Creazine Vol.5 - Golden Circle, Golden Sun
- Creative Basho
- Oct 4
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Sometimes life has its way of undoing us.
A depressing start, SNS Manager and Creazine chief-editor Mika (writer) knows.
But after 5 months of not updating Creaba’s one and only newsletter, things are bound to get solemnly reflective.
I’m sure we’ve all had moments in our lives where we sometimes just, freeze.
What’s done is done, and all that’s left is the lessons we learnt.
And with that, I present to you:
I. 5 things I learnt in the 5 months I abandoned the crea-zine (Now rebranded to Creazine!)
Article by: Mika
Notes: Contains pictures from the event I facilitated, Manifestation Jam #2!
Responsibility is heavy - be sure to not take on more than you can
I took up a lot of responsibility during the past 5 months. University, work, Creaba SNS work, my own wellbeing, maintaining friendships and family.
I thought I could handle it (Spoilers: I couldn’t).
Pick your battles wisely. It’s not a matter of how many responsibilities you have - but how you uphold them.
Managing expectations - your greatest enemy is yourself
We all want the best, and we expect ourselves to achieve the best. I get it, I do too.
Expect the best, prepare for the worst.
Finding a middle ground is important to not burn yourself out.
A pause isn’t always bad - it can be your time to explore and thrive in other areas of your life
During the 5 months break, I had the privilege of hosting our Manifestation Jam.
One of the tools we used was the Wheel of Life that divides our life into 7 major areas: Financial, family, social, personal growth/learning, career, physical and spiritual.
For me, the Creazine fit into a smaller category in career.
And while I may have neglected that, I was able to thrive in my financial, social and physical wellbeing.
A pause isn’t always bad. Its a chance to put focus in other areas.
Life goes on and you ultimately have a choice
Life is like flowing water.
You have the choice to go with the flow, to hold on, or go against the current.
I went with the flow of water, leading me to various places: my university class, my desk at work, and to Shibuya to hang out with my friends.
Eventually, it lead me to a choice - To abandon or continue the Creazine.
And I made the choice to continue it.
Sometimes you have to let yourself fall and be caught by others
Falling is scary, because what if you can never get up? What if nobody catches you?
But sometimes, you do need to fall.
And for me, I did fall - overwhelmed, scared and resentful of the things I said I would, but could not achieve.
But then, I was caught by others. By my friends, by our little cozy Creaba team.
They pushed me back up, to do the manifestation jam, and to write the Creazine again.
The 5 months I did not publish the Creazine will never come back.
But I don’t regret it.
We’re here now aren’t we?
II. Letter from Han: Reflections on 'What is your CREA-Type'
Article by: Han
Earlier this year, we hosted special workshop that invited participants to discover their unique creativity within themselves.
Through reflection, quizzes, storytelling, and group activities, we explored the four CREA-Types: the Architect, Dreamer, Explorer, and Reflector, each representing a unique path of creativity.
This was the first time we launched the “What is your CREA-Type?” quiz, a narrative-style quiz I personally designed (with the help of other Creaba members and some amazing community members for visual design and pilot testing).
It still feels a bit surreal, honestly.
I was so dedicated to building a world where people could see themselves as creative just as they are.
That moment when someone recognizes their own creative self without needing to chase a “perfect” image felt so precious to me.
Of course, there’s still space to grow, as the current version didn’t dive deep into type-specific strategies to nurture each CREA-Type. But don’t worry, we’re already cooking up a future version of this workshop, and we’re bringing even more reflective tools and practical insights with us. Stay tuned!
If this journey excites you, keep your eyes on our space—there’s so much more to explore.
✨ Until next time, may your creativity stay curious and unapologetically you.
III. Behind the Brand You Workshop Series: Design, Decisions & Discovery
Article by: Annie
When I took on the challenge of running the Brand You: Translating your skills into a powerful resume and portfolio, which included two sessions: (1) Brand Your Resume and (2) Brand Your Portfolio - I felt a mix of nerves and excitement.
These workshops gave me the opportunity to reflect on how I show up in two very different roles: as a Career Coach, and as a facilitator at Creaba, a learning hub focused on co-creation, experiential learning, and hands-on practice.
I’m used to coaching people one-on-one, so working with a group of 14–15 participants was new territory. It pushed me to rethink how I deliver content:
How deep should I go, knowing everyone comes in with different skill levels?
How do I make a methodological (albeit, dry) topic engaging and fun for a group?
In my 1:1 coaching, sessions are very goal- and action-oriented. But at Creaba, the emphasis is on shared learning and experimentation.
That shift gave me space to try new things - like gamifying the resume and portfolio-building process.
With every program I design, I focus on two things:
The experience of the learners
How to effectively measure learning outcomes
I worried that some of my explanations might get too lengthy. But seeing the learning shift made it worth it. Participants who came into the room with limited or low-average knowledge, left with a clearer understanding of how to improve their resumes or portfolios—and, more importantly, a clear next step to take after the session.
Could There Be a Part 2?
Absolutely!! I'd love to run a follow-up session. Maybe we go deeper into real-time resume or portfolio critiques, or explore how to tailor your brand for specific industries or roles.
If that sounds like something you’d attend, reply to this zine and let us know!
IV. When Your Speaker Texts "I'm Not Ready”
Article written by: Leah
After the success of Lightning Talk 2, I found myself carrying an invisible weight, yes the pressure of expectation. I had challenged myself to make Lightning Talk 3 something unique for our offline format, but somewhere along the way, this became a burden I didn't even realize I was carrying.
The gap I noticed wasn't just in our community, but within myself: how do we honor every moment, even the challenging, chaotic, or fearful ones?
Lightning Talk 3: Tsuyu to Tsugi (From Rain to Rise) is part of our quarterly storytelling and sharing series designed to highlight the processes, challenges, and opportunities of individuals navigating work, passion projects, and life experiments. This edition focused on exploring the journey of those brave enough to test and follow their own path.
If this went amazingly, our community members would see that adulthood doesn't have to mean getting serious and safe.
The risks were real: would people show up on a rainy day? Would speakers feel confident sharing vulnerable stories? Would the offline format create the intimate connection we hoped for?
I couldn't have done this without my super core team. Annie and Mika handled logistics, camera work, and participant check-in, providing the operational backbone that allowed me to focus on facilitation. Han offered behind-the-scenes tips and spiritual support throughout the process. We collaborated with Blink community as our venue partner, with Natalie providing drinks to make the space welcoming and accessible.
On the day of the event, I received a message from one of our speakers sharing that she thought she couldn't show up—she wasn't ready yet. In that moment, I realized anything can happen, and as a facilitator, I have to be responsible for that uncertainty.
First, I communicated with my team (shoutout to Annie and Mika!) to strategize, then focused on ensuring our speaker felt supported to calm herself down. Honestly, deep down I still believed she would show up and share her talk, but I had to face the reality: what if she couldn't? My Lightning Talk would still need to continue.
This moment taught me that as a facilitator working with people, I must be flexible and compassionate above all else.
At the end, I'm incredibly grateful of our speaker showed up and delivered the first bilingual Japanese and English Lightning Talk. The energy in the room was electric:
Yui shared her experience working with acquaintances, learning how essential communication and boundaries are, especially in work contexts
Ken shared how he transforms fear into fuel
Masa talked about being a catalyst, emphasizing that priorities differ from person to person and collaboration is born when objectives align
Ayaka shared how she let go of her ego and pride, stopped caring about others' expectations, and chose to follow her own path
My small victory? Everyone in the venue smiled and connected after the talks. That moment of genuine human connection in the aftermath of vulnerability - that's what I'll always remember.
For fellow facilitators and event organizers or who want to organize their own event, here's what I learned:
Expect the unexpected: Have specific plans, but more importantly, cultivate flexibility and compassion
Trust your speakers: Sometimes the best support is believing in someone's ability to show up, even when they doubt themselves
Your team is everything: Surround yourself with people who can handle logistics while you focus on the human elements
LT 3 was my rain and my rise. Next comes LT 4, where we'll be challenging the boring rules everyone follows without questioning. I'm excited to continue creating spaces where people can be honest about their journeys, embrace their weird ideas, and find community in the process.
If you're curious about joining our next storytelling session or have your own story to share, I'd love to hear from you.
Massive gratitude to Annie and Mika for their unwavering support, Han for the behind the scene and spiritual encouragement, Natalie from Blink for the venue partnership, and most importantly, to our brave speakers - Yui, Ken, Masa, and Ayaka for sharing their authentic journeys with us!
V. Open call: Creazine Community Showcase & Contributors
🎨✨Submissions are NOW OPEN for Creazine !
Creazine is CREABA’s monthly digital magazine, connecting our community and showcasing creative talents across all mediums.
Whether you're an artist, writer, photographer, or storyteller, this is your chance to inspire and be inspired.From art and photography to writing and videography, showcase your creativity and connect with a vibrant community of creatives in Japan and beyond.
📰 Submission form: https://tally.so/r/nWeboa
📐 Submission guideline: https://annie-hoang.notion.site/CREA-ZINE-Submission-Guidelines-fb6e14cc26414a95a0f2511702f7dfce
Note
＊ There is no particular deadline, but we publish a new edition at the beginning of every month.
＊ Creaba may reject to feature your submission if it breaches our submission guidelines
VI. Upcoming Event: Prompt & Play - AI Toy Design for ACG Fans & Enthusiasts
Bring your dream character to life - no design or AI experience needed!
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll transform your OC, fandom hero, or even yourself into a fully customizable 3D digital toy with Adofaer, a visual tool designed for rapid prototyping 🚀
You’ll get to:
🧸 Create your own 3D digital character
🖼 Export files for stickers, socials, or future merch
🤝 Connect with fellow creators and collaborators
✨ This workshop is for:
- Artists & illustrators curious about toy or merch design
- Game & anime fans who love character creation
- Art & design students exploring new tool
- Total beginners — we’ll guide you step by step!
⚠️ Important Note on AI Policy: With Adofaer, none of your work will ever be used to train AI models. You decide exactly how much AI support you want in the process, while keeping full creative control.
📅 Sunday, October 19
🕑 1:45 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Code Chrysalis: Coding Bootcamp in Tokyo (Roppongi, Tokyo)
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