Highlighting the madness and absurdity lurking in everyday life using his unique line drawings and vivid colouring, he creates ‘Garo style’ illustrations that are equally hilarious and terrifying.

Rather than only highlighting the fun, nostalgic aspects, of 80s and 90s Japan, Matsuda also sheds light on the pressures and stresses of the day-to-day.

This limited-edition capsule includes two T-shirts, a hooded sweater, a short-sleeve shirt, and a curated selection of accessories—headlined by a boldly printed scarf. Every piece proudly showcases Matsuda’s signature vibrant and distinctive designs.

Available now at EDWIN Stores, selected retailers and online.

To welcome Kouichi to the family, we visited his studio for a deep dive into his world—talking manga, his craft, his roots, and the inspirations that shaped him.

Read below or watch up high.

<MANGA>

"I draw all my manga by hand. There are many artists who draw digitally nowadays, but I have respect for the manga culture, and since I also do painting, I always want to preserve the original drawings.

I use a Rotring pen for drafting, but other than that, I stick to the basics: I do preliminary drawings in pencil, draw in with a pen, and apply screen tones."

<WORK>

"I paint on canvas with acrylic paint and apply a burnish to the finish to give it a glossy look. Manga is a world of black-and-white and matte textures, so I am very conscious of the difference in texture. I used to draw manga covers elaborately, and that influence is evident in my artwork.

There is also a sense that I am collaging my own pictures on the canvas."

<ART & INFLUENCE>

"I like TV commercials, pornographic magazines, and VHS videos from the 80s and 90s, and I think the motifs and typography I draw are greatly influenced by them. I absorb old things, but I always have a desire to create new ways of presenting them, such as in composition and color tones."

<EARLY YEARS>

"I was born in Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku region and was a child who liked to play alone. For some reason, pay TV channels were occasionally shown at home, and I often liked to watch old-time dramas and variety shows that could not be seen on terrestrial TV.

I still remember the shock I felt when I first encountered Tadanori Yokoo's books in the high school art room, manga by Yoshikazu Ebisu that I picked up at a bookstore, and new wave CDs at the rental store."

Videography & Editing: Toshifumi Kiuchi / LAID BUG
3DCG motion logo: Syun Yazawa
Support (WORKS) Mograg Gallery
Support (MANGA): Seirinkogeisha