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Translation: Shigurui 65

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:25:19 +0000

I got this translation for the Italian edition of Shigurui by Planet Manga; sorry for eventual translation mistakes.
This is chapter 65, the sixth chapter of volume 12.
For the RAW of volume 12: http://mangahelpers.com/downloads/details/27993

pg.161
Dead People

pg.163
(Yukinosuke took calmly his stance, without letting Kogan-ryu to frighten him.)

pg.164
(Despite living in peaceful times, and being a calm and thoughtful person, this man stained his sword with blood five times!)
(Even if he didn't want to kill anybody, misfortune brought him in certain circumstances, and to run away from the people who wanted to claim revenge upon him, he deserted his own village and changed his name.)

pg.165
Ikunosuke: (He's strong. I don't know if I'll make it in time to turn my sword to strike him with its back...)
(Among all samurai, Tsukioka was the only one that in front of a Kogan-ryu master was worried about killing instead of getting killed!)

pg.168
(The hand that concludes the movement can't make any other moves)

pg.172
(Gennosuke let go of his long sword and he stopped the strike with the bottom of the handle of his short sword.)

pg.173
(But Tsukioka's sword, making half a rotation, managed to throw away Gennosuke's)

pg.175
(It was his very own short sword, being pressed against his throat.)
Gennosuke: Seigen Irako ordered you to kill me?
Iku: What nonsense!

pg.176
Iku: Irako-sama defeated you. Why should he try to kill you?

pg.177
(Once the duel officialized by the fief was concluded, it was forbidden by the law looking for futher retaliations.)

pg.179
Ikunosuke: Seigen Irako entrusted me with you, and the Administrator Saegusa entrusted me with Gennosuke Fujiki.
Ikunosuke: I thought that it was a work of Buddha who gave you the opportunity to get free from your grudges.
Ikunosuke: But those two... Look like they're back from hell.

pg.180
Iku: Is it true that Irako-sama is going to fight against Gennosuke Fujiki in the tournament of Senpu castle?
Ikunosuke: I'm not sure of it.
Ikunosuke: Anyway, that fencer...

pg.181
Ikunosuke: Once he realized that he didn't need his sword anymore, he let go of it, despite being the soul of a samurai.
Ikunosuke: And on top of it, he stole mine.
Ikunosuke: Despite such a daring fighting style, you can't feel any disturbance coming from him.
Ikunosuke: Speaking frankly, he's a real monster.

pg.182
(The Virgin and the fencer stayed in the guestroom facing the garden, from which to reach the room of the statues where Tsukioka was in, you had to cross the kitchen and a living room.)

pg.183
(They ate the leftovers they brought from the palace of the vice-administrator.)
(They prepared a dish for the dead Kogan-sensei.)
(It was a modest meal, almost pitiful, for the daughter and the heir of a samurai that once owned a 300 koku salary.)

pg.186
Mie: Iku...
(The gun was pointed to the virgin)
(She knew that it was Mie that wanted her dead.)
(The Virgin stopped the tiger ready to pounce with a single glance.)

pg.187
Mie: Iku...
Mie: Did you sleep with Seigen Irako?

pg.188
Iku: What nonsense.
Mie: Are you telling the truth?
Iku: I swear.

pg.189
Kogan: Do you think I'm an idiot?
(It wasn't the virgin's voice, nor Gennosuke Fujiki's.)
(It was a deep voice, as if it was whimpering from the depths of Hell.)

pg.190
Kogan: What did the seductive eyes of Seigen Irako show you?
Kogan: What did he whisper with that sweet voice of him?

pg.191
Kogan: You betrayed me, WHORE!

pg.192
(Tsukioka ran to the room.)

pg.193
(And he saw smoke emanating from the hole in Fujiki Gennosuke's left sleeve.)
(And the virgin wearing some red on her lips.)

pg.194
(Meanwhile in Bokusai Okakura's palace, close to Sunpu's castle...)

Translation: Shigurui 64

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:07:38 +0000

I got this translation for the Italian edition of Shigurui by Planet Manga; sorry for eventual translation mistakes.
This is chapter 64, the fifth chapter of volume 12.
For the RAW of volume 12: http://mangahelpers.com/downloads/details/27993

pg.129
Disappearance

pg.130
(Popular appartments in Togiya quarter.)
Gennosuke: Iku-sama.

pg.131
Gennosuke: Kogan-sensei wants to meet you.
Iku: Rinse your mouth.

pg.132
Iku: Come in.
Iku: Undress yourself.

pg.133
(Fujiki Gennosuke just entered Kogan-dojo.)

pg.134
(The students who lived in the dojo were subjected to an extremely violent training.)
(A student dead by vomiting blood while running to Togiya quarter had a broken rib that pierced his lung.)
(After assessing that Gennosuke didn't have any broken bone, Iku disinfected with some rice distillate his left injuried hand.)

pg.135
Iku: Eat.
(Iku's coercitive tone was to avoid an obsequious refusal.)

pg.136
(Iku mended Gennosuke's clothes as he ate.)
(Since Gennosuke never talked, people thought that he was deprived of feelings.)

pg.137
(Iku was the famous lover of Kogan who was said to bring misfortune.)
(When she walked with Gennosuke, the boy's face swollen, the other people stepped aside, disgusted.)

pg.138
Iku: I believe you'll be the next successor of Kogan-ryu.
(Gennosuke's neck and ears blushed.)
(Iku was certain that despite of few words, the boy wasn't crazy. )

pg.139
(the skin on Gennosuke's left hand was now thich and strong.)

pg.140
Gennosuke: Iku-sama, Kogan-sensei wants to meet you.
(It was the third anniversary of the death of Kogan's wife.)

pg.141
Gennosuke: It's urgent.
Iku: Just wait a bit, I'd like to clean myself.

pg.142
(In those days, Kogan was quite susceptible, and everyone who disappointed him had to face great risks.)

pg.145
(Gennosuke felt sweet and scented warmth against his eyelids.)
(As when you feel sunlight despite closing your eyes.)

pg.146
(Sunpu)

pg.147
Ikunosuke: Fujiki...
Fujiki:
Ikunosuke: We're close to Sunpu Castle where Tadanaga-sama, the Chief-Counsellor of Suruga, lives.
For no reason you should unsheat he your sword.

pg.151
Iku: Gennosuke Fujiki...
Gennosuke: Iku-sama...

pg.152
(It was an unexpected meeting, but the left hand that Iku healed and the pale back that seduced Gennosuke weren't there anymore.)

pg.153
Ikunosuke: Iku!
Iku: Tsukioka-sama, what's happening..?
(Tsukioka was the old surname of Ikunosuke Hoshiwara)
Ikunosuke: Iku... Let me explain...

pg.155
Ikunosuke: Mh?
Ikunosuke: *what?*

pg.158
(Gennosuke unsheathed his sword on his own free will, or it was the virging making him do so?)

pg.159
Ikunosuke: P-Put it back!
Ikunosuke: (I beg you!)
Ikunosuke: (Oh no...)

Translation: Shigurui 63

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:29:28 +0000

I got this translation for the Italian edition of Shigurui by Planet Manga; sorry for eventual translation mistakes.
This is chapter 63, the fourth chapter of volume 12.
For the RAW of volume 12: http://mangahelpers.com/downloads/details/27993

pg.97
Clairvoyance

pg.98
(The vice-administrator Takamasa Saegusa had to assist to the duel between Gennosuke Fujiki and Shunan to choose Seigen Irako's opponent...)

pg.99
(But he was suddenly ordered to go to the castle)
(And he managed to return home just past 10 pm)

pg.100
(The segret agent Gyobonosuke Mabuchi was waiting for him in a private room)

pg.101
Mabuchi: Something happened to our lord..?

pg.102
Saegusa: He told me that the fencers who're going to take part in the tournament of Sunpu castle...
Saegusa: Are going to use with real swords!
Saegusa: But I hope it was a metaphor to suggest that have to fight vigorously, otherwise...

pg.103
Saegusa: So, Mabuchi, what about the duel?
Mabuchi: I'll report it to you accurately...

pg.104
Mabuchi: Are you ready, Shunan?
Shunan: During the trip I met Gennosuke Fujiki. He's still very young.

pg.105
Mabuchi: If you wanna avenge your teacher you shouldn't show him any mercy.
Shunan: I won't.

pg.106
Mabuchi: Gennosuke Fujiki, it's time to test you! Prepare yourself!
Mabuchi: Did you hear me?!

pg.107
Mabuchi: I told you to get ready.
Mie: As you wish.

pg.108
Mabuchi: As Gennosuke Fujiki entered the dojo, Shinan bowed his head to salute him.

pg.109
(Then Ikunosuke Hoshikawa [he's the same person as Yukinosuke Tsukioka, in case you're wondering] from Toda-ryu, who was asked to be a referee, handed to both the contestants their wooden swords, but Shunan replied...)
Shunan: I fight with bare hands.

pg.110
Saegusa: Of course. Shunan doesn't need any weapon.

pg. 114
(As Gennosuke knew that Shunan was going to fight unarmed, he put the wooden sword back.)

pg.115
Ikunosuke: It's an unequal duel.
(Ikunosuke Hoshikawa expressed his opinion regarding the difference is strenght, 'cause in his opinion the result of the duel was obvious.)
(Shunan took his stance, as imponent as a mountain.)
(And Gennosuke Fujiki stepped forward slowly.)

pg.118
(Gyobunosuke Mabuchi couldn't see anything)
(Only the eyes of the Toda-ryu's master managed to see the strike of Gennosuke.)
(Shunan was agonizing as if he was drowning.)

pg.122
Mabuchi: I don't know what such a terrible thing Shunan saw in Fujiki to...
Saegusa: Where's Shunan?

pg.123
Saegusa: He killed him with just a punch?
Doctor: No, he didn't die because of that.

pg.124
Doctor: Probably he saw it.
(Absolute darkness hides in the depth of human soul, ant it's said that the faces of those who see it are deformed by horror.)

pg.125
Doctor: I know that the digitopressure experts are also claivoyants. How dark are the depths of Gennosuke Fujiki's soul?
Saegusa: Is he still in this palace?
Mabuchi: I entrusted him to Ikunosuke Hoshikawa's care.

pg.126
(Gyobonosuke Mabuchi died on his way back, falling from his horse.)

Translation: Shigurui 62

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:56:57 +0000

I got this translation for the Italian edition of Shigurui by Planet Manga; sorry for eventual translation mistakes.
This is chapter 62, the third chapter of volume 12.
For the RAW of volume 12: http://mangahelpers.com/downloads/details/27993

pg. 65
Black Hair

pg.66
(Originally the Irako surname belonged to a family of doctors.)

(Edo, 1616)

pg.67
(A doctor called Irako Seigen lived in the suburbs.)

pg.68
(His therapeutic method used the pressure points, and it could heal even inner disorders.)

(Seigen spent his life working as a doctor in the suburbs despite the daimyo offered him to employ him as his personal doctor.)

(The chronicles of the time said that his office in Ushigome-Enoki quarter was always crowdy.)

pg.70
Irako (the original!): I'm home.

pg.71
Seigen: Welcome back, doctor.

(His voice filled the air with sensuality)

pg.72
(In those days it was quite usual for doctors to shave their hair, but nobody dared to scold him for his long hair...)

pg.73
(...Because his eyes bewitched people.)

(Seigen [the original one!] couldn't help to employ that young man that about ten years earlier just stopped by to asks for directions as his assistant.)

pg.74
Woman1: How nicely dressed you are-- Where are you going?
Woman2: It's obvious. I'm going to meet Seigen.
Woman3: You too?
Woman4: I was going there too!

(When the women talked about Seigen, they referred to the young man with black hair.)

pg.75
(He was quite popular if you think that in those days it was common to visit house-to-house.)

pg:76
Seigen: What's wrong?
Woman6: My chest hurts.
Seigen: Give me your hand.

pg.77
Shunan: The next one!
Woman7: My chest hu--
(the disciple Shunan could understand with just a glance the places that needed a treatment)
(In his vision, the damaged places shined.)

pg.78
(In those days the life of doctors wasn't easy, 'cause the payments for the treatments was just based on the offers of the patients)
Shunan: I heard you come from a rich family of oil merchants from Kyoto.
Shunan: Why did you choose the kind of life?

pg.79
Seigen: Your therapy is based on the digitopressure of nervous centers, doesn't it?
Seigen: I heard that depending on its applications, it can heal or kill.

pg.80
Irako: If you knew every function of a pressure point, you can lenghten a person's life or shorten it.
Irako: But you shouldn't deal with the mortal techniques.
Irako: Or you could turn into a demon.
Irako: ...Give me your hand.

pg.82
Irako: Are you surprised by the power of mortal techniques of digitopressure?
Seigen: What a... Terrible technique--

pg.83
Seigen: I beg you-- For more...

pg.88
Irako: Your eyes are a mystery, when you look at me, I feel like giving everything to you...

pg.89
Irako: I couldn't help but teaching you everything about digitopressure, even the forbidden techniques.
Seigen: Everything? Are you sure you taught me everything..?
Irako: How could I ever hide something from you? I'm sure you'll become an excellent doctor.

pg.90
Seigen: Thank you.
Irako: You don't have to thank me.
Irako: I just wanted to let you know that... That I...
Seigen: Thanks to you, I see them shining.

pg.93
(According to rumors, it was the suicide of a couple, but the corpses were nowhere to be found.)
(Women felt sorry to have lost their Seigen.)
(And Shunan, the only one left, kept working difficultly in a modest appartment.)
(But one day, he heard a weird tale from a ronin who was travelling to Edo from Totomi.)

pg.94
(He told him that at Kakegawa there was a beautiful fencer with long black hair called Seigen Irako.)
(Who made a name for himself by killing his own teacher.)
Shunan: That bastard! He stole the doctor's name!
(Shunan went to Sunpu to kill Seigen.)

pg.95
(The giant didn't want to kill Seigen just to avenge his teacher.)

pg.96
Shunan: That man is a demon. He has no right to live!

Translation: Shigurui 61

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:37:24 +0000

I got this translation for the Italian edition of Shigurui by Planet Manga; sorry for eventual translation mistakes.
This is chapter 61, the second chapter of volume 12.
For the RAW of volume 12: http://mangahelpers.com/downloads/details/27993

pg.37
Rain Shower

pg.38
(The warrior was walking fast towards his duel at Sunpu.)

pg.39
(The steps of Gennosuke never walked together with a woman, so they were difficult to keep up with for the virgin.)

pg.42
Gennosuke: May we come in?
Shunan: Sure, I'm here to shelter from the rain too.

pg.43
(The warrior and the man who looked like a monk met in the little temple of Yama close by the main road, but they didn't introduce themselves to the other.
ne was missing an arm, and the other had an impressive body.)

pg.44
Shunan: Where are you going?
Mie: To Sunpu.

pg.45
Shunan: I see you're very tired.
Use this ointment for your feet.
Mie: Don't worry.

pg.47
(That man seemed 2 meters tall.
And he went away before it stopped raining.)

pg. 54
Seigen: I look forward to the tournament.

pg.56
(The palace of Takamasa Saegusa of Izu, vice-administrator of Suruga fief)

pg.57
Saegusa: The great Tadanaga is an admirer of Seigen Irako's swordmanship.
Saegusa: Soon there'll be a tournament in the presence of our lord, and we are looking for a good match to Seigen.

pg.58
Saegusa: You, Gennosuke Fujiki, seem to have a particular bond with him.
Gennosuke: I'll break our bond.

pg.59
Saegusa: Your sense of honour is praiseworthy.
Saegusa: Despite your unequivocal failure, not only you refuse to kill yourself but you even dare to ask for a return match.

pg.60
Mie: Actually-- Mabuchi-sama ordered Gennosuke Fujiki to fight again against Seigen Irako...

pg.61
Mabuchi: I have no idea what you're talking about.

pg.62
Mie: Fujiki!

pg.63
Saegusa: If you wanna challenge Seigen, show me your valour! Show me that you can fight even withour an arm!

pg. 64
(In another room of the same palace...)

Translation: Shigurui 60

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:03:56 +0000

I got this translation for the Italian edition of Shigurui by Planet Manga; sorry for eventual translation mistakes.
This is chapter 66, the first chapter of volume 12.
For the RAW of volume 12: http://mangahelpers.com/downloads/details/27993

pg. 5
The Couple

pg.10
Seigen: I heard that Gennosuke Fujiki lives in a hut belonging to a family of peasants.
Iku: Yes.
Seigen: Kogan taught to let an opponent home after beautifying him. Wise words.
The fact that Fujiki is living in shame gives prominence to my fame.
Iku: You've been outstanding.
Seigen: Probably I'll never see him again.

pg.11
(Seigen Irako got a fair shake since he was a guest of Tadanaga Tokugawa...
And he was promised a brilliant future as a samurai.
The two swordswomen who followed him were his bodyguards, sent from Suruga han.)

pg.12
Seigen: Anyway I'm sorry for Mie-sama. She was unlucky.
Seigen: If you weren't there, she was going to be my wife, and she wouldn't have to lose her salary of 300 koku.

pg. 15
(The right arm, reflecting in the water, looked like the left arm.
This was a way to deal with the phantom limb syndrome.)

pg.16
Mie: Fujiki-sama, finally tomorrow is the day for you convocation to Sunpu.
Mie: I'm going to shop. I have to prepare some things.
Gennosuke: I'm going.
Mie: No. A samurai close to a duel shouldn't worry about shopping.

pg.17
(When the virgin ("otome") went to shop, she was used to leave for half a day.
But as days passed by, she took longer and longer.)

pg.20
(That wasn't a threat.
That way he tried to get used to the new balance caused by the loss of his left arm.)

pg. 21
(There was a reason for the virgin to take so long for her buyings.)

pg.22
(No villager talked to the daughter of the ruined tiger.
And the merchants of the city, knowing her shameful situation asked for absurd prices.)

pg.23
(So, from the village of Awamoto, the virgin had to walk for 12 kilometers to shop in the city of Kakegawa, mixing herself with the voyagers.)

pg.24
Mie: I'd like some abalones.
Asshole: It's 70 mon.
Mie: But the tag says 7 mon...
Asshole: You see, I owe very much to Kogan-ryu disciples...

pg.26
(Gennosuke waited for the virgin's return, warming up the rice soup more than once.)

pg.27
Gennosuke: It's late.
Gennosuke: Walking around at night is dangerous.
Mie: I'm sorry. It's that I have too much fun walking around the city.
(Her basket was empty)

pg.30
(The virgin prepared the dish of the four directions on the day they had to leave for Sunpu)

pg.31
(The abalones were missing.)

pg.33
(The tiger was about to reborn anew.)

pg.34
(The high and lows of a person have nothing to do with good and evil.
But people is used to despise who fails and considers as virtuous who's successful.)

Translation: Shigurui Special : Shigurui Ougihidensho

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:14:53 +0000

[sizeptpt=50]This is the rough translation of the Yamaguchi-sensei's interview featured in the Special Volume "Shigurui Ougihidensho".
A Japanese friend ( http://rokusuketanaka.deviantart.com/ ) translated it roughly and I tried to give it some sense.
If you can check it out and help me in translating it better (the transcription is available), it'll be mostly appreciated.

Don't feel safe.
What's been piled up may fall apart.
（無難になってはいけない。
積み上げたものが　壊れてもいい）

The secrets of the cruel and tragic jidaigeki are revealed!
（残酷無残時代劇の
創作秘話が明かされる！）

TAKAYUKI YAMAGUCHI INTERVIEW
(山口　貴由　インタビュー）

The authors talks about "Shigurui" with hot words.
Every single word is "Yamaguchi Takayuki"'s flesh and blood!
All faithful retainers must read it!
（作者が語る「シグルイ」への熱き言葉。
その一言一句が「山口貴由」の血肉でもあるのだ！
すべての士たちよ、刮目して読むべし！)
（原作小説との出会いと
連載での思わぬ苦しみ）

Please, tell us about how the serialization of the 4 years long and continuing Shigurui started.
―４年以上も連載が続いている「シグルイ」ですが、連載のきっかけを教えてください。
It started when my editor asked me to use material from the original novel Suruga-jo Gozenjiai.
The particular outlook on the world of Norio Nanjo-sensei was clear in the episode Mumyou sakanagare.
The characters had strong desires, they feel grudge or hatred... I felt the charm there.
山口「原作小説『駿河城御前試合（Suruga-jo gozenjiai）』を編集者さんから差し入れてもらったことがきっかけです。
原作の中でも『無名逆流れ（Mumyou sakanagare）』は「南條範夫（Norio Nanjo）」大先生の世界観がはっきりと出ているんですよ。
登場人物がギラギラしていて、恨みとか憎しみとかがあって…。
そこに魅力を感じました。」

For instance, didn't you think that Musashi Miyamoto's novel written by Eiji Yoshikawa-sensei could be made into a manga?
―例えば、「吉川栄治(Eiji Yoshikawa)」先生の書いた「宮本武蔵(Musashi Miyamoto)」などの小説を漫画化しようとは思わなかったのでしょうか？
I didn't think so. Musashi Miyamoto
was written as inspirational material for the youth who were going to fight in the Pacific War,
it's a book on morality rather than amusement.
The swordman's figure is not this beautiful. I felt the charm in the fencers written by Nanjo-sensei in Mumyou sakanagare because of their bad nature.
In addition to this, I thought it was easy to make it into a manga because the story was limited to a short plot. ｣
山口「思わなかったですね。「宮本武蔵(MusashiMiyamoto)」は、太平洋戦争中の、
これから戦争に行く若者の行動指針として書かれたもので、
娯楽というより道徳の本なんですよ。剣客はそんなキレイなものではないです。
僕はそれよりも、「南條」先生が「無名逆流れ」で書いた人間臭い剣士たちに魅力を感じたんです。
それに必要最低限のストーリーだけで書かれているから、漫画化しやすいのでは、と考えたんです。」

Was the original manga version of Mumyou sakanagare conceived to be a 30 pages long one-shot?
―「無名逆流れ」は30数ページの短編ですが、当初から原作をアレンジして膨らませるつもりだったのですか？
No, at first it was conceived as a 2-3 volumes long story, however when the editor checked the rough drafts he said "That's good!", so the plan shifted from the original format to a long jidaigeki piece.
It's been an extremely strenous work, 'cause I had to fit a long-term manga into the schedule of short stories' serialization, so I finished the second volume, I finished the third volume, and I had no idea of how I could keep the story on.
When this happens, it's like working on a completely original story, don't you think? I felt like someone who's been thrown in a desert. ｣
山口「いや、最初は原作のストーリーをそのまま漫画にして、２～３話で終わろうと思っていました。
でも、一話目のネーム（ラフ絵）を読んだ当時の編集者が「これはいける！」
と思ってくれたみたいで、急遽、長編時代劇漫画にシフトしちゃったんです（笑）。
数話で終わらせる予定がいきなり長期連載になったわけですから、
第二話、第三話あたりは物語をどう描けばいいのか　わからなくて苦心しました。
こうなると完全にオリジナルだなって、砂漠に投げ出されたような心境でしたね。」

However, since this work became so popular, I guess that later you found a way to manage the creative process..?
―でも、これほどの人気作となったわけですから、その後は順調に描けたのでは…？
I just met another wall.
It was the next 6 volumes about the confrontation between Irako and Kogan.
The editor shifted to the current one and...
The editor in charge is a person who likes discussing the story under both the perspective of the mangaka and the scriptwriter.
We both worked hard together to reach the decisive battle of Irako and Kogan, but the fact that the manga kept on was mostly because of the editor's approach.
To tell the truth, my tension disappeared a little after Kogan died.
However it was still piling up... "Is this scene fine..?" or "This time it was pretty fun" and so on...
Finally, at the last read, I was finally satisfied with the result.
We both had the same vision of the story, so the our relationship consolidated.
山口「それが、もう一度大きな壁があったんです。
単行本６巻、「伊良子（Irako）」と「虎眼（Kogan)」の対決ですね。
実はこの頃に担当編集者が変わる事になって…。
担当編集者って、漫画家にとっては漫才の相方みたいな存在だし、
ディスカッションすることでいいストーリーが浮かぶ事も多いんです。
今まで「伊良子（Irako)」対「虎眼（Kogan)」戦に向けて一緒に頑張ってきたのに、
その相方がいなくなったのはきつかったですね。
だけど、それでも連載を続ける事ができたのは、新しい担当編集者のおかげなんです。
正直なところ、「虎眼（Kogan)」の死亡以後、僕のテンションは下がり気味でした。
でもその担当さんは「このシーンいいじゃないですか」とか「今回、すごく面白いです」なんて盛り上げてくれて…。
実際、後から読み直してみると、すごくよくできていた。
ちゃんと読んでくれていたことが分かって、編集者と漫画家っていう関係が強固になりましたね。

How do you come up with the original bits that are absent from Nanjo-sensei's novel?
―先ほどオリジナルの要素が強いとおっしゃっていましたが、
原作にはない話はどうやって生み出しているのですか？
I basically come up with it as I keep drawing.
I'm not the type who can draw by foreseeing 1000 pages like Osamu Tezuka-sensei.
However, I manage that the first scene and the 1000th scene are connected by a related scene.
The idea that Kogan had six fingers was a sudden idea that stroke me as a method to express his grimness and abnormality.
Afterwards, I heard the story that Hideyoshi Toyotomi also had six fingers,
and, then, I connected the information collected by the historical investigator Tokino-sensei to the story of Hideyoshi the story of Kogan.
I thought that this detail favoured the story's deepth.
However, it was just based on a coincidence. Can you believe it?
In the end it's always "Leave it to me for the next month!" (laughs)
山口「基本的には描いている時に浮かんできたもので作っています。
僕は「手塚治虫（OsamuTezka)」先生みたいに1000ページ（コマ）先を見越して描けるタイプではないので…。
ただ、１コマ１コマが密接に結びついていれば、１コマ目も1000コマ目も繋がっていると考えています。
「虎眼（Kogan)」の６本指のアイディアも、彼の凄味や異常さを表現する方法としてふと思いついたんです。
その後、歴史考証の「時野(Tokino)」先生から、「豊臣秀吉（Hideyoshi Toyotomi）」も６本指だったという話を聞き、
そこで「虎眼（Kogan）」の話と「秀吉（Hideyoshi)」の話を繋げていきました。
おかげで、ストーリーに深みが出せたと思っています。
でも、基本は偶然が集まっているだけですよ。自分を信じるしかないというか…。
いつも「来月の俺に任せた！」って（笑）。」

By doing this, continually analyzing what comes through your mind, the story is developed repeatedly.
By the way, I noticed that the there's very few dialogue in Shigurui... …
―そうやって思い浮かんだものを重ねて物語を展開しているわけですね。
ところで、「シグルイ（Sigurui）」は極端に台詞が少ないような気がするのですが…
It's been reduced intentionally.
This technique was developed by studying Ridley Scott's Alien.
That movie uses only the necessary minimum dialogue.
People in real life don't suddenly take an explaining tone, nor come up with elaborated dialogues.
With few dialogues you can give a sense of realism to a manga.
This is shown particularly clearly in the scenes that depict the tension during the tournament's attendance.
山口「それは意図的に少なくしているんです。
この技法は　リドリー・スコット監督の「エイリアン」から勉強しました。
あの映画って事柄に関する必要最低限の台詞しか使っていないんです。
現実の人間もいきなり説明口調になったり、カッコいい決め台詞を言ったりしませんよね。
漫画でも台詞が少ない方がリアリティを出せるんです。
特に立ち合いシーンでの緊張感を表現する場面などはそうですね。」

How are the techniques not depicted in the original novel invented?
原作で描かれていない技などはどうやって生み出しているんでしょうか？
I practiced karate and kendo, and because I still like fighting sports,
I like to assume that every concept is started by the movement.
I take the stance of the subject without a sword, and I pretend to strike.
Once you understand the the sword is an extention of your own hand (or part of your hand),
it is possible to come up with things very easily.
The confirmation of the result of the movement is done by let go of it because there is a punching bag in the house.
By the way, it is a nuisance to the neighbors..(laughs)
山口「剣道や空手をやっていましたし、今でも格闘技が好きだから、
その動きをきっかけにして発想しています。
いったん剣を持っていない素での状態で構えてみたり、素振りをしてみたりするんですよ。
剣も手の延長（手の一部）だと思って、それが持ち手まで短くなったと仮定すると
結構自由に発想できるんです。
家にサンドバックがあるので、実際に打ち込んでみたりして動きの確認作業をしています。
ひょっとしたら近所迷惑かも（笑）。」

Characters featured in another story of Suruga-jo gozenjiai,
Gannosuke Kutsuki and Yukinosuke Tsukioka, appear also if they're not part of the original plot.
―原作にないものといえば「駿河城御前試合（Suruga-jo gozenjiai)」の中の別作品の登場人物、
「屈木頑之助（Gannosuke kutsuki)」と「月岡雪之介（Yukinosuke Tsukioka)」が登場していますね。
I wanted some variation in Shigurui, despite longing for the story to advance fast.
It's a dangerous technique, but I personally dislike fearing it or avoiding it for a more "safe" way of plotting.
I thought that it's ok to take a break from the facts piled up in the story.
Even the defecation scene of Gannosuke, despite not being so plot-related (laughs), I drew that happily.
I hate the "scenery" in the story not changing.
You only have to do it safely..(laughs)
山口「『シグルイ』はどんどんストーリーが進んでいきますけど、その中で不確定要素が欲しいと思ったんですよ。
危険な手法ではありますけど、それを怖がっているのも嫌だな、無難になっちゃいけないな　と思って。
ここまで積み上げたものが　ぶっ壊れてもいいやと思うようにしたんです。
だって「頑之助（Gannosuke)」の排泄シーン・u>ﾆか、それまでの展開をぶっ壊しちゃうじゃないですか（笑）。
でもその方が、自分としては気持ちよく描ける。
物語の中の「景色」が変わらないのが嫌いなんでしょうね。
どうしてだろう…。無難にやればいいのに（笑）。

Though the dynamics between hero and heroine seem to break the usual pattern of the current work of Takayuki Yamaguchi...
―「シグルイ」そのものも、ヒーローやヒロインが活躍するような今迄の「山口貴由（TakayoshiYamaguchi）」の作品を「ぶっ壊してる」ように思われますが…。<
This applies for Goku-dou and even Banyu-inryoku.
I don't dare to put here the same 'Dream and hope' message that I put there.
On the contrary, I put the wild excitement, describing it by the art.
"We want to impress the reader, we want to make him cry", can't we think like that about Shigurui?
So I want to draw the frightening sides of the characters, their obsessive grudges and attachments.
For instance, Iku, Kogan's mistress, will have a hard life for falling in love with Irako.
It is not only fear of the body pain, I want to tell the cruelty of the fate.
That's the kind of "Cruelty" that Nanjo-sensei expressed so well in his works.
山口「『悟空道（Goku-dou）』や『蛮勇引力（Banyu-inryoku)』＜（※1）までがワンクッションです。
今迄の作品に込めていた『夢と希望』のようなメッセージはあえて入れないようにしています。
代わりにペンに殺気を込めて描いてますね。
『シグルイ』で『読者を感動させたい、泣かせたい』とは考えられないじゃないですか。
だけど、登場人物たちの恨みや執念といった恐ろしい部分は徹底して描ききりたい。
例えば、『いく（Iku)』は何も悪い事はしていないのに、『虎眼（Kogan）』の愛人だった事や、『伊良子(Irako)』に惚れてしまったことで、どんどん過酷な人生を歩む事になってしまう。
身体的な痛みとか恐怖だけじゃなく、運命の残酷さみたいなものを伝えてみたい。
そうすることで『南條(Nanjo)』先生の書いた『残酷』さを表現できると考えています。」

Then, let us hear your enthusiam for the future.
―では最後に今後の意気込みを聞かせてください。
I don't draw Shigurui because I want everyone to like it.
Asking for such a thing is quite impudent ..(laughs)
Anyway, when I gain a new fan, I feel stronger.
In any case I spend all my efforts on drawing, even without sleeping.
I can't do nothing else but persevering in working hard, focusing on each next scene.
山口「『シグルイ』は皆に好かれようとして描いてる漫画じゃないですからね。
それなのによろしくお願いしますっていうのは図々しいかな（笑）。
でも、いい読者さんがついてきてくれていると強く感じています。
とにかく全力で、毎月休まないで描きます。
最後のシーンまでキッチリ決めますんで、もう頑張るしかないですね。