The holidays are here and so is this month’s edition of the Mikan🍊maga(ZINE)! This month’s edition is a little special as it features the mikans behind this creative series: Dillon, Gizelle and Justin!
As for the theme of this month’s zines, we went with cold weather = cozy vibes. That means winter traditions, hobbies and wishes. Plus, a favorite book quote from each of mikan (how much cozier can reading in front of the fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa get?) to match each zine.
faces
About the Mikan
Dillon Flores (any & all pronouns)
Mikan Status: 2nd year JET, ES/JHS ALT in Matsuyama
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.”
ー The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller
ZINE Themes: journey of self-discovery, expression of inner self: passion, love & connection, growth & transformation: positive change + self-reflection, strength in vulnerability & honestyー unconventional beauty, reflection & duality
Dillon Time: Video games (replaying Dishonored, Overwatch, Marvel Rivals), board games, anime, manga, books, movies, tv shows, traveling, onsens, hiking, cooking, friends, going to beaches, parks, sunsets, drawing/being creative
Winter Things 🎄
Beach 🏖️Christmas, exchanging presents with mom, green pickle ornament 👁️spy, visiting grandparents, secret Santa with friends, FOOD, cooking & eating 🠖 walking it off, “playing” with new presents
✨So excited to be home for the holidays this year (2024/2025)!
All I Want for Christmas is…
⭐ everyday stuff~ razors, underwear, socks…🧓😭
⭐ a PS5 (Ghost of Tsushima, Dead Space~ the remake, Persona 3 Re:reload, Spider-Man: Miles Morales)
⭐more Steam games tehe (Alan Wake, God of War, Bloodborne, Horizon Forbidden West)
❄️❄️❄️
With All My Cœ-koro 💓
About the Mikan
Gizelle Alvarez-Janzso (she/her)
Mikan Status: 4th year JET, SHS ALT in Toon-shi
"On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux."
"One can only see clearly with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye."
ー Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
ZINE Themes: Nostalgia (childhood = blissful), forever 👶, who & what makes the heart happy
Gizelle Time: Travelling, cooking & baking, hiking, reading (manhwa/manga・spicy fantasy), gaming (Dota 2・Elder Scrolls Online・cozy/indie games)
Winter Things ⛸️
Skating at Nathan Philipps Square, Christmas markets & snow forts
Christmas Eve = pageant, dinner (w/e mom’s vibin’ with that year)
Christmas Day = 7am gifts + fireplace channel, breakfast (pineapple ham, silog, cocoa) & playing new games/watching holiday movies w/ the fam
All I Want for Christmas is…
⭐ A cute puzzle
⭐ to sleep in & play games & bake all day (work, byeee👋)
⭐ Tickets to see SOAD🤘in Toronto 🙏
⭐ 🧀but…💯 health & happiness for loved ones 💖
❄️❄️❄️
Happy Accidents
About the Mikan
Justin Dobbs (he/him)
Mikan Status: 2nd year JET, ES/JHS ALT in Shikokuchuo
“Because it's there.”
ーBecause It's There: The Life Of George Mallory, Dudley Green
ZINE Themes: going with the flow, adventure, loving life/living
Justin Time 🤭: “Someone once told me to get lost, so I did.”
Venturing to all the weird and random places Japan has to offer (recent highlight: driving up the world’s steepest car bridge in Shimane), manga, movies, and coffee ✨️
Winter Things ⛄
White Christmas in Georgia = an actual miracle, cabin in Vogel State Park 🠖 grandad would make a big Bonfire, hours gorging on homemade secret recipes while sharing 12 months’ worth of stories
All I Want for Christmas is…
⭐ you
⭐ my two front teeth
⭐ a hippopotamus
⭐ a Red Ryder bb gun
…but I’d rather just have a mikan.
Happy Holidays, Mikans! 🧡
We’ll have a new🍊maga(ZINE) post for you on the first of each month, so keep an eye out!
Interested in having your own ZINE? Reach out to us at themikanblog@gmail.com!
