Life of a Doodling Manga Artist
Translated by: Robby Stine
Takahashi Rumiko discusses her work.
To those wishing to become manga artists: Doodle your heart out! This is the quickest way to mastering the art.
Birthday, blood type, and sign?
Takahashi: October 10th, Showa 32 (1957), type A, Libra.
How did you become a manga artist?
Takahashi: I won a competition in a magazine.
[1]
Your debut work?
Takahashi: Urusei Yatsura.
Your favorite work?
Takahashi: The final chapter of
Dust Spot!!.
Your favorite manga artists?
Takahashi: Ryoichi Ikegami, Kei Ichinoseki,
Daijiro Morohoshi,
Hideo Azuma... There are many more, but those are a few off the top of my head.
Brief personal history?
Takahashi: I’m a Japan Women’s University graduate… (I made my debut when I was beginning my third year there).
Picture of a perfect man?
Takahashi: Distinguished, strong, funny.
Your favorite food?
Takahashi: Salisbury steak, seared bonito (not that I’d want to eat them at the same time, mind you).
Hobbies?
Takahashi: Doodling.
Your specialty?
Takahashi: Keeping a straight face while telling jokes.
Favorite book?
Takahashi: The Kojien Dictionary.
What is manga to you?
Takahashi: My favorite thing.
Your view of marriage?
Takahashi: Stability.
What do you want to do most?
Takahashi: Doodle.
Your happiest moment?
Takahashi: Graduating from university.
Your saddest moment?
Takahashi: When the stereo broke and everyone told me to get out and buy a new one.
What kind of manga would you like to draw next?
Takahashi: A story that is serious from beginning to end.
A word for the fans?
Takahashi: Thank you for your continued support.
Do you like sci-fi?
Takahashi: Yes! I’m not well-read, but I do adore it.
Your favorite sci-fi author?
Takahashi: Yasutaka Tsutsui.
Your favorite sci-fi movie?
Takahashi: Star Wars (because it’s fun to watch).
Your nickname?
Takahashi: Kemo.
[2]
What have you gained from becoming a manga artist?
Takahashi: So much joy.
Political affiliation?
Takahashi: The Liberal Democratic Party.
What would you do if you became the Prime Minister?
Takahashi: Doodle (what else could I do? I’ve got no other talents).
Footnotes
- [1] Takahashi won honorable mention for the 2nd Shogakukan Newcomers Manga Award (第2回小学館新人コミック大賞) in the shonen category. The way the Newcomer Manga Award is structured is there is a single winner and then two to three honorable mentions that are unranked. In 1978 the winner in the shonen category was Yoshimi Yoshimaro (吉見嘉麿) for D-1 which was published in Shonen Sunday 1978 Vol. 26. The other honorable mentions in addition to Rumiko Takahashi were Masao Kunitoshi (国俊昌生) for The Memoirs of Dr. Watson (ワトソン博士回顧録) which was published in Shonen Sunday 1978 Vol. 27 and Hiroaki Oka (岡広秋) for Confrontation on the Snowy Mountains (雪山の対決) which was published in a special edition of Shonen Sunday (週刊少年サンデー増刊号). Oka would also publish later under the name Jun Hayami (早見純). Other winners in various Newcomers categories include Gosho Aoyama, Koji Kumeta, Yuu Watase, Kazuhiko Shimamoto, Naoki Urasawa, Kazuhiro Fujita and Ryoji Minagawa, Yellow Tanabe and Takashi Iwashige.
- [2] Prior to her debut Takahashi published a number of works (Aim For the Ace! and Bye-Bye Road among others) under the pen name Kemo Kobiru.
