Interviews/Stream Q/A

These are taken from http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nebu-kuro1

Q - Questions by random stream audience

A - Answer from Murata regarding the question

T - From the translator himself

Murata - Whenever he speaks during the stream (Not answering any particular question)

16/10/2015
Murata: Playing some classical music, it feels like whatever I'm doing now looked elegant ~

Q: Murata Sensei do you watch DBS?

A: No, basically I only read the manga, Akira Toriyama sensei is a god.

Q: How is your fitness training?

A: I didn't persist, thinking about starting it again when I have the free time.

Q: Why is Saitama in the anime OP so muscular?

A: Hahaha its like a fraud (for anime only watcher), telling everyone there is a badass cool-looking hero at the start. By the way the fighting scene with the Subterranean King is awesome, I could learn a lot from it, like how a serious Saitama can look like. Murata: What color should the black tea of Tatsumaki be, what is the color of black tea anyway...

T: Make it color of a red piss.

Murata: Hahaha isn't that hematuria?

Q: In the web-comic what do you think about the fight between Saitama and Tatsumaki?

A: Outstanding of course, ONE sensei's work is always great. Murata: During the time when we were discussing about Saitama voice actor, we've been asked how should Saitama sounds like, I told them he sounds just like ONE sensei, and ONE sensei's reaction be like "c'mon leave me alone". Years ago when EyeShield 21 got adapted into anime I didn't ask that much from the animation team, and just let them do what they want, back then I'm already gladful that my work can be adapted into an anime. It turns out that I'm not satisfied with a lot of stuff in the anime, but I can no longer ask them to change it by the time then, making it quite awkward for both of us. This time ONE sensei himself involved a lot in the making of OPM anime, giving their best to create the greatest anime. Murata: Recently I've been posting a lot of street fighter pics on my Twitter, its only me practicing, because I received a job related to it, but I can't tell what it is yet. Murata: In the previous chapters Saitama's cactus actually has some special meaning in it. The hidden message is it will remains unchanged no matter how it is taken care of, according to ONE sensei.

17/10/2015
T: Murata sensei has been so hardworking now, I wonder what is Togashi sensei doing now...

A: Hahahaha Togashi sensei can't draw right now, even my hardworking is only supported by my hobby/liking in drawing, otherwise I would've been thinking about how to run away from it all day long.

28/10/2015
Murata: Hand drawn is not that troublesome...but using the eraser is very tiring... Q: How fast is the increment in speed of completing the drawing after your work has been published/serialized?

A: As fast as it can be if I were to be lazy. But for now this is already my limit. Now I can draw until I'm satisfy with my own work without worrying the time limitation, and I'm trying my best not to make the art looks roughly drawn. If choose to draw roughly, there is one time that I completed 19 pages in 17 hours, guess that would be my maximum speed. But there is no fun in such work.

Q: What club did you joined during your school time?

A: Art and swimming.

Q: Heard they said that those mangaka that are good in drawing combat scene are also good in sports, now I see sensei is the same as well!

A: Hahaha no actually I'm not good in sports, its just feel like for mangaka, it would be good to has some personal experience when it comes to drawing body movement during action scene. Like the location of the center of gravity when you are running, its important to experience it yourself, I'd like to think that is what those animators will do.

Q: Do your kids read Eye Shield 21 or OPM?

A: Yeah my first kid already memorized the lines from the manga. I told him to stop reading manga and back to study.

2/11/2015
Q: Murata sensei all the girls character you draw are so H...what is the secret in drawing H looking girls?

A: Ohhh! Someone praised my girl drawing is H, now I'm happy. The key is, you need a pair of arousing eyes, look through it, feels it with your heart, draw it with full passion...well I'm bad in teaching this hahaha.

Q: I bought the figure of the vice president from Prison School.

A: Huehuehue, that's definitely got to be super H.

Q: Lets draw Fubuki naked.

A: No way hahahaha.

Q: Boku no Hero Academia got an anime adaption already, that's fast.

A: Ohhhh yeah, isn't it a bit too soon. But Kohei sensei is talented, the story is great, its good that it get an anime adaption. Although it shares the same topic of hero, but I think OPM and BnHA are totally different manga, no need in worrying getting call for copied/repeated topic.

Q: Is it you have to be an assistant first before becoming a mangaka?

A: Everyone has their own way, its not necessarily to start from an assistant. But in order to grab the chance when the time comes, you have to keep improving your own skills before that.

2/11/2015
T asked about what had Murata learn when he is working as an assistant under Takeshi Obata (author of Death Note), Murata answered that basically he learned nothing from it. When one aims to be a mangaka, drawing characters and drawing background is two completely different thing. During that time Murata was only able to communicate and discuss with the senior assistants, he's got a lot to ask Takeshi Obata sensei regarding the manga panels, unfortunately Takeshi Obata sensei seems to be really busy all the time. Being a manga assistant doesn't mean that you will get more chances to talk or discuss with the mangaka.

Murata: Its lucky for me to get to draw EyeShield 21 and it got quite popular, then I met ONE sensei afterwards. If it is in the opposite order, I don't think I will become what I am now.

Q: Murata sensei you worked on the animation of the anime Majin Bone before, have you ever think of doing other jobs other than mangaka?

A: No way I will give up such interesting job hehe.

Q: Rumors say that Akira Toriyama sensei only sleep 4 hours per day, is it true?

A: It seems to be true. He has no assistant during that time, it is really tough. I heard that while he was travelling to airport to deliver the drawings he couldn't even tell the color on the traffic light. On the other hand I don't have that kind of perseverance, its time for me to sleep hahaha.

25/11/2015
Q: After applying the correction fluid, when you erase over it again its really easy to get dirty all over the place, its annoying.

A: Ah ~ this is due to the dirtiness of eraser itself, before you erase make sure to rub the eraser until its all clean.

Q: Would reading porn magazine helps in drawing horny girls?

A: Hahaha Akira Toriyama sensei said the same thing, as for me, I think you have to know which part of a girl you would like to stare at first, and you focus on drawing that particular part.

Q: Murata sensei how are you going to draw Tatsumaki panties? In the web comic it looks like diaper. Hahaha.

A: (Laugh furiously) Yeah, but I wouldn't know until then, because King said he saw the panties. Hmmm...How about I draw it using ONE sensei style just for that panel haha (T: Please do draw it in a super lewd way). I'm worry about the Garou arc, I gonna have to pay extra attention to a lot of stuff, guess I'm going to redraw a tons, since its the climax of the manga.

Q: Sensei are you not wearing the gloves anymore?

A: The weather is cold now, there is not much sweat on the palm. So I'll try to draw quicker and finish it before my palm get wet, after all it is more smoothly to draw without the gloves.

Q: How would we know when the pen-point is no longer usable?

A: It depends on person, some prefer pen that has been used for a while. As for me, when the pen-point can only come out with thick lines or when it easy to get something stuck in it, then it is the time to change. In short, I prefer to use brand new one.

Q: Is it that if you can't finish it today you will get scold by the editor?

A: Not really, just that I won't have any thing to pass to the assistant to work on, it affects the efficiency.

Q: What if the fans ask for your signature while you walking on the street?

A: Hahaha that's not possible, instead I had been questioned by a cop about what I'm doing in the late night...Because I'm going out to get some dinner back home, and I was wearing like a hobo by then hahaha. On Twitter -Murata's 5 years old daughter saw the naked Sonic from the tankobon, she told Murata : Daddy you forgot to draw the penis. Murata : Oh my bad, sorry sorry.

29/11/2015
Murata streaming himself drawing the Dragon Ball poster for Dragon Ball anniversary.

Q: Is the BGM from Dragon Ball?

A: Yes, its from DBZ, Dragon Ball ost are good as well. Murata: If its drawn too detailed it won't match Toriyama sensei style, I'll have to stop at some point. My kids love Dragon Ball too, I'll bring a copy back after I completed it, and tell him daddy drew Dragon Ball~ Its truly amazing that people from all generations watch Dragon Ball. I messed up on Goku's face every time, feels like something's wrong with it. I tried my best to replicate Toriyama sensei style, and I'm still able to feel how awesome he is. Still feeling that I'm not drawing it good enough, Ugh...

11/12/2015
T asked Murata did he told the animation team about the setting of Tatsumaki not wearing panties. Ep 10 Murata : Hahaha there is no such setting about no panties...Recently I have the feeling people keep asking me questions on panties.

Q: Garou is blonde right?

A: At first I thought so myself, but ONE sensei said he want Garou to have the feeling of a young wolf so i thought it could be silver color.

12/12/2015
Murata: Hello everyone this is Murata Streaming. This time I'm streaming using my iPad, video quality is good, but I'm scare it slipped and reveal my face, the mic quality is way too good, I have to hold on to my fart. I just tried listen to my own stream using earphones, the noises from the background is annoying. It is slightly inconvenient that I have to bend my head over to read the chat. T: Sensei lets make a fart.

A: What? Hahaha hell no, what kind of request is this? Murata: -You can even hear my breath, I'm using my mouth to breath too much, it makes you easier to get cold. -Will you guys stop buying my books because I already stream it? Please don't... -Metal Bat looks like a real hero, that's great. Actually, I like Metal Bat very much, I think everyone knows it, it brings back the feel of reading JUMP when I was a kid. -Oh right, I can play some music in the background, that way I don't have to worry you guys hear my fart. -I hope I don't get worn out because I wanted to stream this and that, do what I should, stream in a relaxing way, and try not to fart. T: Sensei do you plan on running 10KM everyday?

A: I don't think I can persist? I'm going to get bald, even though I'm not Saitama, hahaha. ONE sensei seems like he plans to run too, its good to keep your fitness, and manage your own health. Q: Metal bat is as fast as Sonic.

A: Nope.avi Murata: I'd like to draw some Saitama and Genos, recently it is just Metal Bat and Garou. T: Sensei have you ever met a delinquent?

A: I remembered it's during my junior high school time. I never meet them in person, but I know there are few really bad students. I'm a otaku, and basically there is no way I will interact with those type of people. T: Sensei have you ever read any OPM doujin?

A: For me, after I start reading it for a short while, I'm going to be like, no, this isn't right, Fubuki and Tasumaki should've act in this way....No, no this is wrong...and I'll be starting to feel the urge to draw it myself...I have to stop reading I have to stop reading....Hmmm....As for Hentai, if given the chance, I'd like to try it, but I'm not going to draw OPM hentai...OPM with H story...right. I often draw Fubuki and Tastumaki in an arousing way, but there is still a limit to it you know. Drawing H is a one way street, there is no turning back, if I really did it, then I guess it would become the only thing I can draw afterwards. I know for now this type of story line and topics seems to be somewhat successful (T: guess he's referring to Shokugeki no Soma), but in the long run it will be difficult to write a story with a serious plot, since the readers will keep asking for fan service, right? Hahaha. Well I'd still love to try drawing using different art style. T: Sensei do you think you are lewd?

A: I don't think so, I'm a pure guy, like average standard. Sometimes I get excited when I'm drawing pretty girls, would I be consider a hentai? Those who call themselves normal are usually the real hentai right? Muahaha. Q: Do you sleep well during the meteor arc?

A: No, hahaha. During that arc I'm only sleeping 3 hours per day. I think I'm drawing for 20 hours per day, and 1 hour left to fill my stomach. My brain is on the verge of malfunctioning. Metal Knight first appearance seems unwelcome by the readers, because I felt like making it with anime style, but I got flamed for 0 story progression!! Fine then let's make it in full color and blow up on the story progression. Thinking back now I really wanted to make Boros arc into full color pages...I wanted to draw full color pages, draw anime, publish my art collection, T-shirt, doujin....Ahhhh there's so much I want to do, I have to give up on some of them, ugh... T: First impression when you met Toriyama sensei?

A: Woahhh Toriyama sensei is tall and huge, I'm super nervous, I think I met him in the rest room during JUMPfes. Eh? I just googled it, height 173, that's not tall, this is weird!? (Murata himself is over 190 judging from his photo) Ohh I see, Toriyama sensei's head is relatively small compare to his body. Or maybe it's just the psychological effect hahaha, Toriyama sensei is truly a living legend. Q: Murata sensei is a legend too.

A: Hahaha speaking of legend, I have a legend of pressure cooker explodes during my stream. Long ago there was a time when I'm streaming my self cooking, and I just bought a pressure cooker, what is it call in English? [Speaking in Eng]Pressure cooker, my pressure cooker was exploded on ustream hahahaha[/Speaking in Eng]. I'm that kind of person who don't read the manual, I grab it and I use it. Was planning to make potato beef at first. After the incident I read the manual and it says you can only fill it up to 1/3, but I filled it up to 2/3. At the moment I was wondering what's wrong with the weird noise coming from the cooker, it won't explode right? And of course it explodes right away just when I thought of that. The soup explodes out from all the tiny gaps on the cooker muahaha, I was like, wow that's cool, this is how a cooker explode!...Oh Wait, this isn't the right time! It's a disaster, I spent half the day cleaning the mess, the floor and the wall looked tasty tho. T: Does it taste good?

A: Somehow I added water into it, it's too bland, no it doesn't taste good, I'm afraid to use the cooker again after the incident. Hahaha the explosion is scary. I'm talking too much, my drawing speed is slowed down, but it's fine, I'm not sleepy anymore. I kept the explosion video for quite a while, when I re-watch the video I found my stream audience tagging the time stamp on it haha. Hey I nearly died you know, but never mind, because its funny. Q: You could've really die from it.

A: Yeah, there is someone got hit in the chin by the cover and die. Q: Do you like cats?

A: Yes, I used to have cats as my pet, so far I've had 2 cats as pets. T: There is no NAME for the current fighting scene?

A: There is, ONE sensei provides me the NAME, but I made some minor adjustments. Q: Sensei do you dance?

A: Nope, no talent in dancing.

13/12/2015
Murata: Regarding the discussion on JUMP Ryu, I feel like it should be ONE sensei taking the major role, and I'll be taking the supporting role. Years ago when I watched Toriyama sensei's JUMP Ryu, I saw a lot of sensei's young pictures, hahaha, is it that everyone's version will be different? Sometimes I do feel worried because I'm not the one who has the control on the manga, Hetappi Manga Kenkyujo R (a Manga by Murata that talks about manga drawing) is my own work, therefore I know the result and ending, and I can try to guide the readers to understand what I was aiming to show and express. Sometimes I will forget whether if the character's cloth is damaged, and constantly making silly mistakes. At first I thought Garou has blonde hair, turns out that its more like silver color, after asking ONE sensei, saying that Garou gives the feel of a young wolf, I decided followed ONE sensei decision. T: Sensei I couldn't spot the drawing error you mentioned in volume 10?

A: On the inner book cover, the name of the mall that Saitama bought the bananas for Mumen Rider from is different from the plastic bag at the hospital...It just doesn't match. I'm in despair when I received volume 10 and spotted it, god damn it I've been redrawing countless times and now i made such a huge mistake. I planned to fix it on the new printing of the tankobon. And there is one more, the picture which Fubiki and Tastumaki shops together, I kinda regret that I didn't draw the sailor cloth for Fubuki, because when Fubuki's young she should look like a normal kid like any others. Murata: I think it is important for one to know multiple languages, so far I'm only able to speak those few English words I learned from school... (Starting to speak in different languages, and laughing at his own pronunciation) It would be nice to use this chance to learn different languages. Friend in Chinese is pronounced as "peng you"? Hmm, I learned it from the Fist of the North Star, this is the knowledge of the north star. Seems like there is no direct translation in English for yoroshiku in Japanese? Wonder if this consider Japan's unique word? The translator of Lee (Stan lee) told me this when I'm speaking to him during the Marvel comic fiesta. I think there is a similar word for it, but no direct translation. Wonder what does "check it out" mean, I really don't know, do I have to use the word wisely? Like they use in Hip Hop? (Starting to greets stream audience in different languages, and worry that no one will understand him due to his awful pronunciation)

T: Sensei do you want to learn Chinese vulgar words?

A: Hahaha no I don't, teach me something that can be use in public...

T: There is a lot of Chinese vulgar words used in Terra-former.

A: Ohh ya, I only know 操他 (fuck him) Murata: Metal Bat will be showing up in the following week, remember to read it! I like Saitama the most, so strong yet so adorable.

T: Do you often cook for your kids?

A: Not that often, but sometimes my kids will tell me they want to eat pappa's udon ~ Alright, I'll make it for you! That's what I do, hahaha. And then I will ask them : How was it? Pappa's udon is delicious right? My kids will come up with the face of being forced to say delicious. Still, they are going commend me and thus I'm liking it that way. Murata: If I started scribbling while I'm on my work there is no way to stop it hahaha, you know, sometimes we have to find a way to relax our self.

Q: The type of girl you like?

A: I'm not a lolicon, I prefer a plump figure, matured lady, so I'd say Fubuki...But the Fubuki from ONE sensei version is not plump at all...This version of Fubuki is fully based on my own liking and preferences. I love boobs since I was young, and the back, waist and the butt, I'm having fun time drawing them! Tastumaki is not my cup of tea, but turns out that I'm having fun drawing her as well! I've never been so interest in drawing the back and ass back then.

T: When you decided to become a mangaka did your family members oppose your decision?

A: They are not against it, instead my parents told me, if you are liking something you have to make it a hobby so that you have the enthusiasm to continue what you choose. After what they had told me, I have the same feeling with them, and I've been thinking through it and worrying about the matter as well. Even though I didn't really became a mangaka afterwards, but a professional artist. After I've been working for quite some time, I come to realized that I really really love drawing. I'm happy that I have it as my work, I have the freedom to do what I liked, and I'm glad to be a professional artist. Murata: I've streamed myself cooking before, was using an i-pad back then, simply placed it somewhere else in the kitchen and everything is ready to go. But one of the apps gone missing, and I can no longer stream using it, the quality of i-pad streaming isn't bad, why and how would that apps gone missing? By the way, today's dinner is casserole.

When EyeShield 21 was near to its ending, I went to Taiwan to attend an activity there, the dinner is nice. Then my editors says since we are there, why not we go on and try the street food? And those tasted good as well, is it because the taste is similar to what we have in Japan? Its a simple dish but it makes your stomach full. Seems like OPM is very popular in America recently, but I can't feel it here in Japan, if it is real I would be really happy about it. Can't get anywhere because I'm really busy, on the other hand ONE sensei can go out and attend a lot of stuff......Wait no, ONE sensei should be more busy than I am right now hahaha.

Murata: The pen-point is the most important thing, the handle doesn't really matter, as long as it doesn't keep rolling around. I think it's not necessarily to use manga paper, normal printing paper should be good enough, because eventually you will have to scan into the computer. Back then I asked my assistant of EyeShield 21 try not to use ruler while drawing the background, but now I realized that since the characters is fully hand drawn without any tool assist, it would be hard to tell the difference between if the background is drawn without tools assist too, might as well just go with the ruler.

Q: In the redraw version is the Garou arc written by ONE sensei?

A: This is a frequently asked question...It's all written by ONE sensei.

Murata: I try to imagine the back of Garou is similar to Bruce Lee, full of muscles. It's good to have something as reference when you draw. During EyeShield 21 period I literally don't have any free time to rest, but now I've got the time to refer on others, and there will always be new discovery. Recently I fell in love in drawing backs, it's fun, but I have to finished my work on time. I'm announced the update to be on Thursday every time, but always end up uploading it on Friday. Someone told me to simply announce the update on Friday, but I know if I do so the update's gonna be delay to Saturday......Past few chapters are uploaded in rush, causing problems of missing pages, actually it's all my fault......

Murata: This tissue roll is use to absorb the extra ink, I learned this technique from Takeshi Obata sensei's assistant. I remembered back then there is only seconds to the deadline and we still have to complete the background, the car in the background is still yet to draw. The assistant was holding a ball pen with his mouth, at the same time using g-pen drawing heavy lines, he got the ninja moves. After finished drawing the lines, he use the tissue roll to absorb all the extra ink, immediately followed by using the ball-pen to draw the details, holy shit. And that is the time where I felt like I'm no suitable to work in their workshop haha. Wonder how is Takeshi Obata sensei now, oh yeah, they have a new series, he partnered up with Ohba sensei again. In Bakuman they mentioned about EyeShield 21, I'm really happy about it. I'm getting a bit hungry, let's see what we have in the fridge, ops the green pepper is going to spoiled, lets just finish it.

Murata: Everyone's standard is different, some may feel that they can make a better drawing while drawing casually, and some may think there is no need to improve your self as long as you have what you need to go on. I like to draw different stuff, there is more fun in it. It is important that to know what type of thing you like to draw yourself, like maybe girl's thigh, when drawing girls with big cups, it is important to slightly separate the breast when the girls are standing straight. ONE sensei's drawing is simple but it delivers the most important thing, yes visually it's not pretty,, but it gives people the sense of resonance.

Murata: Even though I've done the discussion with ONE sensei, and usually he leaves the fighting scene for me, but sometimes ONE sensei will tell me what should it feels like on certain scenario, and that is why I'm redrawing like a mad man on some occasion. And regarding the making of OPM, we already settled with the editorial department, the story line and plots are all on ONE sensei, I'm only going to handle the drawings, the editors can't intervene at all. I will never make any comments on ONE sensei's decision, like how should the character behave or such, everything and everyone shall follow ONE sensei. When I'm drawing shorts with ONE sensei, the editors proposed some ideas on it but it got rejected directly, because everything and everyone shall follow ONE sensei. Of course the editor is a guy with good insight, I'm not saying he is bad or anything.

Murata: I'm excited for Saitama's Super Fight, but ONE sensei has yet to tell me what should I draw. I'm urging to watch season 2, has to speed up the Garou arc.

Q: How are you going to draw Black Sperm?

A: Hahaha, the design of Black Sperm is too perfect, I'm going to copy it directly. Guess I'm going to use sign pen to draw him. Its like scribbling on the paper, looks terrible, and Black Sperm will be the only one with different art style, I guess it should be alright? Hahaha. As for the word "sperm", there is a character from EyeShield 21 keep talking about it too, it won't be censored, no need to worry guys. From volume 4

Q: Any plan on publishing Dangan Tenshi Fan Club?

A: Hmmm there is a short period of time its published on the net, but couldn't find it now, frankly speaking, should've just let it stay there...Personally I like the shorts as well. Actually the amount of shorts that I had done with ONE sensei are enough to make into one tankoubon, I should take advantage of the anime and do it now, but how should I get to the publisher? I planned to put my art collection up for sales too, should I do it together? But no one ever contacted me for my art collection......Should I publish it myself? I have the feeling that it could make it on Amazon, but still the publisher never contact me for it...

Murata: After I became a mangaka myself, I come to realize how horrifying when your manga is not selling and leaving bunch of stocks behind, I'm scare to even remind the publisher about it, you have to pay for every inch the stocks occupied, the fees and charges are all bear by the publisher...

T: Are you having the discussion with ONE sensei mostly on cafe?

A: We have our discussion mostly at Izakaya if we are not discussing through phone.

Q: Marvel or DC?

A: Currently I'm reading Marvel more than DC. Actually I didn't really read that much of America comic, seems like everyone thought I like America comics? Perhaps its because I painted black a lot, or I've drawn a America Football manga. Or maybe its because I've drawn Spiderman? I'm more on a movie guy instead of comics. Murata: Eating dumplings, 1000 yen each, the size is as big as a tankoubon...Its expensive but it tastes really good. Woah there's so much people watching the stream today, must be the effect of the anime. Tonight I can't stay for too late. The most important thing in an anime is the director, we need the director's connections in the industry.

Q: In Korea we call you Murata God.

A: Is it....

Murata: Woahh, over 1700 people, first time having that much of audience, let me take a screenshot.

Murata: My big brother used to play baseball, but I've never play it before and I have no idea how to swing the bat. I draw how I imagine it should be, when its not clear enough you can make a sketch first and make the changes part by part. Heard that volleyball is a very good reference for drawing action scenes. There are many things that I can't draw, same goes for things that I'm not good at drawing, like girls, I'm only liking the boobies. But I manage to improve after some observing, and I'm having fun time drawing it. Previously I never draw any loli-like character, when I'm drawing Tastumaki I spent many effort on drawing the ass. Same goes for the back muscle on Garou, I noticed I should try to refer on Bruce Lee's back muscle, it is always good to have something as reference.

Q: What pencil is sensei using?

A: Mitsubishi's uni, F hardness, before this I'm using 2B, but it got completely used up too soon, outcome of F is lighter, thus more durable. When I went to TOEI for learning purposes, everyone's using F, so I decided to give it a try, and finds that its not bad.

Q: Sensei my focus is all on the correction fluid with a brush.

A: This is Lion's ミスノン, diluted with some water. Its watery, you can put it on the pen-point to make minor correction. Recently I'm using the oily one as well, it dry up immediately after you applied it.

Acknowledgements
Great thanks to the following people for providing the translations
 * sysr23 from One Punch-Man subreddit for the Stream translations