Translation of Yukimura Makoto's interview in Yatta! (part 2)
Part 1 is available here.
(12:37 - 12:53) The slave arc took many readers by surprise, including French readers. We would like to know why you chose to take the story in this direction, particularly Thorfinn's journey towards redemption.
Originally, I intended to start Vinland Saga with the slave arc. However, when I discussed it with my editor, he was unsure if it would sell well and if the readers would be interested, given that it portrayed vikings without any battle scenes. So I reconsidered my approach and decided to begin with the viking arc, which is a period of Thorfinn's life when he's constantly fighting. In hindsight, I find this choise more compelling, as it marks the moment when Thorfinn truly experiences and comes to understand violence. This realization was a crucial step for him to ultimately reject it. If you noticed a shift in tone between the slave arc and what came before, it's because I structured my story in a deliberately different way.
Comment from guest : I just wanted to say that we really enjoyed this arc—it’s just those who only came for the fight scenes who didn’t quite get the shift (laughs).
(14:11 - 14:24) With the slave arc, you portrayed both the depths of depression and the journey of healing. Was that your intention from the start?
Certainly. We can say that I wanted to draw Vinland saga beause I wanted to write the slave arc. I wanted to explore how one can grow stronger after failure and rebuild oneself. My hope was that, through this chapter of Thorfinn's life, readers who have faced hardships and setbacks could find some comfort and strength to rise again.
(15:06 - 15:20) Mangakas often have a favorite character in their stories. For example, Tooyama Akira liked Piccolo the most (Dragon Ball). So who is your favorite character in Vinland Saga ?
It's very difficult for me to answer. I could say my favorite character is Thorkell, but it is also Hild, Sigurd, Einar, and of course, Thorfinn - not to mention Bug-Eyes and many characters like the native americans that appear in the lastest chapters (laughs). That said, I think my true favorite is Askeladd. I really enjoyed drawing him, and he ended up surpassing my expectations. Initially, I saw him as just Thorfinn's mentor, but the way readers responded to him was special. He gained far more depth than I originally envisioned.
Guest comment : Askeladd is my favorite character as well. Not only does he serve as Thorfinn's ultimate goal, but he also becomes his mentor and a surrogate father figure. The misery Thorfinn endures later stems from his inability to achieve that goal. I’m a huge fan of Askeladd, so thank you for creating such a character.
I'm happy that you love Askeladd so much (laughs).
(16:47 - 17:03) Among all your extremely masculine male characters, you manage to draw female characters that are all different yet powerful, such as Hild or Gudrid. Do you spend more time developping your female characters or does it feel natural for you?
I spend three times as much time writing female characters compared to male ones, simply because I feel quite ignorant when it comes to women (laughs). Every male character has a little something in common with myself, so I can draw inspiration from my own behavior and experiences when writing them. It's much more challenging for female characters, as I have to give them traits I don’t personally possess. I often wonder if what I've written is accurate—what would a female reader think of my female character? As a result, my female characters tend to be very active and energetic, perhaps because that's the type of woman I admire.
(18:14 -18:18) You mentioned drawing inspiration from your own behavior when writing male characters. Which character do you think you resemble the most?
Definitely Thorfinn (laughs). Because, much like him when I was younger, I was a bit of a lost cause. Well, I didn’t carry a blade and stab people around, but I did hurt a lot of people. Of course, within the bounds of the law. But like Thorfinn, the efforts I made and the support I received helped me grow, and that's why I think Thorfinn resembles me the most.
(19:27 - 19:35) Going back on my previous question about female characters, can you see yourself ever writing a manga with a female protagonist?
Wow (laughs). To pull that off, I’d need to do some serious research on the matter. I think it would take me at least 30 years! (everyone laughs)
(19:48 - 20:14) I’d like to return to Askeladd for a moment. I see him as a father figure to Thorfinn, as he helped him survive and provided him with the tools to navigate this world. It's a controversial topic, but I want to ask you directly: can we truly consider Askeladd as Thorfinn’s father?
I believe it’s up to each reader to form their own opinion about this character. It’s valid to see him as Thorfinn’s substitute father or as an enemy. For me, Askeladd shaped Thorfinn and made him stronger. In that sense, I tend to view him as one of his fathers, but again, everyone is free to have their own perspective on the matter.
(20:50 - 21:05) You’ve spoken about the importance of research, especially when writing a historical manga. Can you tell us how you first came across Thorfinn Karlsefni Thordarson? When did this real historical figure become your main character, and what about him left a lasting impression on you?
I first learned about Thorfinn, an Icelandic merchant, in high school history class. When I found out that Vikings had reached the American continent 500 years before Christopher Columbus, I could hardly believe it—it seemed so strange. Why would an Icelandic merchant choose to sail west instead of heading to Europe, which was much closer and offered more opportunities for wealth and power? This mystery stayed with me for years, and with Vinland Saga, I sought to explore an answer. Why did these people, instead of turning to Europe, venture into the unknown, even thougb at that time they believed that the world ended at a massive cliff? What drove them to set sail into uncertainty, and what were their true motivations?
(22:24 -22:34) Your manga explores the inevitability of violence and the internal struggle to choose pacifism. In light of current global geopolitical events, do you feel that your message has become even more relevant?
I began Vinland Saga during an unprecedented period of peace for humanity, and at the time, I questioned the relevance of my project. Does it make sense to talk about peace when the world is already at peace? Someone once told me that it does—because if you start speaking about peace only after war has begun, it’s already too late. Today, the world has taken a dangerous turn, but I hope my work can offer readers a perspective to reflect on what peace truly is and how we can preserve it.
I have to admit, it wasn’t easy to answer such a serious question with the Doraemon anime music playing in the background (everyone laughs).
(23:53 - 24:06) I just got a message from our producer. The slave arc reminds him of this quote : "A strong man is not the one who strikes down others, but the one who controls his anger". Do you agree with this quote ?
I completely agree with this statement. In my view, those who create enemies are, first and foremost, people who don’t like themselves. It reminds me of an African proverb that says, 'A man who hates others is a man who hates himself.' To me, there is no duty more urgent or essential than facing ourselves honestly, engaging in deep introspection, and understanding the roots of our anger. Learning to love ourselves is, in my opinion, the key to a more peaceful world. And those who can achieve this are truly the strongest.
(25:03 - 25:04) So in the end, isn’t the real battle the one against our own ego?
Absolutely. I believe the hardest battle is the one where we choose not to fight at all. How can we avoid confrontation? How do we fight against ourselves to resist falling into this endless cycle?
(25:29 - 25:39) You questioned why these explorers ventured into the unknown. In a way, isn’t being a mangaka like being an explorer of a blank page? How do you find the motivation each morning to work?
Let's go on an adventure from now on! (he start singing We Are!, first opening of One Piece, from 25:45 to 25:47).
Every morning when I wake up I sing and give myself strength while facing the screen of my drawing tablet (laughs).
End of interview : the guests thank Yukimura Makoko for coming.
That's it for the interview, I hope you enjoyed it!
edit : when quoting any part of my translation, please keep in mind that I translated the Frenvh dub which is a translation of what Yukimura Makoto said so there might be some inacurracies.
