Chapter 1: The Inspiration for “Golden Kamuy” and How It All Started
──I heard “Golden Kamuy” started with a suggestion from your editor to create a hunting manga. Walk us through how the story took shape.
Satoru Noda
The story took its current form when I combined its outline with a stockpile of interesting ideas I'd saved up to use in a manga one day.
Also, I was lucky enough to have an editor, Hakko Okuma, who gave me plot twists and ideas that I couldn't have come up with on my own,
as well as a wide range of experts who specialized not only in Ainu culture but also history and biology, who shared their extensive knowledge with me.
──Every story needs characters, a plot, and a setting. Which one is the most important to you?
Satoru Noda
Personally, I'd say it's the setting. Small details like background stories and props are something I can never pay enough attention to. That obsession stems from my belief that realism lies in the details. Without a sense of reality, readers would never buy into the far-fetched lies and fiction of the story.
──In terms of the characters and plot, how far in advance did you plan things out when the series began?
Satoru Noda
I'd known the location of the gold cache indicated by the cipher from the get-go and had already developed some of the prisoners needed to make the plot work. And, in case the series got canceled due to lack of popularity, I also had another storyline that would wrap up with fewer prisoners.
I also had come up with a possible story turn that would involve some characters heading north into Russia. That's why Asirpa has blue eyes—I had thought about her wanting to visit her roots in Russia from the outset.
But that doesn't mean I had everything mapped out perfectly. Some details still remained vague. There were many parts I drew on the fly, driven by intuition and momentum. In hindsight, I was risking the story's consistency, but fortunately, it never fell apart. There were even times when things miraculously fell into place like puzzle pieces.
──When the serialization was greenlit, did you have any goals, or anything you wanted to express no matter what?
Satoru Noda
I was driven by the ambition to produce the most detailed Ainu-themed work ever made. As an author and entertainer, I wanted to convey the beauty and charm of Ainu culture in a positive way.
In Hokkaido, there are people of Ainu descent who proudly preserve traditional crafts—many of which take years to master—and pass them down to future generations. They have been generous with their support for the adaptations of “Golden Kamuy”.
I see it as validation of the sincerity of everyone involved in the series, or at least proof that we created something that resonates with them. I simply cannot thank them enough.
──So much research went into this work, but how much of it did you do prior to serialization? And, how did you manage to do further research during the tight schedule once the series began?
Satoru Noda
I took a number of research trips all over Japan before and during serialization. I even sacrificed my regular hiatuses—and my health at times—to conduct research. When the schedule was too tight, I asked my editor, cameraman, or even my friends and family to take reference photos. I could never have finished this work without their help.
Being a manga artist isn't just about having drawing skills. And being able to tell stories isn't enough, either.
What you need on top of that is the mental and physical fortitude to keep going for years, and support from others.
Part 2 will be released on Friday, September 25, —so please look forward to it!!