If there is a pair of brothers who are the most famous in the Japanese manga industry, then Kishimoto Saishi Seishi is definitely the first choice of many people. Recently, some Japanese media interviewed the brothers. In this issue, they'll talk about how to make comics more interesting.

Q: Let's continue to interview two people who have realized their dreams of becoming manga artists and are still active today. So when do you feel the joy of being creators?

Sheng Shi: In my words, when a work is finished, there have been cases where you can't draw anything until you prepare the next work...... So just being able to draw something is enough to make me happy. I think the most important thing a manga artist can do is to put what he wants to express into his work.

Qi Shi: There's nothing that makes me happier than seeing the readers' reactions. As for feeling joy...... I guess it's done storyboarding. Storyboarding can be a very draining task. Instead, when creating a character...... It often feels painful.

Q: Do you feel like you're putting your own mood into your work?

Qi Shi: Yes. Once you concentrate on drawing a storyboard, it's bound to feel that way. The Payne battle in "Naruto" especially made me feel hard. I couldn't sleep and was sweating profusely...... After the storyboard, I felt a sense of liberation, but the process was still very tormenting. Sheng Shi, did you have such a mentally painful experience over there?

Sacred History: Yes. I don't know exactly what time it is, but I feel like I'm having a mental breakdown...... When I came back to my senses, I found that I weighed less than 50 kilograms. That's when I realized that you have to be physically and mentally healthy to draw comics.

Qi Shi: That's really the case. When it comes to the physical aspect, it is also painful when I have low back pain.

Shengshi: I'm still suffering from low back pain......

Qi Shi: Because I'm sitting there working, my waist is very important. I even think that physical health is directly proportional to the fun of storyboarding. Therefore, it is important for a cartoonist to take care of his body in terms of technique, such as eating habits.

Q: The two of you seem to have experienced similar pain, so do you feel that at that time the brother's existence became a spiritual pillar?

Shengshi: When the spirit is relatively fragile, it is indeed worth relying on. Of course, sometimes Qi Shi called me, and I came to be the listener.

Qi Shi: I think cartoonists are like this, it's really painful when you can't think of an idea. Sometimes inspiration can be summed up in the process of talking to others, and even more so when communicating with someone as close as Shengshi.

Sacred History: Like the problem of the performance of the work, the concept of battle...... We'll talk about many, many things and then find the feeling.

Qi Shi: But in this way, I tend to vacillate between the opinions of the editor in charge and my younger brother. I tried to choose the best content from the opinions of the editor-in-charge and my brother, but one day the editor-in-charge told me, "The work is done by the editor-in-charge and the writer, and I hope you don't take other people's opinions." After that, I rarely discussed the works with the Holy History.

Seishi: Even so, I still call (laughs). However, no matter what my opinion is with the editor-in-charge, Qi Shi has his own ideas, so other people's opinions are just some inspiration for Qi Shi.

Qi Shi: I don't think I can express my thoughts to readers if I don't have a concept of "I want to draw this anyway". I've heard that there are often new writers who change their minds because of the opinions of the editors, but in fact, this is not an opinion. Only those who bring editors to their knees with their own ideas can be considered to have grown as writers.

Q: Mr. Qi Shi, who can portray hot-blooded boy manga, is also very convincing.

Qi Shi: But when I was a rookie, the editor-in-charge was angry with me and said, "You've listened to too many other people's opinions!" "(laughs) But the editor in charge also knows what I'm thinking, so I'm able to keep my heart peeling for manga...... Judging from the results, it is good.

Q: I have a responsible editor and a younger brother who can share ideas. These are all the pillars of Teacher Qi Shi. However, both brothers are cartoonists...... As a result, I was a little surprised that there was also an exchange of works.

Shengshi: It's not just a discussion on the phone, I will show Qi Shi a storyboard before the serialization.

Qi Shi: At that time, I would give him guidance in the name of preaching (laughs).

Shengshi: He'll say whatever he wants anyway. For example, give up this setting, and pay more attention to this part.

Qi Shi: I'm very strict with my brother. However, from the beginning of "Suketai Sword 09", I feel that I have rarely praised him.

Q: "Suketai Knife 09" can be praised by Mr. Qi Shi strictly, but I think this work is different from Mr. Shengshi's previous style.

Sheng Shi: Because I chose "crime" and "revenge" and other slightly heavy themes. However, I'm not an active and cheerful type, so when I was thinking about what I wanted to draw, I naturally had this style. In the past, I was forced to paint works that give people vitality, but now I have to incorporate my own ideas.

Q: What do you think you want to convey to your readers...... In other words, the theme of the work has a lot to do with the artist's own experience.

Shengshi: Yes. One of the main themes of this episode of "Suketai Knife 09" is "comparison", and this is something that I have been experiencing. Although they are twins, they are different from Qi Shi in terms of body size and health. Compared to the children around me, I was too weak to eat and play like everyone else. Because I feel this a lot, I wanted to draw a work that compares things from different angles.

Qi Shi: Twins are definitely not immune to being compared. However, even a "comparison" can become a theme that can fully arouse the imagination, including jealousy, advantages and disadvantages, winners and losers, and so on.

Q: Once you knew what you wanted to draw, you were able to connect with the birth of Suketato, a judge who compares the weight of life.

Seishi: Yuji, the protagonist who is prone to neurotic comparisons, reflects many of my own characteristics. And the people who help the Taidao led by him will help the victims' families crusade against the perpetrators. But they also have a lot of thoughts about the lives they have lost and the lives they have taken for themselves. Friends, family members, lovers - the more people involved, the heavier the weight of life. And even the perpetrators are the same. In the face of this weight of "life", how does Suketai Dao face the victim and the perpetrator? I hope that all readers will pay attention.

Q: After watching "Suketai Knife 09", I feel that this thought-provoking content really deeply reflects the thoughts of Mr. Shengshi.

Shengshi: Just now Qi Shi also said that he must have a firm determination to "want to paint this no matter what", and in this work, I should have come out.

Qi Shi: This kind of strong idea is the most important thing in the work. In the final analysis, what you want to paint and what you want to express is the most important thing. The stronger this desire to express an idea, the more acceptable and interesting it will be. The Holy History has such a strong idea, then the reader will naturally understand...... That's the end of the praise (laughs).

Shengshi: Although Qi Shi is very strict with my comics, he will say that it is funny when he occasionally contacts him. At the time of the seventh volume of "666 Satan"?

Qi Shi: Around that time. Usually I watched my brother's work, and I thought that although some scenes were great, they should be more gentle. Or maybe someone who doesn't show their face in a certain shot should show their faces, or something...... That's what I'm more concerned about.

Shengshi: But Qi Shi seems to like the appearance of "Suketai Sword 09" very much, so let him see it when the single book is released.

Qi Shi: If it causes a topic, I'll watch it. To be honest, I still think there are some parts of my brother who are not considered "cartoonists". It's not about whether the work sells well or not, but it has to make people feel a sense of surprise, so I'll pay attention to whether "Suketai Knife 09" can become such a work.