Familiar sights, places, and faces-there's a special happiness in havingeverything important to you close by. Hear lovely poetic odes to the sights ofthe port town, watch an animal men's fashion show, and revel in the luxury of aday where you don't have to do anything with Hakumei &Mikochi!

Hakumei and Mikochi make their regular trip into the city to run errands and restock-and to sample any tasty new beverages the Ossicle owner might have on offer! Next, Mikochi’s to-do list brings the pair to the union president’s impressive mansion, where Hakumei gets a rare glimpse of the boss off duty! But more importantly, where is Mikochi slipping off to with her best kitchen knife...when she has a perfectly capable knife-sharpening pro back home?!

Chopped, slammed, channeled, blown . . . in the late '50s and early '60s all of these features lent themselves nicely to the rise of hot rod art that caricaturized the already severe design traits associated with these cars. Usually, the rods and customs in this art were piloted by slobbering, snaggle-toothed "monsters" with bulging, bloodshot eyes. Thanks to the iron-on T-shirt boom of the '70s and a raft of younger artists working today, hot rod monsters have persevered. Now award-winning car-designer Thom Taylor and legendary kustom culture figure Ed Newton reveal the tricks and techniques used by masters past and present to render these whack rods and their warts-and-all drivers. Beginning with a brief history of the form, the authors examine figures like Stanley Mouse, Ed Roth, and Newton himself, then reveal how those pioneers influenced modern artists like Keith Weesner, John Bell, and Dave Deal, to name a few. In addition to offering chapters covering topics like equipment, perspective, light sources, and other technical considerations, Taylor expands on the cartooning, proportion, and color chapters from his previous works, applying them to the subject at hand. Also includes dozens of examples of the form from many of the above-mentioned artists and more.

Deep within a lush, green forest live Hakumei and Mikochi. Making their home in trees, using leaves for umbrellas, and riding bugs for transportation is just part of everyday life for these tiny pals!

There's never a dull moment in the forest for Hakumei and Mikochi whether they're at work or at play! But their lush surroundings teem with life, and lots of animals and insects call the woods their home--cats, monkeys, foxes, tanukis, stag beetles...even wolves! And these creatures have occupations and worries of their own!

Hakumei and Mikochi’s social circle spans the full length and breadth (and height!) of Makinata. From their tiniest insect neighbors to the towering badgers in town, each resident contributes to the diverse fabric of the region, and each has their own story to tell! Where will the librarian wander on his day off? Who will Jada meet on the turtle rideshare? And what just crashed into Hakumei and Mikochi’s tree?! Every corner of the town is filled with adventure!

Full and pleasant, the lives led by Hakumei and Mikochi might seem comfortable to most. But this intrepid duo isn't afraid of challenging themselves! Hakumei, hopeless in water, learns to swim, while Mikochi enters a fashion design contest. And they're not alone in their attempts at stepping out of their comfort zones! Friends like scientist Sen, builder Iwashi, and beautician Jada all try their hands at something new and show off some unexpected sides, to boot!