Archive for the Interview Category


Interview with Yuri Manga Artist Hayashiya Shizuru

September 30th, 2012

Last December I suddenly had to opportunity to go to Japan for Winter Comiket. The *first* thing I did was find the table with the circle known as Jesus Drug, and was, at last, able to meet one of my favorite manga artists, Hayashiya Shizuru-sensei. I proceeded to be a blithering fangirl at her. (It was painful to watch, no doubt. ^_^;)

In any case, I was absolutely 100% sure that the next interview I wanted was with this woman who has inspired me in a hundred different ways and who makes me laugh until I hurt. I am, therefore very pleased to present to you an interview with creator of Hayate x Blade, Hayashiya Shizuru-sensei. Yay! \(^_^)/

——————————————————-
Q1: Please tell us about yourself
——————————————————-

Hello, my name is Hayashiya Shizuru. Before I grew up [and became a manga artist,] I was a character designer and original art planner for an adult game company.

——————————————————-
Q2: How did you get started in manga?
——————————————————-

When I was a child, I sort of vaguely thought I’d have something to do with working in comics. While working for a company drawing pictures, I was already getting more orders for personal work I was doing outside the company, so I was able to slowly but surely shift to supporting myself with manga.

——————————————————-
Q3: Which artists have inspired you?
——————————————————-

As far as manga goes, Fujiko (FA) Fujio-sensei and Takahashi Rumiko-sensei; as for illustrators, Nishimura Kinu-sensei and Yuki Nobuteru-sensei.

——————————————————-
Q4: If you were not a mangaka, what kind of work would you be doing?
——————————————————-

I’d be a bike racer or a nurse. Definitely! ….Maybe!

 ——————————————————-
Q5: What were your motivations for creating Yuri Manga?
——————————————————-

The truth is, I really don’t think about Yuri or drawing Yuri comics. For myself, I think of this the same as a heterosexual love comedy, or love story. From my teens on, Yuri and gay existed within me, like air. There wasn’t any special throb of excitement, it was just there.

——————————————————-
Q6.1: Please tell us a little bit about your process.
How long does a chapter take to draw?
——————————————————-

If we’re talking about a chapter for a serialized story, as opposed to a book to be read all at once, from storyboard to finished product the process takes roughly 2 weeks.

——————————————————-
Q6.2: How many assistants work with you? What is the first step in your process? What is the last step?
——————————————————-

I have one assistant. The first thing we do is the “Name” (the storyboard). The last task is when I kneel on the ground in front of the publishing company’s editorial staff and humbly hand over the manuscript. Just kidding. The last thing is when we apply screentone.

——————————————————-
Q7: Do you read any Yuri manga? If so, what series do you read?
——————————————————-

I like Oku Hiroya-sensei’s “Hen”.

——————————————————
Q8:  Your work contains a great deal of physical comedy. What are you thinking when you’re creating it? What feelings do you want to convey?
——————————————————-

If, for instance, someone is feeling tired or is in a slump, when they read it, I want them to cheer up, raise up their spirit, so I want to draw characters that convey the feeling of “Come on, let’s play together!”

——————————————————-
Q9: Do you have anything you want to ask overseas fans?
——————————————————-

My manga, it’s probably full of a lot of gags that are only comprehensible to Japanese people, and there’s a lot of words but, I worry about to what extent overseas people can understand the humor and find it funny.

——————————————————-
Q10: Do you have any message for your overseas fans?
——————————————————-

By changing publishers, I caused the English edition of Hayate x Blade to be suspended. However, I would like to read the translated version. Therefore, please demand a continuation of the translation from Shueisha. These are comics for you to accept and read. And, one day I hope to come and visit an overseas comic event. Thanks for your support!

——————————————————-

Thank you, Sensei, for taking time to answer our questions and for drawing manga that raises up our spirits and makes us laugh!

You can write Shueisha to demand more Hayate x Blade in English at this address:2-5-10 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8050 JAPAN. (Don’t be shy – they may or may not be able to read the whole letter…but they will definitely be able to read “We want Hayate x Blade in English!” ^_^)





Interview with Yuri Manga Artist Morinaga Milk

June 17th, 2012

I am so very delighted today to offer you an interview I’ve wanted to do for a really long time.

Many of you have heard of Morinaga Milk, and quite a lot of you have enjoyed her work over the years. From her doujinshi work until 2003 when she sprang onto the pro Yuri scene with Yuri Shimai magazine; from her collection Kuchibiru Tameike Sakurairo (which has now been re-released by Hobunsha in a two-volume set, with some additional material: Volume 1 and Volume 2), through her mega-hit GIRLFRIENDS (which is available in English from  from Seven Seas), Morinaga-sensei has been a staple of the Yuri scene.

It is my great pleasure to offer you this interview with Morinaga Milk-sensei today!

——————————————————-
Q1: Will you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
——————————————————-

Born in Tokyo, live in Tokyo.
Gender is female.
I love to draw Yuri manga.

——————————————————-
Q2: How did you become a mangaka? Was it a childhood dream?
——————————————————-

It was a childhood dream to become a manga artist.

When I was about 20 years old, my submission was chosen for a an award, so I made my debut illustrating a Light Novel.
When I was 21, I was scouted by an editor who had read my doujinshi, so I became a manga artist.

——————————————————-
Q3: Which artists are your role models?
——————————————————-

When I was a child, I read Hagiiwa Mutusmi‘s shoujo manga, and started to draw manga.

If I couldn’t be a writer, I wanted to create anime, like Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, which I saw.
I wanted to be able to write stories of women in love.

——————————————————-
Q4: If you were not a mangaka, what kind of work would you be doing?
——————————————————-

I wanted to work in a bookstore or a manga cafe.

——————————————————-
Q5: What were your motivations for creating Yuri Manga?
——————————————————-

I don’t know if this can be called a motivation but,  when I saw the female characters in my beloved Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, it seemed natural that they were Yuri couples. Since then, I’ve been been drawing only Yuri manga.

——————————————————-
Q6.1: Please tell us a little bit about your process.
How long does a chapter take to draw?
——————————————————-

Each chapter takes about one week to write the dialogue and one week to draw, for a total of about two weeks.

——————————————————-
Q6.2: How many assistants work with you?
——————————————————-

I have two assistants.

——————————————————-
Q7: What has been the reaction in Japan to GIRL FRIENDS? What do you think about GIRL FRIENDS being translated into English?
——————————————————-

I don’t think it’s very popular in Japan. I don’t see it for sale in bookstores near me.
Only maniac Yuri fans seem to be reading it.

I was very happy when I learned that it would be translated into English. But since I don’t read English, I don’t know if the translation will capture the right nuance at all.

——————————————————
Q8: You’re recent work has been very realistic in tone. Can you tell us what  you’re thinking when you draw? What message are you trying to convey?
——————————————————-

Falling in love is painful, and there are many things to worry about, or that will make you cry but, falling in love is not pointless, despite all that. That is what I am trying to convey, I think.

——————————————————-
Q10: What question do you have for overseas fans?
——————————————————-

I like High School girls, so I draw manga set in schools. Do overseas fans feel that its strange to read manga set in Japanese schools?

——————————————————-
Q11: What message do you have for overseas fans?
——————————————————-

Thank you so very much for reading my manic manga.

When I think that there are people overseas, where I cannot go, reading my manga, it feels very mysterious and happy.

It would be wonderful to one day meet my overseas readers, I think.

——————————————————-

Thank you very much for your time, Morinaga-sensei! Your overseas maniac fans are thrilled to be able to read your work in English. ^_^

***

小松さんによる日本語の翻訳: http://willowick.seesaa.net/article/276194964.html





Yuri Fanfic BlogTalkRadio Interview Tonight!

September 16th, 2010

If you like Yuri fanfic, or are a Yuri fan and want to geek out over our favorite fandoms, join hosts Allaine, Dreiser (yes, that Dreiser!) and myself tonight at 10PM Eastern Time at Femmeslash4Fans BlogTalkRadio.

Sailor Moon, Shoujo Kakumei Utena and Maria-sama ga Miteru are on the menu, but don’t be surprised when other series have a cameo. ^_^

To celebrate today’s talk, I even uploaded a new fanfic on “Worldshaking” Fanfic. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to talk about why I think creative fan work (fan art, fanfic, AMVs, cosplay, doujinshi,) does not have the same detrimental effect as scanlation, because I do have a theory about that. ^_^

As I always say, Dreiser and I are drinking buddies, so we always have fun talking fanfic. I hope you’ll join us!





Interview with Yuri Manga Artist Fujieda Miyabi

May 16th, 2010

There’s not too much to say as an introduction. I have been enjoying Fujieda-sensei’s work since 2004 when I encountered it in Yuri Shimai. That story would eventually be published as Kotonoha no Miko to Kotodama no Majyo to. I liked how cute his stories were and was charmed by the goofy humor of Iono-sama Fantics and the gentle calm of Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan.

I also believe that Fujieda-sensei has the best costume design sense in the entire manga industry. So, when he agreed to answer a few questions, you can imagine how thrilled I was. ^_^

Continuing my series of interviews with Yuri Artists, it is my unbelievable pleasure to present a short interview with Fujieda Miyabi-sensei.

***

Q1: Please tell us about yourself.

A: My name is Fujieda Miyabi.

Even though I draw mostly to make myself happy, I am glad that there are overseas fans who can enjoy my clumsy work.

Q2: How did you become a mangaka? Did you want to be one when you were a child?

A: When I was publishing original doujinshi (self-published works) I was scouted by an editor and became a pro. That original work was Twinkle Saber Nova. It’s not a Yuri work.

Q3: Which artists inspire you?

Although I am ignorant about Fine Art, the manga art that most inspires me is Nagano Mamoru’s Five Star Stories. After that, the CLAMP-sensei, Kouga Yun-sensei and others whose work I admired in my youth.

Q4: If you weren’t a mangaka, what would you be doing?

A: Before I set my sight on being a mangaka, I thought I might become a chef.
Even now, I like to keep my hand in and do design work.

Q5: What was your motivation to start creating Yuri Manga?

A: When two women are happy together as a couple, I can say that that is the time I am at my happiest. In my middle school years, I became acquainted with the idea of drawing same-sex couples through CLAMP-sensei’s and Kouga Yun-sensei’s work, and I began to think about doing stories with female couples. Once I passed through technical school for drawing manga, I began to draw Yuri manga.

Q6: Can you tell us a little bit about your process?

On average I draw about 16 pages every two weeks, but my production schedule is pretty unsteady. Faster if I’m running out of time.

Q7: How were Iono-sama Fanatics and Ame-iro Kouchkan Kandan received by the Japanese audience?

A: Iono-sama Fanatics was not a romantic love story between two women, but was drawn to be a story about a loving Queen with a harem. Those people who prefer mainly comical series seemed to like it. Ame-iro is about only two women, the ones who like it are those who take time and read it slowly and gently.

As an author, these both make me happy. I think Ame-iro is more popular and has gained more readers, though.

Q8: It is not unusual for a man to draw Yuri however, your work has a gentle, feminine atmosphere. What are your thoughts on drawing women’s emotions and thoughts?

Of course, because I am a man, women’s feelings are difficult.

But, I think it’s the same as when it’s a woman and a man, that sense of wanting to be kind to one another. That’s my first thought. How much of that emotion, of feelings of kindness or happiness is just in my imagination depending on the scene that I’m drawing.

Q9:　Is there something you’d like to ask your overseas fans?

A: To the fans who anticipate my next work, what kind of story would you like to see?
I’d like to hear from you.

(This is Erica: You can visit his website, Moonphase or follow him on Twitter and contact him directly!)

Q10:　Do you have a message for your overseas fans?

A: I am still inexperienced, but from here on, I will to the best of my abilities, continue to work as a Yuri manga artist. From far away, I will work hard to confer upon you happy hours.
Should you encounter my next work, I will be happy.

See you again.

***

Thank you Fujieda-sensei for taking time from your busy schedule and answering our questions – and thank you everyone for reading this interview.





Interview with Yuri Manga Artist Morishima Akiko

October 25th, 2009

As anyone who is paying the least little bit of attention to the Yuri manga scene will know, right now one of the most prolific and popular Yuri manga artists is Morishima Akiko-sensei. Not only is she drawing for Yuri Hime (both magazines and the cell phone comics) she always has projects with other publishers and her own work as well.

Morishima-sensei has been a staple of the Yuri scene for many years, starting with her own circle, Girlish, and she’s also drawn (straight) shoujo manga for a number of publishers. She does design and art for her website and her blogs about her work and her life.

I had the pleasure of meeting Morishima-sensei at Yuricon 2005 in Tokyo, where she was one of our guests. She interviewed me briefly at the time, so I felt that it was more than fair I got her back on that. lol This summer, Morishima-sensei released the third and fourth collected volumes she’s done with Ichinjisha. She very graciously took time out of her schedule to talk a little bit with us here. Please give an enthusiastic Okazu welcome to Morishima Akiko-sensei!

——————————————————-
Q1: Please Tell Us About Yourself
——————————————————-

I am a Japanese woman who won’t stop loving Girls and Yuri.
Both my hobby and my work is manga.

——————————————————-
Q2: How did you become a mangaka? Was it a childhood dream?
——————————————————-

It all started when my 4-panel comics were adopted by lesbian magazine Anise.

Although, to my regret, Anise suspended publication, I continued with a public sequel on the Web, so it might become serialized in a 4-panel magazine.

My childhood dream was to become a company employee with a steady income and a steady life.
But, you need a plan, not a dream. Perhaps, one day I might possibly grow up. (smile)

Although I liked drawing, I didn’t think I had the talent to become a professional…
I am the most surprised at my current life. I’m very grateful for this happiness.

——————————————————-
Q3: Which artists are your role models?
——————————————————-

Japanese musician Yuki.
Her music and her self are both very cute, yet very tough, and her way of thinking is totally flexible.

I always think that I want to draw such an attractive heroine.

——————————————————-
Q4: If you were not a mangaka, what kind of work would you be doing?
——————————————————-

I went to school to study architectural design.
Even now, I love looking at buildings.
I also enjoy drawing doujinshi and working on my website.

——————————————————-
Q5: What were your motivations for creating Yuri Manga?
——————————————————-

While right now the number of Yuri manga is growing, just a little while ago there were hardly any stories of women in love to read.
So, thinking “If there’s nothing to read, then I’m going to have to draw if for myself,” was the primary motive.

Because it takes a lot of time to draw a manga, it is very difficult to do it as a hobby. Therefore I am very happy that I can draw as my work.

——————————————————-
Q6.1: Please tell us a little bit about your process.
How long does a chapter take to draw?
——————————————————-

In a busy month, working by myself and including dialogue, I can do about 30 pages. If an assistant is helping, 40-50 pages.

——————————————————-
Q6.2: (Please tell us a little bit about your process.)
How many assistants work with you? What is the first step, what is the final step?
——————————————————-

I have two assistants.

First the frame borders and the backgrounds are drawn, then small things are added.
First I do the panel layout, and last the screentones are added, both of which I do. I do most of the drawing myself during this time.

——————————————————-
Q7: What has been the reaction in Japan to Hanjuku Joshi, Rakuen no Jouken and Ruri-iro Yume?
——————————————————-

“I get the feeling that this is familiar and real, but also a dream, too,” is often the impression, I am told. To me, this feeling is a basic of shoujo manga, an especially likable quality, so that makes me happy. More than being popular, I want to feel my manga has continuous support from the people who like it.

The reaction to Hanjuku Joshi has come in three kinds:

People who feel that it’s a standard Yuri setting, with a flavor that is sweet and fluffy.
People who feel that it’s sympathetic to the romance within sex between women.
Or, people who enjoy both these.

I would like the reader to enjoy it freely, for their own reasons.

——————————————————-
Q8: You got your start with doujinshi. How does it feel to be a leader in this new wave of Yuri manga popularity?
——————————————————-

Nono, I’m no kind of leader!

I’m just a servant, a servant of Yuri Manga (smile)
I work with pleasure for the Yuri Manga of tomorrow!

——————————————————-
Q10: What question do you have for overseas fans?
——————————————————-

I am always impressed at the zeal of overseas fans, sometimes they have more information than Japanese fans. Everyone, how do you acquire all your information on Japanese books and DVDs?

——————————————————-
Q11: What message do you have for overseas fans?
——————————————————-

I would think that Yuri Manga is something that is strongly Japanese, a particular cultural convention of Japan. So, I am very glad and interested that overseas fans understand it. The word “Yuri” has reached people from far away countries, hasn’t it? Please continue your support and consideration of Japanese Yuri.

***


Thank you so much Morishima-sensei for your time and all your hard work creating beautiful Yuri for us to read.

Readers, let’s show our support for Morishima-sensei’s hard work by buying Hanjuku Joshi, Ruri-iro Yume and Rakuen no Jouken. Remember, it’s nice for you to read a scan, but that doesn’t help the artist at *all*. Without the artists, you wouldn’t have anything to read. So please, join the majority of readers here at Okazu by paying for your entertainment and supporting artists like Morishima-sensei for their creation of great Yuri!