Hi. Everybody who is reading this probably knows me, at least a little bit.
I moved from America to Japan years ago, and am trying desperately to make it in the manga industry. I want to draw comics. It might be accurate to say that I just want to tell stories, and inspire people. I want to then, one day, help spread the manga art all over the world. I also want to help other countries create their own thriving manga businesses, drawn by their own people. In other words,
But, you see.. this might make you mad to hear, but I’ll say it anyways, because I feel that it’s important to be honest. I put my whole career and life on hold, for a boy. Maybe it’s just the curse of all women everywhere. We want to be loved, and no matter how strong we want to be, or how strong we think we are, when it comes to love, I’m stupid. I think a lot of other girls out there are like me. When I fall in love, I turn into someone who does the craziest things, who does the stupidest things, to keep that love. When really, the lesson that I want to teach myself is that it’s okay to be alone. It’s okay to wait for that white horse, and if your knight never comes, that’s okay too.
Why?
Because I’m not just totally okay without someone, I’m myself. I’m free to be who I want to be, and I don’t do stupid things like putting my career on hold for someone else.
Back to my story. I will give you the short version. It begins a little over two years ago. I was just coming out of working as a mangaka’s assistant for Konomi Takeshi. That job, which I’d had for a year and a half, was a whirlwind of learning, of frustration, camraderie, and triumph. I mean, I was working on a world-famous manga, with a team of really great people! But I bit the bullet and quit, mainly because I wanted to work on my own creations and show them to the rest of the world.
It was really emotional for me, saying goodbye to six people that I’d basically lived with for over a year. I knew that I’d see them again one day, but it was with elation that I was ready to make my own mark on the world! The stress of going back and living in an empty apartment, though, was something that I wasn’t really prepared for. I wasn’t living in one room and sleeping in bunkbeds, constantly with people anymore. Suddenly I was lonely, and low on cash, so I wasn’t able to go out a lot.
So, I reached out to a longterm friend, and someone we ended up dating. It helped, immensely! But I should have listened to his friends when they exclaimed to me on Valentine’s day, “What do you mean, he’s your boyfriend?!” Because a month later, he told me that he had no idea what I was talking about, boyfriend, and I was really a mistress because he had a real girlfriend. Someone whom I had never heard of, that he had loved for a long time.
The relationship had only lasted three months, but it devastated me.
Until a few weeks later, I met someone. I met him at a mangaka party, a friend of the girl, Jenya, who had invited me. His name was Makoto, and he was an illustrator. He was tall and thin, and had this sort of long, gorgeous thick hair. He was also considerate and sweet. At first, at least.
What I didn’t know as I moved into his apartment in the suburbs, and fell deeper and deeper in love, and eventually made plans to get married and have kids, is that from day one, he was cheating on me. From day zero, really.
The girls that I found out about last Christmas, we just one-time flings. Even so, though, I felt like I wanted to die. I didn’t realize, and didn’t find out about until after his elderly dad died in January and he introduced me to all of his extended family as his fiancee, is that he had at least six other women, and he’d been sleeping with at least one of them every week since before we had even met. Two years we’d been together, but that didn’t compare to the 5 years that he had been fooling around with another girlfriend (she had a “real” boyfriend too, so M was just a friends-with-benefits to her, and she didn’t see what I was upset about when I confronted her about it, in tears).
I was so stupid. I didn’t see the signs. They were there, right in front of my face, but when I am in love, I’m just so stupid. It didn’t help that for more than a year, he had been constantly berating me and criticizing me, and I started to forget whom I was and who I wanted to be. I just kept thinking that when we got married, I would be able to stop trying so hard, and then I could finally concentrate on my career path.
When I confronted Mako about all of the girls, he admitted to them. He admitted to seeing them weekly since before we were even involved. He even went so far as to say, at first,
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’m not planning on marrying any of them.”
???!?!!!!!!!!!!!
My retaliation was changing the password on his email so that he couldn’t get into it. (He left it logged in on my computer, which is how I found out in the first place. Do you know he has a folder called “girls I have slept with” in there? How slimy!!!! Actually, it’s the only folder besides “trash,” “inbox,” and “work.”)
Needless to say, I dumped him and it devolved into a big fight, with screaming and name-calling. He called me stupid and loud and selfish (what the hell??!!), and screamed at the top of his lungs, “I will never give up sleeping around!!!”
In a smaller voice, he added saying such as, “If one of them breaks up with me, I’ll just get another. It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to experience lots of different kinds of sex.”
I can really pick ‘em, can’t I?
Then, our fighting escalated and we took it outside, and he started hitting and kicking me. He tried to choke me, and break my arm, and dragged me along the ground. I’ve never been in a violent situation like that before, and I think that I was in a bit of shock, because I’d never thought that he would do something like that. But then, I’d never, ever thought that he was cheating on me the entire time we were dating. Never once.
I’m proud to say that I didn’t hit, kick, punch, or do anything other than self-defense. I screamed, a lot. Which made the neighbors call the cops, and in the end he got slapped with a 100,000 yen medical bill (about $1,000 USD). I didn’t get anything more than scrapes and bruises, luckily, but I’d been in love. And suddenly, everything had crashed down around me.
I moved out as soon as I could, while he stayed at his mother’s down the street. And now here I am, living on my own, and putting back the pieces of who I am. I feel like I’m seeing the world with new eyes, a little bit wiser. I learned a huge, huge lesson.
Like I said, I was stupid. But in the end, not nearly as stupid as Makoto, who will never, ever know what it is like to feel the kind of happiness that only comes from loving someone. I actually pity him. (Okay, I would not be upset to see him kick the bucket, but..)
But meanwhile, I finally have the freedom to be who I am. To be the pure, sweet, and innocent(ish) me! To live for my dreams and goals. I’m a lot happier being single, to be honest! I will use this time to reach people all across the world with my stories, and teach girls all across the world how to believe in themselves. Most importantly, because they will make mistakes just as I did, and get tangled up with selfish, mean people, I want to teach them with my story how to pick themselves up and use those feelings of anguish and pain to do something good!
Without a doubt, I’m stronger than I was yesterday. I’m also a better person, and I have a horrible, selfish player named Makoto to thank for that. Thanks, and I hope that you grow up one day, Makoto. Also, get a job.
To you all- all of my friends who read this whole story, and didn’t bug me for the details that I didn’t share, but accepted the ones that I did. Thank you! Thank you for giving me just a little bit of your time this Friday night (or Thursday, as may happen for you). Thank you for being there for me.
To the haters and the skeptics, I say bring it on! I’ve only loved and been true to myself, and nothing anyone can say can hurt me anymore! Say that I can’t hold on to a man? (As Makoto criticized me.. seriously, what’s wrong with his head?) I say who needs one! I’m fine- we all are fine- alone!
I’m happy, too. ^^
If you think I have shown my true potential before, well you haven’t seen anything yet! From now on, nothing is going to stop me! (^O^)/
See you on my next blog entry, which will be soon!
love always,
Jamie
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@kalelnojutsu87 It was in Japan and he was Japanese. I wrote about it here, if you’re interested: http://t.co/KRYHTZ9w
I’m amazed, and at the same time thankful that you are not the type of person that lets such an incident mark you forever. Otherwise that would mean we would lose such a bright personality in our lives! Judging from your blog (not that I can judge from anything else), you have a vibrant and outgoing personality. It would be a big waste to lose it to the kind of slug that Makoto is. Like the old Chinese proverb, “if it’s meant for you, it will come to you no matter what”. You will definitely find someone better, who will love you for who you are and not for anything else. You should never, ever change who you are, especially for other people.
I wish you all the best in life. Things will only get better for you, after all, usually the sun will only appear after the huge cloud passed right?
Enjoy your trip!
Thank you so much, Michelle. I have a feeling that those words will come in handy. I’m a lot more myself these days, but there are still times where I feel myself remembering the past and falling into a depression for a few days.
I just wanted to say that reading your experience, what you have been through already inspired me, regardless that you have not officially become a mangaka yet.
You’re such a brave soul; and being able to have the courage to maintain the innocence and pureness in you is something I have failed to do myself.
Just wanted you to know how you have touched a lot of people’s heart just by sharing your amazing journey
Wow, those are such nice words! Thank you!!
Wow! Breathtaking post. What a fighter you are, such an inspiration.. really!
As I was reading this it felt as if everything was taken from a movie, a manuscript, not a real persons life!
Thank you for sharing,
it really inspired me.
Thank you very much, Sarah. It really helps to read comments like yours, especially on this post. ^^
Thank you for telling your story! I know it was hard, but you were brave enough to tell it. It’s really inspired me to know I’m a girl but we can survive only too, and we don’t need a man to make us happy. We have goal and we can reach them with God’s help. ^^ Thank you for being so open, I know a lot of people will be helped by your experience. I know you’ve helped me and opened my eyes a little more.
Thank you again!
I’m not sure how but somehow i missed this post being posted.
wow, big props to you girlfriend for sharing that with us. i’m so sorry for all the pain you had to go through, and i can understand how you feel, seeing as i have dated my share of jerks and tend to also become one of those blindly stupid-in-love types…
it’s so sad that in Japan fidelity is such a joke and infidelity such common currency… for a while i completely gave up on the idea of finding a guy who would want to really be with me and marry me here, because i thought “oh, there’s no hope, they’re all like cheating jerks. if i’m not the mistress, i’ll be the one that’s being cheated on”. it took a while, but i got over it finally, and now i know that, guys who aren’t like that, THEY DO EXIST. lol. we just gotta look really hard ^_- and keep an eye out for jerks. apparently, they keep an eye out for sweet girls like us who give their hearts out easily…
be strong girl. but i think you’re gonna be just fine ^_-
Thanks KC! ^^
I know that there are guys out there who are good and sweet.. I even know a few of them! Too bad that I’moff the market for a while, lol! I want to be free and single and enjoy myself. Although if a sweet girl came along, she might be able to worm her way into my heart XD
You’re amazing & you’re better off without people like that.
You’ll make it big one day kid, I just know it.
<3
Thanks! I know it, too! ^.
Seriously, I’m almost crying here while reading this (;___;) So sorry to hear you experienced something like that! But at the same time I find this really inspirational – I find it inspirational how you made up you own mind, even though this horrible guy was even attacking you psychically [What a grazy grazy guy, ugh, I hope he learned something from that! > ^ =w<
Yes. I learned to always, always be true to myself, and to stick up for how I feel. I’ll never be dominated by a love again! Love should enrich you, not make you hurt all of the time.
I’m so so sorry that you experienced such a terrible revelation but also so proud of you for being strong enough and smart enough to disentangle yourself from a toxic relationship. Tt’s very hard to do that, even when you are being hurt by someone, when you are in love. You weren’t stupid to trust him, he was stupid and sad and pathetic to break that trust.
I’m glad you gave yourself some time. Thank you for sharing what’s going on in your life. Your openess and vulnerabilty is beautiful and you are a lovely person.
Good luck on your new chapter. I am confident good things will come!
You’re right. He was stupid and sad and pathetic to break that trust. I can’t see him ever changing, either. But he lost his chance with me.
Congratulations on getting out of this terrible relationship! It only took you a year of humiliation and a cheating boyfriend! Great job, you are a strong and assertive woman.
What kind of example are you for other women and girls in love? You would be a good role model if you broke it of with him the instant he humiliated you FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Dont try to be a beacon of wisdom on relationships. You failed at this one.
A folder with that title?! Pretty high on the sleazeball factor!!
No violence is acceptable too…
I wonder if your ex has some real psychological issues and can use some therapy or something…
I guess that’s his problem to deal with.
Now you can focus on what’s good for you…all the best!
Yeah, I think he is probably certifiably insane. After all, he let me go. You can’t make ‘em crazier than that!
Dear Jamie,
I have been reading your blog on and off for quite a long time (since you were featured on livejournal!). This entry makes me really sad, but also really happy for you. I hope you find greater peace and happiness, and confidence in yourself. We are all here for a reason, and I am sure you are meant for great things. Be happy!
Hi Jamie,
I just got to know your blog from my friend.
It is sad to read about your unpleasant encounters. I admire your courage to stood up and start afresh.
Stay strong and all the best.
I was beginning to wonder where you were, your blog is so lovely!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7B-vZlWNGU
!!!
I must say I completely understand why you would reevaluate your life for the sake of love. Some people are important enough that it is worth it. I’m so sorry to hear that this guy didnt really turn out to be what you expected. Regardless, I find your post completely inspiring. I cant even imagine how you must feel.
If it helps, one line that Ive stuck with the past couple weeks to encourage me is that even though sad things are inevitable [i.e. death]… but so is life!
Watch this video and let Charlie Chaplin give some pep talk if you ever need it
And thank you for sharing such a personal story with your readers
This is devastating to hear, Really sad to hear.
Do you mind if I share this story on another site?
One of mt friends once said: The diamond in the rough is out there somewhere. But you have to go through a bunch of shit to get to him.
If you are still willing, don’t give up then.
Sure! Feel free to share– it’s all out on the internet for anyone to read already. I hope that my hardships can come back and help somebody else, otherwise I would have no reason to write them! ^^
I think my foot needs to meet his ass. Repeatedly. >_>;;
*uber hugs!*
I’m just really glad to see you back.
I can’t wait to see where this road leads you, because I know you’ll do fantastically.
At first I respected you for following the “path of a mangaka” in Japan. But after reading this I can say my respect for you as a artist, a role model and as a person has developed into something much much more. To have gone through something like that and still go on is prove that you are a very strong person, and I know everything will work out for you.
I’ll be cheering you on, zutto zutto ♪ ^0^
What a horrible horrible person (and a dumbass) he is!
He didn’t deserve you!!!
Thank you for sharing your story, i know it must’ve been really difficult!
Be brave and start living for yourself and doing the things you really love- from now on the only way is up, Jamie
I love reading your blog, it is so inspiring and gives me strength for when i move to Tokyo next year!!!Keep up the amazing work ^^
JAMIE! I was thinking about tweeting you to ask what happened to your blogs, and I was trying to find the interview you did for me to re-publish it on my blog since Geek Girl On The Street went down, and I was going to talk to you, but…Oh my God. Makoto sounds like he is the scum of the earth. I’m sure he didn’t seem like it at first. I’m sure he was hot and charming, because he roped in other women too…You deserve so much better than that, and I’m sure you know that already. You were brave to share this story on your blog. It’s such a personal thing. I can tell it was hard for you to talk about, and you’re doing it truly to help other girls. T_T I love you. You’re so inspiring. Keep being yourself, and focusing on you. Some day, your prince will come.
As a said in the facebook, Good luck for you and better and bigger things awaits for you in the future! Cheers from Brazil to you!
*sends you love and good wishes*
I am glad that you are happy with who you are
Because you are a wonderful person. I was worried when you didn’t post for so long, because I love your stories, your photos and excitement about things in your life. *hugs you tight*
This is a horrible thing to happen,I am so sorry to hear that you went through this. esp the physical abuse.
I understand now you absence from your blog.
The only way from down is up!
Oh Jamie dear. I have never cried like this before. You are too sweet and caring to be around this dick head! You only deserve the best. Your strength as an independent women will guide you to a better future. I’ve never had a boyfriend before because I feared these things, I just grew up around this and I never want it to happen to me. But when I read your story, it made me feel so sorrowful for you… gosh, I’ve read your blog for a long time following you on your adventures, but when you stopped posting, I feared the worst. Screw that jerk! Your Jamie! Nothing can stop you on your path to success as a mangaka, but only you! Stay strong and keep your head up high! Reach for the stars and draw your way to a glorious future! Gambatte and bless you for everything! ^^
Omg i’m so glad you are back!! I was getting a bit worried when you didn’t post for so long. All i have to say about this guy is he’s a dumb ass and undeserving of someone like you. I couldn’t believe when i was reading what he did to you and also slime ball doesn’t even cover the “chicks that i have slept with” folder. Anyways i’m glad that you are going to focus on you from now on! Don’t let guys stand in your way
Jamie, *hugs*. Now go and pursue your true potential!!!. And stay healthy too ^_^
I am so glad to see you got your fighting spirit back! and even if you hadn’t I’m just glad you’re back! also I wanted to say Happy Easter, even though it might be late. I’m not sure when you celebrate it because , for example, Catholics celebrated it on 8th of April. I’m Orthodox so we celebrated it today, so that’s why I’m a bit confused. regardless of the date I hope you had a good time. best of luck and may God grant you only happiness from here on. we’re all cheering for you and you’re a strong, wonderful, kind hearted girl. I’m glad to see that this ugly experience hasn’t beaten those traits from you. Jamie fightooo! ^^
Hahahh! He sure did miss out!
I’m so happy that you see all the positive from this.
Jamie,
I already told you before how much you’ve inspired me. My husband and I nearly lost everything we had, and I looked at this blog and I saw a beautiful, smart, driven woman accomplishing her dreams! I emailed you, and I was so happy that you responded! It gave me so much inspiration!
I definitely think you can credit yourself with me going back to college. I will complete college and I will live in Japan, with or without my husband! It’s not a woman’s job to “hold onto a man.” It’s both persons jobs to realize when they have a magnificent relationship. They need to treat each other in the same way, they need to behave and act how they want the other to.
Do unto others as you would want done unto you.
You are certainly the bigger person in this situation. I hope his family is ashamed of him. Better yet, I hope he is ashamed in himself!
What a jerk ! I’m glad to see that you got rid of him and now you’re back on your feet!
Being strong is something that inspires people, it definitely inspires me.
I’ll be looking forward to your next blog.
Oh Jamie! I’m so glad you got away from that cockroach in time!
You’re not stupid – he took advantage of your trusting nature and deceived you.
I hope things work out better for you next time you find someone.
Hugs!!
-alouzon
A touching and heartbreaking story. To anyone who has been through any mental or physical abuse from a partner, its can be a tough thing to recognize and break free from. I commend you on your assertiveness, your strength, and that fact that you have come to the realization that we ALL can stand alone and can succeed alone. It really is true. Having someone to love is a blessing, but we should all have the strength to support ourselves otherwise. Best wishes to you for happiness always!
Sandy
I already knew a lot about this and I think it’s great that you finally seem to feel good enough to write about this in public!
It’s like you’re completely done with it and ready for your new life! I’m happy for you! ^-^
What happened to you was horrible.
You are not stupid! At least not more stupid than any other girl in love! Unfortunately you are surely not the only one who has been hurt like that by some stupid guy or girl
I hope you can enjoy your new life!
Remember, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! And it surely will! You ARE strong already, but now you’re even shinier and stronger than ever before!
P.S.:
After hearing about all of this for the first time I was really glad that ever since coming to Japan nobody was ever interested in me at all, so I couldn’t run into such a horrible experience.
You rock Jamie!!! To take such a negative experience and to turn it in to something positive is amazing! I hope everything is slowly falling back into place for you. I really enjoy your blog and hope you keep posting! …
All I can say to Makoto is … karma sucks when it’s your turn.
Oh god I’m so glad you are ok. I’ve wondered where you’ve been. I’m so sorry you had to go through this, but whats important is that you’ve come out the otherside a stronger person.
Now you can go full force working on your goals and dreams! *cheers* You are an inspiration!
You are an amazing, talented person and don’t let anyone tell you any different! You’ve come out on top and that’s a hell of a lot more than a lot of people. Be proud of the things you’ve accomplished and learn from your mistakes. Thinks do happen, but don’t let those same issues put you down. It is difficult yes, but doable. Celebrate your newfound happiness because from now on only good things will come to you.
May you be blessed many, many times over!
(btw, your drawing is cute! i’m a little surprised u are using this drawing though…but i guess you did have some happy times with him, after all.)
have you listened to the song Part of me, by katy perry? it is a really empowering breakup song, and anyway, it’s super catchy. xD umm…there are some typos in this entry, you might want to check it again?
i also heard about this from your facebook a while back… this guy is just unbelievable!! >_< luckily you weren't badly hurt (physically) and you're fine now. i believe in karma, and creeps like that will surely, eventually be punished!! meanwhile, enjoy your single life to the fullest and good luck with all your dreams!! ~_~
Dude that guy is so lucky you aren’t in AZ. I hope you got to a doctor too, someone who sleeps around like that… who knows what he’s got -_- what a grade a asshole.
I always think you’re stronger when you’re focused on you. If a boy comes along that’s the icing on the cake. But don’t let some jerk change you or tell you you’re not good enough.
Wow.
He should consider himself lucky he doesn’t live over here because he’d have a few people to answer to in person.
Takes a lot to spell it out in that way, and I am proud of you for doing so…
I am happy and sad for you, at once. Growth on this scale is painful.
Obviously I wouldn’t wish pain on you. But growth is good and you will only
get better from here. I wish you many friends, to keep the loneliness
at bay. Also much success to make you happy. Ultimately it’s best that
you didn’t marry and have kids with such a narcissist. From personal
experience, it is very difficult to get out of, and the pain lingers till the kids
grow up. So, you dodged that, which is very, very good.
I’ll keep following you, as others do, in hopes that all of our dreams are
realized. Hang in there, AFD, Denver.
Why do we fall? To learn how to pick ourselves up!
Glad you’re feeling much better now!
I don’t know if your tired or not of all the advice given to you.
But I’m going to say, “Keep trying” and “Be a critic”
What I mean by critic; look for the bad and the good and weigh them against each other.
If you ever fall a victim to love again, (I’m saying ‘if’ as in it might or might not) just try with being an acquaintance, in this way; you can try to learn more about the person. If the person is trustworthy you can be friends. As a friend, they will be willing to let out more about themselves. Keep an ear out for anything they may say, -even if it’s a small slip up- how they talk and tone they used will can really define the sort of person they are.
… You can take a look at that advise if you wish… It’s just how I meet people, because I have a low trust level; getting from acquaintance to friend for me take 6 months!
It’s advise from a person who is sort of anti-social, so it’s only my way of doing things…
Good luck to your future!!
You weren’t stupid. You were simply trusting, which comes in being part of a relationship. I’m sorry this man took advantage of that. I know you’ll do fine though, and I look forward to your triumphant stories.
Never commented before, but have been popping by to read for a while now! I wish you all the best of luck in rebuilding your life and your career. I am so glad you successfully got away!
I’m sorry to hear you were in that type of situation but am very proud of you to stay strong. It’s hard to be in that situation and not want to fight back but instead you used that negativity and am using that to power to improve yourself. I’m glad that you are ok and he got his just desserts. Your courageousness is inspiring and thank you for sharing your story. I will pray and wish for you to have your dreams come true! I’m looking forward to seeing the new and improved strong and beautiful Jamie. :3
Wow i feel for you =(
events like this can only make you stronger!
put your mind to it and you can fulfill your dreams!
I only find your site start of this year (2012), because i was looking to travel to Japan and the love for anime, found your post interesting. Firstly i normally the type that just reads and don’t comment, but after reading this i really had to say something because it was touching!
thank you very much for sharing
i hope my words help you understand you can make a difference.
I think I speak for all of us when I say SCREW HIM!
Jamie, I read about this via FB and felt for you, then as the updates went on I felt like I wanted to help even though we don’t know each other. How this man could treat you like this is shocking! Clearly he doesn’t have a grown up mind as he would behave like a grown up. Be thankful you didn’t contract any serious disease from his sleeping around or worse, something you couldn’t medically get rid off.
It will take a while for your heart to mend, but when it does it will have made you stronger and more aware of men who come into your life. You’ll find your prince, because you’ll know how to not fall for frogs (or dung beetles!)
I have the drawing you did for me on my wall here in the UK, you inspire me to draw and to be creative, your art will be a great distraction and when you become famous from it you’ll show M what he was really missing out on.
(If you haven’t already check out Jessie J’s ‘Who’s laughing now’ video on youtube – great for anyone who’s ever been bullied or belittled) *hugs*
Only a fool would criticize you for experiencing life. I’m sorry that you’ve had to go through this but I am glad that you feel confident and stronger.
……………I’m shocked. Utterly. Literrary.
Are you all right now?
How’s your day been going?
After you got the freedom, n got rid of all those breath-sucking feeling? Are you happy?
If so, then I’m glad that you could make it out. With bruise n scrapes.
Yes, I would be gladly screaming of my lung to you, of how stupid n immature you were. However, you’d done it yourself, n I say, it come so strong n painful. And I’m glad to know you manages to get out n breath again.
It’s nothing to be alone. Yes, it’s lonely, sometimes, most of the times. But, we’re always alone since the time we’re born. Don’t be afraid.
I mean, you still be here. I’m still be here. I’m still alive no matter how stress my life n how cruel fate to us.
(if this is no your thing, am sorry) Although I do believe He is always beside me. I’m alive, so there’s a reason why He would let me here. That’s why i love Him. To still support my breath n show me people.
Your friend, are they still there? If yes, then you should thank them. if not, find new one or let them find you. Find your own entertainment. The thing for your soul.
Me? I like to laugh n smile from the smallest tiny thing I can see (esp the one that come from ‘my Arashi-healer’ ^^). It helps my day better.
I want to read your manga. Hoping to it.
Smile Jamie-san.
This is a really touching and incredible story at the same time, and I guess for outsiders like myself it’s hard to even imagine how much pain you have actually gone through … But it’s also amazing that you are able to stand up again and fight for your dream!
It’s already been about 3 years since I stumbled across your (old) blog, and because of you I started to believe (again) that becoming a mangaka in Japan is not impossible if you really fight for that dream. I admire your courage (even apart from trying to be a mangaka, living in Japan as a foreigner is not always the easiest thing…), and I think it’s so sweet that you want to help other people with stories that are based on your own feelings (or experiences). And I think many other people wish for that dream of yours to come true as well! So, ganbatte, Jamie!! ^-^ I will continue cheering for you, and also try to make my dream, which is similar to yours, come true!
Hi Jamie,
Sorry to hear about your stories.
Life is full of ups and downs, so apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.
However, I think the most important thing is being able to stand up again and beat the challenges while living a life that you truly love.
“Your time is limited, So don’t waste it living someone else’s life” by Steve Jobs.
It’s ok when things were bad in the past. Just believe in yourself, get on with it and make sure you’re doing everything that you can do to live an extraordinary life in the future!
All the best to you!
It must have been a very difficult time for you and I am so very happy that you are well and doing better. Sharing your story can positively change the world by giving women the courage to stand up against violence.
There are no tiny voices, only strong will and courage.
Take care.
what a dumbass!
Hey we should realy meet one day!.. I know I say that for almost a year haha.. I m very busy busy on weekday but maybe a Saturday evening or something.. we live 5min away by foot from your place haha.
or you can go shopping with my wife lol.. she wants to do some girls stuff sometimes, without me! ^^;
see ya