Goldenbird readers may know that Mayann’s little B/W puppy Mochi is an Akita Inu. This dog breed of Japanese origin is very close to my heart. My family loves all Spitz-type breeds for their independence, sensitivity and so-called “primitive” traits,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
När jag fick chans att medverka här blev jag överförtjust – och nervös. En av världens viktigaste serier, avgörande för min egen uppväxt… Utställningen har redan varit i Göteborg och Stockholm, men jag har tyvärr inte haft tillfälle att besöka[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Why no updates on the comic lately? The embarrassing truth is, I moved from Sweden to Finland in June and I still haven’t located the sketches for the rest of Chapter 5. Due to other pressing tasks, I haven’t had[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
For two years, I have been drawing a comic feature for the Swedish magazine Populär Astronomi. It has been a wonderful experience, because even with my PhD in history I feel strongly attracted to astronomy and astrophysics. For sure, it[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Apparently the Rabbit year will offer calm and quiet after the hectic Tiger year. All I know that it is my responsibility to make it so. Never mind everyone who claims that we Sheep (or Goats, which I personally prefer,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Kagami mochi (鏡餅, mirror rice-cake), is a traditional Japanese New Year decoration. A small mochi (glutinous rice ball) is placed on top of a big one (who is making a mess now), and crowned with a daidai (Japanese bitter orange).[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Where does Mayann’s puppy Mochi come from? Well, of course she has a backstory. But until it is revealed, we are going to look at some theories… In February, a special festival called Inukko Matsuri is celebrated in Yuzawa, Akita[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
In previous posts we have discussed the origin of Mochi’s name (and possibly Mochi herself). A less cute mythical origin would be the inugami legend. The inugami (dog-deity) is a kind of witches’ familiar created by torturing a dog to[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Today is the Hourly Comic Day. Yes, even a crazily overworked historian (who likes to disappear for weeks) finds some time to chronicle her daily ordeals in Helsinki, Finland. Some memorable moments from my everyday life (details may demand arcane[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Mus, Mouse, Maus. Det är utgångspunkten för en utställning där 24 skandinaviska serietecknare gjort unika tolkningar av en av världens mest inflytelserika och världsberömda serier: Art Spiegelmans Maus. Nu kommer utställningen till Jönköping 3–27 februari. Som historiker har jag forskat[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…