Free Talks --------------------------------- COVER FLAP: Watsuki (smoking): About that sakura stuff, now there's a boom at the workplace, y'know... (everybody's quite into it...) Kujiranami: I've heard that the assistants are collecting tons and tons of cards... SAKURA IN THE SPRING. This spring ('99) marks the fifth year of Ruroken. Man, I'm surprised. In the spring of five years ago, I, who was then a stupid that understood nothing about many things, used to go to a school at night to see the sakura (cherry blossoms) whenever I couldn't write down a convincing "name". (note from Serizawa: "name" (neemu) is the word manga artists use to refer to the draft of the manga. First they decide the dialogs of the characters, then they draw a rough sketch of the probable panels of the manga. And this sketch is the "name") And I motivated myself, telling myself that "If it's the flower who blossoms, then it's also the flower whose petals are scattered!" Thinking about that now, what a stupidity. But after five years, I think now that "If it's the flower who blossoms, then it's also the flower whose petals are scattered!" --------------------------------- FREE TALK - GYAAAAAAAASSSS!!! All of a sudden, I start writing this with a cry from the depths of my soul, courtesy of Fujiko Fujio "A" Sensei. (Note from Serizawa: Fujiko Fujio was the author of the too famous (at least in Japan) Doraemon, and is one of the three "masters" of the manga in the past, together with the physician Tezuka Osamu (Astro Boy, "Ribbon no Kishi", Black Jack, among others) and Ishinomori Shoutaroh (Black Kamen Rider). In fact, Fujiko Fujio was a pseudonym for two artists, who drew Doraemon together. One of them is the "A" Sensei. Among their works, the most famous were Doraemon (of course), Ninja Hattori-kun, Paa-Man, Oba Q, etc.) Hi, it's Watsuki, it's been a long time. Indeed the "Manga Michi" ("The Manga Path") is a must for manga artists who are nearly giving up. I've read it again and now I feel my power is replenished. Once more, GYAAAAAAAASSSS!!! - To start with, the usual figure and game talks. About the Western figures, the X-Men series is over and the McFarlane toys are most of them creatures,so I'm a bit sad.The Japanese figures are either poorly made or has no gimmicks, or has too much of them, so I'm a bit disappointed. I believe that the action figures should be good to display them and to play with them, so I beg to the toy business to improve a tiny little bit more, although I understand all the efforts to do so -- but who am I to talk like this? Sorry, please keep on with the good job. But about the Gashapon I told you about in the previous volume, I'm really into it. From Bandai's HG (High Grade) Series, the Gundam Gouf and B-3 Gouf, the True Getter Robot (I'm awaiting anxiously in the Series 2 the Old Getter from the OVA version). From U-jin SR (Super Real) Series, the Samurai Spirits (Nanase Aoi sensei version!), the good and old Robot Museum (Machine Blaster and Atranger!). I've even started thinking, "Perhaps there's somebody who is reading my mind and lining up for those goods". Good! - About the games, I haven't played much of them, since I'm a bit far from arcades. I've bought the Dreamcast, and played Capcom's "Power Stone" a bit, but all I can do is to lose to my assistants, who fight like they were taking their revenge after all I've been doing to them. But I've got two titles I'm interested in, and I'm in doubt whether I should buy them or not. Probably when this tankobon is out, I'll have them bought, so I'll tell about that in the next volume. Just to let you know, one of them is Gal Games! Are you finally giving in to the dark side, Watsuki?? Are you finally going to cross the point of no return, Nobuhiro?? Is there salvation to a man who is nearly breaking up as he reaches the age of thirty??? Answers in the next volume. - Changing the subject, we're in the cherry blossoms's season, as I wrote in the cover flap. Last year I didn't have time to realize it, given the schedule, but this year I want to see the cherry blossoms at night ("yozakura"). It's not bad to have fun while watching flowers, but lately, perhaps because of my age, I want rather to feel the atmosphere of the cherry blossoms at night. I will shave my beard in order to avoid being caught by the police (I have faced this trouble before), get a can of coffee (since I can't drink alcohol) and watch the cherry blossoms, remembering the spiritual hunger I felt in the beginning of the series, heightening the tension, raising the voltage and walking the path of the manga. So, to end this, let's yell for the third time, GYAAAAAAAASSSS!!! So, let's meet again in the next volume. (note from Serizawa: I don't know anything about Gundam et al., so if you find any mistakes, please let me know!)