Join author Debbi Michiko Florence and artist Mark Nagata for a special reading of Florence’s new book, “Monster Maker: The Strange Creatures of Mark Nagata,” on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Japanese American National Museum’s Democracy Center, 100 N. Central Ave. in Little Tokyo.
Then stick around for a conversation with them moderated by Maria Kwong, JANM’s director of retail enterprise and curator of “Kaiji vs. Heroes,” the exhibition that first connected Florence to Nagata.
“Monster Maker” is a biographical account of toy designer, painter, illustrator, and collector Nagata. From a young age, he was a fan of many classic comic book series, movies and toys. After being introduced to classic Japanese television shows that truly sparked his creativity, he embarked on a journey that ultimately led to his success as a kaiju toymaker.
Kaiju translates to “strange creature” but has since come to mean “large monster” in Japanese. Nagata bases his toy design and artwork on this type of creature and his work has flourished into an important and well-recognized art form in the U.S. and around the world.
The JANM Book Club is a series of public programs that highlights new publications by Japanese Americans or related to Japanese American history and culture.
“Monster Makers” is available at the JANM Store.
Tickets are $5 general, free for youth under 18 and JANM members.
For tickets, go to: www.janm.org/events/2025-11-15/janm-book-club-monster-maker-debbi-michiko-florence-and-mark-nagata
Florence is the author of more than 25 books for young readers, including the Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series. A third-generation Japanese American, she grew up in Los Angeles and loved watching TV shows and movies of Ultraman and Godzilla as a child. Today, she lives in Connecticut with her husband and two rescue dogs, and has a growing collection of Nagata’s kaiju.
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