08/24/04: Suwacchi Anime Diary - August 24, 2004
The weekly column by Michihiko Suwa, the Yomiuri TV producer
August 24, 2004 Original Japanese text
On the 14th of this month, we notified on the site that Black Jack is starting at 7:00 PM on the 11th of October, and then the InuYasha message board on this site has received a lot of feedback. I am very pleased that you all seriously think of the work and have posted your feelings for InuYasha. As you have already known, InuYasha is to end at the one-hour special program on the 13th of September. It is due mainly to that the TV series has already caught up to the manga series. Filler and canon episodes have animated alternately so far. But because both restoring Shikon Jewel and beating Naraku are now in process in the manga series, we cannot complete the story in the TV anime series. We, the staff, intend to keep enjoying the further story in the manga series created by Ms. Rumiko Takahashi. At the end of the finale, the five voice actors/actresses are scheduled to send messages to the viewers. Please don't miss it!
The last voice recording took place last week on the 19th. At the time, I gave flowers to Mr. Kappei Yamaguchi (actor of InuYasha) and Ms. Satsuki Yukino (actress of Kagome) and the sound staff. After that, 50 voice actors, actresses and the staff held a party to celebrate the finale. In order to add an extra movie clip to a DVD that is scheduled to go on sale in the US where InuYasha gets very popular, the voice recording and the party scenes, and comments from the voice actors and actresses were recorded with a TV camera, which made the party warm up. In addition that the movie 4 Fire on the Mystic Island (Guren no Hourai-Jima) comes out in theaters this December, sound track CDs, CD dramas and related goods will continuously be released. Also in the future, We, all the staff, have decided to focus our feelings on InuYasha. We would like you all to continue to cheer InuYasha as much as have done till now. InuYasha is a very important work also to the staff. We want to follow the work in some way in the future. Although InuYasha ends, we are going to air good anime works on the block from 7:00 PM through 7:59 PM on Monday for entertaining you all.
August 24, 2004 Original Japanese text
On the 14th of this month, we notified on the site that Black Jack is starting at 7:00 PM on the 11th of October, and then the InuYasha message board on this site has received a lot of feedback. I am very pleased that you all seriously think of the work and have posted your feelings for InuYasha. As you have already known, InuYasha is to end at the one-hour special program on the 13th of September. It is due mainly to that the TV series has already caught up to the manga series. Filler and canon episodes have animated alternately so far. But because both restoring Shikon Jewel and beating Naraku are now in process in the manga series, we cannot complete the story in the TV anime series. We, the staff, intend to keep enjoying the further story in the manga series created by Ms. Rumiko Takahashi. At the end of the finale, the five voice actors/actresses are scheduled to send messages to the viewers. Please don't miss it!
The last voice recording took place last week on the 19th. At the time, I gave flowers to Mr. Kappei Yamaguchi (actor of InuYasha) and Ms. Satsuki Yukino (actress of Kagome) and the sound staff. After that, 50 voice actors, actresses and the staff held a party to celebrate the finale. In order to add an extra movie clip to a DVD that is scheduled to go on sale in the US where InuYasha gets very popular, the voice recording and the party scenes, and comments from the voice actors and actresses were recorded with a TV camera, which made the party warm up. In addition that the movie 4 Fire on the Mystic Island (Guren no Hourai-Jima) comes out in theaters this December, sound track CDs, CD dramas and related goods will continuously be released. Also in the future, We, all the staff, have decided to focus our feelings on InuYasha. We would like you all to continue to cheer InuYasha as much as have done till now. InuYasha is a very important work also to the staff. We want to follow the work in some way in the future. Although InuYasha ends, we are going to air good anime works on the block from 7:00 PM through 7:59 PM on Monday for entertaining you all.
08/09/04: Suwacchi Anime Diary - August 9, 2004
The weekly column by Michihiko Suwa, the Yomiuri TV producer
August 9, 2004 Original Japanese text
Today, I want to answer questions posted to the letter corner of the program website.
First of All, a question from Ms. Yuu Kouzaka: "Why did you want to animate InuYasha series?" The story of InuYasha series is that Kagome slips back to her ancestor of 500 years ago. As you know InuYasha TV series started in October 2000, which was the turn of the 20th century. I thought it was a good timing for exhibiting the old Japan in the 21st century. InuYasha is a fiction describing the old Japan where both Youkais and humans appear. The adventure story is thrilling and hilarious. I wanted to show the story's attraction to viewers. It is the reason to animate InuYasha series
I answer her next question: "What is InuYasha for Mr. Suwa?" In addition that the story of InuYasha is wonderful, it contains many things people has esteemed such as traditional morality. For me, InuYasha is a source of power to live in the 21st century. I think I have gotten the energy from this work, and have been able to share the energy with all.
Lastly, a question from Tsu-chan: "Please make a comment about composition of impressive sound tracks, such as Hanyou InuYasha, of Mr. Kaoru Wada, InuYasha Music composer.” It seems to me that he gets a sense of accomplishment that he could express sound of Japanese spirit with instruments such as shamisen and Wadaiko(Japanese drum). He, who has actively pursued Japanese-style music, is satisfied to gain more confidence in his own ability for musician. When I listen to this music, I feel the adrenaline flow and my heart pounds. It is an emotional, excellent music. This music is recorded in InuYasha Sound Track CDs released by Avex. Mr. Wada is charge of music for the movie 4 that comes out in December. Now he is composing the music with vigor. Please look forward to the music!
August 9, 2004 Original Japanese text
Today, I want to answer questions posted to the letter corner of the program website.
First of All, a question from Ms. Yuu Kouzaka: "Why did you want to animate InuYasha series?" The story of InuYasha series is that Kagome slips back to her ancestor of 500 years ago. As you know InuYasha TV series started in October 2000, which was the turn of the 20th century. I thought it was a good timing for exhibiting the old Japan in the 21st century. InuYasha is a fiction describing the old Japan where both Youkais and humans appear. The adventure story is thrilling and hilarious. I wanted to show the story's attraction to viewers. It is the reason to animate InuYasha series
I answer her next question: "What is InuYasha for Mr. Suwa?" In addition that the story of InuYasha is wonderful, it contains many things people has esteemed such as traditional morality. For me, InuYasha is a source of power to live in the 21st century. I think I have gotten the energy from this work, and have been able to share the energy with all.
Lastly, a question from Tsu-chan: "Please make a comment about composition of impressive sound tracks, such as Hanyou InuYasha, of Mr. Kaoru Wada, InuYasha Music composer.” It seems to me that he gets a sense of accomplishment that he could express sound of Japanese spirit with instruments such as shamisen and Wadaiko(Japanese drum). He, who has actively pursued Japanese-style music, is satisfied to gain more confidence in his own ability for musician. When I listen to this music, I feel the adrenaline flow and my heart pounds. It is an emotional, excellent music. This music is recorded in InuYasha Sound Track CDs released by Avex. Mr. Wada is charge of music for the movie 4 that comes out in December. Now he is composing the music with vigor. Please look forward to the music!
08/02/04: Suwacchi Anime Diary - August 2, 2004
The weekly column by Michihiko Suwa, the Yomiuri TV producer
August 2, 2004 Original Japanese text
I went to San Diego in California for participating in Comic-con 2004 late in July. This convention was like a festival for animation fans, where booths for animation of the whole world as well as the US were set up. The convention is held every year. I hear the number of the visitors of last year is as many as 75000. The reason why I attended the convention is that English-dubbed DVD of InuYasha movie 1 was released in the US. In the convention site, the preview was given in honor of the release, then I made a speech as the producer and accepted an interview.
Moreover, I experienced an autograph-signing session for the first time to handwrite over 200 autographs in Hiragana (Japanese alphabets). In the convention, Japanese was so popular that the signs in Hiragana were more appreciated than those in poor alphabet. When signing, the fans said to me, "InuYasha is fascinating" and "Keep up the good work!" etc, which impressed me. I have been very pleased to interact heartily with people in the other country through the work. Many fans cosplaying characters in InuYasha also came to the convention. Sesshomaru cosplay was in particular popular. I was interested in American women cosplaying Kagome because I felt there was a bit of mismatch. I guess that the reason why InuYasha is popular also in the US is of course that there are many people who have interests in fascinations of the individualistic Characters created by Rumiko Takahashi-sensei and Japanese feudal stories.
My remark on the dubbed movie was that voice actors' atmosphere matched the characters very much. In spite of the Japanese feudal story, there was no mismatch at all. I remembered reactions of the Japanese audiences to the movie. It was very similar to those of the American audience. They were amused at Shippo's gags and Miroku's obscene behavior. This movie describes hearty interaction between Kagome and InuYasha across time. They also applauded at impressed scenes. The good anime is transborder... This event made me realize the InuYasha's power again.
August 2, 2004 Original Japanese text
I went to San Diego in California for participating in Comic-con 2004 late in July. This convention was like a festival for animation fans, where booths for animation of the whole world as well as the US were set up. The convention is held every year. I hear the number of the visitors of last year is as many as 75000. The reason why I attended the convention is that English-dubbed DVD of InuYasha movie 1 was released in the US. In the convention site, the preview was given in honor of the release, then I made a speech as the producer and accepted an interview.
Moreover, I experienced an autograph-signing session for the first time to handwrite over 200 autographs in Hiragana (Japanese alphabets). In the convention, Japanese was so popular that the signs in Hiragana were more appreciated than those in poor alphabet. When signing, the fans said to me, "InuYasha is fascinating" and "Keep up the good work!" etc, which impressed me. I have been very pleased to interact heartily with people in the other country through the work. Many fans cosplaying characters in InuYasha also came to the convention. Sesshomaru cosplay was in particular popular. I was interested in American women cosplaying Kagome because I felt there was a bit of mismatch. I guess that the reason why InuYasha is popular also in the US is of course that there are many people who have interests in fascinations of the individualistic Characters created by Rumiko Takahashi-sensei and Japanese feudal stories.
My remark on the dubbed movie was that voice actors' atmosphere matched the characters very much. In spite of the Japanese feudal story, there was no mismatch at all. I remembered reactions of the Japanese audiences to the movie. It was very similar to those of the American audience. They were amused at Shippo's gags and Miroku's obscene behavior. This movie describes hearty interaction between Kagome and InuYasha across time. They also applauded at impressed scenes. The good anime is transborder... This event made me realize the InuYasha's power again.
07/20/04: Suwacchi Anime Diary - July 20, 2004
The weekly column by Michihiko Suwa, the Yomiuri TV producer
July 20, 2004 Original Japanese text
Many persons as well as directors and voice actors/actresses are working for anime programs. I want to introduce the various people's works in order. First of all, please talk about my work, the executive producer.
One of the important anime producer's weekly works is a scenario meeting. In the meeting, I discuss a scenario of an episode which is scheduled to air after half year with a director and a scenario writer, and I comment on the draft written by the scenario writer and revise ideas of a case and a trick Because the anime staff members can communicate with one another and understand what ideas and opinions the other members have about the work, the meeting is very valuable. It takes as long as six months to complete one episode after the decision of the script due to many processes.
We use sometimes a meeting room in Yomiuri TV, and sometimes a coffee shop outside the company for the meetings. But when we discuss a murder case of Detective Conan (Case Closed) in a coffee shop, we get worried about how other people around us is regarding us. Because we are seriously saying, "People won't die from such things." in a loud voice. I suppose there are some persons being surprised to hear our talk.
Another important work is to observe voice recordings. Since it is crucial to record voice actors/actresses' performance in timing to animations. In this process, I check in detail if no inappropriate word is spoken and there is no problem to display this episode on TV.
I have been an anime program producer since January 1986. At first, I felt anxious if I could produce a good anime because though I loved manga I was not well versed in anime, so that I learned scenario writing. My works has been set on way since the time I came to be able to understand and sense true values of anime works, around 1988, I tackled City Hunter. I think the work of an anime producer is similar to a navigator since an anime producer works as a bridge to support staff members and facilitate their works. It is a difficult work. But when we can create an excellent anime through the good teamwork, I am very happy. My goal is to make a work which impacts on the world.
In another time, I will introduce the other staffers' works.
July 20, 2004 Original Japanese text
Many persons as well as directors and voice actors/actresses are working for anime programs. I want to introduce the various people's works in order. First of all, please talk about my work, the executive producer.
One of the important anime producer's weekly works is a scenario meeting. In the meeting, I discuss a scenario of an episode which is scheduled to air after half year with a director and a scenario writer, and I comment on the draft written by the scenario writer and revise ideas of a case and a trick Because the anime staff members can communicate with one another and understand what ideas and opinions the other members have about the work, the meeting is very valuable. It takes as long as six months to complete one episode after the decision of the script due to many processes.
We use sometimes a meeting room in Yomiuri TV, and sometimes a coffee shop outside the company for the meetings. But when we discuss a murder case of Detective Conan (Case Closed) in a coffee shop, we get worried about how other people around us is regarding us. Because we are seriously saying, "People won't die from such things." in a loud voice. I suppose there are some persons being surprised to hear our talk.
Another important work is to observe voice recordings. Since it is crucial to record voice actors/actresses' performance in timing to animations. In this process, I check in detail if no inappropriate word is spoken and there is no problem to display this episode on TV.
I have been an anime program producer since January 1986. At first, I felt anxious if I could produce a good anime because though I loved manga I was not well versed in anime, so that I learned scenario writing. My works has been set on way since the time I came to be able to understand and sense true values of anime works, around 1988, I tackled City Hunter. I think the work of an anime producer is similar to a navigator since an anime producer works as a bridge to support staff members and facilitate their works. It is a difficult work. But when we can create an excellent anime through the good teamwork, I am very happy. My goal is to make a work which impacts on the world.
In another time, I will introduce the other staffers' works.
07/07/04: Suwacchi Anime Diary - July 5, 2004
The weekly column by Michihiko Suwa, the Yomiuri TV producer
July 5, 2004 Original Japanese text
In this diary, I'll talk about a highlight in InuYasha. InuYasha has described a relation between the sister and the brother, that is, Sango and Kohaku, as one of the big themes.
Episode 159: Kohaku's Resolution and Sango's Heart is a story about the two. Sango, one of the InuYasha group members, has her father and associates killed by Naraku, and does her brother, Kohaku, captured to work under Naraku. Though Naraku has controlled Kohaku who lost his memory, Kohaku is recovering it. Sango has believed that for the good of the public, she had better kill Kohaku who is working under Naraku
But it is hard for her to get into action since he is a brother by blood. On the other hand, Kohaku, recovering his memory, wants to beat Naraku. But monitored by Saimoshos, he can't carry it out either.
The two's brotherhood is the highlight in this Episode.Other animes describe brotherhoods, I think, but InuYasha does ones differently. Because InuYasha isn't the story in the human world, and the two are intertwined with the other characters, the brotherhood is completely different from the general brotherhoods. The episode surely expresses their brotherhood straightforward. Though Sango's fans and Kohaku's ones may suffer heartache, the story is very impressive. Additionally, The two popular voice actresses, Ms. Houko Kuwashima (Sango) and Ms. Akiko Yajima (Kohaku), give a wonderful performance. While they care abut each other, Naraku has caused the misunderstanding among them. Be sure to focus on the two.
July 5, 2004 Original Japanese text
In this diary, I'll talk about a highlight in InuYasha. InuYasha has described a relation between the sister and the brother, that is, Sango and Kohaku, as one of the big themes.
Episode 159: Kohaku's Resolution and Sango's Heart is a story about the two. Sango, one of the InuYasha group members, has her father and associates killed by Naraku, and does her brother, Kohaku, captured to work under Naraku. Though Naraku has controlled Kohaku who lost his memory, Kohaku is recovering it. Sango has believed that for the good of the public, she had better kill Kohaku who is working under Naraku
But it is hard for her to get into action since he is a brother by blood. On the other hand, Kohaku, recovering his memory, wants to beat Naraku. But monitored by Saimoshos, he can't carry it out either.
The two's brotherhood is the highlight in this Episode.Other animes describe brotherhoods, I think, but InuYasha does ones differently. Because InuYasha isn't the story in the human world, and the two are intertwined with the other characters, the brotherhood is completely different from the general brotherhoods. The episode surely expresses their brotherhood straightforward. Though Sango's fans and Kohaku's ones may suffer heartache, the story is very impressive. Additionally, The two popular voice actresses, Ms. Houko Kuwashima (Sango) and Ms. Akiko Yajima (Kohaku), give a wonderful performance. While they care abut each other, Naraku has caused the misunderstanding among them. Be sure to focus on the two.
06/21/04: Suwacchi Anime Diary - June 21, 2004
The weekly column by Michihiko Suwa, the Yomiuri TV producer
June 21, 2004 Original Japanese text
How are you? Recently, I went to New York. Don't you listen to that story this time?
Since I wanted to go to somewhere, I went to Beacon train station, where it took one and half hours by train from Ground Central Station at the center of New York. Because I like to go to suburbs from inner cities, I was looking blankly at the Hudson River while on the train. At the destination, Beacon train station, there was a contemporary art museum called Dia:Beacon that exhibited a famous artist named Andy Warhol and other modern artists' works. The museum’s premises were very large and each work was large, too. I went to there for the first time. The variety of senses of the artists surprised me, which was very pleasant.
And more, I checked animated cartoons airing on TV in the mornings of Saturday and Sunday in New York. But I have felt that Japanese animations are better than US ones. In the US, anime is popular. InuYasha has also been broadcast on a cable TV irregularly since 2002. Owing to the larger number of TV channels in the US, without motivation to obtain information about favorite TV shows, one cannot often aware of broadcasts of the shows. Unfortunately, my Japanese female friends working in New York who I met did not take notice of the broadcast of InuYasha, either. But because they all had known of Ms. Rumiko Takahashi, we enjoyed a talk about InuYasha over drinks. They promised and said to me, "I will surely watch InuYasha". I think that even if people live in New York far away from Japan, things that they used to watch in Japan encourage them.
Besides, a curious movie was released; fashion of people walking streets was great; and I saw exciting things with my own eyes. In a very spacious avenue called Fifth Avenue, I could watch a very big parade by chance. New York was filled with energies, which made me decide to work with a fresh mind after the return to Japan. I'll put the energies I obtained in New York into Conan and InuYasha.
June 21, 2004 Original Japanese text
How are you? Recently, I went to New York. Don't you listen to that story this time?
Since I wanted to go to somewhere, I went to Beacon train station, where it took one and half hours by train from Ground Central Station at the center of New York. Because I like to go to suburbs from inner cities, I was looking blankly at the Hudson River while on the train. At the destination, Beacon train station, there was a contemporary art museum called Dia:Beacon that exhibited a famous artist named Andy Warhol and other modern artists' works. The museum’s premises were very large and each work was large, too. I went to there for the first time. The variety of senses of the artists surprised me, which was very pleasant.
And more, I checked animated cartoons airing on TV in the mornings of Saturday and Sunday in New York. But I have felt that Japanese animations are better than US ones. In the US, anime is popular. InuYasha has also been broadcast on a cable TV irregularly since 2002. Owing to the larger number of TV channels in the US, without motivation to obtain information about favorite TV shows, one cannot often aware of broadcasts of the shows. Unfortunately, my Japanese female friends working in New York who I met did not take notice of the broadcast of InuYasha, either. But because they all had known of Ms. Rumiko Takahashi, we enjoyed a talk about InuYasha over drinks. They promised and said to me, "I will surely watch InuYasha". I think that even if people live in New York far away from Japan, things that they used to watch in Japan encourage them.
Besides, a curious movie was released; fashion of people walking streets was great; and I saw exciting things with my own eyes. In a very spacious avenue called Fifth Avenue, I could watch a very big parade by chance. New York was filled with energies, which made me decide to work with a fresh mind after the return to Japan. I'll put the energies I obtained in New York into Conan and InuYasha.
06/16/04: Suwacchi Anime Diary - June 16, 2004
The weekly column by Michihiko Suwa, the Yomiuri TV producer
June 16, 2004 Original Japanese text
The DVD and video rental release of the movie 3 describing quarrels between InuYasha and Sesshomaru: Tenka Hadou no Ken (The Sword of The World Conquest), started on the 11th. This week, I’ll pick up Sesshomaru who has been focused both in the movie and in the TV series. You know that Sesshomaru is characterized not to jaw but to speak only one word with cool. Speaking no line to explain, Sesshomaru is an extremely cool character. Speaking a one-word line such as his word "Kudaran" (blah, hogwash) in a low and clear voice is very hard, so not everyone can that. A person playing this difficult role, Sesshomaru, is a handsome voice actor, Mr. Ken Narita. Among his fans, he is called Maru-sama. Real Narita-san has a completely different personality from Sesshomaru. He is a talkative, joker, cheerful and humane. This gap is funny, isn't it? In the TV series, gravitated by the last shard of Shikon, InuYasha and Sesshomaru are getting close. In the movie 3, they fight a hard battle. If you have not yet seen the movie, Let's watch it by renting its video or DVD.
Next, I'll talk about his group. Persons traveling with him are Jaken, looking like a middle manager, and Rin, a human girl. Jaken seems to want not to take Rin but to go only with Sesshomaru because when they act with a human girl, she gets encumbered. Accordingly, Jaken supposes that Sesshomaru is actually not so bad since he has accompanied her. Since the relation among Jaken, often beaten by Sesshomaru even if acting obsequiously, and Rin, unable to sense the atmosphere, and Sesshomaru is very hilarious, please give attention to Sesshomaru group's activity as well. The persons playing the roles of Jaken and Rin are Mr. Yuichi Nagashima (Yūichi Nagashima) and Ms. Mamiko Noto, respectively. When voice actors speak lines in front of a microphone, they sometimes change terminations of the words and the phrases. In other words, they have the lines come to life. Nagashima-san often speaks ad-lib lines unequal to ones on scripts. This means that he picks up characteristics in Jaken well and gets into character, I think. Though Noto-san is much younger than the two, the three are very good friends. Please wait the next Suwacchi Anime Diary!
June 16, 2004 Original Japanese text
The DVD and video rental release of the movie 3 describing quarrels between InuYasha and Sesshomaru: Tenka Hadou no Ken (The Sword of The World Conquest), started on the 11th. This week, I’ll pick up Sesshomaru who has been focused both in the movie and in the TV series. You know that Sesshomaru is characterized not to jaw but to speak only one word with cool. Speaking no line to explain, Sesshomaru is an extremely cool character. Speaking a one-word line such as his word "Kudaran" (blah, hogwash) in a low and clear voice is very hard, so not everyone can that. A person playing this difficult role, Sesshomaru, is a handsome voice actor, Mr. Ken Narita. Among his fans, he is called Maru-sama. Real Narita-san has a completely different personality from Sesshomaru. He is a talkative, joker, cheerful and humane. This gap is funny, isn't it? In the TV series, gravitated by the last shard of Shikon, InuYasha and Sesshomaru are getting close. In the movie 3, they fight a hard battle. If you have not yet seen the movie, Let's watch it by renting its video or DVD.
Next, I'll talk about his group. Persons traveling with him are Jaken, looking like a middle manager, and Rin, a human girl. Jaken seems to want not to take Rin but to go only with Sesshomaru because when they act with a human girl, she gets encumbered. Accordingly, Jaken supposes that Sesshomaru is actually not so bad since he has accompanied her. Since the relation among Jaken, often beaten by Sesshomaru even if acting obsequiously, and Rin, unable to sense the atmosphere, and Sesshomaru is very hilarious, please give attention to Sesshomaru group's activity as well. The persons playing the roles of Jaken and Rin are Mr. Yuichi Nagashima (Yūichi Nagashima) and Ms. Mamiko Noto, respectively. When voice actors speak lines in front of a microphone, they sometimes change terminations of the words and the phrases. In other words, they have the lines come to life. Nagashima-san often speaks ad-lib lines unequal to ones on scripts. This means that he picks up characteristics in Jaken well and gets into character, I think. Though Noto-san is much younger than the two, the three are very good friends. Please wait the next Suwacchi Anime Diary!
