Free Talks --------------------------------- COVER FLAP: Watsuki: But when these dolls have become this great? ( and look at the impressive quality of the hair...) Tsubame: ............................. this man has already finished.... (his human beings collection ...) ACTION DOLL. Well, well, well, I've finally bought it, the female dolls. I had promised never to lay my hands on them, but there were Nakoruru and Rimururu. Not only that, they have articulated joints! I, Watsuki Nobuhiro, have got to GET them! (like a Pokemon phrase). If they release the 2-player Nakorimu, then it would be just perfect! But action dolls... oh, my! Are they the "winds of change" that I talked about in the previous volume? (that would be disgusting...) --------------------------------- FREE TALK - Hi, it's Watsuki, it's been a long time. As the winter came, I, as a man who loves cold weather, finally started to work diligently. But all of a sudden the year was over... As usual, time flies like an arrow... About the last chapter of Kyoto Arc, "In The Blue Sky". This title is the title of a BGM from the game "Virtual On", Temujin stage. It was meant to be the blue sky of the last scene, but not only that, this BGM (to be more accurate, it's the Arrange version of this BGM) fits just perfectly in the image I had for the Kyoto arc, and I listened to that song a lot, especially when I was drawing, listening with my headphones, the fight Kenshin vs Shishio. So, the climax had to be related to that. And about the last page, I think many people realized it: I took it from the last scene of the first opening of the Ruroken Anime, "Sobakasu". Since the beginning, I thought that the best end would be the "I'm home", but I couldn't picture a nice image, so I saw the scene and said, "That's it". - And the Kyoto Arc is finally over. I planned it to last one year, but when I realized it had spent two years. Nevertheless, it was worth doing it, because my skills, as a manga artist, on feeling and thinking, were dramatically raised (think about it like a "level up"), and thus it was a major turning point of my life. Everybody who supported me throughout all this, I really thank you. And please keep supporting! - From now on, here comes the stupid talks. Starting with game talks, "Polygon Samurai Spirits". I'm writing this without knowing when this game will be available. It's painful to wait, but I have to bear it if a enjoyable game is to come out... And the "Gekka no Kenshi" ("Last Blade") is finally being unfolded...No, rather than talking, let's play it! Just to make it clear, I intend to play with Washizuka Keiichirou (laughs). As I wrote in the previous volume, let's do our best and hope that they bring a exciting game... - But to tell you the truth, lately I haven't been playing games. Nevertheless, the joystick of the Neo Geo CD finally broke down, so while I don't buy a new one, "Ten Samu" will be put aside. I'm not a "gameaholic", so I suffer no abstinence syndrome, but these days sure look like a bit depressing... --------------------------------- FREE TALK - As I can't play games, one of the things I've got against stress is figure collection. In this end of the year there's been a flood of figures and I shriek of pleasure. The Todd McFarlane toys know no limits in modeling techniques and the toy business began refining its products without damaging them. They're not figures, but the Gundam MG Series, the plastic models from Bandai, and the Evangelion LM-HG series are impossible to be ignored by a person from the Gundam Plastic Models Boom Era like me...(although I did build almost none of them). And about the action doll, which I discussed in the cover flip. No matter how beautiful the figure is, I've got no interest in figures that don't move. But once it moves, it's a completely different matter. Indeed, I've bought the Nakorimu doll from Takara and I'm really surprised (digressing a bit, but my friend Michimoto Munenori sensei was also surprised. And he can't stop praising the quality of the hair of the figures). And even the garage kit makers are putting some effort in action dolls, so although I have no immediate desire of buying it (I'm just too busy collecting Western toys...), I expect a lot of improvement in modeling techniques and technologies. If they keep on like this, maybe the "action doll without visible joints" isn't a crazy dream... - The other thing against stress is "night sights". Now, as it's winter, the atmosphere is cool and makes me feel good. But as my lifestyle doesn't allow me to walk around and appreciate the sights, so I'm now enjoying the TV images from the early morning. And I like the images taken from car/train/plane windows. "Windows from the world" is not entirely a bad idea, but I like, for example, a landscape taken from the Yamanote line or roads filmed while driving, some quite simple ones. Looks like I'm fond of "Easy travels at night" or something like that. I'm thinking about doing something like that in the end of the year. - And at last, some serious talk. In the Shonen Jump, the story goes on and more and more troubles are arising for me. I've got the storyline until the end, but as the story is deep, I've got really some emotions of mine drawn into it, so it doesn't get quite as desired, that's the truth. But as it's winter, I'm gradually recovering and feeling better. As opposed to this year, when I caused much trouble to everyone, I intend to work very hard next year. So, I'd like you to bear with me the following year, being "Smile and Happy End are the basis of the entertainment" the key words (another digression, but the key words between me and Michimoto sensei are "Manga artists are Dead or Alive, All or Nothing"...) Anyway, see you in the next volume.