Mike Daikubara

One day I received an email from Charlotte Magazine:


CM: “Mike, we love your work and would love for you to create artwork for our next issue.”


Me: “That’s amazing—what’s the topic?”


CM: “Asian Cuisine in Charlotte.”


Me: “OMG! That’s my favorite subject!”

It was such a wonderful surprise to be contacted by Charlotte Magazine, the longest-running magazine in the Queen City, to create artwork for something that means a lot to me.

Commissioned projects are always exciting—especially when they involve eating the food I get to draw! But even more meaningful was the experience of working with the team behind the scenes. Jane, the magazine’s art director, was fantastic—so enthusiastic, supportive, and full of great ideas. We had a great time brainstorming and narrowing down the locations. Thank you so much, Jane, for making this such a fun and memorable project!

This issue is packed with great articles about Charlotte’s ever-evolving Asian food scene, and I’m honored to have been a part of it.