CATDOLL: Is Naruto based on Kishimoto? An interview with Masashi Kishimoto, the father of Naruto

On the 10th of this month, the popular manga "Naruto", which has been serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" since 1999, officially ended in chapter 700. The protagonist Naruto, who is determined to become the strongest ninja, meets his friends, fights against powerful enemies, and bravely faces the crisis of world destruction after growing up. It describes such a magnificent story. After 15 years of serialization, the author Masashi Kishimoto, who just came to an end, is our interviewee this time.

“It doesn’t feel real at all”

[Question]——What is your current state of mind?

Kishimoto: After all, it has only been less than 12 hours since I finished the last draft, so it doesn't feel real at all. I thought I would at least feel a sense of liberation, but I didn't expect that the weekly deadlines for 15 years have been engraved on me, and I still feel that there will be a deadline next week. I once planned to do something after the end, but when the end came, I didn't know where to start. Anyway, I will clean up the studio first. Then do something other than drawing comics, such as sports. Ah, of course I will still draw comics. I am currently preparing to create a "Naruto" spin-off in the form of a short-term concentrated serialization in the spring of next year.

[Q] When did you start thinking about the ending?

Kishimoto: I had already decided from the beginning that the protagonist Naruto and another character Sasuke who appeared at the beginning of the story would end with a duel between these two people. However, whether they would fight as friends or enemies, and what kind of lines to use, were gradually finalized during the serialization process. I wanted to enter the end two or three years ago, and decided to finish it with a few more chapters about half a year ago.

When I first started serializing, the editor told me to “continue for five years.” I was panicked at the time, “Really? Another five years?” When I started serializing, I had to endure the burden of the weekly serialization schedule, and I had the thought of “it’s so hard, I might as well finish it early.” Of course, I didn’t really want to finish it right away. But I never thought it would last for 15 years.

“The characters are quite tenacious”

The story took so long to write, mostly because the characters I wrote were hardworking and tenacious. I could easily come up with answers and solutions, but they didn't. They didn't give up, didn't give in, and exhausted their strength before they finally understood, or finally got better. If I interfered and made them do what I wanted, it would be too unreal. The characters created in this way would also feel fake. So the actual number of pages drawn was twice the number of pages I originally conceived.

[Question] - For example, in the heated chapter "Pain Arc", the enemy commander Pain understood Naruto's words and gave up the fight. What kind of dialogue can not only make Pain understand, but also make the readers understand? Is it more difficult to conceive such a part?

Kishimoto: When I started drawing the battle with Pain, I didn't immediately decide whether to end the battle with a conversation. It took me a long time to finally decide on this idea. Even so, the character won't be so obedient. It's impossible for him to do whatever I want. That would make me feel uncomfortable.

Challenging the "bottom line of boys' comics"

[Q] - The next question may just be my humble opinion as a journalist. Does the presentation of the theme of "violence leads to a chain of hatred" allude to the world situation after 9/11?

Kishimoto: I don’t want to name names and say that this is actually what happened between which country in the real world. What I really want to say is that the enemy who uses violence must have his own reasons. If you can’t understand why the other party does this, even if you defeat the enemy here, you will repeat the same mistake in the future. Works serialized in boys’ comics will inevitably have violence, so after I drew a theme of “denying violence”, I didn’t know how to stop. In the end, although I chose to solve it with dialogue, this is almost the bottom line of boys’ comics. I was sweating and having a headache about it at the time. I remember that I was sitting in a chair to think about this story, but when I realized it, three hours had passed. For the first time in my life, I experienced what it means to be “distracted”. I know that this is a great burden on the mind. Thinking about it now, I was really in a very low state at that time.

Generally speaking, the protagonists of boys' comics are successfully transformed in the first episode, and then the world collapses. I will also carry out my beliefs, and then use my beliefs to influence others, so that the characters I meet will change for this. "Naruto" also adopted this setting until the middle period. But in the process of fighting with Pein, Naruto gradually began to worry about how to make the world without war. Maybe a strong, determined, and courageous protagonist is an option, but I want to find another way. So Naruto in my writing will think, so I have to think too. This is really painful. I also discussed it with the editor. The editor said, "Since it is a boys' comic, just beat him up here", but I objected, "This will become pure violence." In my opinion, the road of life is bumpy, so I think the protagonist who hits the wall is more real.

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Naruto, the projection of self

[Question] - In the world of "Naruto", the five major countries use their own fighting power - the ninja village, and the powerful energy blocks - the tailed beasts to maintain the balance of power. This easily reminds people of countries with nuclear weapons.

Kishimoto: Yes. It does make people associate ninjas with the military and tailed beasts with nuclear weapons. However, although the tailed beasts can be used to maintain balance, once they are used, they will lead to destruction. In "Naruto", there is an "Akatsuki" organization that destroys the existing balance and uses the power of the tailed beasts. "Akatsuki" does not belong to any village and exists like a mercenary organization, but to be honest, this also exists in the real world. In the long-term serialization process, I will look for inspiration from the real world, and there are indeed shadows of the real world in the comics.

[Question] - Is Naruto Mr. Kishimoto himself?

Kishimoto: After all, they are the protagonists, so there are some similarities. For example, we both like ramen, and Naruto, who is at the bottom of the class, has poor academic performance and low self-esteem, etc. These are all projections of ourselves. When Naruto said "I want to become Hokage!", others laughed at him and said "How is that possible". Just like when I was a child, I would say "I want to become a manga artist!" without any basis. It's just that when others laughed at me and said "How is that possible", I couldn't answer them loudly like Naruto did, "I will definitely become (Hokage)!", but I would mutter in my heart, "Maybe it will really come true." Having said that, my Japanese is very poor, and I don't believe that I can become a manga artist who creates stories and depicts various characters. I can't even answer questions like "Please interpret the mood of this character in this scene" in the reading questions of the exam!

Infinite Moon Reading is "Escape"

[Question] - I'm curious about your ideas, such as where do the colorful moves using sand or bugs come from? The effective range of the spell, the conditions for launching it, etc. are also very detailed.

Kishimoto: As for the moves, some of them may be inspired by movies I've watched, but they were basically thought up during discussions with the editor. The reason why we set the details of the moves and the conditions for their application is because it's more interesting to be restricted. I want to use tactics and traps under the premise of restricting the moves. Of course, as the story progresses, the restrictions on the ultimate moves will become less and less.

[Question]——Shikamaru's battle strategy is quite interesting. It makes people applaud.

Kishimoto: I designed him to be a character with a very high IQ, and as a result, I became the one who suffered. The way I portrayed him was to let me spend a lot of time thinking about various strategies and methods, and let Shikamaru in the comics handle it all in an instant, so that readers would think he is very smart! However, after I finished drawing Shikamaru, I sighed and said that you should never easily draw a character that exceeds your ability.

[Question] - At the end of the manga, the enemy set up the "Infinite Tsukuyomi", a large-scale illusion that can lock everyone into a peaceful dream world. But Naruto rejected and resisted it.

Kishimoto: The meaning of the infinite moon reading is "escape". "Ninja is the one who can endure" is the theme of "Naruto". No matter what you do, patience is very important, but everyone wants to choose a relaxed and comfortable world. I am also weak. When I think about how much time I have to finish my work, I will want to escape to watch TV or DVD. Escaping from such a real world is the so-called infinite moon reading. When I was creating this part, I also portrayed it with the idea of ​​"advising myself not to escape".

At 40, he is "still a child at heart"

[Q] When did you realize that Naruto was very popular?

Kishimoto: Manga artists basically sit at their desks all day, so even if someone says your work is popular, I can hardly appreciate it. Later, I gradually received letters from overseas fans, and then I realized that my work was also popular overseas. I received letters from unknown countries and languages, and then I realized that my work was sought after by readers from all over the world. One time, I received a letter with a photo of a doll dressed as Naruto, which made me feel very warm.

[Q] - Are you aware that your work and Eiichirō Oda's "ONE PIECE" are the two signature works of "Weekly Shonen Jump" and have always been the leading works of this magazine?

Kishimoto: I definitely realized it. After all, it is the best work in the same magazine. It is because of OP that Naruto has been able to work so hard until now. I want to thank it for its special existence. With competitors, we can compete with each other and grow. The so-called writing "friend" is read as "rival". It is the true king of Shonen Jump.

[Q] - You will be turning 40 on November 8th (you were still 39 years old during the interview). How do you feel at this moment?

Kishimoto: I am still a child at heart. From the time I started serialization at the age of 25 to now, my state of mind has basically not changed. However, the fearful mentality of "popularity is declining, when will it be cancelled?" has calmed down a lot. Facing the desk, I only think about how to draw beautiful and interesting comics. Just like this, 15 years have passed. Yesterday I received a surprise from the new editor. He came to me with a bouquet of flowers. Although I tried not to cry, it seemed that I was back to the time when I was a rookie. Before the serialization of "Naruto" began, we conceived the story and characters together. However, when I hear "Ah, a new assistant has come" and "Elementary school students have started to watch "Naruto"!", I will sigh that I am indeed getting old.

[Q] Is there anything you would like to say to your past self?

Kishimoto: I would like to say to myself when I was 23 or 24 years old and casually drew a Naruto on the copy paper in the corridor of my house: "Treasure that thing! It allowed you to serialize the manga for 15 years."

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