PASH 2019 A Summary of Natsuki Kizu’s GIVEN Interview 1- How was Given born, what works made you want to draw? I wanted to draw a manga which had another key point other than love. I think the main purpose of BL is "romance" but I wanted something other than that. There are a lot of reasons why I chose music. I simply like music and a friend of mine used to be in a band- I wondered if using music to express emotions in BL had a good compatibility.
2- What are the origins, like the character settings of the 4 main characters. It was originally planned to be completed in one volume, similar to many BL works. Initially, the plan was to end with the first live performance. As for the other characters, I cant express well with their origins- only Mafuyu was a decisive decision.
3- Which character was the easiest and hardest to move In contrast, I have a hard time handling Mafuyu since he has a lot of elements that I don't have. Hiragi was the easiest to write as his elements are simple.
4- Tell us a behind-the-scene information that will only be revealed here Haruki has only one ex-boyfriend.
5- Who is going to be the uke and seme among Ritsuka & Mafuyu, or Haruki & Akihiko; and how is it going to pan out The theme for both is "emergence". I'm not picky when it comes to who's uke and seme as I prioritize the plot regardless of what I think.
6- What scene or line left the strongest impression on you "Just a little bit" on page 124 volume 2. This series started because I wanted to convey this, and so I was deeply moved when I was finally able to say it.
7- How familiar are you with music? Do you have any musical instruments youre familiar with, or experience in bands? I'm an amateur when it comes to music. I have no band experience, I just love music. I did a lot of lessons but I didn't keep up, I did like listening.
8- What genre of music did you have in mind for Given, and did you use any artists for reference I was asked this when making the anime and it really bothered me because I haven’t decided at all. This is because of "Imeson culture" or image song. It is where the subject is similar but the songs are different to each person. Musical preference also play a role so theres almost no right answer- I think its better to not limit the reader. Regarding "what kind of music is playing", it's left to the reader as much as possible. Ive been careful to leave a space in between as I draw.
9- How did you become a professional writer, and what or who are those that influenced your style? In university, I was in the video (movie) field. Even though I didn't end up in the video field, I think I was strongly influenced by the video-like expression method.
10- What BL works have greatly influenced you, or that you would recommend It's not BL, it's "Banana Fish". My father likes it, and it's almost the only manga I've had at home. It’s one of my original experiences with manga.
11- In production, what do you pay attention to the most I pay attention to the right amount of realism. Since BL stories itself are in insane fantasy, I thought that the foundation that supports it should be somewhat realistic. So, in order to keep the band setting, I studied music and conducted interviews. Also, Given has a mix of true stories from myself and friends, however, it would be a waste of fiction if it was true to reality.
I recommend buying the magazine, its really big! It features Akihiko and Ugetsu on the cover along with a large poster and ticket holder. Check it out here!