Student voices
The classroom atmosphere, how the instructors teach, what changed after starting: start with the voices closest to your age.
Elementary students & parents
Children share how drawing became more enjoyable, while parents describe the changes they have seen.
I wanted to get better at coloring with pencils and pens, and learn to use an iPad so I could freely draw what I like. I can draw cute pictures now, and I was happy to win a prize with a picture I made myself.
Mone Kawaba (Grade 1, Higashiosaka)
I wanted to improve my coloring and thought something might change if I attended. Chatting with the instructors is fun and gives me a change of pace. I want to draw like the artists I see on Twitter.
S.K. (Grade 6, Osaka City)
I worried whether she could keep attending because it is a little far from home, but after the trial she said she absolutely wanted to come. She was not very confident before, but being praised for her art has helped her gain confidence. I hope she keeps doing what she loves with confidence.
K.N.’s mother (Shijonawate)
I started because it looked fun. I’ve got better at drawing hands, so now I want to draw anime characters in poses I choose myself, not just copy them.
A.M. (Grade 5, Takatsuki)
She wanted to draw characters from her favourite manga and anime. We bought how-to books on drawing illustrations and tried drawing together, but I couldn’t teach her, she couldn’t draw the way she wanted, and we were both stuck. She has improved little by little and enjoys coming, so I’m glad she started.
A.M.’s mother (Takatsuki)
My own drawing is worse than my child’s, so I couldn’t give any advice, and that troubled me. I liked that Horie Art School teaches each student individually and that the times are flexible. Drawing has given my child confidence, so I’d like the school’s advice and guidance on future paths too.
S.K.’s mother (Osaka City)
Junior-high students & parents
Learners balance school and clubs while working on fundamentals, digital art, manga, and future goals.
There are many things I am glad I learned here, including drawing full figures and practicing sketching. Above all, my drawing ability has improved. My goal is to create a long-form manga.
K.A. (Junior-high year 1, Osaka City)
The atmosphere lets her draw in the style she wants, and she liked the school at the trial, so we decided she should attend. More than simply improving, what matters most is that she looks forward to coming every week.
K.N.’s father (Yao)
I struggled with manga paneling and how to structure a story. I also hope to attend an art-focused high school, so I started coming here to learn sketching and coloring for that goal.
B.K. (Junior-high year 2, Osaka City)
I come because I want to draw better than I do now, draw all kinds of poses, and draw full figures with good balance. The teachers explain things well and are kind, which I like. I want to learn to draw lots of expressions and try making manga.
K.N. (Junior-high year 1, Yao)
I felt I couldn’t keep teaching myself digital illustration, so I talked to my parents and decided to go to an art school. I tried trial lessons at three schools, and chose Horie Art School because the teaching and the atmosphere felt right for me.
T.H. (Junior-high year 2, Osaka City)
I come to Horie Art School to learn the basics of art, how to draw boys and girls differently and how to draw hands, so I can enjoy drawing illustrations even more. There are lots of teachers, and they teach in a way that suits me, so it’s very easy to understand. The teachers are all kind too, so I enjoy coming.
T.U. (Junior-high year 3, Osaka City)
High-school students & parents
Students work toward personal improvement, art-school entrance exams, and careers in creative fields.
I dreamed of becoming a manga artist and showing everyone the ideas in my head, but I did not know how manga was actually made or how to reach that dream. Since joining, I have met more people and sharpened both my skills and my knowledge.
T.Y. (High-school year 2, Osaka City)
I expected it to be like an art class where everyone draws an assigned subject. At the trial, I found they instead teach around what I want to draw. The regular student exhibitions also motivate me to put more energy into my work.
T.S. (High-school year 2, Osaka City)
I wanted to improve, but I did not know what else to change in my work and felt too embarrassed to show it to friends. I later switched to art-university exam preparation, where feedback from many instructors helped me push my abilities as far as I could.
Asuka Maeda (High-school year 3, Osaka City)
The teachers don’t just make drawing fun; they always stay close and treat the students kindly and with real care. Thanks to that, my child has happily kept coming for about seven years, and I’m glad we chose this school.
T.S.’s parent (Osaka City)
For cram school she went where we told her, but she was old enough to look for a place that suited her, so we had her find one herself. We thought she would keep going with more sense of responsibility that way. The place she said she wanted to go to was Horie Art School. The instructors taught her very carefully and with real care, so she felt at ease attending.
Asuka Maeda’s mother (Osaka City)
I was looking for a place where my daughter could enjoy herself and do what she loves. I liked that the lessons aren’t the same for everyone: each child is free to learn in their own way, and the teachers take their time to grow what the child loves and is good at. I think my daughter is enjoying it too.
Y.H.’s mother (Toyonaka)
Adult learners
Adults fit learning around work and study as they pursue hobbies, personal projects, and professional goals.
There are instructors with expertise across many genres, and I felt I could keep attending comfortably. I value receiving advice from many different perspectives and seeing other students’ work at the exhibitions.
Rino Matsuzaki (University year 2, Sakai)
I had always been interested in manga and illustration, but in my late thirties I wondered whether I could really do it. Another reason I wanted to attend was the instructors’ educational knowledge and the way they draw out and guide each person’s individuality.
Yuri Kono (30s, designer and company director, Osaka City)
I visited several evening vocational schools, but their fixed schedules were hard to fit around my life. What I value here is having somewhere to ask questions about making manga and to hear feedback on my own work.
Tsunehito Watanabe (20s, company employee, Suita)
I’d wanted to try for a long time, the timing was right, and the teaching was easy to follow, so I thought I could improve without straining. That’s why I decided to join. I can see my drawing getting better and better. I want to be able to draw finished illustrations and manga.
Jun Yanagawa (30s, company employee, Osaka City)
I wanted to draw but couldn’t because I didn’t know the basics, so I come to learn how to draw. Horie Art School has a good atmosphere, and the teachers teach me many things. I want to draw my own manga.
B.J. (from France, 30s, company employee, Hannan)
The teaching at Horie Art School is very thorough. I like that they clearly show me the strengths of my work, what to improve and how to do it.
O.K. (30s, company employee, Osaka City)
