Interest

Japanese Artists Sketch Their Wishes for 2012 at Shrine

Professional and aspiring artists flocked to Tokyo's Kanda Shrine during the first three days of 2012, and they left behind wooden ema plaques with wishes for the new year. In 2009, eight creators placed illustrated ema at the shrine, and then 14 creators did the same in 2010. Last year, the participating artists ballooned to 40, and even more offered their prayers in artistic form this year.

Manabu Aoi (Senran Kagura: Guren no Hebi)

"May the series continue to run problem-free."

Rendō Kurosaki (Hōkago Play)

"[I pray for] an anime adaptation of Hōkago Play!"

Makoto Miyabe

"Eternal peace in the 2D world"

Yuka Nakajima (Listen to Me Girls, I'm Your Father!)

"I pray that Listen to Me Girls, I'm Your Father! is a hit!"

Uran (TiTi-Pedia)

"May Japan be peaceful." (The ema was uncolored on the first day, but colored on the second).
The "Anata ga … Suki Desu (Heart)" blog and Akiba Blog have more photographs of the "ita-ema" in higher resolution.