- Maki, did you always feel uncomfortable being alone?

Because of my job, I often go out to do interviews, so I have no problem with traveling alone. In fact, I'm not good at coordinating schedules with other people. When I was young, I liked to travel freely according to my mood of the day, using things like the Youth 18 Ticket.

- Bars, yakiniku, movie theaters...how far can you go alone?

I can go anywhere by myself. However, I might feel bad for the restaurant if it only has four-seats, and it might be a little tough if the portions are too large. But I can go to movies and concerts by myself, too!

- What is the appeal of being alone?

I guess it's the freedom and not having to worry about anything. For example, if you're staying in the same hotel room as someone, no matter how close your friends are, you still need to be considerate to a minimum. Of course, there are benefits to going together that outweigh the negative aspects, but if you want to fully enjoy the hotel itself, I think you'll be able to concentrate more on your time there if you're alone.

-What are some tips for enjoying being alone?

For those who feel hesitant about being alone, instead of making being alone your goal, why not try doing things with the goal in mind?
For example, if I have a favorite artist and they have a live show, I will go to see them in Hokkaido, Kyushu, or anywhere else, but to do so I inevitably have to travel alone.
It doesn't have to be a live concert, but if you choose something you're interested in, like art you want to see or food you want to try, you'll have a reason to go out alone and you may feel more comfortable doing so.
Also, with the recent trend of connecting with others through social media, if you upload your experiences on the spot, you probably won't feel so lonely.

- What thoughts and messages do you want to convey through the manga "Ohitorisama Hotel"?

The COVID-19 pandemic was what prompted me to start drawing "Ohitorisama Hotel." The basic concept was based on the idea of my partner, Maro-chan, who runs a media called "Ohitorisama." that suggests ways to enjoy your time alone. We wanted to propose a new LIFE that can be enjoyed alone and to convey the diverse charms of hotels.
I don't deny traveling with family or friends, but traveling alone allows me to focus more on the purpose of the trip. Also, the sunlight shining on the building is beautiful. There is pure silence. The staff's manners are refined. There are many things like that that you can only notice when you're alone.
I'm not saying that I want people to stay at the hotels that appear in the manga, but I would be happy if it inspires them to take the first step and try staying in a hotel by themselves.

―COREDO What were you conscious of when you drew a manga set in Muromachi?

Continuing from last year, I drew on the theme of "Women's LIFE Style × COREDO Muromachi". This time, a married woman is the main character, and the story is made so that many people can sympathize with it. But it's quite difficult to compose it in just four pages (laughs). This time, I had the pleasure of interviewing two restaurants in COREDO Muromachi Terrace, and first of all, I had Taiwanese cuisine at "Fujin Tree". When I think of Taiwanese food, I had an image of lu meat rice and bean flowers, but it was interesting because I didn't know all the dishes. "Japan Department Store Nihonbashi Main Store" has a variety of local specialties, so you can feel like you're traveling all over Japan at once.

― What if Maki herself visited COREDO Muromachi as the main character of the manga?

I usually go to the movie theater by car, so I often use "TOHO CINEMAS Nihonbashi". That's why I go to the movie theater by car first, and then eat on the way home. Since it's a big deal, I'll indulge a little and have sushi at "Mantensushi". Some people find it difficult to enter a sushi restaurant alone because the threshold is high, but it is recommended because it is relatively easy to enter in a commercial facility.