MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA
Celebrating 6 Years
Insights from
the Creators Behind the Magic
Cut
Dandadan- Yukinobu Tatsu Interview -
Dandadan
Q1
Please tell us about any scenes or moments that are particularly memorable to you, or that you're particularly fond of.
A1
One of my favorite scenes so far is the one where a cow is abducted by a UFO. I just felt like everything came together perfectly in that moment.
Q2
What is your present work environment like? Is there anything you consider indispensable when working?
A2
After the changes made during COVID-19, all my assistants now work remotely, so I spend my time drawing alone. The only things that are indispensable for my work are paper and a pen.
Q3
Are there any characters you're particularly fond of? Please tell us your reasons if so.
A3
My favorite character is Momo. If I ever feel that I haven't drawn her as cute as I want her to be, I'll redo the drawing over and over again, and it can really hold up progress on the final draft. Momo is like Superman. Superman helps people with his superhuman powers, but I don't think that's the core of who he is. In the face of violence or injustice, ordinary people often look away. But Superman's presence inspires people, giving them the courage to stand up against such evil. In the same way, Momo's actions and words inspire those around her, motivating them to rise up, just like Superman.
Dandadan Momo(Chapter 1: That's How Love Starts, Ya Know!)
Q4
Is there anything you try to keep in mind when writing/drawing the manga?
A4
Everything I draw is done with the hope that the reader will enjoy it. The word "entertainment" is constantly on my mind as I work.
Q5
A wide variety of occult beings appear in Dandadan, and readers are often amazed at the diversity of their interpretations and the depth of the folklore behind them. Where do you get the inspiration to create them?
A5
Japanese culture is incredibly deep and diverse, and even though I'm Japanese, there's still so much I don't know. I spend a lot of time researching and studying various aspects of folklore, and I incorporate the elements that I find interesting or useful into the story.
Q6
The story in Dandadan feels like a continuous flow, with different arcs connecting naturally rather than being strictly separated. Could you tell us about your approach to storytelling and what aspects you focus on when creating the narrative?
A6
Since the story revolves around the protagonists' journey of personal growth, various elements inevitably become intertwined. The protagonists face various problems and take actions to solve them, but these actions often create new problems that drive the story forward. When developing the plot, I fully commit to the ideas I come up with and never shy away from them. I also think a lot about how to reflect modern social issues through the story. Even yokai can be seen as victims of the social circumstances of their respective eras.
RuriDragon- Masaoki Shindo Interview -
RuriDragon
Q1
Please tell us about any scenes or moments that are particularly memorable to you, or that you're particularly fond of.
A1
Chapter 4: "Starbucks is Scary".
I felt this was where I'd gotten a grasp on the kind of manga that "RuriDragon" is, and I still use the chapter as a reference point of sorts when writing.
Q2
What is your present work environment like? Is there anything you consider indispensable when working?
A2
ZUTOMAYO (Zutto Mayonaka de Ii No Ni)'s music.
Even when I'm having a rough time or feel like I'm nearing my limit, their songs always lift my spirit.
RuriDragon Yuka(Chapter 1: It's Got Nothing to Do with the Horns)
Q3
Are there any characters you're particularly fond of? Please tell us your reasons if so.
A3
Yuka.
As the one drawing the manga, I always feel like she's there to support me. She's like a dependable friend who will always be there for me.
Q4
Is there anything you try to keep in mind when writing/drawing the manga?
A4
I'm always careful not to make the characters say things just because I want them to. I feel like my job is to reflect their world on paper as accurately as possible, so I'd rather let them talk as themselves. That said, that means there are times I can't get them to say the lines I need them to say for the sake of the plot, and I end up agonizing over how to handle it.
Q5
The idea of having Ruri's inherited dragon traits and abilities gradually manifest as part of her nature is very interesting. How did you come up with this idea?
A5
I've struggled for years with the feeling of being "different" from others. Thankfully, many people around me saw the things I struggled with as expressions of talent, individuality, or a sense of humor, seeing the positive aspects of those parts of me.
I got my first ideas for the series when I decided I wanted to create something of my own that visually conveyed the message that being different is interesting.
Q6
The interactions and atmosphere in "RuriDragon" are natural and realistic, as if they could actually occur in real life. What do you focus on when depicting characters?
A6
I strive to write character dialogue as if it were being spoken naturally as opposed to being written, and I avoid making dialogue feel too scripted as I don't want it to sound overly fictional. I believe that the conversations which happen between characters at a particular time and in a particular moment have meaning, and try to remember that I'm just capturing a slice of these characters' lives. Even if the depiction is lacking in words.
And even if the conversations end up going in rather unexpected directions!
WITCH WATCH- Kenta Shinohara Interview -
WITCH WATCH
Q1
Please tell us about any scenes or moments that are particularly memorable to you, or that you're particularly fond of.
A1
I really enjoy all the magical chaotic comedy that forms the basis of the manga. The story in which Kanshi becomes ten times faster is particularly popular with readers, so it left an impression on me as well. Since I also want to depict how the characters gradually grow and how their relationships change over time, so I find it fun to draw those kinds of developments, as well as storylines that weren't part of my original plan.
Q2
What is your present work environment like? Is there anything you consider indispensable when working?
A2
I do all my work in a digital environment, from the storyboards to the final pages. Since I don't take any of it outside, I'm always sitting in front of the computer in my office, drawing on my drawing tablet. Other staff used to come to the office as well, but since we've kept to a remote workstyle since the pandemic, I'm always by myself in the office nowadays. My computer is the most indispensable thing for me when working. I'm constantly afraid of it crashing, as that basically would bring my work to a complete halt. Otherwise, there's nothing in particular I feel like I need. I do tend to work while sipping the coffee I brewed that morning from an insulated mug.
Q3
Are there any characters you're particularly fond of? Please tell us your reasons if so.
A3
My favorite character is one of the protagonists, Morihito. He's not a character who's particularly easy to write for, nor is his personality particularly easy to understand, so in that sense he's been a bit of a challenging character for me—which is why I feel attached to him.
WITCH WATCH Morihito(1 Witch's Return)
Q4
Is there anything you try to keep in mind when writing/drawing the manga?
A4
I always try to keep readability in mind. No matter how good a work is, it's meaningless if nobody reads it. Given that even the slightest distraction can result in a moment being less funny than intended, the ideal is a manga that the reader can absorb smoothly without any frustration. This requires skill, and I can't say that I've managed to reach that point myself yet, but it's something I always want to aim for.
Q5
There have been many types of magic featured in the manga up to now. How have you come up with so many unique varieties of magic?
A5
The basic concepts come from things that often appeared in children's manga such as "Doraemon", which a lot of people are familiar with from childhood—so in themselves, they aren't particularly new or original. As such, I try to place the emphasis on other interesting details such as the conditions for the magic's use and imagining what situations would realistically occur if that magic was used in everyday life. Since the characters are more important than the magic, I also try to use it as a stage to showcase each character in interesting ways, such as how they react to or deal with the situation.
Q6
The foreshadowing and subsequent payoff are done very well, and overall, the story feels very skilfully crafted. Is there anything in particular you keep in mind when putting together the story?
A6
Manga with self-contained stories in each chapter need to be interesting, or they'll quickly be forgotten. It's important that they have some sort of extra spice to them, or leave the reader surprised or impressed at the end, so I put particular effort into making the ending or payoff interesting. It’s not just limited to payoffs, but to maximize the effect of a certain scene, it's also necessary to have a good setup, so I try to always create aone. Working backwards naturally shows what setup is necessary. "Foreshadowing" is just a fancy word for this process, and I'm always trying to think of how to sneak setups into every scene.

© SHUEISHA Inc. All rights reserved.

ミニキャラをゲット!