Chapter 4: Expectation vs. Reality as a Manga Artist
──You've said that you turned to manga creation since you were struggling to find work outside of the industry. Did any particular artists or works inspire you to make this choice? Also, what were your reasons for choosing manga production over video games or general illustration?
Sui Ishida
I rushed into becoming a manga artist; there weren't any specific inspirations for me at the time. Though after the series was officially established, I sort of rediscovered my admiration for manga artists like Yoshihiro Togashi and Kentaro Miura.
As for going into manga, I did waver between video games and manga, actually. And in fact, I went for video games first, even submitting an application to one company. But I gave up with that because I couldn't fully understand the application process.
And general illustration never crossed my mind, since I wasn't very good at drawing back then.
──Is there any fundamental principle you stand by as a manga artist?
Sui Ishida
Well...I guess, I try not to let my successes go to my head, you know?
──How do you stay motivated despite the immense demand and pressure inherent in producing an ongoing series? And what do you do to press forward when you find yourself in a slump?
Sui Ishida
I think it's important not to rely solely on motivation to keep you going.
Slumps vary in intensity; I just do what I can, really. Even when things are really bad, I just deal with it and spend however much time I need to to push past it. Does that even count here? I know it's not much of an answer...
──Looking at your work—its content, composition, and the ideas referenced within it—it seems apparent that you draw inspiration from many different sources. I'd love any insights you might be able to share on your habits or methods for managing these inspirations.
Sui Ishida
I'm not much of an avid reader, neither of manga nor books, so I'd actually say the amount of inspiration from other works that goes into my own is lower than you might think. Of course, if I get my hands on a book that looks interesting, I will check it out. I've tried setting a reading goal for myself before, but I couldn't keep up.
I will say, though, that I have been watching more movies in the past few years.
I used to not really watch them much at all. (I get bored sitting still for too long.) But the friend who helped me finish “Tokyo Ghoul:re” is a real movie buff, and constantly pushed for me to check some out. After over ten years of persuasion, I finally gave in.
But I knew I wouldn't be able to keep it up unless I set a watch quota for myself from the start, so right off the bat, I shot for around 150 movies per year. And I've actually been able to manage a good 100 to 120. I tend to favor mindless fluff, though, so I'm not really sure if what I watch actually informs my creative process much, if at all.
──Is there anything you're into right now? Any trends you've been following?
Sui Ishida
I do try to keep up, and even write manga based on whatever's popular at the moment—but with how fickle fads can be, that really just means I have a ton of storyboards that've never seen the light of day.
──Do you have to be careful at all in your relationships with the publisher and editors?
Sui Ishida
I think anyone working in any industry has to be careful to some extent, when it comes to their professional relationships. I'm not producing my work alone, after all, so I always try to be appreciative of the people I work with...and of my readers as well, of course.
──When writing, how do you keep your readers in mind?
Sui Ishida
My thought process usually goes something like, sorry readers, I know this is pretty tough to parse. Are you getting it? I'm going to keep dealing with complex subjects either way, but I'll do my best to make it as easy to grasp as possible, so try to bear with me.
──Do you have any goals for the future, or things you'd really like to try?
Sui Ishida
I want to publish another series while I'm still working on "Choujin X". Basically, if "Choujin X" is the main dish, I want to try serving up something on the side, too.
