The questions and answers in this interview were provided by Nora and
translated by Emi A. Our thanks to
them and to Yamane Ayano.
Q: Where do you get your ideas for stories?
A: I discuss an idea with my editor, then we
decide on a theme, then I start to watch movies and
gather ideas.
Q: Do you plan the plot for a series at once, or make
it up as you go along?
A: I generally think of the general plot before I
start, but I have a tendency to change it, so I have to
consider each episode as it goes along.
Q: Will there be more stories in the "Findaa no..."
series? Can you give us hints about future storylines?
A: It will probably continue for a long time -- and my
editor agrees!
Q: Will there be more stories in the Ikoku Irokoi
Romantan series? Can you give us hints about future
storylines?
A: I have an idea for it, but since I'm very busy .
. . When I have more time, perhaps.
Q: Is there any hope for Asami and Fei Long in the
future?
A: It'll be a relationship between two men, not really
as lovers, though it will also double as a
relationship . . . it's difficult to
describe.
Q: What does Asami want from Takaba, in the end? For
Takaba to love him? For Takaba to join the "dark side"
of life and become yakuza? Will he at least teach
Takaba to be a better dresser?
A: At first Asami thought of him more as a pet, but as
time went on I think Asami's starting
to get more involved with him, and wants Takaba to obey
him.
Q: Will Asami ever take his clothes off completely
with Takaba?
A: In the story that I just wrote, he does!
Q: Do you plan to expand any of the other short
stories in the "Findaa no..." first volume?
A: Whenever I write a short story, I think up
background and more detail -- but these stories were included
in the book without being fully detailed, and now I
don't have time to expand them further. There is a
lot of demand for more "Risky Society".
Q: What is a typical day like for you, when you're
working on a story?
A: It depends on the day -- if it's right before a
deadline, or not. If not, I play games,
read manga, go to watch a movie, clean, or do the laundry (because it piles up) -- I try to finish everything I can do right before the
deadline.
Q: Do your editors ever make you change your
storylines? Do they ever tell you, "There's not enough
sex!" or, "There's too much sex!"
A: I'm pretty careful about how much sex I
include, and sometimes I'm the one to ask them how
much I should do, but they never force me.
Q: For your doujinshi fans, are you planning any
future Slam Dunk doujinshi?
A: I've written so many, I don't think I'll do
any more. As a professional, it's hard to do parodies
of other professional works, and it puts me in an
awkward position.
Q: You have drawn several illustrations of fantasy
characters with swords. Is this from a forthcoming
work, or maybe a doujinshi, or your Crimson Spell
series?
A: I was thinking I'd like to do a series like it:
I got the offer to do a fantasy series after
I drew those. I like to do fantasy. It's very
difficult to draw, because it's not drawing everyday
things (clothing, weapons, etc) and so it takes a lot
of research, but I really enjoy it and would like
to draw more.
Q: If any of your stories could be animated, which one
would you want it to be?
A: Crimson Spell, because fantasy is fun to watch as
anime.
Q: Does it surprise you that you have so many Western
fans, even before your works are translated into
English?
A: I was very surprised, and wasn't even sure where
they got her books from. I was pleasantly surprised
at how many knew me. (I'm very impressed that you (Incandescens) are
from England.)
Q: Do you have any message for your English-speaking
fans?
A: "Thank you for reading my books." I'm very happy
to know her books are read widely. I'm worried
whether people understand all the subtleties of
Japanese, but will be very happy if people enjoy it
based on their own interpretation.
The illustration is a gift sketch by Yamane-sensei, used with pemission of the owner.