thumbs up.
Akemashite Omedetou! (Happy New Year)
New Year is the most important festival in Japan. This year I got to celebrate the New Year in Japan for the first time in 16 years!
On the New Year’s Eve, my friends and I went to Meiji Jingu, the most popular Shinto shrine in Tokyo for 初詣 (hatsumode / the first temple or shine visit of the year). We stuffed our stomachs with street food from 屋台 (yatai / food stalls) first. Then, we queued for about 3 hours to make our New Year’s wishes at midnight at the shrine. It was cold and long but totally worth it. Then, I bought lucky amulets (omamori) and drew a fortune telling strips (omikuji).
On the New Year’s Day, I had traditional Japanese New Year foods called osechi (お節) with my family for breakfast. (I missed this so much!)
I found this beautifully illustrated picture book about osechi. Each osechi dish has a meaning. I knew most of them but, thanks to this book, I learned that datemaki (sweet rolled omelette mixed with fish paste) represents scrolls, therefore they symbolise a wish for academic success. How cool is that?!
On the second day, I wore a kimono! Well…my auntie and mum dressed me. After an hour of fixing four layers of clothes with countless of strings (kimono has no button) and an obi belt, I was ready. The kimono was so tight (as it should be) that I couldn’t hardly move and the zouri sandals were most uncomfortable, but it was worth it. Nothing makes you feel more Japanese than wearing kimonos, I’d say.
One of the highlights of my trip was International Library of Children’s Literature in Tokyo. I couldn’t believe I didn’t know this amazing place until now. My mum and I went on an 1-hour guided tour.
The Western, Renaissance-style building built in 1906 as the Imperial Library is (literary) an architectural treasure. In 2000, the building was dedicated to children’s books. By the National Diet Library Law (1948), the ILCL stores every children’s books ever published in Japan as well as foreign books gifted from over 160 countries. We got to go inside one of the vaults that store about 50,0000 books during the tour.
My favourite was the permanent gallery where you can learn the history of Japanese children’s books (from late 19th century to the present). You can pick up and browse books from each era. I loved illustrations of books from the 40s-50s! The below was my favourite in the exhibition. (Click the link below and check out the inside.)
The philosophy of the ILCL is "Children's books link the world and open up the future!". They had a library room called “Meet the World” where about 2,000 volumes, including picture books, books on the geography, history, and culture of many different countries and regions of the world, are available (in either Japanese or native languages). I often get frustrated when publishers tell me to make the settings of my books look more generic for “wider appeal”. This room was a proof that we do need books that show cultural uniqueness.
New Year’s Resolutions
Apart from the things I mentioned above and meeting my friends, I didn’t do much during my two-week holiday in Japan. I didn’t even bring my sketch book but I refused to feel guilty about it! I worked non-stop in 2024. I deserved a time off even from what I love. But, after lounging at home and eating delicious Japanese foods for two weeks, I now feel ready to face 2025!
The last year’s resolution was to give a go at writing a chapter book and I started it. This year’s resolution is to finish the chapter book. This year is the first time my schedule isn’t fully packed with projects since I got my first book deal in 2018. I don’t know what I will be doing in the second half of the year and I’m feeling a mild anxiety… BUT I might use the free time to finish the chapter book.
Similarly, another resolution (or more like intention) is to learn to embrace uncertainties and carpe diem as opportunities come. Also, although I love talking about what I care (e.g. Gen AI and copyright issues), this year I will try to listen to Elvis and to take a little more action!
I’m looking forward to continue sharing my ongoing journey as a children’s book author-illustrator with you this year. Hope you will enjoy reading it. Please leave comments or questions if you do.
Here’s to the Year of the Snake!
Momo xxx
Something to look forward to in 2025
500 Words: I’ll be illustrating one of the winning stories from this UK's largest children's writing competition in the new year and we are going to find out all the winners at the grand final. The final will be on BBC on the World Book Day!
WORDfest Crawley: I’ll be doing a storytime & craft event on Saturday 1st March. Keep an eye on their website/social media accounts for the ticket info.
Bologna Children’s Book Fair (31st March - 3rd April): I’m going! If you’re going too and this is your first time, check out my BCBF guide posts part 1, part 2 and part 3.
My fourth authored book, Dotty Doughnut (Orchard Books) - out on Thursday 27th March
It’s Behind You! by Jeanne Willis and me (Andersen Press) - out on Thursday 3rd April
Keith’s Big Leap by Mike Barfield and me (Andersen Press) - out on Thursday 4th September
I always love reading about the process behind your new year’s card designs for your mum - you did well with this one if she doesn’t even like snakes normally! So interesting to hear about the trip to Japan, the food, books and clothes - it was a mini-holiday just to read about it!
Happy New Year! What an amazing library! Thank you for sharing your fabulous trip, I love your New Year’s card!