Discover Top Posts Tagged with #otogibanashi

Rurouni Kenshin, Parodies, Inspirations, Togashi etc...

I decided to make this post after reading some comments on how Kurama’s cross-shaped scar inflicted on his face during the Dark Tournament was inspired by Kenshin’s or vice versa and how Sanosuke’s hair was copied from Hiei. I was like “what!?”.

First of all, Rurouni Kenshin (Samurai X) debuted in Shueisha's Weekly Shounen Jump in 1994. Kurama fought with Roto in YYH volume 7 (1992). So, Togashi couldn’t have been inspired by Kenshin. But what about Kenshin, was he inspired by Kurama?

Nobuhiro Watsuki explained Kenshin’s character design in volume 1 (tankoubon edition)! He tells he ended up drawing Kenshin as a character completely opposite from his debut work protagonist. The cross-shaped scar was only put when he didn’t know what else to do.

It’s also worth mentioning this Watsuki interview from 2016. He basically tells the same story: “in the first Senkoku period comic, I drew a tall man with long hair, which was the motif for Hiko Seijuro. So, this time I thought I'd try to create a character that was the exact opposite of that. But I didn't mean to make Kenshin so beautiful (laughs).” And this time, he brings up Kurama:

“The other day, in Jump Ryuu!’s interview, when I opened a sketchbook that had a picture of Kenshin before the serialization, I found that I had drawn a picture of Kurama (laughs).”

This is a nice interview, he keeps telling how YYH, among the 3 Weekly Shounen Jump Golden Age series (Slam Dunk, Dragon Ball and Yu Yu Hakusho), was the one who mainly impressed him:

“There is a big difference between "Dragon Ball" and "Yu Yu Hakusho", the top 3 of the Golden Age. At that time, when I saw "Yu Yu Hakusho", I was impressed: "Oh, I can write about drama even in battle series!" (...) For me, "Kenshin" is a work that follows the flow of Togashi-sensei's "Yu Yu Hakusho".

So, apparently, Kenshin could have had some inspiration from Kurama, even if it was unintentionally. Watsuki-sensei was trying to draw an opposite chara from his preview work but at the same time it’s normal to be inspired by works that he liked like YYH.

Watsuki-sensei was also accused many times of modeling Sanosuke after Hiei, specially because of the hair.

But this time (volume 2, tanko edition), he denied the rumors, claiming that the model for Sano was actually Lamp from Arabian Lamp Lamp (1991) by Takeshi Obata (Death Note, Hiraku no Go etc.). And he had Obata-sensei’s blessing and everything! That’s cool how Watsuki calls YYH a “such-and-such manga series” and says he is a big fan.

Even Togashi-sensei was accused many times of plagiarizing or being inspired by many things. Some examples:

For many years people thought Hiei’s character design was based on Vegeta (DBZ). Togashi surprised us all in Yoshirin de Pon! (1994) when he said Hiei’s model was actually Skunky from Patalliro! (1978).

Everybody loves the fact that there are two mountains named Hiei and Kurama in Kyoto. There was the theory that their names was taken from them, but Togashi denied the rumor in the “YYH Official Characters Book Reikai Shinshiroku” (2005). People thought that their names were taken from the mounts, but Togashi-sensei only applied kanji to the sounds that he chose by his own. The kanji are also different from the mountains. I’m surprised to see blogs, wiki pages and YouTubers still sustaining this rumor.

Togashi was inspired by some Asian old tales to create some of the members of Team Uraotogi. I’m not gonna tell the stories of the legends, because I’ve only known them from childhood, but you can always “google” to learn more about them:

- Makintaro: inspired by the legend of Kintaro (Golden Boy);

- Kuromomotaro: inspired by the legend of Momotaro (Peach Boy);

- Uraurashima: inspired by the legend of Urashima Taro (my favorite);

- Shishiwakamaru: inspired by the real Ushiwakamaru and his legends (better known as Yoshitsune Minamoto).

Beautiful Suzuki wasn’t inspired by any tale. Like he explained to Genkai, he was trying to become a legend himself.

The interesting thing is that Togashi talked about Team Uraotogi and “Parody” in WSJ, 1992 (this is a reprint from the databook). Here, he is having a talk with Alien N. For those who don’t remember who Alien N is, he explained in volumes 8 and 9:

“Alien N is a manga lover who came from Tenteke Star, 380,000 light-years away from Earth. He’s in my head right now. He’s in charge of all the stories, so during that time I'm dreaming. Sometimes, he gets mad and I have trouble working. When this happens, I sing his favorite song "Kyodai Bune" by Ichiro Toba, and his mood gets better. He wants to go back to his planet, but I won’t allow him to do so. Alien N is not good at creating villains, so I’ll come up with them. This is the funniest part of the work. Unfortunately, if the villain is too bad, I can't publish it in the magazine and have to throw him away. When I’m asked: "What character do you look like?", in terms of personality, I’m the sum of all the bad parts of all the villains, including the ones who are still to come out. But as I don't want to be arrested, I don't actually act like them.” (YYH, v.8-9)

So, Togashi tells he borrowed the characters from the fairy tales and this is called parody: the author’s ability to create a new entertainment work using a famous work as motif. Although he wanted to empathize more on the “dirty” parts of the folklore, he ended up borrowing characters who lacked ability. Well, Uraotogi Team wasn’t very strong after all XD.

Alien N Advises about parody: • Everything in this world is a parody; • Everyone draws under the influence of someone else; • At first, everyone imitates; • From there, let a third party decide whether or not you have molted (note: meaning to make your way for a new growth, evolve).

In Yoshirin de Pon! interview (1994), Togashi also confirmed using JoJo as an inspiration to create the “territories” (Black Chapter Saga) and claimed to be a fan of parodies.

I also love this interview with Togashi and Sui Ishida (2016). In the part they talk about how they like when a character with swept back hair lets it down and Hisoka’s scene in Heaven’s Arena letting down his hair after a bath, Togashi confessed: “That scene was influenced by the main character in “Shounan Bakusouzoku” (Yosuke Eguchi), who normally has a pompadour. He was so cool when he let his hair down, I decided I had to put it in my manga. Yu Yu Hakusho’s Yusuke was the same.”

Togashi was influenced by so many other artists and works, to name a few:

Confirming in Yoshirin de Pon! (1994) that Mukuro’s model was Kushana (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, manga from 1982 and movie from 1984). I made a detailed post about Mukuro.

Tribute to Lupin III - The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) in Hokushin’s scene. I also made a post about this scene.

Togashi seems to love Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s animations, specially Nausicaä, as he confirmed in HxH volume 11 that Kurapika and Senritsu (Melody) were inspired by the Ohmu’s scarlet eyes and Nausicaä’s worm-flute which creates music to calm them down.

Botan’s communicator (v.4) was inspired by Atsuko’s magical mirror (Himitsu no Akko-chan, 1962). Togashi wrote below Botan’s panel the words: “Tekumaku Mayakon, 40 hours a day”. Tekumaku Mayakon is probably the most famous magical girl spell in Japan, the spell that Akko-chan casts when she wants to transform into whatever she wants. Apparently, Togashi wanted a 40-hour day (me too!).

There are lots of these parodies, homages and references throughout the manga, maybe one day I’ll make a post only about that. For example, Dark Schneider (Bastard!!, 1988) appears in a panel behind Koenma during the Dark Tournament (v.6). Togashi also mentioned in Yoshirin de Pon! being an admirer of Kazushi Hagiwara‘s work.

The famous actress and singer Eriko Tamura also appears in a panel during The Dark Tournament (v.6). The manga and anime Idol Densetsu Eriko (1989) inspired by her was a huge success at the time.

In volume 13, when the guys are about to leave the Hanging Neck Island, Yusuke starts to sing: “Saaaraaabaa” (Farewell) which is the beginning of the opening theme of the super famous anime “Space Battleship Yamato” (Uchuu Senkan Yamato, 1974).

I love when artists are inspired by other artists and pay tribute to them. But false accusations are not nice at all. There are lots of moments that we may think that it’s a plagiarism or inspiration from somewhere else and in the end the author denies, like Rurouni Kenshin mangaka and Togashi did.

#otogibanashi

Trending Tags

Recently Viewed Tags

#otogibanashi