A Full English Translation of Mine Yoshizaki’s 47 Question QnA 🔥🔥
— Near the end of the 11.5 Guidebook, Yoshizaki sat down for an exclusive interview with Shonen Ace (The magazine that serialized Keroro Gunso), where he answered some personalized questions about himself
I’ve translated all of them along with giving some context to certain media references in this w attached links. he’s talks exactly how you’d expect lmao
Q1: Yoshizaki-sensei, people often seem to think you’re a woman.
I guess it’s because my name reads as “Mine.” When I chose it, I only had the image of Ryuta Mine in my head. But judging by Keroro’s behavior, I think it’s pretty clear I’m not a woman (laugh)
Q2: What was the first manga you bought?
I had my uncle buy me one copy each of Kiteretsu Encyclopedia and Obake Q-Taro. I used to borrow Doraemon from a rental bookstore.
Q3: Do you still have them?
Nah, even if I did, they’d be unreadable by now. I reread them so much they fell apart.
Q4: Do you have a favorite place to read?
I haven’t been reading too much lately, but I love to in a quiet, cozy café.
Q5: Has anything recently made you feel like you’ve been tricked?
Actually, yeah. Not too long ago, a friend took me on a small trip. We hopped on the highway and drove quite a bit, and I had no idea why we were going where we were; but it was fun, so I didn’t think much of it. Later, when I got home and watched the episode of Kamen Rider Hibiki that I’d recorded that morning, I realized the episode was filmed in the exact spot we had visited! My friend hadn’t said a word! It caught me completely off guard, but honestly, it kind of made me pretty happy too.
Q6: Is there a character you look up to?
Oh, definitely Saeki-san (laugh)
Q7: Keroro’s gotten really popular. Anything about that make you happy?
Hearing that everyone involved with Keroro is having fun working on it is what makes me happy.
Q8: On the flip side, anything tough about it?
It seems like working on Keroro is also kind of exhausting (laugh)
Q9: If you could be any character in Keroro, who would you choose?
Maybe Poyon-chan. She seems so nice and fluffy.
Q10: Who would you like to live with?
I’d say the new characters, Alisa-chan and Nevula.
Q11: Why them in particular?
I feel like we could have a nice, quiet time in an old Western-style mansion.
Q12: Is there any invention from Kururu that you’d want?
Oh, definitely that one thing for making Gundam models!
Q13: What’s your favorite part of the manga drawing process?
Definitely when it’s finally completed (laugh)
Q14: What’s the toughest part?
Q15: What do you think of the illustrations in the first volume of Keroro?
What do I think? Well, it was my best effort seven years ago. There's something beyond just thinking "it's bad." Especially for Keroro, since I challenged myself to break my previous style and start from scratch, so there are definitely some awkward parts in there.
Q16: When do you draw the cover illustrations? At the beginning, in the middle, or at the end?
The inking is random, so it varies every time.
Q17: Do you pay attention to differentiating characters?
Sometimes I intentionally try not to differentiate them visually. I make their personalities distinct, so that can create a sense of difference. I’ve even tried going against silhouette theory a bit, which is directly reflected in characters like Keroro.
Q18: Which is more fun to draw, Keronians or Earthlings?
Keronians’ round eyes are a hassle, and Earthlings have too many lines... It’s a toss-up (laugh)
Q19: What about secondary characters? Which ones are fun to draw?
Every character becomes lively as soon as I draw them, so it's fun. To me, they’re all waiting in line to be drawn!
Q20: Any tips for drawing something you’ve never seen before?
Draw with your eyes closed!
Q21: Do you do anything to improve your drawing skills?
Since I started working, not really. I draw every day, so whatever I’m bad at stays bad, which can be a bit of an issue.
Q22: When creating a manga, do you start with the characters, story, or setting?
The theme. Something that instinctively feels like "that's it!" The rest comes after that.
Q23: When do you come up with story ideas?
I thrash my ideas around, trying to come up with something, and eventually, once I reach the mandatory state of resignation, it comes to me (laugh)
Q24: Which takes more time, storyboarding or drawing?
Q25: If you had to sum up the feeling of struggling to come up with storyboards in one word?
Q26: What’s something essential while you work?
Q27: You’ve never taken a break from publishing, but do you ever want to? If so, when?
I always feel like I want to! Every single time, no matter what!
Q28: When do you usually draw your manga—morning, afternoon, or night?
My schedule is all over the place. I live on a 25-26 hour cycle, so when my timing is off, it tends to mess things up for a lot of people. It makes planning pretty difficult too.
Q29: What’s your favorite manga that you’ve drawn so far?
Q30: Do you think you’re better suited for one-shot manga or long series?
Considering the amount of ideas on my brain when working on Keroro storyboards, I think I’m better suited for long series.
Q31: Are you currently thinking about your next manga project?
Ideas come and go, honestly. Right now, I’m putting all my effort into Keroro!
Q32: Do you like your own manga?
When it comes to Keroro, I like it without hesitation.
Q33: If you were an editor, what would you tell yourself?
“You can take a three month break if you want.”
Q34: Are you comfortable with drawing manga in front of people?
I’m totally fine with it! But in reality, I usually work alone, holed up in my workspace.
Q35: Do you do anything for your health?
Not really… It’s bad… I feel like I’ve been sending out SOS signals lately (laugh)
Q36: Do you have any stress relief methods?
I never considered myself to be stressed, but recently my eye started twitching, and apparently, that’s a sign of stress. I was kind of surprised when I found that out!
Q31: There are 24 hours in a day, but how many hours would you really want?
48 hours would be great!!
Q38: Is there anything that influences your manga drawing?
I’m most influenced by the general atmosphere of the world around me.
Q39: How would you describe the feeling of racing through Okutama on your bike?
Q40: Anything that’s stuck with you or left a strong impression recently?
The insurance commercial with soccer commentator Matsuki has really stuck with me… As for things, I’m obsessed with the NSF100 motorcycle— I want it so bad!
Q41: A memorable quote that’s stuck with you?
“Ramen is long and delicious!” (I have literally no idea what he’s referencing here my bad guys)
Q42: Since getting your cat, Mac, has your life changed?
My lifestyle hasn’t really changed, but it feels like my heart’s OS has been upgraded by about three versions!
Q46: Do you like traveling?
I like it, but I haven’t gone anywhere recently. If I could, I’d love to go with all my friends.
Q43: What’s the most wasteful thing you’ve ever spent royalties on?
Royalties, huh... (laugh) The other day, I saw a Keroro bath towel in a UFO catcher machine, and I had to get it. I ended up blowing ¥2,000* and still didn’t win it. I wonder if my royalties will cover that…
Q45: What are the things you love the most?
The Earth, my wife, and Mac (my cat).
Q46: What’s the most shocking thing you’ve experienced?
When I first moved to Tokyo, I saw an elementary school kid at Yotsuya Station wearing a backpack and smoking a cigarette. I thought, “Wow, Tokyo’s scary. Maybe I should just go home.” But I’m glad I didn’t because I became a manga artist (laugh)
Q47: What does drawing manga mean to you?
It’s about making people happy. That concept hasn’t changed since I was a kid making hand-drawn manga for my friends in elementary school.
Anddd heres my impressively terrible scans of those pages just in case anyone wanted the source
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