Here is the Cool Interview

Translation by: Laura Arias-Moreno

We have an awesome interview regarding Fist of the North Star with Rumiko Takahashi!

"I rushed to buy Shonen Jump".

You both debuted around the same time, and you later became a leader in the manga field and just as you are still present in the top rankings. Were Hara-sensei and yourself students at the Gekiga Sonjuku Manga Academy owned by Kazuo Koike-sensei?

Takahashi: That's correct. I am from the first class, and I think Hara-sensei is from a little bit later. ^[1] I learned when, Fist of the North Star was a best-seller, or maybe after it ended being serialized.

You didn't meet in person during that time?

Takahashi: Correct. I heard that he was enrolled at Gekiga Sonjuku and I couldn't believe it (laughs). But there was some gathering of us, or perhaps more of a meeting which also included Hara-sensei, so I was surprised about him being there. At least, I would know if he had been in the same class with me (laughs).

Did you read Fist of the North Star at that time?

Takahashi: Yes, it was a hot topic since it started. A friend of mine phoned me and asked me "Have you read it?" And I rushed to buy Shonen Jump. When I read it I realized it was awesome, so I bought the volumes as well (laughs).

"I was just a reader enjoying the story".

Did you feel that you had come upon a rival?

Takahashi: No, I was just a reader. I enjoyed the series as such. But I think it surprised everyone. It turned out to make huge impact.

If I am not mistaken, you debuted first, I think with Urusei Yatsura?

Takahashi: Yes, only a bit earlier. I think he debuted two to three years later.

Which aspect of Fist of the North Star impressed you the most?

Takahashi: First of all, Kenshiro was a type of fighter for justice that had not been seen before that. Also, the sentence at the beginning stating "...but humankind was not destroyed" and the panel featuring people laughing was very shocking. The series was hard right from the very beginning, which was also very revolutionary. I don't mean it was adult, but the rough way he fights evil had no precedent. And what's more, the fact that a truly evil enemy appears makes it great too (laughs). But it was appealing not only for those reasons.

The way it was presented, or rather the artistic layout was also innovative.

Takahashi: Exactly! Your point of view is at the villain's side, they are peeing or something like that, and Kenshiro's fist comes out through the wall suddenly! I thought it was really cool. Kenshiro is not a kid, he is a full grown man! That was another element that was incredibly new. That way of presenting it, and how he points at Shin, who has left Yuria behind. All in one page! It really conveyed Hara-sensei's unique sensibility.

That's aesthetics! Hara-sensei goes beyond it!

Did you have some influence from Koike-sensei in terms of his style and direction?

Takahashi: I don't know. I'm sure there is more than a few things, but I think it's mostly all due to Hara-sensei's talent.

What about the way Koike-sensei creates characters, for example?

Takahashi: Hara-sensei is truly amazing with every character he creates! I don't think there is anyone who can create a character just as Koike-sensei said. If they could do it just by being told to do it, everyone would be a mangaka (laughs). I think Hara-sensei would say, "Do it this way! This is how to do it!" I think Hara-sensei is actually doing it and showing it to the audience in his own fashion.

What about the story?

Takahashi: No matter what, it's the characters that appear that make the story unique. Come to think of it, did he have the idea of Raoh from the beginning?

I heard that he named Kenshiro at first, and he was the fourth son, and later he created the first, second, and third sons. I don't think there was a "Raoh" per se in the beginning.

Takahashi: Oh, really? The fourth son, I see. I can understand that. After establishing the beginning, the work became more detailed.

Do you have a favorite character in Fist of the North Star?

Takahashi: I think it's Rei. He's so cool! And from the bad guys, I like Heart (laughs). He couldn't hit his pressure points unless he stretched him out and then he says “It hurts!”, and you can feel the pain. The creation of this character was awesome! He's so cool as a freakish character. ^[2]

Do you have a favorite scene?

Takahashi: I would say the last moments of Rei. He enters the cabin to avoid everyone seeing him, saying “goodbye” and he dies on his own... It's very sad. Maybe Toki could have done something. Toki cannot heal himself, and regardless of the extreme pain, he manages to extend his life a bit and fights Yuda at the last moment.

Aesthetics lies within the person who creates it, right?

Takahashi: Exactly. You cannot give what you don't have inside. You cannot fake it. This is our world, where a character can or cannot say this or that, basically.

Takahashi: As you will probably guess, an attractive character is the condiment for a story. That is their role. No matter how much you stretch or twist the story, if you don’t like the characters it does not make any sense. And the impact that the characters of this story creates is unbelievable! Also concerning their style, all of them have catchphrases such as "Say my name!" I'm trying to imitate him. And then, you get hooked wondering what happens next.

Fist of the North Star was savage from the very beginning.

Takahashi: That is true, when it was first published as a short story before getting Buronson-sensei on board, that was quite established due to the fact that a young character like Kenshiro was saying lines such as "you're already dead."

The keywords were very defined already.

Takahashi: Absolutely! If he was dead he would not be able to speak, however he says "You are already dead". The idea of a countdown was so awesome! Or hitting pressure points on the body. I remember wondering, "is that possible?"

If pressing the pressure points can make you recover, it may also make you worse, and that seemed very realistic.

Takahashi: The important thing is "I don't want my pressure points pressed! I'll die!" Doesn't it make you think that? And if they get pressed, you'll explode! Or something like that anyway (laughs). I consider that being so convincing is what makes it really good. It had a lot of those kinds of inventions. It was a like a treasure chest!

We could say that it created a manga prototype.

Takahashi: Absolutely. I think no one could surpass it. It is so unique. It is a crucial work in that period of time, and what's more, it changed manga after that.

Lastly, would you like to send a message to Hara-sensei?

Takahashi: Please no matter what, be well. Keep drawing your stories as long as possible; I would like to keep reading your stories.

Many thanks for your time today!

Takahashi: Thank you so much.

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Footnotes

• [1] Gekiga Sonjuku was a manga "cram school" where Kazuo Koike, the writer of such iconic manga as Lone Wolf and Cub, Crying Freeman and Lady Snowblood helped train a number of manga luminaries before their debuts. Besides Rumiko Takahashi, other Gekiga Sonjuku alumnai include Tetsuo Hara (Fist of the North Star), Yuji Hori (Dragon Quest), Hideyuki Kikuchi (Vampire Hunter D), Keisuke Itagaki (Grappler Baki) and Marley Caribu (Old Boy).
• [2] We (Harley Acres and Dylan Acres) think that Takahashi may have been somewhat influenced by Kenshiro, Rin and Bat when she created the personalities and interrelations of her Inuyasha characters Sesshomaru, Rin, and Jaken. Takahashi has never been asked about this, but given her admitted fondness for Fist of the North Star it seems like it might be a possible influence.

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