9 replies to this topic

[Nacchi]

Matsuena gave an interview when volume 2 of Tokiwa went on sale. It has some rather interesting insights. Especially the first two answers.

 

_______________________

 

First I'd like to ask about the details on your decision to end "History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi" after 12 years and start "Tokiwa Kitareri!!"

At the beginning there was a request from the editor-in-chief that he "wishes to bring excitement to Sunday at any rate". I was told to end Kenichi and asked to certainly start a new series within the project to start 55 new series within a year to commemorate the publication's 55th anniversary.

Were there any conflicts about having to end Kenichi?

Kenichi is a work I am extraordinarily emotionally attached to as it started as a one-shot, became a monthly series and then a weekly one that I had been drawing for over 10 years. It had finally reached a point where I could bring it to a climax… Honestly speaking I wanted to keep drawing with delight as before. But thinking about if from the perspective if story length, it surely would have taken probably over 2 years to wrap everything up and come to an end. After I had worriedly thought about what would become of Sunday in two years, I decided do what I could and draw something new. At first it was planned to wrap it up in 60 volumes, but as the number of pages increased from that point on I was allowed to "draw one more volume on the same schedule without moving the timing for the first installment of my new series". This is the reason why there was almost no break between the end of publication end the new serialization.

 

[Combatmaster1o3]

Matsuena gave an interview when volume 2 of Tokiwa went on sale. It has some rather interesting insights. Especially the first two answers.

 

_______________________

 

First I'd like to ask about the details on your decision to end "History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi" after 12 years and start "Tokiwa Kitareri!!"

At the beginning there was a request from the editor-in-chief that he "wishes to bring excitement to Sunday at any rate". I was told to end Kenichi and asked to certainly start a new series within the project to start 55 new series within a year to commemorate the publication's 55th anniversary.

Were there any conflicts about having to end Kenichi?

Kenichi is a work I am extraordinarily emotionally attached to as it started as a one-shot, became a monthly series and then a weekly one that I had been drawing for over 10 years. It had finally reached a point where I could bring it to a climax… Honestly speaking I wanted to keep drawing with delight as before. But thinking about if from the perspective if story length, it surely would have taken probably over 2 years to wrap everything up and come to an end. After I had worriedly thought about what would become of Sunday in two years, I decided do what I could and draw something new. At first it was planned to wrap it up in 60 volumes, but as the number of pages increased from that point on I was allowed to "draw one more volume on the same schedule without moving the timing for the first installment of my new series". This is the reason why there was almost no break between the end of publication end the new serialization.

 

His reason kind of sucks. If he does HSMK, it will be some time from now as I have stated somewhere in this forum. Although I think he is right, it would probably take ~2 years for him to rap everything up, which I would have liked to see.

[Nacchi]

His reason kind of sucks. If he does HSMK, it will be some time from now as I have stated somewhere in this forum. Although I think he is right, it would probably take ~2 years for him to rap everything up, which I would have liked to see.

I don't think he had much of a choice. I think he really wanted to keep writing, but with the circumstances given he had to follow his editor's request (read: order).

 

Just think of all the things he could have told us in those 2+ years. I want to cry (and kick that editor-in-chief). I think it was the wrong decision to axe one of their most successfull series for a plan that reeks of desparation.

[Combatmaster1o3]

I don't think he had much of a choice. I think he really wanted to keep writing, but with the circumstances given he had to follow his editor's request (read: order).

 

Just think of all the things he could have told us in those 2+ years. I want to cry (and kick that editor-in-chief). I think it was the wrong decision to axe one of their most successfull series for a plan that reeks of desparation.

I did not say its his fault but that the reason sucked(start 55 new series, new excitement to ect). I like his new series but I don't think they will bring back HSDK soon. That is my only consensus, I was not insinuating anything else.

 

I think there idea is that by ending this series, it would raise its popularity and sales on a short note and they would end the series on a high note. People would basically get more content from Mr.Mat almost immediately and get a new series after this one ended. The only problem in this attempt at killing 4 birds with one stone is that the reason sales and popularity picked up in the end was exiting plot, which they botched by trying to end it this quickly. Jenazad thing was brilliant and they could have done more ingenious plot developments like this one except they went all GT with us. They were on the right track but they killed their golden egg. Hopefully Tokiwa also turns into something graceful at least, that way we get more things. Yay for all the things.

 

Still reading Kenichi over and over again tho.

[Nacchi]

I did not say its his fault but that the reason sucked(start 55 new series, new excitement to ect). I like his new series but I don't think they will bring back HSDK soon. That is my only consensus, I was not insinuating anything else.

 

I think there idea is that by ending this series, it would raise its popularity and sales on a short note and they would end the series on a high note. People would basically get more content from Mr.Mat almost immediately and get a new series after this one ended. The only problem in this attempt at killing 4 birds with one stone is that the reason sales and popularity picked up in the end was exiting plot, which they botched by trying to end it this quickly. Jenazad thing was brilliant and they could have done more ingenious plot developments like this one except they went all GT with us. They were on the right track but they killed their golden egg. Hopefully Tokiwa also turns into something graceful at least, that way we get more things. Yay for all the things.

 

Still reading Kenichi over and over again tho.

Than I misunderstood what you said, I apologize And yes, that reason really sucked. I wonder what that editor was smoking to get an idea like this. I'm afraid it might backfire on them and cause Sunday's sales to drop even more. The quarterly sales data I found on wikipedia doesn't look exactly pretty, but other magazines are in decline as well. Why can't they offer a digital edition of their magazine as well? I would buy it in an instant.

 

I wonder how much time he planned for Tokiwa. He could end it rather quickly, maybe even in 10 volumes or less, or he could turn it into an epos like Kenichi. I like Tokiwa, but my secret hope is that it is set to be a coparatively short story meant to fullfill the 55 new stories goal. And after Matsuena finishes it he can go back to Kenichi and start a sequel. I'm sure that would cause some excitement with the fans.

[Combatmaster1o3]

Than I misunderstood what you said, I apologize And yes, that reason really sucked. I wonder what that editor was smoking to get an idea like this. I'm afraid it might backfire on them and cause Sunday's sales to drop even more. The quarterly sales data I found on wikipedia doesn't look exactly pretty, but other magazines are in decline as well. Why can't they offer a digital edition of their magazine as well? I would buy it in an instant.

 

I wonder how much time he planned for Tokiwa. He could end it rather quickly, maybe even in 10 volumes or less, or he could turn it into an epos like Kenichi. I like Tokiwa, but my secret hope is that it is set to be a coparatively short story meant to fullfill the 55 new stories goal. And after Matsuena finishes it he can go back to Kenichi and start a sequel. I'm sure that would cause some excitement with the fans.

Holy shit what if he does 55 one shots and they all go into tokiwa 0_o. That would actually be awesome. Although I have heard people wishing Tokiwa to fail so Mr.Mat can go back to Kenichi. Not sure if that is a good thing.

 

Maybe another story in the same universe. However I have no idea if he is going to do HSMK or something else. Who said that this is the last we say of Jenazad hehehe.  

Edited by Combatmaster1o3, May 22 2015 - 08:31 AM.

[Nacchi]

Holy shit what if he does 55 one shots and they all go into tokiwa 0_o. That would actually be awesome. Although I have heard people wishing Tokiwa to fail so Mr.Mat can go back to Kenichi. Not sure if that is a good thing.

 

Maybe another story in the same universe. However I have no idea if he is going to do HSMK or something else. Who said that this is the last we say of Jenazad hehehe.  

I think I read the 55 new series includes all authors, even those writing for one of Shonen Sunday's sister magazines. Otherwise Matsuena would have to start a new series each week, poor guy is already overworked as it it.

 

I don't want Tokiwa to fail, but I kindo don't want it to turn into a 60 volumes series for obvious reasons. I'm sure Matsuena would not ming going back to Kenichi and his friends. (New series: The world's most beloved alien-demon king Niijima)

[Nacchi]

Something I've been wondering about. I see that Matsuena and his team have been close to death from overwork (slightly exaggerated, but only slightly) when he had to draw Kenichi and Tokiwa at the same time and thus could not really interact with the fans on their website/twitter liked they used to.

But by now his workload should be back to the regular insane weekly manga schedule. And yet the website barely ever updates (only when a new volume comes out), their message board is still switched off, and the twitter is almost as dead as their website.

 

I wonder if he just needs a break after all that work or if he has something else going on behind the scnenes.

[Delirium Trigger]

The interviewer should've ask about news on the OVAs or any potential anime adaptions to his work, too. Still, I hope he can catch a breath sometime soon, travel around.

[citizen_lion]

I think his reason (read: the editor's reason) suck too, but it's not his fault per se. It's more of the attitude of most readers of manga. I think I (and perhaps we here in this forum) are in the minority in that we want to follow a handful of good manga, and get excited about a development in that manga each week, instead of trying out a bunch of new mangas.

 

Even when I was young I typically decide on a manga based on reading the first chapter or two, then after deciding to follow 2 (at most 3 at a time), I would follow those manga for years until it's done, then I would be quite sad when its done, thinking that there is so much more story still to be told.

 

But as I grow up I understand that it's difficult to create an economy that would support a community of author if only a handful of manga survives by being better than the rest (and getting into the small reading list of the most people). So readers with small reading list but loyal following is good for making good series last, but not good for creating an ecology that would support new ideas and new authors, who may in turn growing from mediocre at first to good then to great.

Edited by citizen_lion, June 18 2015 - 11:41 AM.