Himawari House is a hilarious slice of life graphic novel that follows the story of Nao during her year-long stay at the Himawari House, a guest house in Tokyo, Japan. Nao is coming back to Tokyo (where she was born) to reconnect with her roots, culture, and mother tongue, which she left behind after moving to America. Never feeling Japanese or American enough, Nao hopes this stay at the Himawari House will tell her who she is: Nihonjin, American, or is it possible to be both? If an existential crisis wasn’t enough, Nao is barely able to stay afloat in this new country. Speaking in another language nearly 24/7 is exhausting, and Nao realizes Japanese doesn't come naturally to her like it once did. “When did all the words that flowed so freely between my mother and I just dry up and disappear?”

Thankfully for Nao she has the entire Himawari House to help her out. Tina from Singapore and Hyejung from Korea offer Nao advice about surviving in Japan as a foreigner, and they give her moral support with a vending machine drink anytime she needs it. Since they both speak English, Nao creates a quick and strong friendship with the two of them. Besides Tina and Hyejung, brothers Masaki and Shinichi are also living in Himawari House. Because the two brothers were born in Japan, they can teach the three of them the ins and outs of everyday life–if they can deal with Masaki's grouchy attitude and keep up with Shinichi’s rapid-fire Japanese.

As the story goes on, you learn more about Tina and Hyejung’s backstory: What brought them to Japan, what they’re running from, and how they're managing life as they become more than just Nao’s friends and turn into main characters. You even get to peek into Masaki's mind and learn what goes on beneath his moody exterior. Harmony Becker dives into almost every character’s story, and all of them are captivating. 

 One of the most unique things about this graphic novel is the way the dialogue is written. When a character is speaking Japanese (or any other language), the main text is written in Japanese with English subtitles underneath it. But if a character doesn’t understand what’s being said, scribbles are put in the place of the English translation. This format shows readers just how much Nao, Tina, and Hyejung are struggling to learn and use this new language. Additionally, as a person who knows Japanese, it was fun being able to read both the English and Japanese translations. Knowing what the Japanese dialogue meant gave me another layer of depth to the book that I wouldn’t have been able to access otherwise. While it’s not apparent in the English translations, Harmony Becker changes from one honorific form to the next depending on where and to whom the characters are speaking, making the dialogue feel even more authentic. 

Something that can not be overlooked when reading Himawari House are Harmony Becker’s stunning illustrations. She transports you straight to Japan with her detailed backgrounds. She includes little things, like the narrow streets, laundry hanging clips, electric water dispensers on kitchen counters, and conbinis, that make the book feel like Japan. Additionally, the characters’ expressions are captivating. Harmony Becker draws them in many different ways, from quick doodles, to detailed portraits, but regardless of the view, they’re all brimming with emotion. You’ll laugh with the characters, feel their confusion, and even cry when you see their anguished faces. 

To me, Himawari House’s representation is what makes it truly stand out. This book has Asian representation from many countries that is genuine and accurate. It shows that English comes in many forms: American Standard, Singlish, and can even sound grammatically different depending on what your first language is. But that doesn’t make it wrong or broken. And it gives people a story that they can learn from, or relate to. For me, as a half-Japanese person, I related to it. I have experienced an existential crisis like Nao’s. I have traveled through Japan and struggled to use my lacking Japanese. I grew up with the food they were eating and the phrases they used. It was refreshing to read a book where my cultural identity was finally represented. Especially since the majority of American media doesn’t have Japanese representation, or it portrays us in an offensive light.

Even if you aren’t Japanese, Asian, or learning a new language this book will resonate with you. Harmony Becker’s illustrations will make you smile as you watch Nao, Tina, Hyejung, Masaki and Shinichi struggle but overcome the many challenges life throws at them.