Yukke is an illustrator and game graphic designer from Japan. Usually, she is working in video game companies and creates the character’s design for it.

In the GHOST fandom, she is known for creating official designs for band merchandise.

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First of all I would really like to thank you deeply for investing your time and being willing to answer some of my questions.

You and your incredible designs are very well known in the GHOST fandom, but maybe you want to introduce yourself a little and tell about yourself? Who is the person behind the designs?

Thank you so much! I’m working in a video game company as a graphic designer. I’ve been living in Tokyo Japan since I was born. I totally grew up with Japanese pop culture and subculture like animation, manga (comic) and JRPG. I was like the so-called „Otaku“ in my school days (Otaku has bit self-deprecating vibes).

Let’s start in the very beginning: When did you start drawing and why? Was there a special experience or inspiration? When did you decide to do it professionell?

I think I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember, so I don’t know why I started to draw. It seems like instinct or habit. I also decided to be a video game designer or illustrator when I was about 12 years old.

This decision has been affected by Japanese video games, especially Final Fantasy 6 and 7. I felt that their graphics were almost „art“, more than just describing the scene.

I remember you like dark themed movies, so what is your favorite movie and why?

I tend to watch a movie by the name of the directors, not the genre. It depends on my mood. It’s hard to select just one. So, sorry, I write a long list of my favorite directors…! If it’s bit older films: Ingmar Bergman, Jodorowsky, Pedro Almodóvar, Dario Argento, Parajanov, Werner Herzog etc.

Or if it’s recent ones I like Edgar Wright, Denis Villeneuve, Xavier Dolan, Ari Aster, Jordan Peele. OMG, I can’t write all of my favorites…haha.

I felt that I should create my blog to introduce my favorite movies! Also, I really respect German movies, German Expressionism era, The New German cinema as well. I got inspiration from them.

What software and hardware do you work with? I follow you on Twitter and saw you are you currently learning 3D modeling?

Thank you for checking my Twitter (@Yukke_art)! I use „CLIP STUDIO PAINT“ for drawings, and yes, recently I’m learning 3D modeling with the software called „Blender“. This is a free software and has really good quality. I recommend it if you start 3D without a huge cost.

At the beginning I thought it was for getting skills for video game creation. But recently I’m using these 3D models for 2D drawing. For example, I made a 3D model of Papa’s mitre, and combined this model for the drawing. It makes the work faster and high quality! Since the shape of mitre is very complicated, it’s helpful. Also I’m using a desktop PC for most of the artworks.

What would be your advice on how to improve drawing skills?

Haha, even though I’m honored to have gotten such a question, I don’t think I know the legit method for improving. I just draw and draw. I spend alot of my time drawing. So I think if you use the same amount oftime as me for drawing, you will get a higher skill than me. But, the individuality is made of what you saw, I guess observing is important as well as drawing itself.

Do you have role models that have influenced your unique still?

As I said, I think my roots were Japanese video game graphics, conceptarts, animations, and comics. I admired game character designers in my childhood, and I often mimicked their drawings.

I still have favorite artists in the video game industry. I love Kazuma Kaneko, Kimihiko Fujisaka, etc. and recently while drawing I often referenced illustrations of Mike Mignola (sorry I have only one book of him). But I feel it’s different from a role model.

How did you first become aware of GHOST? What caught your attention and when was this?

GHOST came to Japan in 2014 as one of the lineups of a festival. Unfortunately, I have not notice them at that time. But I read about them in a music magazine that had a review of the festival.

I have seen their looks on the web, but I haven’t tried to listen, because I thought they play extreme death metal or heavy growls. But the article said that their songs are melodic and a bit sentimental or romantic. (I’m not sure if I could translate correctly the vibes of Japanese, but anyway they valued GHOST.)

That’s why I started to listen to their music. And while watching an interview of „Special Ghoul“, I wanted to learn English to understand his words. I loved his voice both during singing and speaking.

How big is the fan base in Japan and do your friends listen to GHOST too?

I have some pals, who are GHOST fans on the web. And even though my close friends accept and have interest in GHOST, I don’t really have huge fan friends in person in Japan. But I think it doesn’t mean there’s less Japanese GHOST fans, I’ve heard that there’s a facebook group of Japanese GHOST fans.

Also I believe that GHOST got more fans from their performance of Download Japan in 2019. So I hope I’ll meet Japanese GHOST fans in future and hope GHOST will come back to Japan.

I know you attend to the last concert in Mexico in March 2020: How many rituals of GHOST have you been to and where? Are there counries you would like to visit and why?

I thought I’ve been to their shows seven times. The first time was Finland’s summer festival. It was also my first time traveling alone, traveling to a western country where are never a lot of Japanese speakers. I was really nervous, but it was a wonderful experience. I’ve been to Sweden, America, and Mexico. All the countries have attractions, I wanna visit each country.

The landscapes of Sweden, (Stockholm and Linköping) were fantastic for me since I’ve been wanting to see those old architectures of Europe.

It could say the same thing in Finland. But when I visited Finland, I couldn’t go to see the city because of the schedule. I went to Vesilahti which is the country side of Finland instead. It was also beautiful.

And in America, I had huge help from GHOST fan friends. They let me join their travel even though I couldn’t communicate with English fluently. I thought it couldn’t have happened in Japan.

Also, Mexico, there was different culture, different styles of beauty in the city, and really delicious food. I wanna go there again, but if I go by myself, it seems hard because it’s too dangerous for me as a Japanese.

How did your drawings come to the attention of GHOST? Did they approach you or did you apply?

I was drawing GHOST fan art, maybe from 2014 or 2015. And at that time, I haven’t thought about drawing their official merch design at all. Even though I’ve been wanting to show my fan art to the band.

When I went to America some of my twitter pals, who knew about my art on the web really, welcomed my visit to America. They supported me during travel. Also, they waited by the bus after the show with me.

I’ve met the Cardinal before the show during a M&G, and I gave my art to him, but I couldn’t understand his words „recognised“ because of my English skill. And then I met him after the show as Tobias again, I finally understood that he knows my art from before! You know, I think even if I could speak English fluently, I couldn’t speak well. Haha.

After returning to my home, I drew an art with a style that Tobias said he loved. And thanks to some friends‘ suggestion and recommendation, I decided to ask them if they would use my art for their merch. Of course, I didn’t expect they could reply, because my English was/is not good, and if they liked my art, I was not sure it’s suited to their merch. So I was so excited when I got an Email from the merch company of GHOST. I started to show new art to them directly, or sometimes they ask me to draw a design with specific composition.

I can’t say thank you enough to my friends and the fans who supported me on the web.

How do you get inspired and where do your ideas for the designs come from? Do you suddenly have an idea or is it a progress?

Basically, I reference ideas from their concert or MV. I’m gathering tons of their photos for reference. And sometimes I research about biblical elements or satanic symbols. Honestly, I’m afraid that I misunderstood those elements as a Japanese. Such western religious culture is not very common in Japan. And I just touched them through video games or comics. But that is one of the attractions for me. It’s fantastic and fun.

What is your personal favorite design that you are especially proud of?

It’s „Hellfire“. I can remember that when I finished it, I thought „oh, this is very good, I can’t believe I’ve done it.“ Hehe. I drew it inspired by the staging of „Year Zero“ during summer tour with Metallica. I think during drawing, I’m like in a trance state. So after it was completed, sometimes it was weird that I really drew them.

Also, „Classic Car“ design and my first Papa IV design are memorable.

What do you feel when you see fans wearing merchandise with your designs?

That’s the happiest thing of my life!! I’m still excited that other fans liked my design.

I always think that I wanna contribute to the band as a fan, and when I see the people wear my design, I think I could!

What is your next project? What can we expect? Is there new GHOST Merchandise in progress?

Fortunately, it seems they would let me draw GHOST designs, and I’d love to draw for them as long as they accept!

Also, it’s not related to GHOST, but I wanna do character design of a game that will be releasing worldwide or something for my personal projects.

On which projects do you work besides GHOST?

For several reasons, I was leaving a company job this year. But I’ll restart something relevant to video games from December of 2020. And I’m creating an indie game with my friends. I have some ideas for my personal projects, but I’m not sure they will be taking shape, I hope it will work!

What would you tell Tobias if you had the possiblity to spend some privat time with him, like a fine dinner or a good beer in a pub?

If I imagine it realistically, I need to improve my English more! But if I could speak English or Swedish fluently, I’d like to ask about his favorite movies, arts, music, something he likes and had inspiration. I think my respectful feelings for him are already reached by my artworks, without fluent English, so I’d like to hear about the roots of his talent.

At least: Which of the German sweets I sent you tasted best? 😀

I think German chocolates are all good!! it’s richer than Japanese ones!

Thank you very much for the glimpse you have given us in you live. I wish you all the best for your future and please stay safe. I really look forward to many more designs from you. 🙂

November 2020/km

If you want to see more of Yukke’s amazing designs and give her your support, please have a look at her portfolio and social media accounts.

Portfolio:       https://yukke.portfoliobox.net/yumeminokokoro

Twitter:          Yukke_art

Instagram:     yukkedondon