Volume 22
[TBA.]

Volume 21
[TBA.]

Volume 20
[TBA.]

Volume 19
[TBA.]

Volume 18
[TBA.]

Volume 17
The more I research history, the more I think, “Oh, it'd be interesting to turn this person into a main character!” Making historical manga is hard work with a lot of constraints, so I think this is the only one I'll do. But if anyone can think of a historical figure it would be interesting to see me portray, whether in Japanese history or world history, let me know. It might prove useful in some way or another.

Volume 16
Selfishness, lack of consideration, hypocrisy, indolence, arrogance, incompetence, bullying... When people are on the receiving end of these things, they don't like it but then they turn around and do the same thing to others. I feel like about 70 percent of human ugliness is contained in the act of leaving only one square of toilet paper without changing the roll, with the excuse that you're leaving a square for the next person to use.

Volume 15
I work with a lot of people in different occupations to create the covers, caligraphy, and historical setting of this manga. I'm like a producer who pulls it all together. It's important to ensure that my collaborators enjoy themselves. I want the work they do to be new and exciting, so I propose ideas outside their customary tasks instead of relying on techniques and tricks we've already used. They're all talented and knowledgeable, and willing to take on any challenge. I get to witness that up close, so I end up being being the one who enjoys the work the most.

Volume 14
I was born and raised in Iruma City. When I was a child, the sound of the children's song "Yuyake Koyake" as arranged by my father would come from the loudspeakers around town. I knew of no version of that song that was more raucous. I grew up hearing it every day about the time I finished playing and at bedtime when I was in kindergarten, and when I was in elementary school and junior high. My father has passed on and the music has changed, but no matter what city I move to, and no matter what music I hear in the evening, part of me expects to hear that raucous song.

Volume 13
No matter how popular the subject, whether it's the Three Kingdoms or the Shinsengumi, history rarely has a pretty, happy ending. That's why manga authors must always think about how to use their skills to make history amusing and clear-cut, with a good ending. I want to tell a story that makes readers think, "I'm glad I read that," after they've finished the final chapter. That desire hasn't changed since I first became a manga author, so I hope you'll stick with me to the end.

Volume 12
Public opinion as revealed by Jump surveys is unique. The results on topics such as reader behavior are completely different from what comes to light online and elsewhere. Sometimes people only skim my work, sometimes they pay attention to every aspect of it, sometimes they embrace it no matter what I do, and sometimes they fixate forever on the slightest error. Overall, the surveys are as multifaced as a human personality. I've been studying them for almost 20 years and I never lose interest. I'm grateful to those of you who always send in survey responses... and I like your personality!

Volume 11
There isn't much documentation on this time period, so it's like the history consists of 20 percent historical fact and 80 percent conjecture. In other words, if even an armchair historian like me can grasp just a little historical fact, it's possible to guesstimate to fill in the rest. When it came to things like Kamakura's defenses in this volume, I started by puzzling them out for myself. When I asked my historical advisor Hongo Sensei about it, he said, "You've got a good eye for this." It felt like I'd gotten a good grade in school, so I was ecstatic.

Volume 10
People have stopped marveling at the rapid advance of technology because recently, it feels like it has stalled. Microwave ovens have automatic heat-up functions that make food so hot it burns your tongue. As a result of air conditioners having too many features, it's impossible to get a room to a comfortable temperature anymore. And using kanji conversion when we type is making us all dumber... I sure hope manga doesn't stop making progress!

Volume 9
I don't post on social media because I don't have anything interesting to say about my daily life. When I run across something interesting, I tuck it away in my head for when I meet people face-to-face, or I channel it into my work. At the moment, however, I have this space, though it goes through my publisher. If I didn't have that, then I might find some other modest means.

Volume 8
If there's an animal I'm most like, it's a spider. I don't move much or change my location. I just wait for my prey to fall into my web. When I see how the spider outside my window catches one victim after another with a small web, I can tell it chose its location well, and I find that admirable. I say that like I'm cool or something, but I'm just a manga author who's practically a shut-in. I freaked out the other day when I found a spider in my house.

Volume 7
If possible, I want to live forever. It's not that I don't want to die - it's more that I'm frustrated that I won't be able to see or experience new technologies or discoveries after I'm gone. It's even more frustrating because perhaps in a few generations, there will be technology that allowes us to have longer lives. I don't care if I don't have a body. I just want my spirit and curiosity to live on...

Volume 6
How to fold a triangular milk pack, how to research threadworms, the commands for superspecial moves in early fighting games, the lyrics to songs no one sings anymore, how to draw manga the analog way... I wish there was a way to uninstall knowledge I don't use anymore to open up memory space in my brain. As a middle-aged man, I seriously worry about losing memory retention.

Volume 5
When people ask me who I base my characters on, I answer, "Mostly me." For most characters, I imagine what I would do if I had lived at this time, in this environment, with this personality, with these abilities, and with these desires. But that makes it hard to create characters who don't think about anything. For better or worse, I've always thought about things, at times analyzing and at times fretting over the past, so I don't know what it's like to act without thought.

Volume 4
Sometimes there are video games with a bunch of Jump characters, and I'm grateful that my characters have been included a few times. But my manga characters tend to be weak in video games. They're tricky or speedy or whatever. People who play a lot of such games tend toward characters that are powerful on offense, so they don't even consider my characters. Next time, maybe I'll create a character with monstrous strength.

Volume 3
Part of my purpose in creating this series was to repay my debt to Jump for presenting me to the world. Some big series had just finished in Jump, so I thought it would be great if I provided more motivation for people to buy Jump. Intent is one thing, but I tend to disregard profits and was prepared to be in the red if the series ended early. Luckily, that didn't happen, so I'm truly thankful. Above all, I'm happy there's no need to worry, because series by young authors are hitting it big in Jump one after another.

Volume 2
I think what an author has to be the most careful about when creating historical fiction is getting too absorbed in history. The more you learn about history, the more you realize how much deeper you can go, and if you get too obsessed, you'll leave the reader behind. While this series may be based on historical fact, it's primarily a work of entertainment, so I want to approach the history with a certain degree of lightness and looseness.

Volume 1
When I was a boy, I was good at dodging in dodgeball. I would always be the last player remaining, so I felt like a hero. The boy in this story is a historical personage who recreates that feeling for me. If readers find a little-known period in Japanese history to be thrilling through the unique perspective he provides, both the boy from 30 years ago and the boy from 700 years ago would be proud.