*for anon who requested this, I’m sorry this took so long.
Please tell us your impression of each other’s works. We’ll start from Fujimaki-sensei. Fujimaki-sensei, when did you start reading Slam Dunk?
F: I started reading it around Shouhoku VS Ryounan match when I was in elementary school. At the time, because lots of my classmate were reading Slam Dunk, many of us joined Basketball club in Middle School, I was one of them.
I: If there were that many (people who joined the club), there must be a day when you couldn’t touch the ball at all, right?
F: There was time when I kept on dribbling while facing the wall…at the time I thought; Ah! This is what Hanamichi did! I stopped playing basketball in middle school, but Slam Dunk inspired me to write manga, and is foundation for my works.
I: There’s mangaka whose art style is influenced heavily by mangaka who inspired them, but Fujimaki-sensei is not like that.
F: I think the problem lies in my drawing ability (lol) As we grow older, our art style changes following the numbers of arts we saw, even then, Slam Dunk is still the center of my value. To have Inoue-sensei right in front of me now…honestly I’m still nervous!
I: I’m at the age to be called sensei…so, did you watch the anime first then the manga?
F: No. I bought Weekly Jump everyweek so I read manga first. After reading it once, I became addicted, I remember I used my new year’s gift to buy the whole volume.
I: Because there’re fans like that, I am here now (lol) Thank you veru much.
Fujimaki-sensei, in Slamd Dunk, what scene left deep impression in you? Who’s your favorite character?
F: The scene when Hanamichi dunked from above Maki during Shouhoku VS Kainan left very deep impression on me. The flow from rebound duel to dunk is very cool! The rhythm of the game that flowed as I turned the page…I remember it very clearly!
I: I see. I drew it 20 years ago so it took me some time to remember it. Then, what about your favorite character?
F: I think this is reflected as well in Kuroko no Basket, but I like plain characters. For example, Yasuda…
I: Super plain!!
F: The part where he made contribution by blending in with promising character like Rukawa is very good. For example, when he succesfully paced down the team when he was subbed in during the match against Toyotama. I also like Uekusa from Ryounan.
I: Did Uekusa even have character at all?
F: For some reason I really like it when people with character like him got to speak
I: During those times, even plain character’s expression became very good (lol).
Kuroko no Basket from Inoue-sensei’s Point of View
I: The setting for main protagonist is really good! I was really surprised; It’s amazing to get serialized with this setting!
F: Thank you very much!
I: How would a protagonist with his lack of presence lead the story? It must be hard. But with the arrival of rival characters becoming clear, I thought, “I see!”. I think a protagonist who stay in the dark while letting other character take the spotlight is very rare in shounen manga. How old were you when this series started?
F: I was 26 years old.
I: Why did you have this point of view back then? Characters’ charms play a big role in making Kuroko no Basket popular, but I think drawing a character like Kuroko who didn’t get the spotlight, and enjoyin it is amazing. Fujimaki-sensei too, do you think you share similarity with Kuroko?
F: I think it might be it. Even if I didn’t make any big contribution like Kuroko.
I: Do you hava that tendency as well in your work place? Like raising your assitant…
F: We didn’t have such margin during serialization but I received a lot of help from my assistants. But I keep on thinking that I should aim to be more independent rather than settling down with current environment.
I: Member’s of Kiseki no Sedai have colors in their name, right? Like a squadron
F: It’s exactly as that (lol)
I: I thought; ah, the yellow color really appeared first (lol). Next, there’s this unique green person… I found the part where the main protagonist is in slightly different place from the center of the story when it is advancing in easy way is interesting. Also, I never draw the scene from Winter Cup but I think you sucesfully captured the atmoshpere of Tokyo Gymnasium!
Inoue-sensei, who is your favorite character from Kuroko no Basket?
I: No matter how I think about it, it’s Kuroko! His pass is no joke! I mean, basketball is heavy, right?
F: I kept on getting tsukkomi whenever I drew it (lol) Inou-sensei, is there any character you enjoy drawing?
I: No one in particular. At the time I was still lacking in epxerience so whoever I drew ended up becoming my own flesh and blood so it was very enjoyable. Didn’t your drawing change the more you draw? Something like you’re getting better at drawing expression or something like that. But if there was any character who kept on changing, then it was Sendou
F: Really?
I: Sendou is a very happy go lucky, either as player or character he had no flaw. I couldn’t grasp this person called Sendou. Even though I drew him coolly with his super play, his lack of flaw made it hard for me to understand him. Does Fujimaki-sensei has any character like that?
F: None. I had very little similarity with Kagami so his character was kind of unsteady until the very one. But Kuroko was a hassle to draw. He won’t speak from himself so I had to have another character talking to him.
I: But he’s not Kuroko if he speaks…it’s troublesome indeed, Rukawa too, he can play but he didn’t speak, that lack of freedom itself is what shaped the character. Probably we enjoy drawing someone like that because we’re mangaka
Was there any difficulties in serializing basket manga in Weekly JUMP?
I: Someone from editorial told me that basket manga is difficult. Well, at the time he thought basket was an easy sport.
F: In fact, it’s a very intense sport
I: There was that, and at the time, the point was to make the story advance by using basket as its focus. Around the time when 5 players are gathered, there were responses to let the story circulate around basketball, but the characters themselves were in argument with each other…I was very consufed at how should I put the conclusion to it (lol)
F: The argument scene was very good. Inoue-sensei’s hardwork made him the the pioneer, but the path he opened for us was so big that sometimes I feel pressured when people compared me with Inoue-sensei.
I: For baseball of boxing manga¸there were too many titles to compare with so there’s no such pressure
F: Because I was conscious of it (being compared to Slam Dunk), I made special technique and gave characters ability that was easy to understand.
Your art style also changed during that time
F: Once I decided the direction my story is heading to, I started drawing everything in more flashy manner. The staffs were also at their best, we started paying more attention to details like basketball shoes.
I: kuroko no Basket was also like that?
F: In reality, no matter how quick your pass is, there’s no way you can do it in that airflow (lol). I think I was also influenced with more realistic basketball manga. What about Inoue-sensei, did you consciously change your art style?
I: Somehow. Once your manga became tankoubon, you can view it objectively. I realize some parts are still not good and changed it. It doesn’t mean I changed it regularly, tho. Fujimaki-sensei too, you haven’t solidify your art style
F: I’m the middle of it. It’s not like I’m not satisfied with my style now, but the moment I think; this is my art style! I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to grow anymore. I always consciously change the way I draw mouth or nose.
I: Me too! Especially during Slam Dunk’s serialization, I was very scared of having my art stopped at that stage so I kept on changing the way I draw.
F: Speaking of which, I gave different touch for each volume
I: For me, drawing manga is not about settling (with one art style) after coming through certain stage, it’s always an up and down slope, trial and error is unavoidable. For such reason, I think Fujimaki-sensei’s act of not solidifying his art is a good thing. Fujimaki-sensei, have you ever think of art style as your homework.
F: It’s exactly like that. Even though I tried giving different touch to each of my volumes, when I compared it to Inoue-sensei’s, I don’t think I’ve done enough.
I: It doesn’t mean my art style is the right style. I think Fujimaki-sensei’s destination (art style) is different kind of style (with mine).
Please tell us your schedule
F: I made name in 2 days then finished the chapter in 4 days. In the beginning, it wasn’t as hard but after the anime began, it’s getting harder. Inoue-sensei, I heard you were very fast when you made Slam Dunk?
I: There was a time when I finished it a week before deadline. Ah, I just want to scream this part out loud (lol). Also, sometimes I went out to draw name right after I finished linearting then let my assistants do the job, then I returned with finished name before they’re done with their works. Maybe because at the time, I didn’t have a lot of thing to ponder on and just kept on running. What about Fujimaki-san’s staffs?
F: During the later half of series, I had 10 assistans…
I: 10 assistants? But basketball manga is a though one to draw afterall, especially during the game. We have know exactly the position of each 10 players in the court.
F: Not all my assistants are familiar with basketball too. I have question for Inoue-sensei, what should we do to improve our art?
I: it’s not about thinking of being good but what kind of art we want to produce. Rather than skilfulnes at drawing, what do we want to express? This has big influence in changing our style. For example, Fujimaki-sensei, is there any particular part you want to change?
F: Expression. I want to be able to draw lots of expressions.
I: Everyone is different. As for me, my goal is to be able to convey what I want to convey through my drawings, not by words. Not only our drawing ability, discovering each and every human’s emotion and expression is also an important thing. In other words, we have to draw a lot of things.
F: I will do my best!
Last chapter that you put your everything into
I: It’s been 6 years since Kuroko no Basket started its serialization. Congratulation!
F: Thank you
I: It’s going to be lonely now that there’s no more basketball manga. Did anyone say anything to you when you were working on the last chapter?
F: I was asked to continue the story a little bit but if I did it, characters’ ability will inflate so I refused.
I: You were very resolute about it. But, well, when we were writing the last chapter, people will come and tell us things (lol)
F: Did the same thing happened to Inoue-sensei?
I: People around me. They told me this and that (lol)
Inoue-sensei, do you still remember how did it feel when you were writing the last chapter of Slam Dunk?
I: I remember feeling very satsified after I finished drawing their match against Sennou. I put lots of thing I wanna draw into that match to the point I think this will be the end of my life as mangaka. It was a very refreshing feeling. There were probably some people related to Slam Dunk who wants me to continue the serialization. Even then, it’s our job and we all know how we want to end Slam Dunk so we felt very accomplished. The only regret I had was not able to give notice in advance which surprised many readers and left some speculation.
F: At the time I was very surprised as well!
Is there any continuation to Slam Dunk?
I: For me, Slam Dunk is a very important world. Of course, as the world of Slam Dunk continue the way is it, there exist some part of that world that I didn’t draw. However, I have no plan on drawing it for the time being. It doesn’t mean the door to that world is closed forever, I don’t want to say “I don’t wanna draw it” either. I want it to remain in neutral zone.
F: As an adult, now I can relate very well with Inoue-sensei’s words, but as a child, I simply wondered what happened to Morishige Hiroshi (lol) It was very unfortunate. That’s why when I was drawing Kuroko no Basket, I decided to make them go face to face against their rival as the underplot.
I: You were very kind to your works (characters)
F: I think it’s very methodical. Inoue-sensei, at what timing did you decide to make match against Sennou as the last match?
I: Right after Tournament chart was decided.
F: So, you were planning to make them face Morishige and Tsuchiya since the beginning?
I: I want to show “There’re these kind of people in IH!”. In reality, there’re times when we cannot see all cards we wanted to see.
F: Morishige had ‘last boss aura’ with him so I ended up thinking as what you said.
I: I think I made people expected too much. But without character like him, it wouldn’t be an IH. Also, people might get really excited about parts that I didn’t draw
F: Surely, it’s what made it (Slam Dunk) feel very real.
I: Another thing, I have to continue the story with the premise that protagonist will win in final. I didn’t like it. I have decided that they will win against Souyou and Toyotama, but when I think about the enemy, drawing became very hard. There’ll be at least 5 matches after Toyotama. As for Morishige and Tsuchiya, I’m sorry (lol)
Your next work after your big hits and supports
Inoue-sensei did “Vagabond” after Slam Dunk ended its serialization
I:Even if I thought it’s better to end it (Slam Dunk) like that, after a year passed, suddenly I found myself wanting to draw it again, how surprsing! (lol)
Were there lots of offer from Editorial after you finished Slam Dunk?
I: I didn’t have any particular thing I want to draw but at the time I was reading Yoshikawa Eiji-sensei’s “Miyamoto Musashi” so I wanted to draw something like that. “Vagabond” are created from characters like “Matahara” and “Takezou”…even if it’s currently on hold (lol)
F: Please tell us the whole story behind “Real”
I: My editor’s powerful temptation (lol) I told my Editor who went with me to NBA that “I wanted to draw manga about wheelchair basket.” When I was working on manga about Ice Sledge Tournament in Nagano’s Paralympic. It was not meant to be serialized but after three chapters, it became serialized for real (lol)
F: I read “Real”, the pain and suffering was very intense
I: I understand that for “Real” I have to be able to imagine what kind of “pain” they went through. It’s not something that people who had not experience it firsthand can understand. The way I draw I changed depending on whether i can understand and imagine the pain or not. In the end, there’s a limit to things I can do (draw/imagine) by myself so I received a lot of help from Editor that I previously mentioned. What about Fujimaki-sensei’s next work?
F: For the time being, the story will continue for a little bit on JUMP NEXT. I’m planning to write about the gathering of 5 Kiseki no Sedai.
I: In other words, you still haven’t think of your next work?
F: Since I like golf, I want to try drawing a manga about it, but whether I’m suited to it is another story. That’s why I wanted to try a lot of things.
To wrap things up, Inoue-sensei, please give Fujimaki-sensei a yell of support!
I: I want to show my respect to Fujimaki-sensei who managed to draw Kuroko no Basket until the very end despite the manny accidents that had happened during the serialization. I think Fujimaki-sensei is advancing to the next step as mangaka when he finished that last chapter. From that experience, when the expectation toward him is at its climax, I hope he come up with his next work!
F: Thank you very much! I will try to draw lots of things! Back then, I remembered readin somewhere that each mangaka have a ‘star’ inside of them as their objective, for me, that star is Inoue-sensei. Please take care of yourself and go ahead. I will set higher goal for myself and catch up with you!
Thank you very much!
