Age when started -- drawing as a whole?: Kindergarten. I seem to recall a very distant memory of me trying to trace a circle but I couldn't do it. >__> Now, I can't tell if that was a dream of childhood or an actual memory, but whatever it was, it's still vivid in my head.
Age when started -- drawing the Asian/Japanese style: Sometime somewhere in junior high when Sailor Moon was pretty popular on VHS and 6:30 AM EST airings on TV in the US. =.
; At that time, I acted just like any newbie into the whole Japanese animation/comic world so I pretty much imitated the anime Sailor Moon artwork. When I got older, of course, it dawned on me that I was doing everything wrong.
Years drawing: I'm not going to give specifics, but I'll just repeat: since kindergarten. (I don't know about pre-school as I don't remember anything....)
First manga/comic that inspired you to become a [manga] artist: I can't really credit the Sailor Moon era as that was more anime based. So, I would have to go with several manga that were once serialized in Nakayoshi. That includes Cardcaptor Sakura. Back then, several of the Nakayoshi manga were not localized into English so I had to rely on online translated scripts in order to read the manga. (So yeah, way back before scanlations existed. -,-)
I did read the Sonic Archie comics while growing up, but the most it ever inspired me to do was do some Sonic fanart. The Disney Adventure comics didn't really inspire me to do anything. Other comics, such as Bone and Calvin & Hobbes, did absolutely nothing but entertain me.
Favourite manga style: Mostly, shoujo and josei. There are a few shounen titles that are an exception due to their plots and characters. And once in awhile, I will also take a peek at a seinen to see if it's ok.
Favorite reading genre: Whatever has a positive side in itself. Whether it be action/adventure or a tragedy. If it has a good ending, I'll bait on it. I mostly prefer stuff with action/adventure in it, but, I'm open for any kind of genre. My least favorite genre would be horror, but that of itself, has a few exceptions. >__o
Favourite mangaka? Too many to name. Sample list: CLAMP, Megumi Tachikawa, Yukiru Sugisaki, Natsumi Ando, Ayumi Shiina, Tama Yugyoji, Maki Hakoda, Katsura Hoshino, Takeshi Obata... And for manhwaga: Young-You Lee
Your Holy Grail, what you want to draw like someday: No one. I want to draw the way I am doing it and not be like someone.
What you hate to see story-wise: Filler, filler, filler, vampires, high school cliche romances, over-use of the "red string of fate" cliche, dull plots, bad writing, weak characters, uenmotional characters, lack of character development, lack of character background, very dark writing, usage of excessive profanity... In particular for non-Japanese manga that takes place in Japan: the wrong usage of Japanese words. If people are going to use Japanese in their stories, at least have their characters say the proper wording. At the same time, using the infamous Japanese "otakuglish" words is a big no-no in my book as well. Honorifics are okay and an occassional greeting is okay, but, an abuse on the word "kawaii" deserves a small whack.
Lastly, I'm not a fan of the GL/BL/yaoi department.
What you hate to see art-wise: Moe, anything inspired by moe, goth/loli (although, some exceptions for those), beach scenes, copy-cat artists (definitely), pretty boy and girl harlems, fan-service, disturbed imagery, (more of a dislike/annoyance) people in maid costumes, etc.
What do you listen to when you draw/write: Soundtracks for movies, musicals, etc.
How many hours do you draw a day: 0-?? hours a day. That's right. Zeeerooo. I can go a day or a month without drawing.