Hey all! Bet you weren't expecting me back so soon! Figured we'd end the 11th month with an 11th hour update! With this the Ichihara interview is complete. I thought this would be more about Frieren at first glance, but instead we get more info on the conceptualization of the Conan spinoffs among other things. It's not too surprising considering how popular Conan is, however.
Normal disclaimer applies: I am not a professional translator, feel free to point out mistakes, and so on. See the interview between Ichihara and Takekawa (Head editor of Shounen Champion) here and here. Happy reading!
“We've been taken aback. I believe this year's youngsters have produced some of the best new serializations.”
---Understandably as a head editor it might be difficult to come up with names and titles, but in your estimation which artists and titles do you have high hopes for nowadays?
Ichihara: It's really difficult for me to answer specifically who I have raised expectations for, but I'd say the veterans who make up the core of the magazine are all doing great work. Aoyama (Gosho), Shiina (Takashi) Tanaka (Motoyuki) are all in the longer serialization camp. Meanwhile there's also Kazuhiro Fujita's “Souboutei Kowasubeshi”, Hiroyuki Nishimori's “Kanakana” in Sunday Super which are both super good too. Then of course there's Kenjiro Hata's 'Fly me to the Moon” KOTOYAMA's “Call of the Night” and Rumiko Takahashi's “MAO.” Oh and this year we had Mitsuharu Yanamoto who came from Big Comic Superior with “Ryuu to Ichigo” I'm not sure if it's some kind of camphor agent, but to me the newer artists who have joined the ranks of Sunday are also doing great. In that regard it's taken a long time to cultivate and grow them but finally “Komi” “Sleepy Princess, and Shinigami Bocchan and Kuro Maid (serialized in Sundwy Webry” have all reached peak growth. The 2015 rookie cultivation team came together at once five years ago but now five years later it feels like the children we sent out into the world with new serializations have met expectations. That thought embodies the new work that started this year from a rookie duo: “Sousou No Frieren.” It was incredible –when the editor read the storyboard during the planning phrase they were taken aback, and exclaimed “This is super good!!” (Laugh) “Maybe the best Japan has to offer?” But man, I really think the youngsters this year have produced the best new serializations.
--The two chapters that were published when the serialization began were great. You could definetly get the sense that it is a deeply profound series. Although the target demographic for Sunday is middle school, it wouldn't be surprising if readers of “Frieren” re-read the series as adults and got a different impression from it than their memories of it the first time.
Ichihara: It's a story about humanity itself.
--That's right, I think this is a series that will hold up and be historically loved for a long time.
Ichihara: When I read the storyboard I got goosebumps. “What the heck is this” I said to myself. I was acquainted with Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe when they just started out. Yamada had done a few works here and there, and I felt like their storyboards had a strange but fascinating quality to them. From then on it felt like it'd only be a matter of time until they hit upon a storyboard that blew up like a chemical reaction, but this was truly incredible. Due to the matters with COVID I wasn't able to meet up with them right away, but right before the first volume went on sale I was able to express to them directly how amazing the series is. “Out of all of the new series from young artists that are being serialized, yours is the best. I don't know if it well sell or not, but I truly believe this is incredible.
“The “Detective Conan” world has new entries with both Takahiro Arai and Mayuko Kanbo.”
---Five years ago “Detective Conan” was impressive, but aside from comic versions of the movies, was only one series and that's it. Now WSS has “Zero's Tea Time” and “Wild Police Story” and Sunday Super has it's own spinoff “Hanzawa the Criminal.” These spinoffs all start one after another don't they?
Ichihara: When I returned to Sunday I had more than 99 problems for sure, but the major one was “Detective Conan” and how I thought we could definitely do more for it. That's not to say that Conan was being neglected in any way, but to me there was more potential for the series that wasn't being utilized. We were in talks to find another way to raise Conan hype when at the time a movie was playing and a certain Tooru Amuro became insanely popular.
---In 2016 the Detective Conan movie “The Darkest Nightmare” was the the spark that began his popularity, but the movie that opened up two years later “Zero's enforcer” cemented it. The feature Comic Natalie did on the movie had a incredible reaction and he became a insanely popular character.
Ichihara: If it's said that Amuro is this popular then wouldn't it make readers happy to have a spinoff where he's the main character? Was the thought. So we approached Mr. Aoyama and said “We're thinking of doing something like this, but what do you think?” He responded “That sounds fun! Let me help!” “I'll be sure to read it as well so why not?” And it was through that conversation that “Zero's Tea Time” started. It's not really like a spin-off was recommended but I figured Conan had the need for one so we gave it a shot.
---The artwork for “Zero's Tea Time” is done by the artist of “Daren Shan” and “Tensho no Quadrable” Takahiro Arai.
Ichihara: I had been Arai's editor since he was a newbie and he's always been a huge fan of Mr. Aoyama, so when discussions were going on for the Amuro Spinoff, Arai's name immediately came to mind. Since he has so much respect for Mr. Aoyama, he'd be a perfect fit for this work right? Though I did temper my expectations since I didn't know what their response would be. I set out to make Mr. Aoyama and Arai happy, so we decided to start off with one volume as a test run.
---And after it started the response was incredible. Mr. Aoyama sure does a lot of work on it. His corrections and suggestions include even the most minute details.
(Tweet: Despite being incredibly busy, I'm so thankful for Mr. Aoyama's corrections to the drafts! This cut looks so close to Amuro doesn't it! (Sadly it was me who did the linework....)
Ichihara: That's right Mr. Aoyama goes all out in his assistance, and Arai responds in kind. Of course the editorial department also puts in their best effort as well.
---The artist of “Officer Nishikida loves the thief too” and “Labyrinth Detective” Mayuko Kanbo is drawing “Hanzawa the Criminal. How did that come about?
Ichihara: Hanzawa is that “criminal shrouded in darkness” from the Conan series. I've always thought it was interesting and the editor-in-charge has one on his desk. To the criminal, the protagonist (Conan) is terrifying so we thought if we made Hanzawa the criminal the main character of a comedy series that it could be fun. The Editorial staff said in regard to the figure and Hanzawa “This looks super well made so it's hard to imagine them as a protagonist of a comedy...” So then the discussion became about who would draw this prospective manga, and the Editor-in-charge suddenly said “Do you think Mayuko Kanbo could?” And we were like “Yes!!” “Only Kanbo can do it!” She really loves “Conan” we thought. Kanbo had a great sense of comedic timing even back when they were a newbie in Gessan (Monthly Shounen Sunday) and she had since then always been a major Conan fan.
---A manga where the criminal is the protagonist is intriguing enough, but it feels like having Kanbo draw it was a masterstroke. (Laughs) For “Hanzawa” Mr. Aoyama provides supervision, right?
Ichihara: I don't know the particulars in how responsible he is in that regard, but I have a feeling he's not quite as involved in Hanzawa as he is with “Zero's Tea Time” and “Wild Police Story.” That being said I'm sure he reads and enjoys it. Though really is there anything for him to look over in “Hanzawa?” (laughs)
---That's a good point (laughs)
Ichihara: If there's anything that we'd have to confirm is that the person who's drawing “Hanzawa” loves Detective Conan. If they didn't the series wouldn't work. It's through that love and knowledge of the original that she can poke fun at it so.
--They've both picked up on little things from the main series. (Laughs)
Ichihara: Both Arai and Kanbo are huge fans, so whatever they draw will be great, and that's what makes these works interesting. In regards to Conan they just happened to have the right timing. If there are others fans would like to see more of we may take that into consideration but it's not as if spin-offs are our new strategy.
“The true battle to become Japan's strongest brand.”
---So to ask once more, what would you consider Sunday's strengths, and what would you take into consideration as things Sunday needs to do from here on in?
Ichihara: I covered most of this at the start of our conversation, but if Team Sunday wants to live on into perpetuity, then they'll need to spread seeds and cultivate new talent. Be upfront, and continue the proper spiral to protect Sunday's natural environment. Of course there are “Sunday-like” manga out there, and we'll continue to experiment and assist new artists find this. When rookies come knocking and need our support, we will provide this to them, and foster their growth. That is the most important thing. If for example in the future the age of paper fades and we switch to digital, the identity of a manga brand will still remain. Jump has Jump-like manga, Magazine has Magazine-like manga, and Champion has Champion-like manga. If not then their labels will lose all meaning. “This isn't Sunday-like so it's not worth reading” and “This is what a Sunday manga is” are important things to protect and hold dear, but they're not the only thing. We need to also be ready to spread out and embrace new things. I want the editorial staff to keep striving to become better editors. To put it another way, our strength is right now the editorial department has become a team that understands this well. Beyond that my foremost thought is how to foster the wolves I'm releasing upon the world to in turn foster rookies to be the best they can be.
---We look forward to more Sunday.
Ichihara: From the fifth year to the sixth year, to the sixth year to seventh we have to properly raise and cultivate our label or there's no meaning. The critical moment is right now. Of course the main magazine is important, but enriching Sunday Webry and Sunday Super. I believe the true battle becomes from here. This is all to become Japan's strongest brand. We were in an unprecedented crises five years ago, but who knows where we'll be in 10 years time. I'll be a hardened war vet by then sipping my tea and allowing my juniors the fun of that challenge though, (laughs)
---(Laughs) Well then, please give the readers a final message.
Ichihara: I've only been the head editor for five years, and I'd like to say “Please look forward to all of the new changes from here on in.” But I consider that merely an extension. We receive lots of letters and emails from fans saying “The magazine is really fun” I'd like everyone including those passionate readers to try a series by our rookies that editors have been having meetings with over the last five years. I believe Sunday will only accelerate more going forward and I want you to look forward to it.
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