For those who already love bugs, and those who might come to love them someday.
The Lively Garden brings people and bugs a little closer— illustrating a warm, gentle world where they live side by side.
Our Story
What kind of creatures do you like?
Dogs and cats that live close to us,
small animals that curl up softly,
birds that sing with beautiful voices,
and fish that shimmer in the water…
But what about bugs?
Scary, gross, something you don’t want to get near…
Many people might feel that way.
It’s true that some bugs can be harmful, but not all of them are.
If you take a closer look, you’ll find bugs with fascinating habits, some with jewel-like beauty, and others that quietly support our daily lives.
When we were children, many of us liked such bugs, but as we grew older, we somehow became afraid of them.
You’ve probably heard stories like that, haven’t you?
The feelings of “bugs are scary” or “bugs are gross”
that adults and those around us hold are quietly passed down to children, until they can no longer say, “I like bugs.”
The Lively Garden wants to protect that pure feeling of love children have.
And we hope to gently soften the vague sense of dislike
that many adults carry inside.
With the concept of “bringing hearts a little closer to bugs,” we create a warm world where people and bugs live gently side by side.
If you can see bugs as fellow living beings, the way you see the world might become even kinder.
Dogs and cats that live close to us,
small animals that curl up softly,
birds that sing with beautiful voices,
and fish that shimmer in the water…
But what about bugs?
Scary, gross, something you don’t want to get near…
Many people might feel that way.
It’s true that some bugs can be harmful, but not all of them are.
If you take a closer look, you’ll find bugs with fascinating habits, some with jewel-like beauty, and others that quietly support our daily lives.
When we were children, many of us liked such bugs, but as we grew older, we somehow became afraid of them.
You’ve probably heard stories like that, haven’t you?
The feelings of “bugs are scary” or “bugs are gross”
that adults and those around us hold are quietly passed down to children, until they can no longer say, “I like bugs.”
The Lively Garden wants to protect that pure feeling of love children have.
And we hope to gently soften the vague sense of dislike
that many adults carry inside.
With the concept of “bringing hearts a little closer to bugs,” we create a warm world where people and bugs live gently side by side.
If you can see bugs as fellow living beings, the way you see the world might become even kinder.
Illustration by my daughter
The Lively Garden began when my daughter started to love bugs.
I wasn’t good with them, but I didn’t want to say no to something that made her so happy.
She caught insects with a big smile, and I didn’t want to take that joy away.
I wasn’t good with them, but I didn’t want to say no to something that made her so happy.
She caught insects with a big smile, and I didn’t want to take that joy away.
We kept many types of bugs — ladybugs, ants, pill bugs, crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and stag beetles.
One summer, we found butterfly eggs.
We watched the tiny caterpillars grow, become chrysalises, and waited excitedly for the moment they would turn into butterflies.
One summer, we found butterfly eggs.
We watched the tiny caterpillars grow, become chrysalises, and waited excitedly for the moment they would turn into butterflies.
But not all butterflies make it.
That summer, I learned for the first time that some don’t survive when they try to come out of their chrysalises.
That summer, I learned for the first time that some don’t survive when they try to come out of their chrysalises.
When I saw my daughter crying so hard, I thought,
“How fragile these little lives are.”
And little by little, I started to feel a quiet love for bugs too.
“How fragile these little lives are.”
And little by little, I started to feel a quiet love for bugs too.
After that, I started drawing pictures to support my daughter’s love for bugs.
At first, I drew on drawing paper. Then in notebooks.
Later, I made T-shirts and even started drawing comics.
At first, I drew on drawing paper. Then in notebooks.
Later, I made T-shirts and even started drawing comics.
Seeing her happy made my heart grow warm.
Little by little, my dream grew too:
I wanted to bring smiles to others who love bugs, just like my daughter.
And one day, I hoped even people who don’t like bugs could start to feel a little closer to them.
That’s why I began this journey.
Little by little, my dream grew too:
I wanted to bring smiles to others who love bugs, just like my daughter.
And one day, I hoped even people who don’t like bugs could start to feel a little closer to them.
That’s why I began this journey.
If we can live gently together with bugs, we may feel the value of life more deeply.
And we may remember that bugs are also a part of nature.
Perhaps they can help make our hearts a little richer, too.
And we may remember that bugs are also a part of nature.
Perhaps they can help make our hearts a little richer, too.
Momoko Naganuma
Hi!
I'm Momoko, a Japanese illustrator.
I studied illustration and design at a vocational art school, and after graduating, I worked as a designer of miscellaneous goods in Japan.
I’m now based in the U.S., working as a freelance illustrator.
I always create with cuteness in mind, because I believe that cute things bring kindness and happiness into our lives.
I'm Momoko, a Japanese illustrator.
I studied illustration and design at a vocational art school, and after graduating, I worked as a designer of miscellaneous goods in Japan.
I’m now based in the U.S., working as a freelance illustrator.
I always create with cuteness in mind, because I believe that cute things bring kindness and happiness into our lives.
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