User:Jimmy-kud0-tv2/Translated Interviews

Interviews

The interviews listed here are ones that I found listed on the DCW Translating interview thread. It would be preferable if we could find more interviews and get them located here. http://www.detectiveconanworld.com/forum/topic/1555-translating-interviews/

Mystery Museum Interview

June 10th, 1997
Gosho profile, Gosho's 4 special secrets
Movie 1 producer and director interviews
Voice actors talk
Movie, and tv op / ed themes profiles
Translation by Yuniechan : part 1, part 2

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Aoyama Gosho-sensei talks about Conan passionately!!
The first person whom we’ll interview is the author of ‘Meitantei Conan’,
the one who creates Conan’s brilliant deduction, Aoyama Gosho-sensei!

He just saw Conan movie, [Meitantei Conan, The Time-Bombed Skyscraper], so he’ll surely speak about it!

(I loved the movie!! I was really moved by it)

I created the last scene when I was in middle school.
Thank you, it’s Aoyama. [Meitantei Conan] became a movie, and I have to share a word or two of my happiness. When it became an anime, I thought that someday it could became popular. I loved movies since the very childhood.
I love detectives, of course, but the works of Kurosawa Akira are my favourite. His samurai works, for example. He kind of influenced my previous work before [Meitantei Conan], [YAIBA]. When I think about manga compositing, I look at it from filming angle. I draw thinking about camera positioning.
The last scene of [The Time-Bombed Skyscraper] was my idea I came up when I was a child. Around middle school age, or something like this, I imagined it after seeing a scene like this with spies. I come up with a lot of scenes after watching movies or TV. Especially when I watch something boring, I think something like 'I would’ve made it like this’. Though recently I’m not quite free to watch movies :)
Try to find a cell I drew!
Right-right, I just saw this movie… Whole movie :) I want to talk about the last scene. Like I just said, I had this idea since the very childhood. Connected by a red string… I wanted to make something like this. I wanted to use it in [Magic Kaito], but I didn’t get a chance. And it was not an idea that’ll suit [YAIBA]. Thus I put it off, but now had a chance to use it in a movie. Well, I came up with it when I was a child, but to tie this to Shinichi’s birthday… and other small details I thought off after getting a chance to use it in a movie. I want you to search key frames I drew for the last scene. 9 key scenes at all. I drew line art and it was filled by the incredible anime staff.
That’s why I really wanted to see the last scene. I really couldn’t wait for it. And

I’m extremely grateful to anime staff!
Anime staff has incredible people… About seiyuus, Conan could only be Takayama Minami-san. She’s the best for him. I really love OP and ED themes. [Mune ga Doki-Doki] is my favourite. Utoku Keiko-san’s [Hikari to Kage no Roman] also differs from everything that were before and it’s a really nice feeling. I also really like [Happy Birthday].
I was a real fan of Kyoko-san’s husky voice since BARBEE BOYS :) Oono Katsu’s band’s music is also great. I loved them since they wrote the music to [Taiyou ni horoe!]. I always draw CD covers with all my might, as a way to say 'thank you’ to them :) Kodama director work was also cool. Anyway, I am really grateful to everyone if anime staff!
Anime’s benefit is that it has sound. Well, of course it is :) Especially it was great at Moonlight Sonata’s episode. When I drew the manga, I listened to 'Moonlight Sonata’, to be honest. Moonlight Sonata 2nd Movement is especially great! And it came up just like I thought.
Anime has a lot of benefits but… Manga will not surrender! Anime can’t show, for example, two-paged spread of Shinichi’s sudden appearance. Manga’s benefit is also that it helps reader to make their own deductions.

The anime became really good, so I’ll try my best for the manga not to be defeated!!

4 secrets of Aoyama Gosho!
According to Puppeteer-Detective, Yama-chan’s manga, Aoyama-sensei really enjoys staying at home. While investigating whether this is true, we found it that he doesn’t go outside except for convenient stores and family restaurants! He usually goes to the places that are in 50m radius around his home/studio. When we found out what was the longest distance he went for recently… It was a press-conference for [Meitantei Conan, The Time-Bombed Skyscraper]. Looks like it is a 'record length Aoyama Gosho went out for’. When we invaded Aoyama-sensei’s studio/home, it was a really a really nice mansion with an incredible night view! Of course you wouldn’t want to go outside of such a nice place!
He doesn’t play games?
Aoyama-sensei loved games since childhood… that was a rumour we heard, but turns out, according to Alco-Detective’s Tani Yutaka’s manga, he doesn’t play games at all recently. Is it true? After invading Studio/Home, we found it! A mountain of games, which weren’t even open! We also found a lot around his TV! The manga was true! According to the interview, Aoyama-sensei [Has to play everything since Dragon Quest VI~]. This game came out in 1995… That means he didn’t play his favourite game for a year?! That’s horrible…
You’re so busy, do you eat properly?
Aoyama-sensei is so busy he can’t even play his favourite games. If he’s that busy, we’re worrying is he eats properly. Fatty Detective’s yonkoma shows that he’s eating well… Aoyama-sensei’s daily schedule is to create a storyboard once in 4 days, and the next two days lining it down with assistants, and only one free day. What does he do at 5 days without the assistants? After a week investigation, we found out which family restaurants and convenient stores he uses. There’s a rumour that when his favourite convenient store was closed due to remodelling, he was about to starve…
He’s really serious when it comes to work?
And the last investigation was about his work! Bravo Detective’s yonkoma shows that he’s really strict at manga… looks like it, at least. But he doesn’t go anywhere, he can’t play his favourite games, eats in convenient stores and family restaurants… Didn’t he ever thought [I can’t stand [Meitantei Conan] anymore!]　We decided to ask Aoyama-sensei himself!
[I still have a lot I want to draw in [Meitantei Conan]. It doesn’t seem like ending (TN: It was 1997. I’m translating it in 2016 AND STILL GOING). [Kaito Kid] just appeared in it too finally… Wonder if I’ll see it in anime soon <3 Besides, I want to use Heiji’s hometown, Osaka as a stage more often… And I want to draw a Woman in Black too!!]… looks like our worries were for nothing.

Well then, next people we’ll interview are people who created [Meitantei Conan] anime. Kodama Kenji director, Yomiuri TV producer Suwa Michihiko-san amd Tokyo Movie producer, Yoshioka Masahito-san. You have different opinions about [Conan]? But they are the same in one - everyone loves it and had a lot of fun creating it, that’s why anime [Conan] is so great!

(We put in film a lot of stuff we were not able to put in TV anime)

First: Kodama Kenji

Which anime did you wanted to create?
I wanted to create a piece that would be enjoyed by adults. But I also wanted children to enjoy it too.
What is special to anime?
Conan’s mystery solving is pretty easy to understand, I think. In manga it’s explained only by Conan himself, but in anime details are shown onscreen. Besides, characters can move.
This film is love romance?
[Conan]’s world’s love romance can be created only by Aoyama-sensei. If we’ll make something, we could break original manga’s world. That’s why we usually base everything on what was shown in manga. (TN: Cough. KaitoKid. Cough). In the film Aoyama-sensei planned a love romance subplot, so we started without second thoughts. What do you want to note in this film?
It enjoys all your senses. You watch you hear, your brain works out deductions, and your heart is moved by love romance. At the 5 minutes after beginning my heart started to beat quickly. The screen is so wide, so we can drew even smallest details, and that, I think, leaves a different impact than TV anime. That was the greatest work and I doubt I’ll be able to create something like that… said I, but guess what I’ll do if there would be another movie adaptation :)

Three main points of anime [Meitantei Conan]?
Suwa: Maybe the fact that the anime is a big lie. It’s not real, but talks about reality a lot. And the deduction. That’s the best. TN: I didn’t get it. Maybe I’m wrong.
Yoshioka: Three, huh. First is the deduction that even adults can enjoy. Second one is slapstick action with the Detective Boys. And the third one is love romance, which Aoyama-sensei spoke about.
TV anime continues while using all three.
[Conan] movie had a lot of strong points
Yoshioka: The movie had those three main points I just spoke about.
Suwa: Felt like a big amusement park… With a jet coaster, beautiful night view and a lot of attractions. Of course we enjoyed creating TV anime too, but this movie was something extra special. We hope that viewers had a lot of good experience with it.
What you tried to achieve with this movie?
Yoshioka: We want to make a lot of action we can’t do because of usual TV episode time limit. And on familiar scenery. Conan didn’t went overseas, and incidents and crimes happens nearby, with Detective Boys dealing with it.
Suwa: I wanted to tell a long story. Since the movie is something you can dive into and it has a long running time. But I wanted to make it with breathtaking speed.
Yoshioka: I wanted to create a movie with compilation of action and deduction.
Suwa: That was a movie like a takoyaki with red pasta.
Yoshioka: That was really great till the very end. Like a jet coaster ride, where you can’t leave your seats.

We’re proud of our team work.
Seiyuu-san, devoting their lives to anime [Meitantei Conan]. What do they think about characters they are playing? What is the atmosphere in the studio? Afrec (after recording) just ended, let’s hear them live! What is Conan’s charm?
Takayama: Conan has that self-devotion trait of his, you see. He’ll never cheat, and he will try to protect the one and only girl for his whole life. That’s his charm. I played a role of main character in Aoyama-sensei’s previous work, [YAIBA], and he’s such type.
I wonder if Aoyama-sensei himself is a man like this… Women should be very happy (TN: My heart melted, they married after, sadly divorced though ;v;)
What was like recording for the movie?
Takayama: Even if it was a movie, it wasn’t really different from the usual.
Kamiya: As usual, we acted according to the director.
Takayama: But the story really made me nervous. That was not random bombing? If you don’t solve it soon, everyone should be in danger!.. like this.
Director said that his heart was beating after first 5 minutes, and I felt the same.
Kamiya: But it was a nice story. Really. I was about to cry. Especially at the last scene.
Takayama: Looks like there was a person who really cried.
Horikawa: Who?
Takayama: Not here at the moment, but Megure-keibu.
Horikawa: Chafurin-san?
Kamiya: Yep
What is Ran’s good side?
Yamazaki: Ran is really strong, she’s doing karate, but when Shinichi is around, she becomes really worried.
Takayama: She always tells [Come back quickly, Shinichi!] at the phone..
Yamazaki: But she can’t say anything in front of a real Shinichi.
Kamiya: Yeah. Feels kind of off. Yamazaki-san plays her perfectly, but it is kind of strange.
Yamazaki: When it comes to Shinichi, shows a brilliant deduction, but…
Kamiya: …soft on the inside.
Yamazaki: That’s also Ran’s cute trait :)
Do you see Kogoro as father in this movie?
Kamiya: I really like Kogoro. He has human weaknesses, like he can usually go astray, loves to drink, runs away of his own wife, and his child had to care about him… But sometimes he can be really cool. At the Kogoro’s Class Reunion Murder Case, for example.
Takayama: He was really cool at that time. And strong too.
Kamiya: At the movie, he showed that he really cares about Ran.
Horikawa: Kamiya-san has children too, do you understand Kogoro at that point?..
Kamiya: You can say that too.
Is Ayumi a girl in love?
Kamiya: Ayumi feels like a boss.
Iwai: Usually she is, but when Conan drank sake and could’ve returned to Shinichi, when she saw Conan leaning, she thought [I feel like I’ll never see him again], right? When Shinichi was leaving Ran in the very first chapter, Ran thought exactly the same.
Kamiya: Do you have episodes you like?
Iwai: [Detective Boys Survival Case]. I really love such adventures.
What is the atmosphere in the studio after finishing recording lines?
Takayama: Conan and Heiji are really alike. They even act the same. Horikawa: They both love mysteries.
Takayama: After today’s recording (Holmes Freak Murder Case), I feel like Heiji was really cool. And Shinichi is in pinch?! :)
Horikawa: That’s my second Conan afrec (TN: No, third. You played an AO victim killed by chocolate), but it’s surprisingly easy to act.
Kamiya: Because everyone even breath in sync.Takayama: We’re on good terms here.
Kamiya: Every week I expect to meet everyone, that I work with pleasure and after that everyone goes eating. What a great work :)
Takayama: Today we’ll also go to eat after that <3

The magic of sound playing in the Mystery World.

And the last ones on the backstage are people who create Conan’s Sound, musicians with Music Life Show! They stir up [Meitantei Conan] famous scenes, and write songs and music!
Kyoko: Conan and Ran are always close, but they can’t say they love each other. That’s heartbreaking.
Thinking about people I miss… [Happy Birthday] is a song that tries to convey feelings for those who are dear to you but far away. When I was recording it in London, I thought about my friend and ex boyfriend… That is a song that will be played in the movie ending, after the incident is resolved. Last scene that makes you chuckle a bit (TN: after credits I believe) I saw at the cinema by myself.
They are below different skies and can’t tell ‘I love you’ to each other. It’s really sad not to be able to convey such feelings, but Conan-kun and Ran are always together, and yet they can’t tell their true feelings. I think that this is much more hard and sad situation. When I watched it, I thought [Why can’t you just understand he’s Shinichi?!] :) This song is sad, but it has optimistic subtext too. Goes well with Conan and Ran’s love.
Utoku Keiko: A singer of anime’s current (3/51 :D) ED [Hikari to Kage no Roman]. Warm, heartwarming sound and Keiko-san’s sweet singing voice is starting to sound after the incident. It has a like [I understand everything but still continue to love you]… Sound a lot like Ran’s loving heart!
Oono: It’s important to create music that goes with the story.
I created a lot of music for TV animes and movies, but that was my first time creating music for Conan. I was totally okay with that. I don’t care whether it’s drama or anime. Same with movies. I created it thinking about how it will suddenly change going in sync with story. Conan is really interesting, don’t you think? Even when adults are reading it, sometimes it’s hard for them. When I first read it, I read everything till the end in one breath.
So both adults and children can enjoy it, so I created a lot of different types of music.
Conan, Ran and Kogoro are a great team. He fits in. Always going after them when there’s an incident. They are starting to become a nice team. I guess it’s the same with music. It’s starting to be familiar to Conan series. I like Conan more than Shinichi. And Ran is cute too.
What music would you recommend?
I created a music for Conan movie in around 10 days. 2 days for recording. It’s usually 5 days for TV anime. Movie sound has a thing called Dolby Sound, so we had to record it in a unique way. Because of that we had to record not only new music, but also old music, changing it a bit. Movie’s melody is half-new, and I felt some kind of familiar while creating it. Besides, it was an action movie, right? So it was different from TV, with a more intense rhythm. Music I can recommend? I don’t want to say it. I want you to listen to it and then decide.
[Time bombed skyscraper] has connections with Dolby Sound, so there were two different versions for CDs and for movies. Please listen to in in the cinema theater, you will be really excited.

Raw Images

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Conan Drill Official Book (WITH RAW)

コナンドリル オフィシャルブック (Conan Drill Official Book), published May 1 2003
Translated by: justwantanaccount

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Interview in Conan Drill from 2003 translated! No spoiler on the plot here, though there are a lot of interesting tidbits.

Note: I took a lot of liberty with the English this time, since I wanted to focus more on making the English sound natural and readable. I usually try to translate as directly as possible, but I realize that the weird English probably turns off a lot of people – let me know if I've taken too much liberty, though.

Also, Gosho says a lot of things here that he mentions in future interviews, like how he was told to change Conan's name to Doyle since there was a work called Future Boy Conan, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. You kinda realize that interviewers keep asking the same questions, maybe because they don't bother looking over past interviews, ha ha.

Highlights:
The plot for conan was planned in two weeks
Gosho is not "high-strung / neurotic" - he seems pretty laid back
Apparently, in File 125~, the dude pays the gal to be his lover
Gosho has an editor who is from Kansai, and looks at DC's Kansai-ben – this makes sense, I've read people on 2chan talk about how young Kansai people these days don't say "ame-chan" (Files 778-780), but since Gosho gets coached on Kansai-ben by an older guy, the Kansai-ben in DC is rather dated.
Gosho has two younger brothers, one who's an engineer and another who's a doctor. The engineer helps Gosho with tricks related to cars, and the doctor helps Gosho with medicine-related topics, like APTX. The doctor is also an anime otaku who advices Gosho about which voice actor should voice whom.
Gosho also seems to have connections who are former police detectives, people working at banks, CSIs, etc.
Gosho decided when he started that Conan won't cry
Gosho only draws characters with names, leave backgrounds and characters without names to assistants - does that mean that the forensics dude who wasn't Tomo-san in File 756-758 will become important someday?! Lol I dunno.
Maybe you guys knew this already, but apparently Paikaru/Baiganer isn't a real brand of alcohol – the name comes from a character in Lupin III.


青山先生は大学を卒業してから漫画家になられたんですよね。学生時代から将来は漫画家に、と決めていたんですか？
Q: Aoyama-sensei became a manga artist after graduating from college, right? Have you decided to be a manga artist from your student days?

青山　大学時代から漫研には入っていましたけど、大学へは美術の先生になろうかなと漠然と考えて進学しました。小学生の頃、卒業文集に「将来は漫画家になる」と書いたらしいんですが、それも自分では覚えていないんです。でもまあ、子供の頃から絵や漫画を書くのは好きだったので、教科書にパラパラ漫画なんかを描いて遊んでいましたね。ただ、漫画を描いていると親には叱られましたから、コソコソではあったけど。漫画を始めて投稿したのは大学４年のときでしたが、卒業して漫画家になるといったら親には反対されました。学校の先生ならいいけど、漫画家なんてやっぱりどう転ぶかわからないやくざな商売でしょう。親としては、そりゃ心配しますよね。漫画家になる直接のきっかけは、先輩ですでに漫画家の人がいて、「青山、おまえちょっと出してみないか？」と声をかけてくれたことです。それで、ある少年誌に送ったら佳作になったんですよ。これはサンデーじゃないんですけど。で、ひょっとしたら俺ってうまいのかなと思って。それが大学４年のときでしたね。
A: I was studying manga since my college days, but I entered the university while vaguely thinking that I will become an art teacher someday. Apparently I wrote "I will become a manga artist in the future" in my elementary school's graduation anthology, but I don't remember it. Although, I did like drawing pictures and manga and such from childhood, and I drew flip books and such into my textbook. My parents scolded me when I drew manga, though, so there was a sneaky quality to it. I submitted manga for the first time when I was a fourth year university student, but when I told my parents that I will become a manga artist after graduation, my parents opposed me. Being a school teachers is fine, but being a manga artist is, after all, an unpredictable, yakuza-like business. Of course you would worry if you were a parent.The direct cause behind becoming a manga artist for me was when a senpai, who was already a manga artist, asked me, "Hey, Aoyama, do you want to try submitting?" Then, I sent one to a certain shonen magazine, and the work received a kasaku*. This wasn't at Sunday, though. After this, I thought that maybe I could possibly be good. This was when I was a fourth year university student.*佳作 (kasaku) directly translates to 1. well executed work or 2. second best work at something like an art/literature contest (source); however, given the context, it seems that if you receive this then you debut as a manga artist, so I left the original Japanese term since I'm not sure how to translate it. Some people translate it as an "honorable mention", but I don't know how accurate that is.

周りはもう就職活動していた時期ですか？
Q: Back then, were the people around you already searching for permanent jobs?

青山　そうです。僕も一応、教育実習へ行ったんですよ。まだ地元の高校の美術教師になる選択肢もありましたから。でも自分なかでは、佳作に入った時点で、もうそういう気はなくなっていたのかな。アルバイトでフジテレビの「ポンキッキ」の背景書いたりして、就職活動はまったくしていなかったら。
A: Yes. For me, I trained to be a teacher, just in case, since I still had the option to become an art teacher at my hometown's high school. Although, when I received the kasaku, I think I lost the urge to continue down that path. I drew the background for Ponkikki and such for part time jobs, so I wasn't searching for a permanent job at all.

学生時代はどんな生活でした？先生が描かれる漫画はみんな登場人物が個性的でしょう。ああいうの、学生時代の人間関係の影響もあるのかなと思いますが。
Q: How did you live as a university student? The characters in the manga that sensei draws are all unique - I suspect this might be due to influence from human relationships during student days.

青山　うん、影響は学生時代に限らず、子供の頃からの蓄積でいろいろあるでしょうね。大学時代は、麻雀ですね、麻雀をよくやっていましたよ（笑）。住んでいたのは最初、西武池袋線沿いの江古田で、そのあと千川。ここがいちばん長かったんですが、大学に近いのですぐ麻雀のメンツなんかは集まるわけです。誰かの家に集まってやる事が多かったですね、お金もなかったですし。けっこう僕は強かったんですよ、当時。でも今はだめですね、やる時間がそもそもないですし、やってもみんなが楽しければいいやと思って、高い手を狙って打っちゃう。そうすると負けます。負けるだろうなと思って打って、やっぱり負ける（笑）。
A: Yes, though I think I was influenced not only during my university years but throughout my life, accumulating from my childhood. As for my university years, I did mahjong - a lot of mahjong (laughs). I used to live first in Egoda, which is along the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, then in Senkawa. The distance was the longest here, but it was close to the university so we met up for mahjong and such. We met up at someone's house many times, since we didn't have money. I was pretty strong back then. Right now, not so much - I don't have time to play, and even when I do play I think that we should just have fun, so I aim for a high hand. If you do that, you lose. If you play thinking that you'll lose, then you really will, as you'd expect (laughs).

お金がなかったといっても、先生の学生の頃はもうそんな時代でもないでしょう？
Q: Even if you say you didn't have money, it wasn't such a period back when sensei was a student, right?

青山　いや、けっこう貧乏だったなあ。カレーには肉を入れられなかったし。５日ぐらいそんな貧しいカレーで食いつなぐんですよ。毎日毎日カレー。でも米は田舎から送ってもらったので、食う物が何もないってことはなかったけど。米さえあれば何とかなるんですよね。毎日カレーばっかり食べて誰かの家で麻雀やってって、絵に描いたような貧乏大学生の姿だと思いますよ。
A: Nah, I was pretty poor. I couldn't put in meat into curry. I would eat such an indigent curry for five days straight. Curry day after day. But I was sent rice from my hometown, so I did always have something to eat. If you have rice, you manage, don't you? I ate nothing but curry everyday and I played mahjong at someone's house - I think I was the very picture of a poor college student.

２００２年の１２月３１日の夜。先生のスケジュールがこの日しか開かないという中で、インタビューは行われた。かなり疲れていることは想像が付いたし、少々先生が不機嫌でも仕方がないと思っていた。しかし疲れているのは当然なのに、こちらにそれを感じさせる場合はほとんどなかったといっていい。作家として一流なのはご存知の通りだが、人間としても大人のキチンとした人、という印象なのだ。
December 31, 2002, nighttime. The interview took place, since sensei's schedule was apparently only open on this day. I could imagine that sensei was considerably tired; I thought that it couldn't be helped that sensei might be ill-humored. However, you couldn't tell that he was tired, even though he must have been. My impression was that he was upright as a human being and as an adult, though he was of course aware that he was first-class as an artist.

実はこうしてお会いするまでは、青山先生が気むずかしい方でも仕方がないなと思っていました。ミステリー作家は複雑な性格の方が多いというのは事実だし、ましてやハードなスケジュールですから。でも想像していたよりずっとほがらかで、ちょっと驚いています。
Q: In truth, I thought that it couldn't be helped if Aoyama-sensei had a difficult temper, until I met you like this. It is the truth that mystery writers often have complicated personalities, to say nothing of their difficult schedules. I'm surprised that you are far more cheerful than I've imagined you to be.

青山　もっとストレスの固まりみたいな人間を想像していました？もちろんストレスはあるけど、もともと神経質な方ではないんですよ。だからハードスケジュールでも耐えられるというところもあるかな。僕も推理小説とか読んでて、この作者は神経質だなあと思う事がありますね。人のアラ捜すのがうまいやつだなとか。僕の場合はまったくそういうタイプではないです。編集者を困らせた事もあまりない・・・・・・と自分では思うんですけど（笑）。編集者とケンカすることもないですね。ケンカするとしても漫画とは関係ないところで、すごいくだらないこと。編集者が阪神ファンで、僕は巨人ファンなんですが、巨人の優勝がかかっている試合で阪神が巨人に連勝したとき、たまたま映画のポスターのイラストを描く約束をしていたんですよ。でも気分悪いから「俺、描かねえぞ！」って（笑）。編集者も心得たもので、その日はもう連絡してきませんでした（笑）。これ、ケンカっていうのかなあ。
A: Did you imagine someone who was stress personified? I have stress, of course, but I've never been the type to be highly strung. I think that that's why I can endure difficult schedules. I, too, think sometimes that some writers are highly strung when I read their work – the type who are good at searching people from scratch, and such. For me, I'm not that type of person at all. I haven't inconvenienced the editor* much, either . . . or at least, I'd like to think so (laughs).I haven't quarreled with the editor, either. Even if there's a quarrel, it's not about manga, it's about something really trivial. The editor is a Hanshin fan, and I'm a Giants fan; when Hanshin won consecutively against the Giants in the match where the Giants' championship was at stake, I happened to have promised to draw the illustration for the movie poster. But I was in a bad mood, so I said, "I'm not drawing!" (laughs) Since the editor was understanding, he didn't contact me anymore that day (laughs). This isn't really a quarrel, is it? *Strictly speaking, the term could be plural, but I've left it as singular here since Aoyama seems to be talking about his editor.

少年サンデーではない雑誌に始めて投稿なさって佳作になったんですよね。そのままそちらでやるという気持ちはなかったんですか？なぜ少年サンデーへ？
Q: You got an kasaku with a submission to a magazine other than Shonen Sunday, right? Did you not want to continue at that magazine? Why the move to Shonen Sunday?

青山　佳作に選んでくれた漫画雑誌の、編集者が「僕は君の絵は好きなんだけど、今のうち雑誌では絵柄を変えろといわれるだろうから、よそへ行ったほうがいいよ」とアドバイスしてくれて。だったらあだち充さんが好きだし、全体的に絵がかわいいし、サンデーに持っていこうかなと思ったんです。そうしたら、わりとすぐにいけると言われて、その後はけっこうスムーズに。ただ、先輩の漫画家から「編集部に何度も足を運んで編集者に名前を覚えてもらわなきゃいけないよ」といわれたので、できるだけ編集部に通いました。「ちょっとまってて」で新人賞をいただいたんですが、その時点で僕の場合は編集者が付いていたんです。でも自分と同じような新人は何人もいる、その中で顔を覚えてもらうためには頻繁にネーム（下絵原稿）を持って行こうと。そこは意図的に考えてやっていました。半年ぐらいは、かなりしつこく「ネームを直してきました」と通いましたね。ほとんど毎日のように。ほかにやることもなかったし、早く連載待ちたいなと思っていましたね。
A: At the manga magazine where I was kindly given the kasaku, the editor kindly advised me, "I personally like your art, but you'll probably be told to change your style sometime soon, so it'll be better for you if you went elsewhere." If so, I like Mitsuru Adachi, and the picture is cute overall, so I thought about moving to Sunday. Then, I was told that I could go sooner than I'd thought, and things went smoothly after that.But then, a senior manga artist told me, "You should visit the editorial department many times until they memorize your name," so I visited the editorial department whenever I could. When I received the Newcomer Award with Wait a Minute, I already had an editor, in my case. There are many newcomers just like you, so to stand out you must bring in the name (roughly sketched manuscript) often. I did that intentionally. For about half a year, I visited quite insistently, saying "I fixed the name again!" Almost everyday. It's not like I had anything else to do, and I wanted to serialize as soon as possible.

「マジック快斗」の連載はそんな中で決まったんですね。サンデーの増刊で。
Q: Magic Kaito's serialization started in that evironment, didn't it? In Sunday's Special Edition?

青山　そうです。単発で少しずつ描かせてもらったりしていましたけど、基本的にはその間、無職ですよね。漫画家として食べていけるようになったわけじゃないですから。学生時代にバイトで貯めたお金と、新人賞の賞金を食いつぶしていました。でも、こうして話すと苦労の時代と思われるかもしれませんが、実はえらい楽しい日々だったんですよ（笑）。漫画は好きな事だから、結局、自分の好きなことやってるだけなんですね。新人の頃は時間もたくさんあったから、好きなゲームもできましたし。ドラクエをやりながら漫画を描いていた頃の話で、編集者と待ち合わせの約束があったんです。で、江古田の駅前の喫茶店にいるからって電話かかってきたときに、僕は寝ぼけて「あ、あのー、ゴールドがないからいけないよー」って（笑）。そのままガシャンって切って、その３０分後にまたかかってきたときに、そういえばさっき俺、なんかへんなこと言ってたなーとぼんやり（笑）。そのときの編集者もいい人だったんです。だからいろんな面で楽しかった。今はもうゲームをやる時間もありませんしね。
A: Yes. I was allowed to draw from time to time, but you're basically jobless during that time, aren't you? You can't eat as a manga artist, yet. I was eating with the money I saved through part-time jobs as a student, and with the prize money from the Newcomer Award. Although, you might think that this was a difficult time period the way I talk, but those days were actually really fun for me (laughs). In the end, I was doing what I liked, since I like manga. I also had a lot of time when I was a newcomer, so I could play my favorite games. Back when I used to draw manga while playing Dragon Quest, I had a promise to meet with the editor. Then, when the editor called since he was at a cafe near Egoda's train station, I replied, half asleep, "Uuuum, I can't gooo, since I don't have the gold yeeet" (laughs). Then I hanged up, and when I got a call again after thirty minutes, I vaguely thought, "I said something weird, didn't I?" (laughs).The editor back then was a good person, too. Things were fun back then, in many aspects. Now, I don't quite have the time to play games as I used to.

漫画家としてやっていける、食べていく事ができると実感したのは「マジック快斗」でですか？
Q: Did you realize that you could continue as a manga artist, that you could eat as one with Magic Kaito?

青山　そうですね。当時の編集長が「マジック快斗」をあまり評価してくれなくて、「これが単行本になって１０万部売れたらおごってやる」って言われていたんです。だけどあっという間に越えちゃって、その時単行本が売れるって儲かるんだなと思いました。そのあと「YAIBA」の連載が本誌で始まったんですが、週間だから単行本が出るのも速いでしょう。それでずいぶん楽になりました。生活もですが、精神的にもですね。忙しくなって遊ぶ時間はなくなっちゃいましたけど。コナンは「YAIBA」が終わってから、編集者と次はどうしようという打ち合わせの中で決まりました。当時、「少年マガジン」で金田一君（「金田一少年の事件簿」）が始まっていたんですが、探偵モノは好きだし、面白そうだから自分もやってみたいなと思いました。最初は「探偵物語」みたいな、ちょっとハードボイルドっぽいコメディというのを考えていたんですよ。でもコナンはわりと少年漫画の王道なんですよね。小さくなって、悪い奴らに脅かされてという。プロットは２週間ぐらいでできあがったんだけど、そんなに神経質に考えたわけでもないんです。コナンが小１に戻っちゃうというのも、新一は１７才だから、ちょうど１０才戻ればわかりやすいだろうと思ったんです。小１にしたことにどんな意味があるんですか、と聞かれる事があるけど、意味はただそれだけ（笑）。あと、小１だと完全に子供だから、その年齢の子が何をやっても笑って許してもらえるだろう、みたいなことはちょっとありましたけど。
A: Yes, I think so. The editor-in-chief back then didn't like Magic Kaito very much, and he said, "I'll treat you something if this gets sold as volumes and sells 100,000 copies." Then the number was passed in the blink of time - I thought, it's profitable to sell volumes, isn't it? After that, YAIBA started at the magazine, and since the magazine is weekly, volumes came out quickly, too. Things became much easier after that, not only in terms of livelihood but psychologically, too. I did become busy and lost time to have some fun, though. Conan was decided when I met up with the editor to discuss what to do next after YAIBA ended. At the time, Kindaichi (from Kindaichi Case Files) started at Shonen Magazine, and since I like mysteries and it seemed interesting, I wanted to have a go at it. At first, I/we thought about a hardboiled-esque comedy with a title like "Tale of a Detective" or something similar. But Conan is the royal road to shonen manga, isn't it? Becoming small, and then getting threatened by bad guys. The plot was finished in about two weeks, but it's not something I/we thought neurotically about. Conan turned back to a first grader, since Shinichi is 17, so I thought that turning back exactly ten years would be easy to understand. I get asked if why I chose first grade, but that's pretty much all the reason (laughs). Although, there also was a bit of an aspect that, since first graders are completely children, someone that age will be laughed at and then forgiven for doing anything.

プロットと一緒に、キャラクターの絵も決めていくのですか？
Q: Did you decide the characters' appearances along with the plot?

青山　ほとんど同時に。絵については１分もかかってないかな。
A: Almost at the same time. I don't think that the pictures took more than a minute.

コナンのめがねというアイデアもそのときに？
Q: The idea for Conan's glasses was decided at the time, too?

青山　スーパーマンが好きなので。彼はクラーク・ケントのときにはメガネをかけていたでしょう。それが頭にありました。新一のときはメガネしていないけど、コナンになるとメガネ。メガネで思い出しましたけど、掟破りの漫画を作りたいなと考えていたんですよね。少年誌の主人公でメガネって、アラレちゃんぐらいでしょう。のび太は厳密にいえば主人公じゃないし。あとはネーム（文字）の多さですね。ネームの多い漫画は少年誌ではウケない、というのが定説だったんです。それからもう一個何かあったんだけど、何だっけな。コナンっていう名前についてだったかな。「未来少年コナン」と同じだからということで、編集長はいい顔をしませんでした。ドイル君にしろと言われたような（笑）。でも担当編集者とは掟破りをやろうと盛り上がっていましたよ。
A: I like Superman, you see. Superman wore glasses as Clark Kent, right? That was what was in my head at the time. No glasses when he's Shinichi, but glasses once he turns into Conan. I just remembered, I wanted to make a rule-breaking manga. In shonen, Arare-chan is about the only one who is a protagonist and who also has glasses. Strictly speaking, Nobita-kun isn't a protagonist. Also, names (characters/letters). In shonen, there was a rule that manga with a lot of names in it don't become popular. There was another rule I tried to break – hmm, what was it? Was it about the name, Conan? Since it was the same as Future Boy Conan, the editor-in-chief didn't make a very good face. I think I was told to change the name to Doyle-kun (laughs). My editor was excited about breaking the rules, though.

それと、さっきおっしゃった少年漫画の王道の部分と。ラブコメの要素もあるけど、幼なじみでっていうのはわりと王道ですよね。
Q: Going back to what you have just said about shonen manga's royal path – your work also has an element of love comedy; childhood friends are also royal-path material, aren't they?

青山　そうですね。幼なじみはまあ、僕の趣味といわれればそうだけど（笑）、ラクなんですよ設定が。幼なじみで昔から知っているというのはストーリーが展開しやすいんです。ラブコメではやっぱりあだち充さんの「タッチ」とか好きでしたから。テレビドラマだと「男女七人夏物語」。今の若い読者の子はこのドラマを知らない人も多いでしょうけど、ラブコメの最高傑作だと僕は思っているんですよ。ああいう雰囲気を出したかった。ただ、ラブはあるんだけれども、新一と服部に関していうと女好きではないんですね、どっちも。普通の高校生の男の子とはちょっと違う。探偵ってやっぱりホームズにしても横溝正史の金田一にしても、かなり変わったところがあるんですよ。そこが探偵という人種の魅力でもあるんです。
A: That's true. You could say that it's my preference to use childhood friends, though (laughs). The setup becomes really easy. It's easy to develop the story when the characters are childhood friends who have known each other for a long time. I liked Mitsuru Adachi-san's Touch, after all. As for dramas, I like The Tale of Seven Men and Women*. Though most young readers now probably don't know about this drama, I think that this is the masterpiece of love comedy. I wanted to bring out such an atmosphere in my work. Although, despite the presence of love, neither Shinichi nor Hattori chases after women, do they? They're a little different from a normal high school boy. In the end, detectives are fairly different, whether you're talking about Holmes or Seishi Yokomizo's Kindaichi. That's the appeal of detective-type people, though. *There's a Japanese Wikipedia page for it, but that's about it. Apparently it ran from July 25 to September 26, 1986 on TBS, and was so popular that its ratings exceeded 31% at one time.

ネームがボツになった、というようなことはありますか？
Q: Have your names ever been disgarded before?

青山　イラストレーターの女の人が愛人の画家に殺される回（FILE. 125「落ちる死体」～）で、「俺はおまえにお金をやる。だからおまえはオレを満足させる。それで５０・５０でいいじゃないか」と書いたら、これはちょっとまずいですって。サンデーでは確かに生々しいかなと思いました（笑）。結局、「仕事をやるから家庭に口出しするな」というような、あっさりしたものにしたんです。そのぐらいですね。
A: In the case where the female illustrator gets killed by her lover, who is an artist (File 125~ "Falling Corpse"), I wrote, "I give you money. You give me satisfaction. That sounds like a fair deal to me," and they told me that this was not good. I do agree that it was too raw for Sunday (laughs). In the end, I changed it to something light like "I'll do my job so don't meddle with the family." That's about it.

取材はどうしているんですか？警察関係とか、犯罪の知識とか、すごくデータ部分がしっかりしていて、驚くことも多いんですが。
Q: What about collecting data? I'm often surprised about how firm the factual areas on police relations, crime knowledge, and such are.

青山　編集者の友達に鑑識や銀行の人がいたり、アシスタントの親せきが元刑事だったりするので、聞いてもらって。たとえば貸し金庫を夜中にあけるとしたら何が必要か？とか。警察用語でも出していいものは作品で使わせてもらうし、「これはちょっと秘密だから出さないで」というものも当然ありますし。クルマ関係は一つ年下の弟に聞いています。エンジニアなんです。トリックで、氷を前輪に挟んで動かないようにして、とけたらどうなるのか、多分水はクーラーかけっぱなしだったらラジエーターの水が落ちる、で、どっからどう落ちるの？と聞いたり（巻末最新４１６話リスト、３０２頁を参照）。薬者関係はもう一人の弟が医者だから・・・・・・。アポトキシンの設定などは二人で考えました。若返る・・・・・・骨が元に戻るっていうのはあり得ないんで、それはフィクションだとしても、細胞が若返るというのはありうるな、とか。この弟はアニメについても詳しいので、声優さんを決めるときにアドバイスもくれました。あと、服部と和葉の大阪弁は、関西出身の編集者が細かく見てくれます。取材といえば、寝台特急「北斗星」を編集者と二人で取材に行ったことがあります。夕方近くに待ち合わせしていて、今回の事件の舞台は「北斗星」で行こうと突然決まって。その時偶然、翌朝のチケットが取れたんですよ。でも北海道までは行かず、宇都宮で降りてきちゃったんで、ちょっともったいなかったですけどね。車掌さんに驚かれましたよ。「途中で降りちゃうんですか」って。
A: The editor has friends who does CSI or are working at a bank, and the assistants' relatives turn out to be former police detectives, so I ask them. For example, what do you need if you want to open a safe at night? I get to use some police terminology, too, though of course there are secret ones that I can't use. On car-related subjects, I ask my brother, who is one year younger than me. He's an engineer. I ask him things like, if you insert ice between the front wheels and the ice melts, what will happen? The radiator's water will probably drip if the cooler was kept open – then, where would the water drip from? Things like that. (File 221) On medicine-related subjects, I have another younger brother, who is a doctor. He and I came up with the APTX. To be rejuvenated . . . you can't get your bones back to the way it was, so that aspect is fictional, but maybe it's possible to rejuvenate cells, and such. This younger brother is also knowlegeable about anime, so he advised me on who to pick for voice actors. Also, on Hattori and Kazuha's Kansai dialect, the editor, who is from Kansai, looks over them carefully for me. On site research, I've rode the sleeping car train Hokutosei with the editor before. We had a meeting around dusk once, and suddenly decided to make this case center on Hokutosei. By chance, I/we managed to obtain the ticket(s) for next morning. Unfortunately, we didn't go up to Hokkaido and got off at Utsunomiya, so it was a bit of a waste. The train conductor surprised me. I said, "I have to get off in the middle?"

コナンでストーリー上、いちばん苦労する事は何ですか？
Q: What do you struggle with the most in Conan's story?

青山　動機ですね、犯人の。トリックを考えるのが大変だと思われますけど、僕としては動機の方にいつも苦労しています。怨恨が多いんだけど、いつもじゃ面白くないし。かといって無差別殺人みたいなのはイヤですし。たとえば暑かったから、ムシャクシャしたから人を殺したとか、そういうのは後味が悪いでしょ。それはやりたくないんです。犯人も死なせません。月影島の話だけですね、最後に犯人が自殺して終わるのは。
A: The culprit's motives. People often think that coming up with tricks is troublesome, but for me, I always struggle with the motives. Grudges pop up a lot, but if it happens too often, then it's not interesting anymore. But then, I don't like indiscriminate murder, either. For example, someone kills people because it was hot outside – that leaves a bad taste, doesn't it? I don't want to do things like that. I also don't let the culprit die. The culprit commits suicide in the end only in the Tsukikage (Moon Shadow) Island story, right?

キャラクターについても「これだけはやらない」と決めていることはありますか？
Q: On the characters, is there something you decided the characters won't do?

青山　コナンは泣かない、ということぐらいですね。あくびして目に涙がたまるのはいいけど、号泣しない、感情移入して泣いたりしない。これは最初に決めたことです。ほかにもいろいろあるけどあんまり言わない方がいいですよね。読者のみんなに捜してもらうほうが楽しいでしょう。
A: Conan doesn't cry, but that's about it. He might have tears in his eyes from yawning, but he won't wail, he won't cry from empathy. I decided this at the beginning. There are other things I decided, but it's better not to say them, isn't it? It'll be more fun for the readers to search for themselves.

ストーリーは、編集者との話し合いで決まるんですか？
Q: Do you decide the story with the editor?

青山　はい、編集者と最初に話しながら決めていきます。これは前の話が終わったら仮眠をとって、すぐその日のうちにやります。フリートークのような感じで、トリックから話の流れから結末まで、一気に編集と一話分、つまりおよそ３～４週分を決めてしまうんです。だから大まかなスケジュールは、一つの話が終わって仮眠、その日のうちに立ち合わせ、そこから３日間でネームを上げて、またそこで打ち合わせ、それから４日間でペン入れ、仕上げという感じです。これで一週間。
A: Yes, I first discuss with the editor and decide. When the previous case ends, I take a nap, then I discuss within that day. With a free-talk-like style, we discuss from the trick, the flow of the story, to the conclusion, and we decide one case at once – in another words, we decide what will happen for the next 3~4 weeks. So the overall schedule goes like this: one case ends, I take a nap, I meet with the editor within that day, then I finish the name (pre-manuscript) in three days, then I meet up with the editor again, and then I ink it, then I add the finishing touches in the next four days. This is my week.

休めないですね、全然。その間にもいろいろあるでしょうし。
Q: You can't rest at all, can you? You must have other things to do within that period, too.

青山　ええ、休めないです。原稿を完成して寝てるときぐらいしか休みはないですね。休載のときは旅行なんかもしますが、それでもコナンのことを考えていて完全に休みにはならない。息抜きは野球を見てるときぐらいですね。
A: No, I can't rest. I rest only about the time when I sleep after finishing the manuscript. I might travel when Conan doesn't print, but even then I think about Conan so it's not truly a rest at all. I relax only about when I watch baseball.

コナンはこの先、どう展開していくのか誰もが興味のあるところですが。
Q: Everyone is curious about how Conan will develop in the future.

青山　いや、それもいっぱい言わないのが楽しいでしょう（笑）。読者があっと驚くような展開を考えていますけど、今はまだ言えないことのほうが多いですね。
A: It's probably more fun to not say much about that (laughs). I am thinking about a development that will surprise the readers, but for now there are more things that I can't say.

仮に先生が数週間の休みを取ったとしても、誰もコナンを忘れる事はないし、人気が下がる事もない（編集部は困るが）。そういうところまで上がりつめたのに、先生はなおハードなスケジュールの中でコナンを書き続ける。そのエネルギーはどこから湧いてくるのか、不思議な気分になった。もう一つ、先生からは「仕事」という言葉が出てこないのだ。漫画を書くことはまぎれもなく先生にとって仕事なのだが、いわゆる「労働」というという意識とはまったく違うものだろうと思う。
Even if sensei does take a few weeks of vacation, no one forgets about Conan, and the popularity doesn't go down, either (though this will trouble the editorial department). Even though sensei climbed up to that point, he continues writing Conan amid an even more difficult schedule. I wonder about where such an energy come from. One more thing, sensei never said the word "job". Though writing manga is undoubedly a job for sensei, it seems to be completely different from the what is called "labor".

漫画家にとって大事なことって何なんでしょう？たとえば漫画家を目指す人たちにアドバイスするとしたら。
Q: What is important for a manga artist? What would you advise people who want to become manga artists, for example?

青山　なんだろう・・・・・・。僕はあんまり自分で「ああ、俺は漫画家なんだな」と強く意識するような瞬間ってないんだけども。まあ基本的には好きっていうのがありますよね。好きじゃなきゃやっていけない。あとは、好奇心を持つこと。ありきたりですけど、これぐらいしか思いつかないですよね。好奇心っていうのは、たとえばすっごくつまらない映画を見て「つまんねー！」って終わるんじゃなくて、俺ならここはこうするのに、とか、こうすればどんどん面白くなるのにと考えていくようなことかな。面白い映画はそのままでいいんだけど、つまらない映画を見たときにそこで何を考えるのか。だから案外、つまらない映画のほうが結果的には自分にはよかったりします（笑）。それから、世の中のことで自分が知らないことはたくさんあるでしょう。アニメに関しての話なんだけど、視聴率で「F1, F2」という専門用語を聞いたとき、あ、これで何かできないかなと考えちゃったりしましたね*。新しいことを見たり聞いたりしたときに、何かできるんじゃないかと考えるのは大事なことです。
A: I wonder . . . I never had a moment where I had a strong sense that I am a manga artist.You might say that, at the core, you have to like it. You can't continue if you don't like it. Also, you must have a sense of inquisitiveness. These might be common, but that's all that I can think of. On inquisitiveness, say you see a boring movie. Don't say "Boooring!" and be done with it, for me I would think about how this part should be like this, how if this is done then it will be come more and more interesting – things like that. Interesting movies are fine the way they are, but what are you doing to think when you see a boring one? That's why boring movies are surprisingly better for me results-wise (laughs). Also, there are a lot of things that you don't know about in this world, right? In a story related to anime, when I heard of the terminologies "F1, F2" for ratings, I end up thinking if I could make something out of them or not.* It's important to think about what you can do with things you've never heard of before.

• テレビの視聴者の年齢増をあらわす記号。F1は２０～３４才の女性、F2は３５～４９才の女性である。その他は次の通り。
  

F3＝女５０才以上、M1＝男２０～３４才、M2＝男３５～４９才、M3＝男５０才以上、C1＝男女４～１２才、C2＝男女１３～１９才。

• Symbols representing TV viewers' age groups. F1 = female, 20~34; F2 = female, 35~49; others are as follows:
  

F3 = females 50 and above; M1 = male, 20~34; M2 = male, 35~49; M3 = males 50 and above; C1 = children, 4~12; C2 = children, 13~19.

頭が常に創作の方を向いているんですね。創作脳というか。
Q: Your head constantly turns toward creative work, doesn't it? Creative brain, perhaps.

青山　そうですね。だからやっぱり好きじゃないとだめでしょ。普通は旅行に行ったらなんにも考えずのんびりするんだけど、僕もそうしようとは思うんですが、つい普段の癖で何かネタになりそうなことはないかなと。基本的にマジメってこともあるんです（笑）。ただしあんまり根を詰めるとダメなんですけども。
A: That's true. That's why you have to like it, in the end. You're usually carefree without any thoughts if you travel, and I try to do that, too, but I end up thinking about if I can find material to work with out of habit. At the core, there's an aspect of diligence (laughs). You shouldn't strain your nerves too much, though.

腱鞘炎は大丈夫ですか？漫画家は腱鞘炎との戦いだ、といわれますが。
Q: Are you all right from tendonitis? They say that being a manga artist means a fight against tendonitis.

青山　一回なりかけて、ヤバイなというときがありました。元々、筆圧が強いので腱鞘炎にはなりやすいタイプなんです。それからは描き方を変えましたね。細マジックで、何度も線をなぞって太くしていくんですよ。ピグマの０．１ミリというペンがあるんですが、それでサッサッと。そうすると腕に力を入れなくてもすむんです。絵は背景と重要じゃない登場人物以外は、自分で描いています。クルマを含めた背景、それに人物で言うと鑑識とか名前のない警察はアシスタントに任せて、名前のある人物については僕がやるという分け方です。
A: There was one time when I almost got it. I always had strong pressure on the pen, so I'm the type who easily gets tendonitis. I've changed my drawing style since then. I use a thin marker and trace over the same line many times to make it thicker. I use the PIGMA 0.1mm pen. That way, I don't have to put much pressure on the arms. Except for background and unimportant characters, I draw everything. Meaning, I leave things like backgrounds with cars, CSI's and police people without names to assistants, then draw the characters who have names myself.

絵に関して、影響を受けた漫画家さんというと誰でしょう？
Q: On the art, which manga artist did you receive influence from?

青山　「ルパン三世」のモンキー・パンチさんですね。コナンがお酒を飲んで元の身体に戻るときがあるでしょう？あの「白乾児（パイカル）」というお酒は、「ルパン三世」に出てくるすごくかっこいい魔術師の名前なんです。あとはあだち充さん、意外なところでは少女漫画家の松苗あけみさんかな。それから大友克洋さんは世代的に、僕らの年齢だとみんな多かれ少なかれ影響を受けているんじゃないかな。
A: Monkey Punch, of Lupin III. There's a time when Conan drinks some alcohol and reverts back to his former body, right? The alcohol called Paikaru comes from the name of a magician that appears in Lupin III. I would also say Mitsuru Adachi-san, and surprisingly a shojo manga artist named Akemi Matsunae-san, I think. And people my age all received influence to some degree from Katsuhiro Otomo-san, I think. (Ha ha, I wonder if Miyano Akemi's name comes from Matsunae Akemi's . . . it sounds like it does, doesn't it?)

先生は独身ですが、結婚したら今の生活は続けられないですね。
Q: Sensei is single, but if you marry you can't continue living like this, can you?

青山　無理でしょう。生活が変わっちゃったら、今のペースは維待できない。最初にコナンを立ち上げたときも、「これは大変だよな」と思いました。で、実際やってみたら本当にあまりに大変なんで、もう上の人からどうこう言われるんならやらない。勝手にやらせてくれなきゃいやだと言ったぐらいです。そうやって、生活も作品も好き勝手にやっているから続けていけるんでしょうね。コナンをドイルにしろとか、服部を純然たるライバルにしろとか、そういうことは言われてきたけど、それは僕が考えてることと違うので。そこは作家として主張してきました。だからずいぶん好きなようにやっています。好きなことを、好きなように・・・・・・心身ともに大変ではあるんですが、結局はそこに尽きると思っています。それで、そうやって生きていける自分はやっぱり幸せなんですよね。アイデアが枯れてもう何も出なくなるまで、もしくは読者から「おまえはもういらない」と言われるまで、漫画家としてずっとやれたらいいと思っています。口では「あー、もうやめてえ～！」と言うことはあってもね。
A: No, I can't. If my lifestyle changes, I can't continue the current pace anymore.* When I started Conan, I thought that this would be a lot of work. When I actually started, it was truly so much work that I don't do what my superiors say. I even said that I won't do anything unless they let me do whatever I want to do. This way, I can continue because I'm doing whatever I want in life and in my work. I was told to change the name from Conan to Doyle, to make Hattori into an absolute rival, things like that, but that's different from what I'm thinking. In that aspect, I insisted on my way as the artist. So I've been doing whatever I want. You should do what you like, as you like . . . This may be quite troublesome to both mind and body, but in the end I think that I want to be consumed there. Therefore, I'm happy, after all, because I'm living this way. I think I want to continue being a manga artist until ideas run dry, or readers tell me that they don't need me anymore. Though I might say "Aaaah, stooop!" from time to time. *There seems to be a typo here - I can't find the meaning of 維待anywhere – so I guessed at what it meant.

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Love Conan (Rabu Conan) Interview RAW

ラブコナン―名探偵コナンオフィシャルファンブックforガールズ,2004/3/31
http://conan-4869.net/post-19909
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─ 女の子向けの本ということで、いきなりですが、先生の好みの夕イブからうかがってもよろしいですか？
ああ～！？（大爆笑）いいですよ。

─ 登場人物でいうと、どのキャラクターが好みなんでしょうか？
女の子で言ったら蘭ですね。あとはコナンのお母さんの有希子。有希子のモデルは、峰不二子です。実は髪形もパクリなんですよ。

─ だからあんなに胸が大きいんですか。
みんなが好きそうな人がけっこう好きなんですよね。

─ 先生の作品に出てくる女の子って、みんなスタイルいいですよね。
そうですね。怪盗キッドが出てくる「まじっく快斗」のヒロイン（中森青子）が、胸ない設定なんですけどね、唯一。あれも「桃子」じゃなくて「青子」なんですね。

─ ああ、色でちょうど桃子ちゃんのファンだったころに描かれた作品なんですね。
そうそう、そのころ。で、中森明菜も好きだったから「中森」に。
ハハハ。胸も大きいし、変装もできるし。ハーレーに乗って革ジャンも着ちゃいます。変装の技術なんかもルパン三世から来てますね。

─ 具体的に女優さんでは誰か、いらっしゃいますか？
そうですね。昔は菊池桃子。今は・・・ちょっと前までだと広末（笑）。あと優香とかね。

─ ちょっと癒し系っぽい優しい感じの人がお好きなんですね。
中森明菜はどっちかっていうときつめですよね。松田聖子より中森明菜が好きだったんですよ。

─ 聖子ちゃん派、明菜ちゃん派ってありましたもんねえ。

─ 物語では幼なじみ同士の恋愛が同時進行していますが、先生は幼なじみの女の子を好きになったことはないですか？
う～ん。ないですね。（即答）

─ そうなんですか？子どものころよく探偵ごっこをされていたとうかがっています。その中に女の子がいたりしなかったんですか？
ああ、う～ん。そこにはいなかったんだけど、小学校のとき山にキャンプに行く授業があって、入っちゃいけない奥に行って迷っちゃって・・・。オレたち男の子グループのほかに女の子グループも来てて。そこで会っていっしょに出ることになったんだけど、その中に好きな女の子はいました（笑）。

─ なんだか楽しそうですね。おいくつぐらいのときですか？
小学生ですね。だから木の切り株を見て方角を判断して・・・。かなり迷っちゃったもんだから、女の子とか泣き出しちゃったりして。「やべえなあ」ってことになって。なんとか大回りして出たんだけど、ただ帰ったら怒られると思ったから、みんな着く直前に泣きまね。みんなに「泣きまねだぞって言ってね（笑）。

─ ずるい（笑）。そしたら怒られないですみました？
怒られませんでしたねえ。「怖かったよ～」とか言って。まったく怖くなかったのにね。すっげえ楽しかったんだけどね。

─ 先生が応援したい作中のカップルは誰と誰ですか？
それはやっぱり新一と蘭だね。新一がちっちゃくなっちゃってうまくいかないし。

─ 読者も新一だけじゃなく蘭のことも好きで、ふたりを応援したいという感じですよね。
ああ、出だしがそうでしたからね。最初から好きあってる、両思いだってわかってるからじゃないでしょうかね？たとえば話の途中まで嫌いなフリしてて、コミックスで言うなら8巻くらいで急に「ああ、好きだったのかな？」っていうんじゃなくて、最初からだったからかな。それでいてちっちゃいからうまくいかないじゃないですか。

─ そこがまた切なくて、みんな応援したくなるのかもしれないですよね。登場人物はみんな、基本的ににぶいですよね。
あ、そうそうそう。声優の林原めぐみさんにも言われましたよ。「なんかにぶすぎ」って（笑）。たぶん「自分のことじゃないだろうな」と思ってるからだろうね。

─ そのじれったい感がまた、読んででみんなおもしろいんでしょうね。
よし、じゃあもっとじれったくしよう（笑）。

– （笑）けっこう「哀ちゃんとコナン君をなんとかしてあげてほしい」っていう声もあるんですよ。
はいはい。ああ～。無理無理(笑)。

– やっぱり無理なんですか？哀ちゃんは、工藤くんと江戸川くん、どっちのことが好きなんですか?
ちっちゃいほうが好きなんでしょうかね？コナンのほう。林原さんに「でっかいヤツはいいから、ちっちゃいほうちょうだいよ」って言われてますからね（笑）。

─ 年齢的にいうとやっぱり佐藤刑事と高木刑事が先かな？っていう感じもして。そう思っているファンがたくさんいるんですよ。「頼むから結婚させて！」という。
ハハハ。やっぱり結婚してほしいんだ。どうかなあ・・・。

─ そのうちって感じですか？うけっこういいところまで進展してますね。
そうそうそう（大爆笑）。あれはけっこう描いていて楽しいですよ。新一たちとくらべると、高木と佐藤はなんの障害もないしね。

─ 白鳥警部さえいなければ。
ああ、白鳥かあ（笑）。そうそう。

─ もう、あのトロピカルマリンランドの尾行の話がもんのすごくおもしろかったです。あんな聞き間違いってあり？って。
「ヘロイン」と「披露宴」、血の「血痕」と「結婚」とかね。あれはもう本当にノリノリで描いてましたね。

─ それにしても佐藤刑事のあのモテっぷりはなんなんでしょうかね？他の県警の人たちまで。目暮警部と干葉刑事以外のみんなが好き！っていう感じですよね。
ねえ。すごいねえ（笑）。男ばっかりの仕事場で女の人がいたら、モテモテなんですよ。

─ 捜査一課では、佐藤さんだけなんですか？
そうですね。描いてないけど、いるかも？でもいたらかわいそうだよね。ハハハ。

─ 本当ですよ～。でもあのぐらいモテてると、読んでるほうも気持ちがいいですよ。

─ 以前、先生も「小五郎さんは陣内孝則さん」などいくつかお答えいただいていますが、現在でも実写にしたらどなたっでいうのはありますか？ファンからは「実写は反対」という意見が圧倒的に多いのですが。
オレとしては、新一のお父さんの優作は、やっぱり松田優作さんがよかったなあ。松田優作大好きだったからなあ。そうかあ。実際になるとおもしろいけどね。オレは見てみたいんだけどね。昔インターネツトで、いろいろそういう話題があって、「工藤新一役は滝沢くん」って書いたら、原作者のオレがそう言ってるのに、ファンの子が「絶対イヤ～！タッキーじゃない～！」みたいなこと書いてきて（笑）。わりとオレは、みんなに人気があって、なんかよさそうだなって人を適当に言っただけだったんだけどさ・・・。

─ アンケートでは、平次役の候補ももっと出てくるかなと思ったんですけど、意外と出てこなくて。
いないんじゃないですかね？色黒で・・・いないよねえ。

─ 先生がいちばん最初に「名探偵コナン」を描き始められたころ、女性の読者やファンっていうのは意識はされてましたか？
う～ん。でもこんなにねえ、女の人に受けるとは思ってなかった。ラブコメの要素がわりと強くなってからだろうね。女の人多いなあって思うね。ファンレターを見てると、男の子は中学生ぐらいまでで、そこから上はほぼ女の人ですね。けっこう主婦の人に人気があるみたい（笑）。

─ 特にアニメは子どもといっしょに見ていたら、自分のほうがハマッちゃったっていうお母さんは、多いと思いますよ。映画館に行くともう、お母さん世代の人のほうが多いくらいですよ。子どもとお母さんの数が合っていないような。
（笑）「はじまったころは高校生だったのに、私も「一児の母です」っていうファンレターが来て。やべえなって思ったりしてね。

─ 先生が特に印象に残っている犯人はいますか？事件を起こさせちゃったけど、実は気に入っているとか。
やっばり月影島のときの、あの麻生成実。あれは死んじゃいましたからねえ。犯人はなかなか殺さないんですけどね。印象に残ってるのは、それだねえ。

─ 最初からその話は、最後殺しちゃうって決めていたんですか？
ああ、それはもう決めてたね。「今回は」って。あとは外国人でなんとかロバート。あの、絡繰峠の蜘蛛屋敷。あれもかわいそうな・・・。

─ 「SHINE」と書いて「死ね」と読んでしまったという。
もうあれはかわいそうすぎてね。自分で描きながら「やっばかわいそすぎるなコレ」と思ったりしてね（笑）。そんな意昧じゃなかったのに、自殺に追い込んじゃって、そのために殺人までしちゃつて・・・。アシスタントにまで「なんで？なんでこんな話描くの？」って言われたりして。描いてる最中に。

─ アシスタントの方がそういうこと言ったりするんですか？
言いますよ。つまんなかったらつまんないって言うし。「今回のはなかなかよかった」とか言うしね。

─ 怪盗キッドなど、他の作品からのグストキャラも人気を集めていますが、先生としてはこの反響はどう思われますか？
怪盗キッドを出すときに「こんな勝手なことしていいのかなあ？」と思ったりしたんだけど（笑）。松本零二先生とかよく出すじゃないですか。999にハーロックとかエメラルダスとか。あんな感じが好きなんですよね。そいつはそいつでちゃんとした話を持ってるんだけど、ゲストで出てるんだっていうのがいいなあと。
最初、怪盗キッドを出したとき、インターネットで見たら、まじっく快斗ファンが大熱狂してて。「コナンなんかに負けないわよ！っていうコメントがいっばいあって（笑）、ちょっとした騒ぎになりましたね。でも「まじっく快斗」と違って、怪盗キッドの部分しか描いてませんからね。黒羽快斗じゃなくて。あと、キッドが思ってることは出てなくて、コナンが見た部分だけを描いてるという。だから言葉つかいもキザで・・・。

─ キザですよね。新一くんといい勝負くらいですよね。
ああ、なんでキザになっちゃうんだろうなあ（笑）、主人公が。セリフ考えるの大変なんですよね～。

─ かっこいいセリフは、小説とか映画を参考にされてるんですか？
いやあ、なんか適当ですね。ゴロゴロしながら。

─ 実は読者アンケートで一番多かったのが「登場人物の詳しいプロフィールが知りたい」という意見です。特に平次の誕生を知りたいという声が多いですね。
へぇぇ。平次、いつだろうねえ。なんかしんないけどしし座っぽいなあ。

─ 確かに、色黒のせいもありますけど、8月っぽいですよね。そのうち、明かされるようなお話があったりするんですか？
ねえ。誕生日モノはやりたいですねえ。阿笠博士の誕生日はやりましたからね。10年かかってやっと（笑）。やっと1歳。53歳って、オレが描き始めたころは「けっこうおじいさんかなあ」って思ってたけど、今考えるとそんなおじいさんじゃないんだよね。63ぐらいにしとけばよかったかな？って、失敗した～と思って。

─ みんなから「じいさん」とか言われたりするし、たしかに見た目おじいさんぽいですよね。
うん。しまった～（笑）。

─ お茶の水博士くらい。
そう。まるでお茶の水博士のパクリだから（笑）。

─ 誕生日や血液型に関して言えば、本当にみんな「好きな人のことが知りたい」っていうのと同じ感覚なんですよね。特に血液型なんかは、蘭が「わたしもこの子と同じ血液型ですから」というところまでわかってただけに、みんな気になっていると思うんですが。
血液型出しちゃうと、その血液型じゃない子が悲しむなあと思って、なんでもアリにしてあります。だからたぶんこれからも出しません。

─ シャロン・ヴィンヤードの年齢は、何歳なんでしょうか？クリスは29歳だから、その親ぐらいだろうし・・・と、想像するのですが。
ねえ。フフフ。

─ ジンはその年齢を知ってるのかな？と心配になったりもします（笑）。そのへんはそのうち大々的にわかってくるんですかね？
フフフ。そうですね。けっこうそれは核心のところなんですよね。

─ 結末を知りたいという声も多いのですが、それをおうかがいするわけにはいきませんので、あっさりした質問に。新一は、3年間ひとり暮らしをしているという設定ですが、その間の家事はどうしていたんでしょうか？
食事は自分が作ったり、あとは蘭が作ったり、博士が作ったり。料理ぐらいはできるんじゃないかなあ。今はコンビニとかもあるし。

─ 復活したときに、朝トーストだけしか食べてなかったから、こりゃ料理はしなかったんじゃないかな？と思ったんですよね。
ハハハ。あ～それはある。

─ 蘭がフサエ・キャンベルの限定アイテムのため並んだことがありましたが、結局何を買ったんでしょうか？蘭ちゃんだし、お財布とかかな？と思うのですが。
何買ったんだろうなあ、じゃ、お財布にしときましょう。今度財布出すときに、（アシスタントに）「これ、いちょうの葉っぱ描いといて」って。見た人が、「ああ、これ買ったんだ」って。ハハハ。

─ あんまり大きいバッグとか買ってなさそうですもんね。蘭はおこづかいもらってなさそうだし。
ああ、そうそう。そうだね。安いんですよ。いいものだけど、リーズナブルで。

─ 本当にいろんなこと調べで描いていかないといけないんですね。その分野の専門的なことがわかってないと描けないことが多いから、リサーチが大変ですよね？
それはもう「聞いてきて」って頼んだり、ネットで調べたり。だから釣りの話を描くときには、えらく釣りに詳しくなったりしましたからね。あと熊の話を描くときには、熊の習性にまで詳しくなってたり。犬に詳しいときもあったなあ。

─ （笑）おもしろいですね。
犬種とかね。どんどん忘れちゃうけどね。

─ 動物もけっこう出できますよね。先生ご自身は動物お好きなんですか？
う～ん。かなあ？灰原は動物好きですけどね。オレは子どものときに犬飼ってて、それが死んじゃったのが悲しくて・・・。
いつかは死んじゃうのかと思うと飼えないんですよ。ロボツト犬ってのがあったじゃない。あれを買ったんだけど。

─ すぐあきちゃいました？
うん。知り合いにあげちゃいました（笑）。ロボット犬って本当に成長してくんですよ。段階を追って。最初のうちはなかな’か歩かなくって。で、徐々に歩きだすんですけど。そろそろ歩くかな？っていうときに、立ちそうで立たない感じが気持ち悪くって。あれはちょっとリアルすぎて・・・怖かった。

─ けっこういろんな場所が出てきますけど、実際に描かれるときは、やっぱり取材に行かれるんですか？
今載ってる話は沖縄なんですけど、沖縄は行ってませんよ。カメラマンの人に、那覇空港とかいろいろ撮ってきてもらいましたけど。

─ そうなんですか。行けるわけではないんですね。お時間もないし。
NYのときは行きましたよ。よく「作者取材のため休載します」というのがあるけど、締め切りに追われてヤバイから休載なんじゃなくて、本当に取材に行ってたんですよ（笑）。NYは別としても、東京ばっかりじゃつまんないからね、けっこうコナンたちは旅行することが多いんですよ。

─ また新しい県警の人とか出てくるとうれしいのですが。
ねえ。大変ですよ。いろいろ考えるのが。群馬、静岡、神奈川・・・、埼玉は横溝刑事がいなくなっちゃったから。本当はね、刑事の転勤ってないんだよね。はじめは、横溝をいろんなところに転勤させて、行ったら「オマエもまたここにいたのか！」っていう設定にしたかったんだけど、はじめに転勤させたときに「転勤ってないんですよ」って言われて。

─ 特に警察関係の方に叱られるってことはないんですよね。
それはないんだけど、警察関係に詳しいファンの人とかいて。『WEBサンデーの次号予告で、「高木刑事が鳥取に転勤？」とか書いてあったから、「転勤なんて絶対ありえない!」と思ったけど、合同捜査本部に行くんだったからあり、さすが青山先生』って書いてあって、よかった～。あぶないあぶない（笑）。「合同捜査ならセーフだけど、転勤はどう考えてもない！」・・・ってこと！

─ 黒の組織は全部で何人くらいなのでしよう？
ああ、いっぱいいそうですよね。

─「あの方」の正体を知りたいという声も多いです。メールが日本語だったので、日本人なのでしょうか？
さあ・・・どうだろう。みんな細かいところまで見てるんだねえ。

─ 考えてみたら、ジンとかも国籍は明確にされてないですよね？
ねぇ、裏設定では「黒澤陣っていう名前が」（笑）。ハハハ。
「えええっー！ジンって名前なんですか！？ウオッカらしき「魚塚三郎」っていう名前は、名簿のところにありましたが。
ああ～名簿描いた描いた！あれ、見えないけど魚塚三郎の隣に本当は黒澤陣って書いてあるんだよね。実は、ハハハハ（笑）。

─ 見えなさすぎですよ（笑）まさかそんなダジャレでコードネームつはつけられていないはず！と思っていたのですが～（笑）。

─ 42巻まで、黒の組織やFBlは謎が多くて、赤井秀一はあやしいー！と思ってたんですよね。だから「ええ～つー！」って。
いい人なんですよ。ハハハ（笑）。ちょっと陰があってね。わけあって陰があるんだけどね。フフフ（笑）。

─ あやしすぎー！でしたよね。目が冷たいし。
オレのキャラで目のところに斜線が入るのは、ヤツだけなんだよね（笑）。死んだ人にしか入れないんだけどね。けっこうお気に入りキャラでね。声が池田秀一さんだし。

─ 先生ご自身が声優さんをリクエストされたという話ですよね。
そうそう。正月のスペシャルで出てきたとき「かっこいい～。すげぇかっこいい」とか言って。あれはよかったなぁ（しみじみ）。

─ 新出先生はアメリカで何をしていたんですか？
ねえ。医者だったんじゃないんですか？わかんないけど。違うのかなあ？もうねえ、新出先生がベルモットだったってことがわかったら新出先生ファンからえんらい苦情が来て（笑）。

─ もう二度と出てこないのかと思ったら、ちゃんと帰ってきてよかったです。
帰ってきましたよ～！あんまりだなと思ってね。あれはあれで、けっこうおもしろいキャラだと思って。

─ 優しい人だっていうのが、みんなにもわかったし。
性格までまったく同じというね（笑）。新出先生、いろいろこれからヤバイ目に遭うかも・・・なんて。

─ ぐええっ！そうなんですかあ？聞いておいて聞きたくないような(笑)。
元ベルモットが住んでいた場所ですからね。いろんなものが残されているかもしれない。そこに残っているものを見つけちゃったらヤバイ。

─ 洋服や持ち物について…コナンくんは、新一くんの子どもの洋服を着ていますが、哀ちゃんは、一から買ってるんですかね？
はあ～、そうですよね。博士が買うわけないよね。

─ 本当におとながちっちゃくなったような、おねえさんぽいカッコしてますよね。
そうそうそう。灰原はCanCamとか見てるしね。ああいう雑誌も買ってきてもらってますよ。昔は自分で買ってたんだけど、コンビニの人にすこい変な顔されて。ほら女性雑誌をまとめてバーッと買ったりしてたから…それで、自分で買うのやめたんです。

─ そういう雑誌を見ながら、洋服とか描いてらっしゃるんですか？
その中から、気に入った描きやすそうな服を見つけて取り入れたりしてるんですけどね。水着が出てくることになれば、流行の水着とかね。大体アニメ化されるのが1年後なんで、本当に最新のものじゃないと、アニメになったときに「もう古い」ってなっちゃうからね。ガン黒だってもうギリギリだったもんね。ハハハ（笑）。
あれもアニメ化にされたころはもうヤバイって感じで。オレが描いてるころはバリバリに流行ってたんだけど、アニメのころにはもう田舎の子しかやってないような状態で。

─ 時間差はちょっとファッション的にはつらいですね。
つらいよね。だからルーズソックスってあんまり描いてないんだよね。すたれるだろうなと思って描いてなかったんですけど。でも未だにず～っと残ってるから、「なんだよ。描いときゃよかったな！」って。

─ （笑）そのへんご苦労がありますね。

─ 米花町や杯戸町、モデルにしてる街は、ありますか？
名前はね、米花町はベイカー街、杯戸町はハイド・パークからだけどね。街自体はどこかな～？

─ PAPCOのあたりは、本当に渋谷公園通りのPARCOのところのように見えたので、渋谷に近い？と思ったりするのですが。
そうかあ、まったく考えてなかった（笑）。適当に。その当時住んでいる町のそばの雰囲気をね。北干住に住んでいるときはそのあたりの感じで。都心から、ほんの少し離れたところのイメージですね。

─ でも、いろんなものありますよね。遊園地もあるし、映画館もショッピングセンターもみんなあるし。
どんどんでかくなってますよね。

─ 街に入りきらなくなっでますよね（笑）。米花町は五丁目までなんでしょうか。
かなあ？そんなこと聞かれても（笑）。あれもね、順番に火をつけていく連続放火事件のときに何丁目だか出さないといけなくなってね。「五丁目あたりにしといたら？」って言われて五丁目に。以前出した本で、「地図描け」って言われたんだけど、描けねえなあ。合わないんだよね、アクセスとかいろいろなことが。

─ 最初っからこういう街っていうのが、あるわけじゃなくて、ここを描き、ここを描き…で、ここはつながる？っていうような。
つながらないつながらない。東都タワーは東京タワーなんだけどね。架空のものと本当のものと混ざっているような感じですね。

─ 最後になりますが、今後事件を起こしたいというか、どこか先生が行きたい、という街はありますか?
それはやっぱりロンドンですね。メシはまずいって間きますけど。ロンドンですごい事件を起こさなければいけない。

─ それはじっくり取材に行ってらしてください。でもロンドンといえばホームズの本拠地、もう「決戦の場」になりそうですね。
ハハハ（笑）。いやあ、ロンドンはきっとラブコメの、蘭と新一のね。ラブコメの決戦の場で。

─ ラブコメの決戦の場！どんなことになるんでしょう？ぜひぜひ読みたいです。これからも楽しみにしでいます。

─ 歩美ちゃんのおうちについてお聞きしました。
はじめのうちは、光彦がいちばんおぽっちゃんみたいたったんだけど、映画「世紀末の魔術師」のときに、キッドが歩美ちゃんのところに寄ることになって。だから急遽、歩美ちゃんの家を高層マンションにしたんですよね。
それまでそんなこと夢にも思ってなかったのに。気がついたら歩美ちゃんがいちばん金持ちじゃん！（笑）。なんだか、歩美ちゃんのお父さんはパイロットとかね。ひみつのアッコちゃんのお父さんが船長みたいな、そんな感じかなぁ？

Translation by Yunniechan : link

  Show spoilers »

Our magazine is for women, so forgive us for such a sudden question, but can we ask what is sensei’s favourite girl type?

What?! (laughs) Okay.

Judging from the characters that are appearing in your work, which one is your favourite?

If I have to chose from girls, it’s Ran. And Conan’s mother, Yukiko. Yukiko was modelled after Fujiko Mine, and, to be honest, I borrowed her hair style.

That’s why her chest is so big.

Hahaha. Her chest is big, yeah, and she also can disguise herself. She also rides Harley and wears leather jackets. The whole disguising technique came from Lupin the Third.

Do you have any favourite actresses?

Right… Some time ago it was Kikuchi Momoko. Now… Hirosue :) And Yūka, I guess.

Looks like you like women with sweet and comforting personality.

I like women most people like.

All girls appearing in sensei’s works have a great sense of style.

Right. Nakamori Aoko, a character from the manga [Magic Kaito], where Kaito Kid first appeared, has a small chest, and she’s the only one. And she’s not [Momoko], but [Aoko].

I see. By color. You drew her when you were a fan of Momoko-chan?

Yes-yes. At that time. And she is Nakamori, because I liked Nakamori Akina. I liked her more than Matsuda Seiko.

There were Seiko-chan fraction and Akina-chan fraction, yeah…

You have a lot of childhood friends sweethearts in your works, is it because you had one?

Nope. I didn’t.

Really? You played detective a lot when you were a child, you didn’t have girls as friends?

Yeah. Nope. I didn’t have, but at the elementary school I was taken camping to the mountains, it was a lesson, so I had to, I was the last and I lost… And came to girls’ group. When we met, I left the cave with them.

There was a girl I liked in there :)

Sounds really funny! How old were you?

Elementary school student. So I were able to get the direction from tree stump… But still I really was lost, and girls started to cry. We kind of made a long way around, and returned. We thought everyone would be angry at us, so everyone started crying before we reached the meeting point. I called it fake tears :)

That’s cheating :) And? Everyone were angry?

They weren’t. We said [it was scary], but it wasn’t scary at all. It was really fun.

Which couple sensei wants to support?

Of course Shinichi and Ran. Shinichi became small, so it doesn’t go well for him.

Readers should also love not just Shinichi, but also Ran, and I want them to support them both! Right?

Yeah. It was like that at the beginning, see? It’s because you understand it’s mutual feeling, right? It’s not like when characters pretend to hate each other and then, at vol. 8 or something you just [oh, so they loved each other?]. You know it from the very beginning. But since he turned small, it’s a bit hard for them.

It’s even sadder because of that, I think everyone will support them. Every character is, so to speak, slow.

Ah, yeah-yeah. Seiyuu Hayashibara Megumi-san said that too! [Kind of too slow] :) I believe she thought [It’s because they think about themself].

That’s a really irritating feeling, but I bet readers find it amazing.

Yes-yes. So I’ll probably make them more irritated :)

A lot of people say [We want Conan-kun and Ai-chan to have something]

Yes-yes. A-a… Impossible, just impossible :)

Impossible after all? Which one Ai-chan prefer - Kudo-kun or Edogawa-kun?

Smaller one, I think? Conan. Hayashibara-san also said that [big one is nice, but give me a smaller one] :)

Speaking about adults, Satou-keiji and Takagi-keiji are also leading? They have a lot of fans. Saying things like [Please let them marry!]

Hahaha. So they want them to marry… Wonder what should I do…

Don’t you think it’s time? Their relationships developed a lot… (TN: COUGH 2004 year COUGH)

Right-right (big laughter) I look forward to drawing it. Comparing to Shinichi and the others, Satou and Takagi didn’t have much obstacles.

If only there wasn’t Shiratori-keibu.

Aa. Shiratori :) Right-right.

Ah, that tailing at Tropical Marine Land was so funny. All their hearing errors…

[Heroin]’s became [hirouen (reception)] and blood’s [kekkon (stain)] - [kekkon (marriage)], that? To be honest, I really liked drawing it.

And Satou-keiji is really popular, right? Everyone but Megure-keibu and Chiba-keibu love her!

Right. She’s great :) When a woman takes a job full of male workers, of course she’ll be popular.

Is Satou-san the only one woman in the first division of Criminal Investigation Bureau?

Right… I never drew it, but I guess there are others? If they are there, I bet they are quite pitiable. Hahaha.

Sensei, you said earlier [I see Kogoro-san as Jinnai Takanori], if you were to make a live action, what would you do? There are a lot of fans who are against life action, you see…

I would like to see Matuda Yuusaku as Shinichi’s dad. I really like him. I would’ve wrote Takizawa-kun as Kudo Shinichi, but even if I’ll say saw, fangirls will go like [no waay~ not Takki!], you see :)

In the survey, we thought there would be more Heiji-playing candidates, but, surprisingly, there weren’t.

Weren’t? Not much dark-skinned, you see.

When sensei just started to draw the very first chapter of [Meitantei Conan], did he expected a lot of fangirls?

Yeah… But I didn’t expect that many. The love comedy aspect wasn’t really strong. When I look through fan letters, all male fans are around middle school, and everyone older are all female fans. Looks like I’m popular among housewives :)

Especially a lot of cases where a mother watches it with her child and becomes interested herself. When I go to cinemas, there a lot of women of mother-like age. I don’t think children and mothers number is equal.

) [When I started reading it, I was a high school student, but now I am a mother] - fan letters like this came to me. That’s going pretty wild.

What criminal left the most big impression on you, sensei? Like, even if they committed a crime, you really liked them. Of course Tsukishima Island’s Asou Seiji. But he died. A criminal who can’t kill people easily. That’s the impression left of him.

Did you decide to kill him in the end of the story right from the beginning?

Yes. That has been decided. And there was a foreigner… what’s his name, Harold. At the Karakuri Spider Mansion. I pitied him too…

[SHINE] that was read as [die]?

Yes, that was pitiful too. After I drew that, I thought that he really is pitiful… :) If it wasn’t for that, I would’ve probably made him commit suicide, murdering someone just for that… Assistant also asked me [why? why did you drew that?]

Your assistants can say such things?

They can. If something’s boring, they’ll say it’s boring. And they can say something like [That was kind of great that time].

Kaito Kid is a guest from another manga, but he’s becoming famous. Sensei, what do you think about it?

When I was about to enter Kaito Kid, I thought [Should I make that egoistic thing?] :) Matsumoto Reiji-sensei makes that a lot, don’t you think? In 999, Harlock and Queen Emeralds appear, for example. I liked that feeling. I always wait eagerly for the pain plot, but when a guest appears, I think it’s nice. Recently, when Kaito Kid appeared, when I read internet, Magic Kaito fans went nuts. [He won’t lose to Conan!], a lot of comments like that :) That became kind of fuss. But, different from [Magic Kaito], I drew only Kaito Kid himself. Not Kuroba Kaito. And I don’t show what Kid thinks, only Conan’s POV. And Kid uses really pompous phrases….

Really pompous. He’s a good rival to Shinichi-kun.

Yeah… He really became kind of pretentious. :) My main character. It’s hard to think of his lines.

Have you taken some cool lines from books or films?

No… They just come to me, while I’m relaxing.

To be honest, in readers survey the most popular opinion is [we want complete profiles for characters]. Like, a lot want to know Heiji’s birthdate.

Heeh. When Heiji born, huh… I want to know it myself, but he acts like a Leo.

Yes, and him being dark-skinned… That’s an August kind of thing. You’re planning to reveal it eventually?

Hm. I really want to think of birthdays. I did Agasa-hakase’s birthday. That took me 10 years :) 53 years… When I started drawing it, I thought [That’s quite a grandpa], but when I think about it right now, he’s not that old. Maybe I should’ve made him 63? Fail~

Everyone call him [jii-san], and he looks like a ojiisan.

Yep. I failed :)

He looks like a professor from Ocha no Mizu.

Right. It even looks like I’ve stolen Ocha no Mizu’s professor :)

Speaking of birthdays and blood types, people really [want to know about their loved one]. Especially blood types, Ran said [My blood type is the same as this child’s], and everyone got curious.

If I’ll say it, I think girls with other blood type would be sad. Just think of it as anyone you like. That’s why I probably won’t reveal it.

What is Sharon Vineyard’s age? Chris is 29, so being her mother… Have you thought about it?

Hee. Hehehe.

Gin knows her age? We’re worried :) At least relatively?

Hehehe. Right. That’s pretty much a core question.

A lot of people want to know how it’ll end. I won’t ask about that, so I’ll make another question. Shinichi lived alone 3 years, right? How did he managed his housework?

He made his meals my himself, sometimes Ran made it for him, professor too. I don’t think he’s skilled at cooking.

When he was back, he had only a toast for breakfast, so I guess he didn’t cook anything?

Hahaha. Yeah, that’s true.

Ran standed in line for Fusae Campbell’s branded goods, so what did she buy in the end? Because it is Ran-chan, maybe it was a purse?

What did she buy hmm… Well, let’s think she did buy a purse. When I’ll draw her purse next time, I’ll tell assistant [here, ass some leaf pattern]. And readers would be like [a-a, so that is what she bought]. Hahaha.

It doesn’t look like she bought a big bag. Ran doesn’t have that much of allowance.

Aa, right. Right. That was not expensive. Nice good with reasonable price.

You really need to draw after making a big research. At that sphere there are a lot of things you can’t draw without understanding technical details, I guess it’s hard to research?

That’s more of [please ask about…] and searching in internet kind of thing. When I drew a story about fishing, I became really knowledgeable in fishing sphere. And when I drew the story about bears, I learned a lot of details of bear behaviour.

I also know a lot about dogs.

That’s interesting :)

Like, about dog breeds. But I’m starting to forget by now.

You have a lot of animals appearing. Sensei, do you like animals?

Hmm… I guess? Haibara loves animals. I had a dog when I was a child, and was really sad when it died…

I can’t get another one because I think it’ll die someday too. I bought a robot dog once…

But you lost interest in it?

Yep. I gave it to a friend :) Robot dogs really grow. By stages. At first it starts walking around the house slowly… So when I thought [it’ll start to walk soon], it tried to stand but couldn’t. That was a bit revolting. It was too much ‘real’. I was scared.

A lot of places appear in series. When you want to draw it, do you go there to gather material?

The story that’s going on right now is in Okinawa, but I never been there. Camera people made photos of Naha airport for me.

I see. You can’t go, right? Having no time…

I went to NY. There’s [author takes a break in order to gather materials] message a lot, but that time it was not a non appearance because I missed deadline, I actually went to gather material :) Other than NY, just being in Tokyo is boring, so Conan and others travel a lot.

Would you be happy if another prefectural police officer appears?

?! Yes. Totally. I thought about it a lot. Gunma, Shizuoka, Kanagawa… And Saitama’s Yokomizo-keiji stopped appearing. To be honest, police officers don’t actually transfer. At the beginning, I made him being transferred a lot to whole of different places, and had him said [you too have come here!], but then I was told that [there’s no thing as job transfer in police]

You were scolded by a police-related person?

Not exactly, I have a fan who’s really fluent in police relations. [In WEB Sunday’s next preview there was [Takagi-keiji is going to transfer to Tottori?] written, so I thought [there’s no transferring!], went to inquire about to Joint Security Investigation Center, and there is actually, so good job, Aoyama-sensei!]

That was close~ :)

How much people are inside the BO?

Aa… I guess a lot.

A lot of people want to know who is [Anokata]. They wrote an e-mail/text message in Japanese, is they Japanese?

Well… I wonder. Everyone see even smallest details, huh.

If you’ll come up with it, will Gin’s or someone else’s nationality be shown?

Heh, Gin’s concept name was [Kurosawa Jin] :) Hahaha

Ehhhhh! Gin has a name?! Then Vodka’s is [Uoka Saburou]? That name was in registry book!

Aa~ I drew a registry book! You can’t see it, but there’s [Kurosawa Jin] written next to Uoka Saburou. Really! Hahaha. :)

It can’t be that they came up with their code names because of that puns! I think :)

Before vol. 42 people thought that Akai Shuichi is suspicious. And because of that everyone went [eeeeh?!]

He’s a good man. Hahaha :) He is a little gloomy. But this has a reason. Hehehe. :)

We was like [He’s too suspicious!] Because of his cold eyes.

He was the only one character of mine whom I added a slant line to the eyes :) I usually do that only to dead people. I really like this character. His voice is Ikeda Shuichi-san after all.

There is a rumour that sensei requested this seiyuu-san by himself.

Right-right. When NY special was out, I said [he’s cool. too cool]. That was great.

What was Araide-sensei doing in America?

Hm. He was a doctor, right? I don’t know. Maybe something different? You see, when everyone saw that Araide-sensei was Vermouth, Araide-sensei’s fans became really sad about it.

I thought he won’t appear again, I’m really happy he returned.

He’s back~! I think he is pretty interesting character.

He’s a tender person and everyone understand it.

Araide-sensei is going to have a bad time after all of that… kind of.

Eehhh?! Why? I don’t want to hear it, to be honest :)

Because of the place Vermouth lived in. Maybe she left a lot of stuff, don’t you think? It would be bad if he’ll find some.

Conan-kun wears Shinichi’s old clothes, and Ai-chan buys her by herself?

Ha~ Yes. Hakase can’t buy it after all.

She is really like a small adult. Her clothes feels like one onee-san would wear.

Right-right. Haibara reads magazines like CanCam. Such magazines are brought to me too. Sometime ago I went to buy by myself, but people in store made strange faced. Because I was buying a lot of women magazines. Thus I stopped buying it by myself.

You draw their clothes by looking at such magazines?

I took one I like and that look easy to draw. If there’re swimsuits, I look through fashionable swimsuits. Usually when it becomes an anime episode, a year passed and by the time it comes on screens, that clothes are not fashionable. I managed to catch a moment when ganguros were trending. Hahaha :)

At the time anime episode was out they nearly stopped trending at all. When I drew the case, they were really popular and by the anime episode time only village girls were doing that.

Time difference is harsh for fashion.

It is. That’s why I didn’t draw things like loose socks. I didn’t draw it because I thought they’ll go out of fashion, but. Until this very day (2004) they are remaining. [What. I should’ve drawn them].

Are there towns that became models for Beika and Haido?

Names come out from Baker street and Hyde park but I wonder where town structure came~

PAPCO surroundings really look like Shibuya Park’s PARCO, is it somewhere in Shibuya?

Hmm… I never thought of it :) That’s random. I drew the atmosphere of the place I live in. Like, when I lived at Kita Senju, I drew surroundings having it in mind. A place that’s just of some distance from the city centre.

But it has a lot of stuff. An amusement park, a cinema, a shopping centre…

It grew bigger, huh.

You had to have that in town :) Beika-city has only 5 town blocks?

Maybe? You ask even about this… :) You see, at the case with a series of arson I had to say which town block had it. I was asked [How about making it in 5 block?] So I did.

In a previous book I was asked to draw a map, but I can’t. It doesn’t come together.

Like… You draw that street, you draw another street… And those two are connected?-feeling?

They don’t. Tohto tower is Tokyo tower. It’s like a mix of fiction and reality.

That would be the least question. What is the future place you want to make a case in? Is there a place you want to go to?

That’s of course London. Although I heard the food there is really bad. I need to make cool incident in London.

Then please go there to gather material. But speaking of London, that’s a place where Holmes lived, maybe that’ll become a place for [final battle]?

Hahaha :) Noo. London would be served for love comedy. Ran and Shinichi’s. Love comedy’s final battle.

Love comedy’s final battle! What will be there? I really want to read it! I’ll be waiting!

Raw Images

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Partial Translation
Source from yangti1674 ( link )
text copied from Chekov's post ( link )

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Interview with Gosho concerning the names in the mermaid guestbook, including Gin's. Love Conan

http://i.imgur.com/iSvOHHo.png

http://i.imgur.com/8DDnFrb.jpg

Fujiwara: Just real quick then: Gosho says that the name Gin comes from Kurosawa Jin and that that name is actually written next to the one that sounds like Vodka. He's asked how many people are in the org -- many. Is the boss Japanese since the text messages are in Japanese? Vague answer about people being very attentive. The Gin/guest book thing then follows from a remark (by the interviewer) that Gins mother tongue is also unclear.

Conan Vs Kaitou Kid Perfect Edition RAW

Detective Conan vs. Kaitou Kid Perfect Edition pg 169
Posted by: skyechan

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どーも青山剛昌です。
　
コナンとキッドの対決が詰まった本とはいえ、みんな買ってくれるのか不安だったけど、少なくともこれ読んでる人は買ってくれてるんだよね、ありがとう。
　
でも最初にキッドを登場させたときは、１回きりのスペシャルゲストみたいな感じで描いてたから、正直、本が作れるくらい出てくるとは思わなかったな、驚き（笑）。
　
はじめは単純にコナンに強力なライバルが欲しかっただけだからね。　

服部平次は、推理する上ではライバルだけど探偵仲間。　

そうじゃなくって探偵の宿敵というか天敵みたいなライバルを出したかったんだよね。　

だったらやっぱり、アルセーヌ・ルパンやルパン三世みたいな神出きぱつ*で大胆不敵な怪盗でしょ？　

自分も子供の頃から、彼らのファンだったしね。　で、コナンも相当頭がいいから、ちゃんと対抗できる相手を、いろいろ考えていたんだけど…　待てよ！？　

そういえば、　ちょうどピッタリなヤツを、　オレは知ってるぞって。　

しかも、身近にいる！（笑）　

ただ自分の作品とはいえ、別作品の主人公を出していいのか悩んだから、当時の少年サンデーの編集長に相談してみると、あっさりといいって言ってくれて。
　
めでたくコナンと怪盗キッドの対決が実現したってワケ。　

そんないきさつもあって、『まじっく快斗』の「ブラック・スターの巻」（この本では「最初の対決」として収録）で、新一が登場してくる話なんて、当然、最初は全然考えてなかった（笑）。　

もちろん今はコナンとキッドの関係とか、ちゃんと考えてあるけどね。　

でも『まじっく快斗』に新一を出したのは、時期的に新一の姿での活躍をちゃんと描いてやりたかっただけど、別に深い関係とか意味はないなぁ。　

もともとキッド＝快斗には、中森警部や白馬君っていうライバルがいるからね。　

新一は、いわばスペシャルゲスト。　

というわけで、コナンになる前の新一の貴重な活躍をこの本でじっくり楽しんでください。　

あと『まじっく快斗』ファンのために解決しておくと、時計塔の話は中森警部が警視庁に転属になる前、まだみなと**警察署にいるころの話になってます。　

追いかけるものと、それから逃げる者、『名探偵コナン』でのコナンと怪盗キッドの対決は、これからもまだ続いていくと思います。　

まあ、最後に勝つのはどっちかわからないけど（笑）。　

自分でも楽しみながら描いていくと思うんで、期待しててください！！

• The furigana reads "kipatsu" but I guess the kanji is something different? I can't seem to get the correct kanji to show up for the life of me.
  
  • Furigana reads "Minato" but it doesn't match the kanji used for "Minato-ku", so I'm not sure what kanji is used.
    

Translation by Yunniechan : link

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Hello, it’s Aoyama Gosho. Speaking about a book that’ll have Conan VS Kid battles, I was unsure, whether would people actually buy it, but at least people who are reading it right now have bought it. Thank you.

When Kid first appeared, I drew him thinking of him like special guest for one time, I never thought he’ll appear enough to compile a book, what a shock :) At first I only wanted Conan to have a strong rival. Hattori Heiji is his deduction rival and detective pal. But I wanted a rival that was an arch nemesis to detectives, natural enemy, to appear. Then how about an elusive daredevil thief, like Arsen Lupin and Lupin III? I was their fan since the very childhood. So, I thought a lot about a rival, who’s smart as Conan and can oppose him….

Wait a second! I knew someone who is exactly fit for this… And he’s right next to me! :)

I was unsure about a main character from my other work appearing, so I went to consult with that time Shounen Sunday’s Editor in Chief. He readily said me that it’s okay. So I happily created a showdown between Conan and Kaito Kid.

They even have a beginning, in [Magic Kaito]’s [Black Star chapter] Shinichi appears, which of course wasn’t an original thought :) Of course right now I think a lot about Conan and Kid connections.

But the reason of Shinichi’s appearance in [Magic Kaito] is that I wanted to draw him acting in his Shinichi form, it doesn’t have any deep meaning. Kid/Kaito’s rivals are Nakamori-keibu and Hakuba-kun. Shinichi is, so called, special guest.

So you can expect to read Shinichi’s important activity before he became Conan in this book. And I’ll comment it for [Magic Kaito] fans, Nakamori-keibu wasn’t assigned to police HQ at that time, that was back in time where he worked at Minato Police Station.

I think that Conan and Kid relation as ‘the one who chases’ and 'the one who runs’ will continue in [Meitantei Conan]. Well, I don’t know who’ll win in the end though :)

I will draw it with great pleasure, so please wait for it!!

RAW IMAGES

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Unknown Fan Gathering 2005 (partial text) (no raw)

Unknown interview 2005 Fan gathering
Translated by: justwantanaccount

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2005年青山剛昌とコナンファンの集いでの質問コーナーより
From Q&A in a gathering between Aoyama Gosho and Conan fans in 2005

Ｑ．黒の組織について？
Q. On the Black Syndicate/Organization?
Ａ．正式名称はある。言うとボスの名前がバレちゃうので言えません。
A. A formal name exists. If mentioned, the boss' name will be exposed so I can't say.

Anime 10 Year Anniversary Interview 1 (WITH RAW)

読売新聞 「親子で夢中 コナン１０年」
Translated by Startold
""It was published on NTV's website in 2006.""
January 6th 2006
http://conan-4869.net/post-19657

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I want to thank every reader and viewer who reads the manga or watches the anime, stated the original artist, Gosho Aoyama.

NTV's popular anime, Detective Conan (Monday, 7:30 to 8:00), celebrates this year its 10th broadcast anniversary, by broadcasting this Monday a two-hour special called Black Impact! The Moment the Organization Reaches Out (starting 7:00 PM). The original work's author, Gosho Aoyama, gave us his feelings on this anniversary (article by Jun Fukuda).

Shinichi Kudo was a high-school detective until a mysterious criminal organization made him drink a poison which shrank his body to the state of a child. He now calls himself Conan Edogawa and solves any kind of cases thanks to his mind. The original work began on January 1994 in the Shonen Sunday magazine (from Shogakukan). It became an instant hit, and was animated in 1996. 424 episodes have been broadcasted to this day, and the average rating is of 16.7% (in the Kanto area).

Aoyama told us: At the beginning, I thought I wouldn't draw the manga for a long time. I thought it would last three months, give or take. A few years ago, a fan told me in a fan-letter that he had thought Conan would become Shinichi before the end of the year. But I told myself that the story wouldn't have any meaning if I did something that quick.

The idea of a little hero comes from Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri, created by Jiro Akagawa. He lives in a big lie, he must understand murder tricks, and he in a quest for the truth, he told us. I don't draw for kids. There are scenes where people strangle other people with cold blood. That's why older people like the series.

While he is not involved in drawing the anime, he has written and drawn some scenes of the annual movies. Actually, I've always enjoyed animes, so I wanted to become an anime artist., he told us, even though he already draws the manga. I've written and drawn one scene of the movie, because I wanted to do it. The movie The Private Eyes' Requiem, the tenth movie of the franchise, will be released on the 15th of April.

He got married with Conan's voice actress, Minami Takayam, in May. When I go home after my work is finished, I want to forget my job, but I still hear Conan's voice in my house., he told us, a grin on his lips. Sometimes, people tell me Conan says what I feel, and it's sometimes the same for me !, he also told us with a smile.

The director of Yomiuri TV, Michihiko Suwa, stated that he hadn't thought that the anime would have lasted so long, since 10-year old animes are very rare.

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「ここまで続けてこられたのも、読者や視聴者の皆さんのおかげ」と話す原作者の青山

日本テレビ系の人気アニメ「名探偵コナン」（月曜後７・３０）が、今年で放送開始から１０周年を迎えた。９日には、これを記念して２時間半のスペシャル「ブラックインパクト！組織の手が届く瞬間」（後７・００）を放送する。原作者の青山剛昌（ごうしょう）に、１０周年の感想などを聞いた。(福田淳)

高校生探偵の工藤新一が、「黒の組織」の開発した毒薬を飲まされ、体が縮んで子供の姿になってしまう。彼は「江戸川コナン」と名乗り、変わらぬ頭脳で難事件を解決していく——。

原作の漫画は、１９９４年１月に週刊少年サンデー（小学館）で連載が始まった。すぐに人気を集め、９６年１月からアニメ化された。放送回数は昨年末までに４２４話、平均視聴率は１６・７％（ビデオリサーチ調べ、関東地区）を記録している。

青山は、「スタート時は、こんなに続くとは全く思っていなかった。もって３か月かな、と」。「『コナンと同じ年だったのに、新一に追いつきました』というファンレターも来ますが、自分ではあまりに忙しくて、そんなに年がたった感覚がないんです」と感慨深げに話す。

主人公が小さくなるという発想は、赤川次郎の「三毛猫ホームズ」から。「一つだけ大きなうそをついているが、それ以外のトリックや謎解きはリアリティーを追求している」という。「全然子供向けと思わずに描いています。平気で『絞殺』なんて出てくる。だから、親が読んで夢中になることもあるんでしょう」

テレビアニメには、今ではあまり関与していないが、年１回の映画版には脚本や絵コンテなどにとことん口を出す。「本当はアニメが好きで、アニメーターになりたかった」と言うだけあって、自ら原画も描く。「やはり自分が考えたシーンやいいせりふの部分は、自分でやりたくなるんです」。映画第１０作の「探偵たちの鎮魂歌」は、４月１５日から公開予定だ。

コナン役の声優・高山みなみと、昨年５月に結婚した。「家に帰って仕事のことを忘れたい時でもコナンの声がするんですよ」と苦笑いしつつも、「たまに『こういう時ってコナンはどういう感じでしゃべる？』と聞いて、やってもらうこともあります」と明るい笑顔で語った。

アニメ化を企画した読売テレビの諏訪道彦チーフプロデューサーも、「ストーリーもののアニメで１０年も続いているのは珍しい存在。今でも新番組という感覚で作っている」と話している。

2006年1月6日 読売新聞 Online

上戸彩が、「名探偵コナン」１０周年のスペシャル・サポーターを務めることが決まった。９日の放送から１０週にわたってクイズを出題するほか、ＣＭでコナンと共演したり、情報番組でＰＲしたり、様々な形で番組を応援していく。

小さいころからコナンの大ファンだという上戸は、「父と毎週見ていた思い出深いアニメ。小学生だった私が見ても楽しかったし、大人も楽しめる。すごく分かりやすい反面、事件は難しくて、犯人捜しは大抵当たりません。劇中でコナンと共演してみたいですね」と語った。

Asahi Newspaper Interview "the boss's name has already appeared" (WITH RAW)

朝日新聞夕刊 (Asahi Evening Newspaper), published January 13, 2006
Posted by: Cindy Xin
Comment from Chekhov: "The last file before this boss's name has appeared interview was 551 (Nail and Snake)
and was in Shounen Sunday issue #5-6 2006 (a double issue with a week break afterwards) which was published January 4, 2006."
Fully Translated by Startold

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Asahi Newspaper of January 13th, 2006 "Detective Conan" celebrates its 10 years on NTV

An anime that creates a "good intellectual stimulation"

The voice actors of the series have never changed since the beginning of the anime: "Conan is like their home", told us the artist, Aoyama.

The popular anime of Nihon Television, "Detective Conan", celebrates its 10th anniversary in January this year. The ratings are on an average of 10% among teenagers, and the tenth movie will be released in April. The sales for the 51 first volumes have reached 100 million units, and the series still goes on. "I thought an anime wouldn't go well with a deduction-themed manga. But the anime is still being made thanks to the team's hard work," told us Gosho Aoyama.

Shinichi Kudo was a high-school detective until a mysterious criminal organization made him drink a poison which shrank his body to the state of a child. He now calls himself Conan Edogawa, and lives at his childhood friend's house, in order to solve all kinds of cases, while waiting for the Black Organization to make a move.

An anime adaptation began to air on television one year after the first chapter's release in Shogakukan's 'Shonen Sunday'. "The murders are drawn, and people die frequently. So I first thought "It's impossible, are they really going to do an anime?"," Aoyama told us.

When he was in college, the author wanted to become an anime artist. That's why Aoyama works together with the movie production team for the Detective Conan movies. He is very involved in everything related to the Conan anime.

I was already drawing the manga, so when the anime team began the creation process of the anime, I told them "I'll also do my best". It became one of my main motivations. Even better, I found ideas for the manga while talking to the anime production team."

A 10-year Special episode was realeased on the 9th of January. It's a battle between the Black Organization and Conan, where both of them have to attack and defend themselves. Since the episodes are released, the gap between the anime and the original work has been shortened. Are the final confrontation and the end of the series near?

Everything we talk about during our meetings is kept secret. Actually, the boss's name has already appeared in the manga. Try and find it."

The veteran voice actor of the clumsy detective Kogoro Mori, Akira Kamiya-san, gave a certain charm to the anime thanks to his vocal performances. "Her voice is exactly what I had in mind," Aoyama-san told us when speaking of Conan's voice actor, Minami Takayama-san, a woman. He's married with her since last year.

After I create a case, I like to ask myself "How would Conan say that?", or "Is it good like that?". Moreover, I always have Conan at home. When I go home after my work is finished, I want to forget my job, but I still hear Conan's voice... in my house."

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Source: http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x416/Natsuki2012/200601138.jpg

朝日新聞1月13日夕刊)
日テレ「名探偵コナン」１０周年
アニメ・原作「いい刺激」
声優陣安定「家にコナンがいる」（原作者青山）

日本テレビ系の人気アニメ「名探偵コナン」が、１月で放映１０周年を迎えた。平均視聴率は１０％台後半、４月には映画版第１０作を公開、発売中の原作マンガは５１巻までで累計１億部突破と、快進撃が続く。「推理ものはアニメに不向きと思っていた。ここまで盛り上がったのはスタッフの頑張りのおかげ」と原作者の青山剛昌は話す。

高校生探偵・工藤新一は、正体不明の「黒の組織」は毒を飲まされ子供の体に。彼は江戸川コナンと名乗り、幼なじみの蘭らと共に数々の難事件を解決しながら、「黒の組織」を追う。

小学館「週刊少年サンデー」での連載開始から１年ほどで、アニメ化の話が来た。「会話や説明ばかり多くて、人もたくさん殺される。こんなマンガをアニメにするなんて、何言ってるの？と思った」と青山。/

大学生の時アニメーターを志していたほどのアニメ好き。映画では原作にも参加する。アニメ版「コナン」への思い入れは深い

「自分がサラッと描いた原作が、アニメで、凝った絵とメリハリのきいた演出でいい作品になっていると、『おれも頑張らなきゃ』と刺激になる。逆に、力を入れて描いた話なのになあ、と思う回もあったりしますが」

９日に放映された１０周年スペシャルは、宿敵「黒の組織」とコナン攻防を描いた。エピソードを重ね、両者の距離はかなり縮まってきた。直接対決、そして完結日は近い？

「今何会目に当たるのかは、秘密です。実は、ボスの名前はすでに原作のどこかに出ている。捜してみて下さい」

ドジな中年探偵・毛利小五郎役のベテラン神谷明ら、声優陣の安定した演技がアニメの大きな魅力。「ぼくのイメージにぴったり」と青山が言うコナン役の声優高山みなみは、妻でもある。昨年５月に結婚した。

「話作りに詰まって『こんなときコナンなら何て言うかなあ』と聞くと、『こんな感じじゃない？』って答えてくれる。家にコナンがいて助かるなあと感じる時です。反対に、仕事が片づいてマンガのことを忘れたいのに、家でもコナンの声が…という時もありますけどね」。

Erlangen, Germany Interview (WITH GERMAN)

Press conference in Erlangen, Germany on June 17, 2006
Video: link (may cause you to wait 45 secs to view)
Translated by: Aki-kun

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This interview was given on 22nd July 2006 during a press conference at "Comic-Salon" in Erlangen (Germany). [TN: Actually, the interview was given on 17th June 2006.]
Note: At this time, volume 54 was published in Japan, while there were 44 volumes obtainable in Germany. So the events in Japan were 10 volumes ahead in comparison to the German ones.

[Tranlator note: Part of this interview was published in the German version of volume 50, but only a few of the questions/answers. I guess the other questions just weren't written down there for some reason, but were asked and answered during that convention.]

Q: How many volumes is Detective Conan going to have?
A: The amount of volumes is not certain yet.

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama already know, how the series is going to end?
A: He does already know what the last scene is going to be, but of course he won't reveal it yet.

Q: Will there be a happy end?
A: He won't reveal it, either.

Q: On which day is Heiji's birthday?
A: It's not certain yet, but it should be July or August.

Q: Is Conan going to grow older over the course of the series, e.g. becoming a second grader?
A: No, Conan is not going to grow older. He may be at the end of the series, but that's still a secret.

Q: During one of the movies Sonoko got a different hairstyle (see movie 5). Is she also going to get this hairstyle in the manga version?
A: The movies and the manga version are completely separated from each other. So Sonoko will keep her old hairstyle in the manga version.

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama plan to write the last volume already and to keep it in a safe for now?
A: No, he does not plan to.

Q: Is the antidote of APTX related to Necrosis?
A: It's still uncertain.

Q: Are there going to be new members of the Detective Boys in the future?
A: For now, no new members are planned.

Q: Are there going to be big surprises for Japanese fans in the near future?
A: Yes, there are going to be some big surprises. The name of Haibara [TN: could be either her name or Haibara herself; probably Haibara herself though] is going to be a big part of it [TN: referring to the surprises].

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama plan to have children in the future?
A: For now, he does not.

Q: How does Gosho Aoyama like Germany? Is Conan going to solve some case in Germany sometime?
A: Gosho Aoyama really thinks Germany is very beautiful. He especially likes the sausages.
There probably won't be a case for Conan in a foreign country since he wouldn't been able to get a passport.

Q: But in one of the movies Conan has solved a case in London already (see movie 6).
A: He wasn't really in London. But maybe he will get a faked passport... (At that time Steffen Hautog interjects how nice it is that the German fans are traveling to Japan just to see the Conan movies as the movies weren't published yet in Germany at that time.)

Q: Where do the ideas for the cases come from?
A: He has to answer this question a lot of times. He gets his inspiration from everyday life, for example from a toilet:
If the lid is up, a man has used the toilet. If it's down, it was a woman. Such details can become part of the cases.

Q: In the manga version there often are little extra comics. [TN: Not sure what they are referring to, here] Are they just little jokes or are the assistants using them to annoy their boss?
A: They are just little jokes.

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama plan to have a cameo in Detective Conan?
A: No, he's not going to appear in the series himself.

Q: What is Gosho Aoyama's bet for the WC soccer game between Japan and Croatia? [TN: of the soccer WC 2006 in Germany]
A: He hopes for a 2:0 for Japan. However, he thinks the Croatian team is very srong, so the Japanese team won't have it easy.

Q: Gosho is actively doing sports, e.g. Kendo. Does he also play soccer?
A: He is only a viewer when it comes to soccer. His favorite soccer team is Juventus Turin.

Q: How tall is Conan?
A: Gosho shows with his hand that it's at about 1,30 meter.

Q: Why are all members of the BO named after alcoholic beverages?
A: Because it's cool.

Q: Why did Gosho Aoyama put a detective in the body of an elementary school pupil?
A: Since the series primary audience are children, the protagonist should also be a child.

Q: Why are almost all characters in the series blue-eyed, while blue-eyed people aren't very common in Japan in reality?
A: Blue is more colorful.

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama want to continue Kaito Kid?
A: He wants to, but he has no time to do so at the moment. So the master thief is only going to appear occasionally
in Detective Conan for now. In Japan a volume recently was published, which tells the story of the origin of Kid's name.

Q: Is Conan going to find out who's Kid? Is Kid going to be captured, by Conan or police?
A: It's not certain for now.

Q: Is Yusaku Kudo going to reappear in the future?
A: Gosho Aoyama is drawing a story which plays ten years before the current storyline. Conan's father is going to appear in this case, too. [TN: Obviously referring to volume 55 chapter 6-9]

Q: When Gosho Aoyama started Detective Conan, did he expect his series to get so successful?
A: No, he didn't expect it to get so successful. He estimated that it would be only published for three months in a Japanese magazine.

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama teach talented young manga artists?
A: No, he does not teach.

Q: Which part of Detective Conan is done by Gosho Aoyama himself and which part by his assistants?
A: Gosho Aoyama himself draws the characters, his assistants draw the backgrounds and painting big areas.

Q: Is Sonoko going to have a boyfriend?
A: She already has a boyfriend and they are going to stay together.

Q: Are there going to be further entanglements between Kaito Kid and Conan?
A: No, because the story would become too complicated, otherwise.

Q: Why does Makoto always wear a plaster on his face?
A: Because it's cool.

Q: Why are there so many pairings in Detective Conan between old childhood friends?
A: Childhood friends becoming lovers is an easy concept to comprehend for everybody. That's why it's used so often.

Q: How much hours in a week does Gosho Aoyama work and what is he doing when he's not working?
A: Gosho Aoyama claims that he sleeps three hours a day. When he's not working, he plays computer games, watches TV and movies, reads crime novels, and - of course - watches soccer.

Q: How is Kogoro able to get sober in an instant?
A: Gosho Aoyama didn't even notice that before.

Q: In one movie, the divorce of Kogoro and his wife was shown (see movie 2). Is it going to be shown in the manga series, too?
A: Gosho Aoyama is drawing a story, where they are still together. [TN: Probably again referring to volume 55 chapter 6-9]

Q: What is the first name of Professor Agasa's first love?
A: Her first name is Fusae.

Q: Why is Ran so violent?
A: For that you have to ask Ran herself.

Q: Who is Gosho Aoyama's favorite caharcter from Detective Conan?
A: The little master detective himself.

Q: Why does Shuuichi hate Gin so much?
A: It is going to become clear soon in the manga.

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama plan to start a new series after Detective Conan is finished?
A: As of yet, there's no new series planned.

Q: How old is Gosho Aoyama?
A: He is going to be 43 years-old on 21st June [TN: 2006].

Q: For how long has Gosho Aoyama worked on Detective Conan?
A: For this, Gosho Aoyama has to ask his editor, who traveled along.
He has worked on Detective Conan since 1993.

Q: Who is the boss of the BO?
A: It's already decided and it is going to be revealed sometime.

Q: Which style of music does Gosho Aoyama prefer?
A: He doesn't listen to music very often and he prefers no particular style.

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama have some role models among other mangaka?
A: Yes, for example the famous movie director Kurosawa is one of his role models.

Q: How old was he, when he published his first manga?
A: That has to be answered by his editor as well. Gosho Aoyama was 24 years-old at that time.

Q: When did Gosho Aoyama buy his first manga?
A: When he was in kindergarten, he bought his first manga, which probably isn't known by anyone in Germany.
By the way, his father bought him "Peter Pan".

Q: Does Gosho Aoyama have contact to other mangaka?
A: He visits parties where he meets his colleagues.

Q: Would he like to visit Germany again, even if the Japanese national team doesn't play there at that time?
A: Gosho Aoyama really likes German sausages, so he would like to visit Germany again in the future.

Q: Which manga does Gosho Aoyama like to read?
A: Among other things he is a big fan of "Vagabond".

Q: Which crime story authors did inspire Gosho Aoyama the most?
A: He is a big fan of Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes.

Q: When did Gosho Aoyama start to draw manga?
A: He began to draw manga when he was three years old. However, those drawings could only be called scribbles.

Q: On the internet, there is a rumor that Gosho Aoyama would be on a two month-break. Is it true?
A: No, it's not. If someone would offer him such a long break, he wouldn't decline, but, alas, no one does.

Q: Is Gosho Aoyama also interested in European and US comics?
A: Yes, he is. His favorites are "Superman" and "Batman" among other things. But he also likes works from Moebius.

Q: How many persons work on the manga?
A: Gosho Aoyama works together with six assitants.

Q: Would Gosho Aoyama read and answer fan letters from Germany, if they are written in Japanaese?
A: He would read them. But instead of answering each of them, he would send a new years card.

Q: To what extend is Detective Conan autobiographic?
A: From time to time, there are events of Gosho Aoyama's daily life, which are represented in the manga.

Q: Is Gosho Aoyama able to imagine one day in the life of Conan without a murder?
A: He would like to write such a story one day.

Q: Are there really as many murders as shown in Detective Conan in Japan?
A: No, thankfully not.

Q: The word is that the Japanese police has used Conan for an anti drug campaign in the past. Is it true?
A: It's true. The campaign was directed at children. Many children watch Deective Conan and while watching it catch this message.


TN: That's it ~
I'm sorry for my bad English.
Feel free to ask if some parts do not make sense in Englisch or to correct any mistakes.
Also, my translation may not be 100 % literal all of the time since it isn't really possible at some parts with how the German sentences are worded.

Original German Text

  Show spoilers »

From : http://conanwiki.org/wiki/Interview_mit_Gosho_Aoyama_(2006)

Wie viele Bände soll Detektiv Conan insgesamt haben?

Es steht noch nicht fest, wie viele Bände es insgesamt werden.

Steht schon fest, wie die Serie enden wird?

Die letzte Szene hat Gosho Aoyama schon im Kopf, aber er wird sie natürlich noch nicht verraten.

Wird es ein Happy End geben?

Auch das verrät Gosho Aoyama noch nicht.

Wann hat Heiji Geburtstag?

Das steht noch gar nicht fest, er dürfte aber im Juli oder August geboren sein.

Wird Conan im Lauf der Serie auch mal älter, wird er beispielsweise in die zweite Klasse versetzt?

Nein, Conan wird nicht älter werden. Außer vielleicht am Schluss, aber wie gesagt, der ist noch geheim.

In einem der Kinofilme legt sich Sonoko eine andere Frisur zu(siehe Film 5). Wird sie diese Frisur auch in Manga bekommen?

Die Filme und die Manga sind völlig getrennt. Im Manga wird Sonoko also ihre alte Frisur behalten.

Will Gosho Aoyama nicht den letzten Band schon schreiben und in einem Safe einschließen?

Nein, das wird er nicht machen.

Hat das Gegenmittel für das Schrumpfgift etwas mit Nekrose zu tun?

Das ist noch unklar.

Werden weitere Kinder die Detective Boys verstärken?

Zur Zeit sind keine weiteren Mitglieder vorgesehen.

Stehen den japanischen Fans in der nächsten Zeit größere Überraschungen ins Haus?

Ja, es wird einige Überraschungen geben. Dabei wird der Name Haibara eine Rolle spielen.

Möchte Gosho Aoyama Kinder haben?

Im Moment ist kein Nachwuchs geplant.

Wie gefällt es Gosho Aoyama in Deutschland? Wird Conan vielleicht mal einen Fall in Deutschland lösen?

Gosho Aoyama findet Deutschland sehr schön, insbesondere die Würste haben es ihm angetan. Ein Fall für Conan im Ausland wird es allerdings wohl nicht geben, denn woher sollte der kleine Detektiv einen Reisepass bekommen?

Aber in einem der Filme hat Conan einen Fall in London(siehe Film 6) gelöst?

Er war ja nicht wirklich in London. Aber vielleicht besorgt er sich einen gefälschten Pass... An dieser Stelle wirft Steffen Hautog ein, wie gut er es findet, dass die Fans für die Kinofilme extra nach Japan fahren, denn in Deutschland sind die Filme ja noch nicht veröffentlicht worden.

Woher nimmt Gosho Aoyama die Ideen für Conans Fälle?

Diese Frage bekommt er oft gestellt. Seine Inspiration findet er oft im Alltag, beispielsweise bei einer Toilette: Wenn der Deckel aufgeklappt ist, hat zuletzt ein Mann die Toilette benutzt. Ist der Deckel unten, war es eine Frau. Solche Kleinigkeiten können in die Fälle einfließen.

In den Manga finden sich oft kleine Extra-Comics. Sind das reine Gags, oder nutzen seine Assistenten das schon mal, um ihren

Chef etwas zu ägern?

Das sind reine Gag-Strips.

Kann sich Gosho Aoyama einen Cameo-Auftritt in Conan vorstellen?

Nein, er wird nicht selbst in Conan auftreten.

Welches Ergebnis tippt Gosho Aoyama für das WM-Fußballspiel Japan gegen Kroatien?

Er wünscht sich ein 2:0 für Japan. Aber die Kroaten sind sehr stark, deshalb wird die japanische Mannschaft es schwer haben.

Gosho Aoyama betreibt aktiv Sport, beispielsweise Kendo. Spielt er auch Fußball?

Beim Fußball ist er nur Zuschauer. Seine Lieblingsmannschaft ist übrigens Juventus Turin.

Wie groß ist Conan?

Gosho Aoyama zeigt mit der Hand auf etwa 1,30 Meter. Steffen Hautog wirft die Begriffe ABC-Schützengröße und Dreikäsehoch ein.

Warum sind alle Mitglieder der Schwarzen Organisation nach alkoholischen Getränken benannt?

Weil das cool ist.

Wieso hat Gosho Aoyama einen Detektiv in den Körper eines Grundschulkindes gesteckt?

Die Serie ist für Kinder gedacht, deshalb sollte auch die Hauptperson ein Kind sein.

Warum sind fast alle Charaktere in Conan blauäugig, obwohl in Japan nur wenige Menschen blaue Augen haben?

Blau ist bunter.

Möchte Gosho Aoyama Kaito Kid fortsetzen?

Er möchte schon, allerdings hat er im Moment nicht die Zeit dazu. Also wird sich der Meisterdieb erst mal auf gelegentliche Auftritte bei Conan beschränken. In Japan ist gerade ein Band erschienen, in dem die Entstehung von Kids Namen erzählt wird.

Wird Conan erfahren, wer hinter Kid steckt? Wird Kid gefasst, von Conan oder von der Polizei?

Das steht noch nicht fest.

Wird Yusaku Kudo wieder einmal einen Auftritt haben?

Gosho Aoyama zeichnet gerade an einer Geschichte, die vor etwa zehn Jahren spielt. Dort wird auch Conans Vater vorkommen.

Als Gosho Aoyama mit Conan begonnen hat, hat er da mit diesem überwältigenden Erfolg gerechnet? Nein, mit einem so großen Erfolg hat er nicht gerechnet. Er hätte eher geschätzt, dass die Serie vielleicht drei Monate im japanischen Magazin laufen würde.

Unterrichtet Gosho Aoyama in Japan Nachwuchszeichner?

Nein, er unterrichtet nicht.

Welchen Teil der Arbeit an Conan erledigt Gosho Aoyama selbst, welchen Teil seine Assistenten?

Gosho Aoyama selbst zeichnet die Figuren, seine Assistenten kümmern sich um die Hintergründe, malen größere Flächen aus.

Wird Sonoko mal einen festen Freund haben?

Sie hat schon einen festen Freund, und mit dem wird sie auch zusammenbleiben.

Wird es weitere Verwicklungen zwischen Kaito Kid und Conan geben?

Nein, sonst würde die Geschichte zu schwer zu verstehen.

Warum trägt Makoto Kyogoku immer ein Pflaster?

Weil es cool ist.

Warum gibt es in Conan so viele Paare, die aus einer Sandkastenliebe hervorgegangen sind?

Eine Sandkastenliebe ist ein einfaches Motiv, das jeder nachvollziehen kann, deshalb wird es oft verwendet.

Wieviel Stunden in der Woche arbeitet Gosho Aoyama, und was macht er in seiner Freizeit?

Gosho Aoyama behauptet, dass er drei Stunden pro Tag schläft. In seiner Freizeit spielt er Computerspiele, schaut Fernsehen und Filme, liest gerne

Kriminalromane und schaut natürlich auch Fußball.

Wie schafft es Kogoro, von einer Sekunde auf die nächste nüchtern zu werden?

Das ist Gosho Aoyama noch gar nicht aufgefallen.

In einem Film wird die Trennung von Kogoro und seiner Frau gezeigt(siehe Film 2), wird das auch im Manga vorkommen?

Gosho Aoyama zeichnet gerade an einer Episode, in der die beiden noch zusammen sind.

Wie heißt Professor Agasas erste Liebe mit Vornamen?

Sie heißt Fusae.

Warum ist Ran so gewalttätig?

Das müsste man Ran selbst fragen.

Wer ist Gosho Aoyamas Lieblingscharakter aus Conan?

Der kleine Meisterdetektiv selbst.

Warum hasst Shuichi Gin so sehr?

Das wird bald im Manga klar werden.

Hat Gosho Aoyama vor, nach Conan eine neue Serie zu starten?

Eine neue Serie ist bisher nicht geplant.

Wie alt ist Gosho Aoyama?

Er wird am 21. Juni 43 Jahre alt.

Wie lang wurde schon insgesamt an Conan gearbeitet?

Da muss Gosho Aoyama seinen mitgereisten Redakteur fragen. Die Arbeit an Conan läuft seit 1993.

Wer ist der Boss der Schwarzen Organisation?

Das steht bereits fest, und der Oberboss wird auch noch enttarnt werden.

Welche Musikrichtung hört Gosho Aoyama gerne?

Er hört eigentlich kaum Musik, bevorzugt keine bestimmte Richtung.

Hat Gosho Aoyama noch Vorbilder unter den anderen Mangaka?

Ja, beispielsweise ist der berühmte Filmregisseur Kurosawa eines seiner Vorbilder.

In welchem Alter hat er seinen ersten Manga veröffentlicht?

Auch hier muss der Redakteur aushelfen, Gosho Aoyama war damals etwa 24 Jahre alt.

Wann hat sich Gosho Aoyama seinen ersten Manga gekauft? Als er im Kindergarten war, hat er sich einen Manga gekauft, den hier aber bestimmt niemand kennt. Sein Vater hat ihm übrigens "Peter Pan" geschenkt.

Hat Gosho Aoyama Kontakt zu anderen Mangaka?

Er besucht Partys, auf denen er seine Kollegen trifft.

Würde er Deutschland nochmal besuchen, auch ohne dass die japanische Nationalmannschaft hier spielt?

Gosho Aoyama ist von den deutschen Würsten so begeistert, dass er gerne wiederkommt.

Welche Manga liest Gosho Aoyama?

Er ist beispielsweise ein Fan von Vagabond.

Welche Krimi-Autoren sind die größte Inspirationsquelle für Gosho Aoyama?

Er ist ein großer Fan von Arthur Conan Doyle und Sherlock Holmes.

In welchem Alter hat Gosho Aoyama mit dem Manga-Zeichnen angefangen?

Bereits im Altern von etwa drei Jahren hat er gezeichnet, das war aber noch eher Gekrakel.

Im Internet geht das Gerücht um, Gosho Aoyama plane eine zweimonatige Pause. Stimmt das?

Nein, das stimmt nicht. Wenn jemand ihm so einen langen Urlaub anbieten würde, würde er ihn gerne nehmen, aber das tut leider niemand.

Interessiert sich Gosho Aoyama auch für europäische und US-Comics?

Ja, zu seinen Favoriten gehören unter anderem Superman und Batman, aber auch die Arbeiten von Moebius.

Wie viele Menschen arbeiten an dem Manga?

Gosho Aoyama arbeitet mit sechs Assistenten zusammen.

Würde Gosho Aoyama auch Leserbriefe aus Deutschland, geschrieben auf Japanisch, lesen und beantworten? Lesen würde er sie, aber anstelle einer individuellen Antwort gibt es eher eine Neujahrskarte.

Inwieweit ist Conan autobiographisch?

Es gibt immer wieder Ereignisse aus Gosho Aoyamas Alltag, die sich im Manga wiederfinden.

Kann Gosho Aoyama sich einen Tag für Conan ohne Mord vorstellen?

Eine solche Geschichte würde er gerne einmal schreiben.

Gibt es in Japan tatsächlich so viele Morde wie in Conan?

Nein, Gott sei dank nicht.

Es heißt, die japanische Polizei habe einmal Conan in einer Anti-Drogen-Kampagne verwendet, stimmt das? Das stimmt. Die Kampagne richtete sich an Kinder. Viele Kinder schauen gerne Conan an und bekommen dann die Botschaft mit.

Anime 10 Year Anniversary Interview 2 (no raw)

Aoyama Anime 10th anniversary interview on 2006
Posted at : https://reiarashi.wordpress.com/2006/09/10/aoyama-10th-anniversary-interview/

  Show spoilers »

Q: The animated version of “Detective Conan” is welcoming it’s 10 years anniversary. Looking back on these ten years, How do you feel?
Gosho: Even though that is a long time, to me… it feels like a blink of an eye.

Q: Are there any differences between now and then?
Gosho: (Conan) grew taller. *laugh* In the beginning, I was drawing him at the cute size of three head sizes. Now I’m slowly drawing him at 4 head size, because kids in real life are taller now.

Q: What’s your favorite moment in the anime?
Gosho: “The moonlight sonata case”. In the manga, there was no sound so it felt better with music in the anime. Other ones, are like the bomb case of Sato-san.

Q: How’d you feel when they decided to make an anime?
Gosho: Conan is based on logical deduction, so I thought it was better to make it into a play. As an anime, if there’s no action, if it can’t make people happy, it wouldn’t be accepted. At the time I felt even if Conan was made into an anime, it won’t be accepted so… I thought it would be over very soon *laugh*

Q: You never expected that it would last ten years?
Gosho: Never… I’m surprised myself.

Q: What’s the most important thing to take note of when drawing Conan?
Gosho: When it was made into an anime, I told the artist not to draw Conan like the edogawa detective group’s Rin-san but draw him like Kogorou, a person who looks like he’s overseeing the whole case.

Q: What do you feel when looking at the anime?
Gosho: Conan’s voice is my wife’s voice, but in the anime she’ll say “yatte ne” in a voice more fitting of her beautiful attitude *laugh*

Q: What’s hardest to draw in Conan?
Gosho: The corpse, if you draw it too scary, too ugly, or too rough… people won’t find it interesting. It’s very hard to find the balance in this area… but still fit for kids to watch because kids are really smart these days. In truth, I’ve drawn a lot of content that’s just more fitting for adults.

Q: Were you ever worried about the possibility that the anime might be more popular then the original work?
Gosho: I never worried about that before, I don’t mind the anime originals that the anime staff came up with.

Q: What do you think of the anime original?
Gosho: Conan in the Manga says only stuff that I know, stuff that I researched, and stuff that I heard and sources like that. Anime Original is different, I’ve got no idea of the plotline. Sometimes I’ll let out a “Ho~o, you’re so smart!” or “Wow, you even know things like that” remarks.

Q: Did you even think about drawing the anime and the manga at the same time?
Gosho: Of course, of course, especially when I’m drawing action scenes like Ran’s karate because if you see it in anime, it is very interesting. Like Conan’s kicking scenes. There wasn’t any sort of continuous action in the manga.

Q: The reason Conan is so loved by fans over this long period of time?
Gosho: Yeah, to tell you the truth. I’m not really clear on it. I guess it’s because everybody likes to see detective shows and drama shows. The man who was shrunk and can not confess his love, everyone seems able to embrace this.

Q: What does Conan mean to you?
Gosho: Painful days and happy days. I’m very happy when I’m drawing Conan, but at the same time… it is very tiresome *laugh*

Q: What is the most tired period within these ten years?
Gosho: Well, because there are so many lines… it took a long time to produce it. If anybody feels that the lines are too long, that’s because I wrote it that long. *laugh* This is a really tiresome work. I have a few pages full of lines in tiny letters.

Q: Compared to your other work, is the production time the same?
Gosho: It’s completely different. When I was drawing Yaiba, if I’m lucky, I can be done in 4 to 5 days. Conan needs at least 1 week or a bit more then 1 week. For a weekly published manga… I killed quite a bit of my brain cells.

Q: How many more years do you set as your goal?
Gosho: Because I’ve been drawing it for 10 years, I haven’t thought of the future. Although I have already thought of the ending, because I can’t lay the clues if I don’t have the ending.

Q: The 10th movie that’s going to premiere in April.. what’s the difference between it and the 9th film?
Gosho: It’s different, to say… there’s going to be a lot more detectives this time. (Did you see that poster with all the detectives) Yeah, even though this guy came out before, this time, he’s coming out at the same time. The other point worth mentioning is my other project “Magic Kaito”. The showdown between Kaitou and his nemesis Hakuba. Heiji, Conan and Hakuba. The joint appearance of the 3 high school detectives at the same time.

Q: The story of the movie?
Gosho: Within limited time, can the case be solved? Can the criminal be captured? The criminal will have a lot of hostages… It’s not good if I say anymore *laugh*

Q: Finally, do you have anything to say to the audience?
Gosho: This time it’s the 10th movie, so all the detectives who’ve shown up within these ten years should appear. So even though I can’t say fancy, it’s the 10 year special. Please look forward to it!

Urusei Yatsura Volume 21 Interview RAW

うる星やつら（新装版）21巻のインタビュー September 18th, 2007
A Detective Conan website had this listed as an interview
so it must have some relevance
http://conan-4869.net/post-19866

  Show spoilers »

いや、私事で恐縮なのですが、私の描く「名探偵コナン」めがたらたらと連載10年を越え、コナンの宿敵である黒ずくめの組織のメンバーもかなりの人数を出しました。ジン、ウォッカ、テキーラ、シェリー、ベルモットetc..

そう、こいつらの名前はお酒なのです。そして唯一残っている有名で、名前にしてクールなのは「ラム」のみ・・・

しかしこの名は日本中の・・・いや、今や世界中のまんがファンの心に刻み込まれ、皆、悟っております・・・この名を名乗っていいキャラは誰であるべきかと・・・ なにより私自身が・・・ 使えねぇ─── ぜってぇ使えねぜ！！

そのくらいこの鬼娘は、衝撃的に誌面に登場し、そのキュートな顔と、セクシーボディーと破壊的な電撃とけなげな心でファンの心を魅了し、今もなおそのド真ん中に降臨し続けているのであります！恐らくこれからも・・・手塚先生のアトムのように・・・

・・・ま、いずれ使っちゃいますけどね・・・
・・・その時は笑ってやってください・・・
・・・トホホ・・・(笑)。

The poster also had this to say about things from much later
in the Conan series like Rum and volume 85 (Scarlet Series)

  Show spoilers »

ラムは作者にとって思い入れの深いキャラ。いやそれだけでなく、世界のファンのためにも使えない。

でも、いずれ使っちゃうかもしれないとのことなので、その時は笑って許してあげましょう・・・

ラムはカクテルのベースなどに使われるアルコール度数の高い蒸留酒。今のところジン、ウオッカ、テキーラなどこの手のアルコールは全て男性に使われている。

一方で、女性に付けられるコードネームはシェリーやベルモット、キールなど、全てワインの一種かワインが含まれるカクテルである。

法則どおりならラムは男性に付けられるべきだが、もし名探偵コナンで使われるのなら、これまで慎重に使用を保留してきた人気ヒロインの名前となるだけに、適当なキャラには使い難いのではないかと考えられる。

法則を破りラムちゃんのような美少女メンバーに付けられるのか、ラムちゃんの名を汚さないようなイケメンにつけられるのか、組織の重要な役割を担うキャラに付けられるのか。今後の展開は楽しみである。

⇒85巻 緋色シリーズでバーボン編が一区切り。新たに組織のNO.2である”ラム”の登場が示唆され、ラム編が始まる。

Translation by Yunniechan : link

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Excuse me for being personal, but my series [Meitantei Conan] are continuing more than 10 years now, and a quite a lot of Conan’s enemies - BO’s members - had appeared. Gin, Vodka, Tequila, Sherry, Vermouth…

Right. Their names are all alcohol. And the only one name left, which sounds cool for a name is [Rum]….

But this name is carved in hearts of all Japan, no… whole world’s manga fans… And this character who has that name… I, for all, too…

I can’t use it! I’ll never use it!!

Once an Oni Princess suddenly appeared on a magazine page, and with her cute face, sexy body, and destructive lightning attacks stole the hearts of her fans. Even now she continues to live inside of them! And I believe she’ll continue in the future… Like Tezuka-sensei’s Atom…

…Well, one day I will use this name…
…You can laugh all you want at that day…
…Ohoho… :)

TN: Rum/Lum is a character from Takahashi Rumiko’s Urusei Yatsura

Akigoro Interview RAW

2007年秋ごろのインタビュー 「最終回の構想できている」
Unknown interview
http://conan-4869.net/post-5412

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≪読み始めたとき小学生だった私も、今は大学生です≫

「ええ～っ。そんなに年月がたったのかあ、って改めて感じました。ファンが喜ぶものを描かなきゃと思いますね」

推理漫画「名探偵コナン」を小学館「週刊少年サンデー」に描き続けて１４年目。累計１億２０００万部発行の“お化け作品”は今月、５９巻目が発売になる。

物語は、高校生探偵・工藤新一が謎の組織に子供の体にされたあと、江戸川コナンと名乗り数々の難事件を解決しながら、組織を追う…。

「推理ものは、いろいろなジャンルが描けるから面白い。犯人がなにかの選手ならスポーツ界、俳優なら演劇界ってね。毎回、新しい世界に出合えるから、僕自身が新鮮な気持ちで描ける。大変だけど飽きなくていい」

テレビではアニメ化されて１１年目、１２月の実写ドラマ化も決まるなど、メディアミックスの成功例にもなっている。

「プレッシャーは、ないですね。プレッシャーを感じない方が、楽しいじゃないですか。へへへっ。それより、僕は勘が働くのですよ。勘で描いているので、ラッキーですね」

最新号は、色がテーマ。「色は、子供でもイメージしやすいのでね。話の入り口は、身近なものや、はやりものを取り入れています」

殺人をサラッと描くのは…

気になるのは、長期連載の弊害。どんどん話が難しくなっていくといったケースも少なくない。その点、名探偵コナンは１巻から同じトーンを維持している。コツは。

「専門的にならないこと。難しい言葉を使って、けむに巻くのは簡単だけど、読んでいる人にはわからなくなっていくからね」

題材の一つ、殺人には気を遣うという。「殺人を軽々しく扱うつもりはないが、読者が読み終わったあとで嫌な思いをしないように、サラッと流している。目標はシャーロック・ホームズ。うきうき読んでもらいたい」

週刊の連載回数は合計６２４回を数える。

「ネタがどうしても出なくて、１２時間近く打ち合わせるときがある。早いときは４時間で決まるのに…」

行き詰まった時は、すでに描いた事件の要素を組み合わせられないか考えたり、「ぷらぷら歩いたり、ＤＶＤ観たり。気分転換ですね」

最終回の構想はできている

インタビューは、都内の仕事場で行われた。机にセットされたＩＣレコーダーをみるや、すぐ手にする。

「ちっさい。今のはすごいですね」

これが青山である。何にでも飛びつき、おもしろがる。

鳥取県大栄町（現・北栄町）生まれ。子供時代は、山での探検ごっこに明け暮れた。

「だから、探検ものが描きやすい。コナンの動きは、僕の経験ばかりだから」

大学卒業後、美術教師を望んだ父に反対されたものの、「今では一番の応援者。帰省するたびに、サインを頼まれるよ」

最終回の構想はできている。が、終了はまだファンが許さない。

「期待は裏切りません」

孝行息子、コナンは続く。＝敬称略

（堀口葉子）

メディアミックスで広がる世界

出版調査の出版科学研究所（東京都新宿区）によると、漫画（単行本）市場は、テレビ化などのメディアミックス作品が売り上げを伸ばし、厳しい出版界のなか２００１年以降２５００億円規模を維持している（０６年は２５３３億円）。

牽引（けんいん）役の１つ、「名探偵コナン」は、日本テレビ系でアニメ番組となって１１年目。１５日からは「秋のミステリースペシャル」が全６話放送される。映画版は４月に１１作目「紺碧の棺」が公開され、現在１２作目の製作も決まっている。翻訳出版数は世界２２の国と地域にのぼる。鳥取県北栄町には記念館「青山剛昌ふるさと館」もあり、ファンの来場で賑わっている。

メディアミックス作品について青山は、「コナンが誤解されないよう、トリックの説明などは打ち合わせる。映画版では原画を描き込むなど参加した」という。

Translation by Yunniechan : link

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2007’s Autumn Interview [I started thinking about the last arc]

“When I started reading, I was just an elementary schooler but now I am university student" [I felt like ‘Ehh? Did so much time really passed?’ once again. So I should draw something that would make my fans happy.]

That’s 14th year (TN: 2007) after Detective Manga [Meitantei Conan] started publishing in Shogakukan’s [Shounen Sunday]. 120 mln. copies were sold and this month vol. 59 is out for sale.

Story follows high school detective, Kudo Shinichi, who had taken the name of Edogawa Conan after being turned into a child by some mysterious organization. He tries to catch the organization while solving different cases…

[Mysteries are interesting because you can draw them in different genres. If the criminal is a player, then it’s sports world, an actor - the world of theater, you see. Every time I’m drawing it with fresh emotions, because of a feeling I’m going to meet a new world. That’s hard but I don’t get bored]

It’s 11th year after TV anime started, and with live-action drama confirmed in December, this series are a good example of media mix.

[There’s no pressure. Rather than pressure, I think of it as fun? Hehehe. Besides, I’m more of intuitive person. I’m lucky to draw by a hunch.]

The latest issue had the color theme. [The color is easy for understanding even for children. I usually include things that are familiar and known to everyone into the cases]

Drawing murders without any doubts…

There are some negative effects about long-running series. Case are becoming to be more and more difficult with time. Meitantei Conan tries to keep the same tone since vol. 1.

[Don’t make it too professional. Using hard words and riddles is easy, but the reader won’t understand it]

One of the important things is to be considerate about crime.

[I’m not treating murders lightly, but in order not to disappoint my readers, I let it proceed without obstacles. I want them to read it eagerly.]

Right now there are 624 files.

[If I can’t come up with a story no matter what, I have around 12 hours to arrange my thoughts. Although sometimes I can decide it in 4 hours… When I got stuck, I start thinking if I can implement elements of stories I already drawn, go for a lazy walk, watch DVDs. Try to change my mood]

The interview was carried out in Tokyo workplace. After look at the IC recorder that was on desk, he immediately takes it.

[So small. That’s incredible now]

That’s Aoyama for you. He can be amused by everything. He was born in Tottori, Daiei-machi (now called Hokuei). He used to explore mountains all the time when he was a kid. [That’s why it’s easy for me to draw expeditions. Conan’s actions are all my experience.]

After graduating from the university, he refused to become an art teacher his father wanted him to be, but [now he’s my best supporter. Every time I return home, he asks for a sign]

I’m thinking about the last arc, but the fans won’t forgive me if I’ll end it now.

[I won’t betray your expectations]

His obedient son, Conan, will continue.

Media mix spreading in the world.

According to publications investigation carried by Research Institute for Publications (Tokyo, Shinjuku), manga (tankoban) market extends via media mix, such as anime serialization, and had maintained a 250 billion yen scale among the severe publishing world (253.3 bln yen in 2006)

One of the leaders, [Meitantei Conan] became an anime series on NTV 11 years ago. In 15 days [Autumn’s Mystery Special] would be broadcasted in 6 episodes. 11th movie, [Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure] will be out in April and 12th movie’s production had been decided.

It was translated and published in 22 countries and regions of the world. There’s [Aoyama Gosho’s Hometown Museum] in Tottori, crowded with fans.

Conan and Kindaichi Files Interview #1 (WITH RAW)

名探偵コナン＆金田一少年の事件簿01 (Detective Conan & Kindaichi Case files #1), published April 10, 2008
Translated by: justwantanaccount

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まずは連載が始まった経緯を教えてください。
First, pleast tell the details on how the serializations began.
天樹征丸：僕らが「金田一少年の事件簿」を始めた頃は、トリックを使った本格派のミステリー漫画は皆無でした。この仕事を始めた時、いくつかやりたいテーマがあって、ミステリーまんがもそのひとつ。それで企画を考えました。
Seimaru Amagi (the writer for Kindaichi): At the time we started Kindaichi Case Files, genuine mystery manga using tricks were hopeless. When I started this job, there were a few themes that I wanted to do, and mystery manga was one of them. I thought of plans according to that.
さとうふみや：私は、旅行から帰ってきたら、留守電に編集部から「金田一」の打診があって。その頃は、まだ売れてなかったから、「次は何しようかな」とか考えていた時期ですね。
Fumiya Sato (the illustrator for Kindaichi): For me, after returning from a trip, there was a probe about Kindaichi from the editorial department. At the time, it didn't sell, so it was the time when I thought about things like “what should I do next?”
青山剛昌：僕も同じような感じです。僕の場合は、「「金田一」が受けているから「少年サンデー」でも、そういうまんがをやってくれないか？」と打診されて。でも最初は、まったく乗り気じゃなかった。大変ですもん。
Gosho Aoyama: Same feel for me. In my case, I was probed, “Since Kindaichi is popular, can do you do that kind of manga for Shonen Sunday?” At first, though, I had no interest at all. It would be a lot of trouble, you see.
さとう：でも、もう「マジック快斗」を描いてましたよね？
Sato: You were already drawing Magic Kaito at the time, though, right?
青山：あれは泥棒モノですから。泥棒モノは、何か盗めばいいだけだから簡単なんですよ。
Aoyama: That's thief material, you see. For thief material, you only have to steal something so it's easy.

天樹：元々、子供はミステリーが大好きで、僕らが小さい意頃にも探偵小説を読んでいた。まんがでも、長編で謎で引っ張っていけば、いけると思ってました。
Amagi: By nature, children love mysteries, and we read mystery novels when we were small, too. For manga, I thought that I could do it if I stretched it long with mysteries.
青山：でも、実際にやってみると、何故みんなやらないか判る。セリフは多いし大変。
Aoyama: But when you actually do it, you understand why no one does it. Lines are long, and it's a lot of trouble.
さとう：「金田一」の連載当初は、１年ぐらいだと思ってました。
Sato: At the beginning of Kindaichi's serialization, I thought it would only last about a year.
青山：僕もネタ的に続かないから、３か月ぐらいかなと。
Aoyama: I, too, thought that it would only last about three months, since it's difficult to continue material-wise.
さとう：それを週刊ペースでやるんだからムチャすぎる。
Sato: And then you do it at a weekly pace, so it's too unreasonable.
青山：でも「金田一」は、すごく参考になりました。犯人が真っ黒なのも、ほぼマネですから。
Aoyama: But Kindaichi served as quite a reference. I practically copied the part where the culprit is completely black.
全員：（爆笑）
Everyone: (Laughs wildly)
天樹：あれは、さとう先生の発明ですよ。原作では、「人物がわからないように」としか書いてなかったんです。
Amagi: That's Sato-sensei's invention. In the original work, I only wrote, “make sure you cannot identify the person.”
さとう：ただ黒いだけですよ。
Sato: They're merely black, that's all.
青山：でも、誰か判らないし、すごく不気味さが出る。
Aoyama: But you can't tell who it is, and it feels eerie.
天樹：あれってルールがありますよね。男女同じ体型で描く。で、犯人がわかったときに体型が違ってもツッコミはなし。
Amagi: There's a rule to it, isn't there? You draw the same body type for both men and women. Then, when the culprit is revealed, even if the body type changes no one makes a joke about it.
青山：小説だと証拠品や犯人を文章で説明するけど、まんがは、コマのどこかにサラッと描いてトリックにできるんですよね。
Aoyama: In novels, you explain the evidence, culprit, etc. in the text, but in manga, you can deftly draw them somewhere in the panel to build your trick.
天樹：ミステリーって基本は小説なので、絵的なトリックは手付かずだったんです。それに気が付いた時、これは長くやれるなと思いました。その分、さとう先生には苦労かけてます。
Amagi: Mysteries are basically novels, so visual mysteries were untouched. When I realized that, I thought that I could do it for a long time. Meanwhile, I'll continue to give Sato-sensei trouble.

トリックは検証しますか？
Do you verify your tricks?
青山：ドアロックを外からテープでかけるトリックは、編集さんを外に出して実験しました。でも密室トリックは、トリックのために部屋を、事前に全部見せておかないといけない。あれが結構難しい。
Aoyama: For the trick that locks the door from the outside with tape, I got the editor to go outside and test it. But for tricks involving sealed rooms, I must show all the room beforehand for the trick. That is quite difficult.

作画的に言えば、登場人物の描き分けも大変ですよね。
Drawing-wise, drawing apart the characters must be a lot of trouble.
青山：「金田一」は一度にたくさんキャラクターが出てきますから、描き分けも大変そう。
Aoyama: A lot of characters appear in Kindaichi at once – drawing apart seems like a lot of trouble.
さとう：描き分けは、もういいやって（笑）描いていても、「このいいこと言っている泣かせのキャラは、この前は意地悪だったお姉さんと同じ絵かも」ってことありますから（笑）
Sato: I don't put much effort into drawing apart anymore (laughs). When I draw, things like “I might draw this tear-inducing, good-things-saying character the same way I drew that mean lady” happen.

登場人物の名前は？
What about the characters' names?
青山：僕は空の話だったら、鳥の名前をつけるなど、作品ごとのテーマに合わせます。読者から「今回は鳥ですね」と手紙が来たりしますよ。自己満足ですけどね。
Aoyama: For me, I match with the theme of the work – for example, if the story was about the sky, I would give bird-related names. I get letters like “this time, [the names are based on] birds, right?” This is for self-satisfaction, though.
さとう：実際にありそうな名前は使わないですね。
Sato: We don't use realistic names, do we?
天樹：以前に出てきた名前とイメージが重ならないようには考えてます。登場シーンの短いキャラは３話ぐらいだし、長くても１５話ぐらいで使い切ってしまうキャラですから、ある程度は名前でキャラを立たせる意識はあります。ヤバそうな奴にはヤバそうな名前。
Amagi: We try not to repeat the mood of the previous names. Characters that don't appear for long lasts only about three chapters, up to maybe 15 chapters, so in a sense the characters are built on the name. Give dubious names to dubious guys.
青山：なるほど。
Aoyama: I see.
さとう：不幸なヒロインには、冬とか寒々しいイメージの漢字を使ったり。
Sato: For forsaken heroins, we may use kanji's meaning “winter” or something that feels cold.
青山：「金田一」は名前をつけるのがうまい。名前が結構怖い。ネーミングは本当に大事ですよ。
Aoyama: Characters are named well in Kindaichi. The names are quite scary. Names are truly important, aren't they?
さとう：名前の字で、イメージが伝わってきますから。
Sato: You can convey a mood through the name's ideographs.

「コナン」も「金田一」もいろんな場所が舞台になってます。取材にも行かれますか？
Both Conan and Kindaichi take place at various locations. Do you go to places for reference?
青山：寝台列車・北斗星の話を描いたときには実際に乗りました。でも、写真を撮ったら、途中下車しましたけど。
Aoyama: When I drew the story about the sleeping car train Hokutosei, I actually rode it. When I took pictures, I had to get off in the middle, though.
さとう：列車モノを描いたけど、いかなかった・・・・・・
Sato: I drew material about trains, but I never went . . .
青山：でも、編集さんと２人で旅行してもつまんないでしょ。
Aoyama: But traveling with the editor is dull, isn't it?
さとう：それはある！
Sato: That happens!
天樹：「金田一」の時は、どうしたんでしたっけ？
Amagi: What did we do at Kindaichi's time?
さとう：あれはスタッフが写真を撮ってきました。北海道も行ってないんだよ！高校生のクセに、ハジメは何回も行っているのに。
Sato: The staff went and took pictures. We never went to Hokkaido! Even Hajime went many times, though he's only a high school student.
青山：（笑）
Aoyama: (laughs)

「金田一」は雪国が多い。その理由は？
Snowy places appear often in Kindaichi. What is the reason?
さとう：冬は、人を孤立させやすいから。
Sato: Because it's easy to isolate people in winter.
青山：塩をまいて足跡を出現させるトリックがありましたよね。あれはいいなと思いました。
Aoyama: There was a trick that made footprints appear by sprinkling salt, wasn't there? I thought that it was good.
天樹：シンプルでわかりやすいし、きれいですよね。サクラ雪という言葉もいい。あの時は、すごく楽しく書いてました。
Amagi: It was simple and easy to understand, and it was beautiful, too, wasn't it? I like the phrase “sakura snow”, too. I had a lot of fun writing it at the time.
青山：あの時は？（笑）
Aoyama: At the time? (laughs)
さとう：少しテイストを変えてみようと話して描いたんですよ。なにしろ長くやってたから。
Sato: We tried to change the taste a little for that, since we'd done this for a long time back then.

その時のロケハンは？
Did you do location hunting at the time?
さとう：まったくないですよ！
Sato: No, not at all!
青山：（笑）
Aoyama: (laughs)

ミステリーまんがの魅力はなんだと思いますか？
What do you think is the appeal of mystery manga?
天樹：一番の魅力は、謎解き。そこは今のまんが的ですね。
Amagi: The number one appeal would be solving mysteries. That aspect is manga-esque now, isn't it?
さとう：謎があって解決するというセオリーに尽きる。
Sato: In the end, if there is a mystery, one must solve it.
青山：「金田一」と「コナン」で言えばラブコメ要素。
Aoyama: Love comedy is an element in Kindaichi and Conan.

女子高生のヒロインやセクシーな女性が出てきますね。
Characters like female high school student heroines and sexy women appear, don't they?
天樹：お約束ですよ。
Amagi: It's a promise.
青山：「コナン」は、あまりセクシーな女の子は出ないです。「金田一」は、お風呂場に全裸で美女が浮いたりしてますけど。
Aoyama: Not much sexy girls appear in Conan, though beautiful women might float naked in a bathtub in Kindaichi.
さとう：それは「少年マガジン」だから（笑）
Sato: That's because we're at Shonen Magazine (laughs).
天樹：シャワーシーンとかね。
Amagi: Shower scenes and such.
青山：「少年サンデー」だと編集部から止められます（笑）
Aoyama: The editorial department would stop it in Shonen Sunday (laughs).
さとう：「少年サンデー」は、むかしからあまりやりませんよね。
Sato: Shonen Sunday doesn't do it much from the old days, do they?
天樹：ミステリー漫画って、理屈っぽくて判りにくいじゃないですか。だから読者を限定したくないという意味でアイキャッチ的にパンチラを入れて、読んでみようと思わせてるんです。
Amagi: Mystery mangas are logical and hard to understand, aren't they? So you include eye-catching panty shots to make the readers want to try reading, because you don't want to limit the audience.
さとう：まんがって、本当にそういうところの引っ掛かりが、きっかけになることってあるんですよね。かわいい女の子が出てくるまんがというだけで、読み始める読者もいるし。
Sato: Those kind of pulls really does become the start sometimes in manga, doesn't it? Some readers start reading simply because cute girls appear in the manga.
青山：僕は、最初から「コナン」にはラブコメの要素を入れるつもりで描いてました。主人公がちっちゃくなるというのは、まさにラブコメですから。小さい少年と元の自分が好きな女の子が出てきたら面白いかなと。
Aoyama: For me, I drew with the intention to include elements of love comedy in Conan from the beginning. The protagonist becoming small is truly a love comedy, you see. I thought that having a small boy and a girl that the boy's real self loves would be interesting.
天樹：ミステリーまんがじゃなくても、面白くなりそう。
Amagi: That sounds interesting, even if it wasn't a mystery manga.
青山：そう、推理じゃなくて、そっちだけでもいいかなと。
Aoyama: Yes, that part by itself without deductions would be good, I think.
天樹：小さい男の子が、ちらっとスカートの中を見たりね。
Amagi: The small boy might look inside a skirt really quick.
さとう：それは「少年マガジン」だけでしょ！
Sato: That's only in Shonen Magazine!
天樹：そっか（笑）
Amagi: That's true (laughs).

では、ミステリーまんがをやる上で特に大変なのは？
Then, what is especially troublesome doing a mystery manga?
天樹：事件の動機がすごく大切なんだけと、実はバリエーションがそんなにないんですよね。
Amagi: Though the motive for the case is really important, in truth there aren't much variation, is there?
青山：やりつくして、面白い動機がネタ切れ寸前です（笑）
Aoyama: You use everything, and running out of ideas on interesting motives become imminent (laughs).
天樹：まんがは、読者層も広いので、ドラマチックに盛り上げないと読者から不満が出る。
Amagi: Since the readership is wide in manga, you have to hype up dramatically or else the readers may start feeling unsatisfied.
さとう：殺人の動機も変わってきてます。むかしは「恋人が殺されて・・・・・・」だけど、最近は「本当は恋人ですらなかった！」みたいに、ひねくれてる。
Sato: The motive for the murder starts changing, too. In the old days, you use “my lover was killed . . .”, but recently it became “in truth the person wasn't even my lover!” - it becomes distorted like this.
青山：確かにひねりは必要。
Aoyama: That's true, twists are essential.
天樹：シンプルな復讐モノとかにすると、「もう、やったじゃん」と言われてしまいます。
Amagi: If you make it a simple revenge and the like, you get told that you've already done it before.
青山：自分で描くときにも「やったよな」と思っちゃう。
Aoyama: I think “I did this, didn't I?”, even when I'm drawing myself.
天樹：そうそう。動機は最初の１，２年で尽きました。あとはずっと苦労してます。
Amagi: Yes, yes. I ran out of ideas for motives in the first 1~2 years. I've had difficulty ever since.

決めゼリフも特徴ですね。
Catch phrases are characteristic, too, aren't they?
天樹：話が引き締まるし、ここから逆転していくという期待感が出せるのがいい。「ジッチャンの名にかけて」があるおかげで１話分は得する感じです。
Amagi: They tighten the story, and I like how it gives the expectation that the tables will be turned from that point on. Thanks to “In the name of grandpa”, I feel that I've gained one chapter's worth.
青山：「コナン」の場合は「江戸川コナン、探偵さ」というのを時々言うぐらい。１回ぐらい言わせてやろうかな。「●●の名にかけて」って。
Aoyama: In Conan's case, he says “Edogawa Conan – a detective” from time to time, and that's it. Maybe I should make him say “In the name of ___”, at least once.
全員：（笑）
Everyone: (laughs)
天樹：ぜひ交換しましょう！
Amagi: Yes, let us exchange!
青山：「金田一ハジメ、探偵さ」って言うの？
Aoyama: You'll make him say “Kindaichi Hajime – a detective”?
天樹：いいなあ、それ。
Amagi: I like it!
さとう：でも高校生だよ。
Sato: But he's a high school student.
天樹：「探偵じゃないだろ」ってツッコミが入るとか。
Amagi: Someone might joke, “He's not [officially] a detective, is he?”

２作品の影響で、テキストの多い漫画も増えましたね。
As a result of the two works' influence, manga with a lot of text increased, didn't it?
青山：確かにそれはあるかも。
Aoyama: Maybe, perhaps.
天樹：ヒットしたことで、ＯＫになったんですよね。
Amagi: It became acceptable due to the hits, didn't it?
さとう：今の読者は読んで「判った」とスカッとするみたい。
Sato: The readers nowadays can apparently understand better.
天樹：例えば映画化もされた某漫画のテキスト量は、昔だとありえない。新人賞に応募してきたら、「テキストを３分の１にしろ」と言われるレベル。
Amagi: For example, in the old days, the amount of text in this manga, which was also made into a film, was impossible. It's at the level that if you applied for the New Talent Award, you'll be told to cut down the text to a third.
青山：でも、それが読者が「アリ」だと思えるようになった。
Aoyama: But readers came to accept this.
さとう：ゲームもあるし、テキストを多く読む事に読者がなれたんですよね。
Sato: Games exist, too – readers got accustomed to reading more text, didn't they?
青山：でも、その大元を作ったのが「金田一」ですからね。
Aoyama: But the one that created most of this is Kindaichi, isn't it?

では、まんがで禁じ手にしてるものはありますか？
Then, do you prohibit yourselves from doing anything in the manga?
青山：無差別殺人ですね。無差別に見えても、なんか動機があるように描いています。
Aoyama: That would be indiscriminate killings. I take care to include a motive, even if it looks indiscriminate.
さとう：サイコキラーをやると、違うまんがになってしまう。
Sato: It'll be a different manga if we do a psycho killer.
天樹：無差別殺人の類は、ネタ切れ感もあるし、残虐性に面白さが向かう怖さもありますね。
Amagi: Indiscriminate killings and the like feel like you've run out of ideas, and there's the fear that they might interest those with cruel tendencies.
青山：そうですね。犯人に共感を持たれて、殺人をマネされても困りますからね。
Aoyama: That's true. It would be problematic if people sympathized with the culprit and attempted murder.

「金田一」は長編中心で、「コナン」は短編中心ですよね。
Kindaichi focus on longer cases, and Conan focus on shorter cases, don't they?
天樹：だいたい１４，１５話ぐらい。
Amagi: About 14, 15 chapters.
青山：すごいですね。「コナン」は、３話で１篇、最長で６話ぐらい。最初に事件で人が死んで、その謎が提示されて、最後に解決する。これが黄金パターンです。今、これ以上は描けない。お二方は、よくできますね。
Aoyama: That's amazing. In Conan, one case is three chapters, six chapters at the longest. First, a person dies, then the mystery is presented, and finally the case gets solved. This is the golden pattern. Right now, I can't draw more than that. You two are doing well.
さとう：それはプロットを天樹先生と分けているから。
Sato: That's because the plot is divided with Amagi-sensei.
天樹：でもプロットの完成前に始めたりしますから。
Amagi: But sometimes you begin before you complete the plot.
青山：つじつまが合わなくなっちゃうとかないんですか？
Aoyama: Do you never contradict each other?
さとう：ありますね。
Sato: It does happen.
天樹：結婚式なのに、花婿がいないみたいな。後からネームで出すから、袋でもかぶせてっていったら、本当にかぶってた。
Amagi: For example, even though it's a wedding, the bridegroom is missing. [In another example,] I said that, since I'll put it in the pre-manuscript later, why don't you put a bag or something over the head, and there really was a bag over the head.
青山：さとう先生は、原作を変えたくならないですか？
Aoyama: Does Sato-sensei never want to change the original work?
さとう：さすがにトリックは変えられないですけど、泣かせの部分を変えたりはしてます。
Sato: As you'd expect, I can't change the trick, but sometimes I change the emotional parts.
天樹：キャラクターの描き方は、おまかせの部分もあるので、そこはある程度は自由ですよね。
Amagi: On how to draw the characters, there are parts that I leave completely to you – with those parts, you have some degree of freedom, yes?
青山：僕は自分で考えて自分で描いているから、編集さんとの打ち合わせを勝手に変える事もあるんです。一緒にやっていると、そこが大変そうかなと。
Aoyama: Since I think [of ideas] on my own and draw on my own, sometimes I arbitrarily change arrangements with the editor. If you work with someone, I thought that that aspect seems troublesome.
天樹：意外と大丈夫です。
Amagi: It's actually all right.
さとう：時々、アドリブでギャグを入れたりしてますし。最後の流れも変えたこともあります。
Sato: Sometimes I add a gag ad lib. I've changed the flow in the end at times.

では最後に何かあれば。
Finally, do you have anything you want to say?
天樹：僕から行っていいですか？青山先生、死ぬまで「コナン」を続けてください！
Amagi: Can I start? Aoyama-sensei, please continue Conan until your death!
青山：過労死しそうですよ（笑）
Aoyama: I do feel like dying from exhaustion (laughs).
天樹：青山先生がやっていると思えば、僕らもがんばれます。
Amagi: If Aoyama-sensei does it, we can work hard, too.
さとう：そうそう。まんがって、同じジャンルのライバルがないと廃れやすくなるし。
Sato: Yes, yes. In manga, if you don't have a rival in your genre, it's easier for your work to go to waste.
青山：僕も励みにしてますよ。
Aoyama: It's an incentive for me, too.
天樹：実はファン層が微妙にずれていて、いい感じに棲み分けもできていますよね。
Amagi: In truth, our fan bases are slightly different, so we can divide our habitats well.
青山：巨人と阪神じゃないけど、ライバル同士で頑張りましょう。
Aoyama: We're no [Yomiuri] Giants and Hanshin [Tigers]*, but let us work hard as rivals.

• Famous Japanese baseball teams
  

Raw interview images

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Conan and Lupin Interview #1 (MIXED IN RAW)

Aoyama & Monkey Punch interview from 2009
Translated by: justwantanaccount

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アニメでルパン三世とコナンが夢の競演を実現させます。最初に聞いたときの感想は？
The dream confrontation between Lupin III and Conan in anime will be realized. What were your impressions when you first heard of this?
青：コナン側からいえば、今考えられる最大の強敵。かなりワクワクです。
Aoyama: From Conan's side, [Lupin III is] the most powerful adversary currently imaginable. I'm highly excited.
モ：最初にお話を聞いたときは、はたして本当に実現できるのかと思いました。でも、できたら絶対に面白くなるはずだと思いました。
Monkey Punch: When I first heard of the talk, I thought, is it possible to realize this? But I thought that, if it is, then it definitely must become interesting.
青：僕も実現できるのかなと思っていました（笑）。
Aoyama: I also wondered if it was possible (laughs).

確かにすごい企画です。
That's true, it's a stunning project.
モ：脚本家の方は大変だったでしょう。どういうストーリーになるのか、まったくわからない。
Monkey Punch: The scriptwriter must have gone through a lot of trouble. I have absolutely no idea what the story will be like.
青：僕もそこそこは脚本をチェックしました。コナンが登場する部分はもちろんですけど、原作の「ルパン三世」が大好きで、「ルパンはこうじゃないだろう」って修正を入れてました（笑）。
Aoyama: I, too, checked the script here and there. Of course [I went over] the parts where Conan appears, but since I love the original work for Lupin III, [I also] included revisions like “Lupin isn't like this” (laughs).

不二子のシャワーシーンなど「ルパン三世」のお約束もありますし、いつもの「名探偵コナン」とは、少し違うかもしれません。
Since there is the Lupin III promise to include Fujiko's shower scene and so on, [this show] might be a little different from the usual Detective Conan.
モ：それは楽しみです。
Monkey Punch: [I'm] excited for that.

両作品に登場する刑事同士が知り合いという設定もあります。
It's also established that the police detectives appearing in both series are acquaintances.
青：目暮警部と銭型警部は、どっちも警視庁ですから（笑）。
Aoyama: Both Inspector Megure and Inspector Zenigata are from the Metropolitan Police Department, aren't they? (laughs)

青：「名探偵コナン」で（アルセーヌ・ルパン生みの親である）モーリス・ルブランが、怪盗紳士を描いた作家として名前だけ出てきます。そのルブランが書いたルパンの孫と言うことは、ルパン三世は「名探偵コナン」の世界では架空の人物。それと対決するわけですから、本用に夢の対決です。カットになったけど、本当は“ルパンの孫”というセリフを、ぜひ入れたかったなあ。
Aoyama: In Detective Conan, Maurice Leblanc (creator of Arsene Lupin) appears as the name of the writer who wrote the gentleman thief. Since [Lupin III is] the grandchild of the Lupin written by that Leblanc, Lupin III is a fictitious person in Detective Conan's world. [Conan will] have a face-off with that [fictitious character], so this truly is a “dream” confrontation. Although this got cut, I really wanted to include the “Lupin's grandchild” line.
モ：今回のアニメでは、コナンは少年、ルパンは青年。それをどう組み合わせるんだろうとは思いました。江戸川乱歩の小説でも、怪人二十面相と少年探偵団の対決はあったので、そういう感じで面白い対決だといいな。
Monkey Punch: In this anime, Conan is a boy, and Lupin is a young man. I wondered how they'll put these together. In Edogawa Ranpo's novels, there was a face-off between the Kaijin Niju-Menso (Twenty-Faced Fiend) and Shounen Tanteidan (Boy Detective League) - I'd like it if that kind of feel is used.
青：コナンの場合、本人が少年探偵団であり、明智小五郎でもあります。コナン世界で一番切れる人物が小さい奴ですからね。その意味では、いい対決になっています。
Aoyama: In Conan's case, the main character is both the Shounen Tanteidan and Akechi Kogoro. The small guy is the sharpest person in the Conan world. In that sense, the confrontation is a good one.

ちなみに今回の見どころは？
Also, what's worth watching this time?
青：コナンはルパン＆次元との絡みです。特に次元とコナンの絡みはオススメ。次元の手を見たコナンが「あなた、タダものじゃないですね」っていうシーンは、僕が付け足しました。その後に、次元らしいせりふを言うんですよ。
Aoyama: For Conan, the entanglement with Lupin & Jigen. I especially recommend the entanglement between Jigen and Conan. I added the scene where Conan, who has looked at Jigen's hands, said “You're no ordinary man, are you?”

青山先生にお伺いしますが、「ルパン三世」の魅力は？
I would like to ask Aoyama-sensei – what is Lupin III's appeal?
青：子供のころから原作が大好きですが、やはり作品全体から感じるクールなカッコよさ。昔の「００７」ぽいところもありますね。
Aoyama: I have loved the original work since childhood - [I would] definitely [say] the cool feel [you] can get from the entire work. It's also similar to 007 in the old days.
モ：それは、僕も意識して描いていました。
Monkey Punch: I have consciously tried to draw that way.
青：絵柄もかっこいいですよ。キャラクターの手足が細くて。実は、コナンが笑ったときの口元の感じは、モンキー・パンチ先生のマネ。かなり影響を受けました。
Aoyama: The style is cool, too. The characters' limbs are thin. In truth, the atmosphere of Conan's mouth when he grins is in Monkey Punch-sensei's imitation. I received quite an influence.
モ：それはありがとうございます。当時、連載していた雑誌の読者が少年ではなく青年層だったので、絵柄はそれを意識して、大人っぽく描いてました。
Monkey Punch: Thank you kindly for that. At the time, serial magazines' readers were not boys but young adults, so with that in mind, I tried to draw with an adult-like style.
青：僕が「ルパン三世」にふれたのは小学３年生ぐらい。本屋さんで買ってきて家の本棚に並べていたら、エッチすぎるからと親に処分されて、後でまた買い直したこともあります（笑）。（編集部注　扉のページでモンキー・パンチ先生が持っているコミックは、青山先生が持参した私物）
Aoyama: I came across Lupin III around third grade. There was one time, when I bought it from the bookstore and lined it up on the bookshelf, my parents thought that it was too sensual so they confiscated it - I had to buy it again afterward (laughs). (Editorial notice: The comic Monkey Punch-sensei is holding on the front page is Aoyama-sensei's)

当時の小学生には、「ルパン三世」は刺激的すぎたんですね。
Lupin III was too stimulating for elementary school children back then, wasn't it?
モ：実は「ルパン三世」を描いていた当時、本屋さんで幼稚園ぐらいの子が母親に「ルパン買って」と言うと、母親が「こういうのは読んじゃダメ」って（笑）。
Monkey Punch: Actually, back when I was drawing Lupin III, a child who might be in kindergarten said “Buy Lupin!” to the mother at a bookstore, and the mother replied, “[You] can't read things like these!” (laughs)
青：いや、当時の僕は、ページをめくるたびにワクワクでした。
Aoyama: Back then, I felt excited from turning the page.

青：「名探偵コナン」を知っていると聞いて大感激です。実は聞いたいことがあります。モンキー・パンチというペンネームは、どうやって名付けたんですか？
Aoyama: I am deeply moved to hear that you know about Detective Conan. Actually, I have something I want to ask. How did you get the pen name, Monkey Punch?
モ：新人の頃に某編集部でつけられました。最初は変な名前だから断ろうと思った（笑）。当時、カタカナのペンネームは当たらないというジンクスがあって、当時の編集長が「そのジンクスをお前が破れ。一年だけやってイヤだったら好きな名前にしていい」と言われて。それがきっかけです。
Monkey Punch: I got the name at a certain editorial department. I first wanted to decline [the name] since I thought it was strange (laughs). At the time, there was a jinx where pen names in katakana did't become successful, and the editor-in-chief at the time told me, “You break that jinx. If you don't like it after a year, you can pick your favorite name.” That was the start.
青：ペンネームは、絵柄に会ってますし、最初は外国人かと思っていました。背景のハイコントラストな描き方はアメコミですよね。
Aoyama: The pen name suits your style, and I first thought that [the name] was a foreigner's. American comics have backgrounds with high contrast, right? モ：欧州の作家が好きで影響を受けて、そういうものが組み合わさってこうなりました。
Monkey Punch: I like European artists and received their influence – things like that combined together and here I am.
青：「ルパン三世」の発想は、どこからですか？
Aoyama: Where did Lupin III's idea come from?
モ：新雑誌が出るときに「表紙と巻頭をあげるから」と言われ、その場で浮かんだのが、「アルセーヌ・ルパン」。それで後先考えずにルパンものをやりたいと言って、その後で作り込みました。
Monkey Punch: I was told that I'll get the cover and the opening page when the new magazine comes out, at right there I thought, Arsene Lupin. Then I said that I want to do something Lupin-related without reflection, and I started working.
青：僕は原作のクールなるパン三世が好きです。原作では、ルパン帝国の三代目でゴージャズだし、世界各地に手下がいて、アルセーヌ・ルパンぽいのが魅力でした。
Aoyama: I prefer the cool Lupin III in the original work. In the original work, [Lupin III was] Lupin Empire's third generation and had minions all over the world; the similarity to Arsene Lupin was appealing.

モンキー・パンチ先生が考える「名探偵コナン」の魅力は？
What is Detective Conan's appeal according to Monkey Punch-sensei?
モ：実は「ルパン三世」でも探偵者をやってみたいなと思っていて、僕が考える探偵ものはアガサ・クリスティーみたいな本格推理。そうなると最後のところで相当な文字数が必要になって、漫画的じゃない。だから、いい方法を見つけたらやろうと思っていました。それで初めて「名探偵コナン」を見て、なるほどこういうやり方があったのかと目からウロコが落ちました。あとは高校生でありながら小さい少年。これが子供達に受けていると思います。本当にやられたなという感じです。ルパン三世にも薬を飲ませて子供にすればよかった（笑）。
Monkey Punch: I actually wanted to do mysteries in Lupin III; personally, when I think of detectives I think of Agatha-Christie-like, genuine deductions. In that case, the word count becomes considerable at the end and no longer manga-like. So I wanted to find a good way to do this. Then I watched Detective Conan for the first time, and my eyes were opened. A boy who's actually a high school student – I think that this is what appeals to children. I feel that [Aoyama Gosho] really did it. I should have made Lupin III swallow a pill and become a child, too (laughs).

モ：今、「名探偵コナン」は、何年目ぐらいですか？
Monkey Punch: How long has Detective Conan continued so far?
青：もう１５年ぐらいです。
Aoyama: About 15 years already.
モ：そんなに続けてられるのはすごいです。
Monkey Punch: It's amazing that you've continued for so long.
青：いやいや、ネタ出しが大変で（笑）。今日も朝から何時間もネタ出ししてから来ました。
Aoyama: Oh no, coming up with ideas is a lot of trouble (laughs). I came here after spending hours from morning coming up with ideas today, for example.
モ：僕は、いろいろなことを吸収していた時期に連載をしていて、ネタ出しの苦労はなかった。連載終盤は、頭にあるものを広げていく作業で大変だったけど。
Monkey Punch: For me, I serialized when I absorb several things, so I didn't struggle coming with ideas. Although, the ending involved expanding what was in the head and was a lot of trouble.
青：僕は、三話目ぐらいからネタ切れしてました（笑）。１巻分で終わるかなと思っていましたし、こんな文字数の多い漫画は誰も読まないと思っていました。
Aoyama: For me, I ran out of ideas from the third chapter (laughs). I thought that the series would end by the first volume, and that no one would read manga with such high word count.

お２人は、作品を描く上で気を付けていることはありますか？
What do you two take care to do when drawing your work?
モ：アニメ化されて声優さんの声にキャラクターが引っ張られることですね。山田康雄さんの声でアニメを見てたら、だんだん漫画のセリフも山田さんが言いそうなセリフになっていった。
Monkey Punch: I got influenced by the voice actors' voices for the characters after my work got animated. After I watch the anime with Yamada Yasuo-san's voice, the manga's lines become ones that Yamada-san might say.
青：そういう影響もあります。
Aoyama: That's true.
モ：クールなるパンが「あらあらあら」ってなっちゃう。アニメのルパンに引っ張られないように苦労しました。
Monkey Punch: The calm Lupin becomes the “Ara ara ara”-type. I struggled trying not to be influenced by the anime's Lupin.
青：「名探偵コナン」では、小五郎の声が神谷明さんで、漫画のセリフで「お父さんのしゃがれ声で言われたくないわ」と言うセリフを使ったりしました。あと円谷光彦の声優さんの大谷育江さんの声がかわいいので、だんだんカワイイキャラになった。アニメが本物と思っている子供達もいて、ファンレターで「アニメと違う」と書かれると、こっちが本当なのにと思いつつ・・・
Aoyama: In Detective Conan, Kamiya Akira-san does Kogoro's voice, so lines like “I don't want to be told by dad's hoarse voice” were used. Also, since Tsuburaya Mitsuhiko's Ootani Ikue-san's voice is cute, Mitsuhiko gradually became a cute character. There are children who think that the anime is the original, too, and when I receive fan letters that say “[The manga is] different from the anime”, I can't help but think, the [manga] is the one that's original . . .
モ：アニメのルパン三世を見ながら僕の絵を見て、「これは違う」と子供達に言われたこのも（笑）。アニメになって、描き始めた頃の尖った部分は柔らかくなったり、絵柄や印象も子供を意識し始めて変わりました。最初の頃と最後の方では、作品の雰囲気がかなり違いますね。
Monkey Punch: Children, looking at my drawings while watching anime's Lupin III, told me that “This is different” (laughs). After becoming an anime, the sharper parts from the times I started drawing became softer, and I changed the style and atmosphere, keeping children in mind. The work's atmosphere is quite different when comparing the beginning and the end, isn't it?

最後にファンのみなさんにメッセージをお願いします。
For the end, please leave a message for all the fans.
モ：僕も視聴者の一人として、ルパン三世と江戸川コナンの組み合わせの面白さは楽しみたい。それを楽しんでもらえれば、原作者としてもうれしいです。
Monkey Punch: As one of the viewers, I want to enjoy the interesting combination of Lupin III and Edogawa Conan. If you could enjoy that, I am happy as the original author.
青：実はコンテを全くチェックしていないのでオンエアがとても楽しみです。皆さんも是非ワクワクドキドキしながら観てください。
Aoyama: Actually, I haven't checked the contents at all, so I am excited about the airing. Everyone please be sure to watch with excitement.

Gundam Ace Interview (MIXED IN RAW)

ガンダムエース3月号 (Gundam Ace March issue) between Ikeda Shuuichi and Aoyama Gosho, published January 26, 2010
Partially Translated by: justwantanaccount

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池田「ところで、どういった経緯で『赤井秀一』というキャラクターが生まれたんですか? コナンでは、キャラクターの名前は有名な探偵の名前をもじったりするのがお約束なのに、 ガンダムが元ネタなのが不思議ですよね」
Ikeda (voice actor for Char Aznable, the namesake of Akai Shuuichi, in case you didn't know): By the way, under what circumstance did a character named "Akai Shuuichi" emerge? In Conan, the characters are always named after famous detectives. It's curious that Gundam is the basis of this name.

青山「実は探偵ネタが尽きたというのもありまして(笑) お話の中で、主人公の江戸川コナンに味方をするＦＢＩ捜査官を出すことになった時に、 イメージ先行でその敏腕捜査官はシャアっぽくしたいなと思ったんです。 だから最初はシャアから取って『赤井』という名字だけ決まっていたんです。 その後、下の名前をどうしようかと悩んだ結果、池田さんのお名前からいただいて 『秀一』にしてしまいました(笑) コナンの本名が『新一』なので、『新一』と『秀一』は、似た名前だから 本来は採用しないんですが、今回だけはいいやと思って」
Aoyama: There's also the possibility that (I) ran out of detective-based names (laughs) When it was decided that (we) would introduce an FBI agent who would side with the protagonist, Conan, I wanted to base the image of that astute investigator on Char. That's why (I) decided on just the last name to be "Akai (red)" at first. After that, when (I) pondered on what the first name should be, (I) decided it to be "Shuuichi" after you, Ikeda-san (laughs) Since Conan's real name is "Shinichi," and "Shinichi" and "Shuuichi" sound similar, (I) wouldn't normally pick (this name), but I thought that it would be okay, just this once.

池田「いやあ、光栄ですね。そして、ＴＶ版では声もやらせてもらってる訳ですから、 すごい縁を感じます」
Ikeda: What an honor! Since I get to voice the TV-version as well, I feel a quite a deep bond (to the character? to Gosho?).

青山「アニメ版の重要キャラクターのキャストは、Ｐから『誰かイメージはありますか』 と希望を聞かれるんですが、赤井の時には『そりゃ池田さんでしょう！』 ってリクエストしたら、夢が叶ってしまいました。
Gosho: For the anime's important character's, I get asked by P (I don't know what the heck P is), "Do you have an image (of who the voice actor should be) in mind?" For Akai, I requested (by replying), "Who else but Ikeda-san!" and the wish came true!

(中略)
(omitted)

池田「コナンでは、これからもガンダムネタは出たりはしそうですか？」
Ikeda: Will there be more Gundam-based (ideas? characters?) in Conan?

青山「コナンの味方であるキャラクターの最高ランクにあたるのが赤井でしたから、 黒ずくめの組織側にもガンダム系の名前のキャラが出せたら面白いですよね。 例えば『安室徹』とか(笑) ガンダムと敵味方が逆なのがいい。そうなると、 声は誰がやるか決まってしまいますが(笑)」
Aoyama: If Conan's ally's highest ranking member is Akai, then it would be interesting if there were characters with Gundam-based names in the Black Organization as well. Like "Amuro Akira/Tooru" (徹 can be read both as Tooru or Akira) (laughs) For Gundam, the good guys and bad guys should be reversed. In this case, the voice actor is more or less decided (laughs).

池田「そうですね、あの人しかいない(笑)」
Ikeda: That's true, there's only that person (laughs)

Masters Of Manga Interview (no raw)

Masters of Manga, published July 6, 2010
Text submitted by: Chekhov

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Gōshō Aoyama is one of the most successful shōnen manga artists of our time and its most successful work, Detective Conan (Case Closed in the US), serialized on Shōnen Sunday (Shōgakukan) since 1994 (68 paperbacks so far), has been one of the biggest hits of the 1900s and 2000s. Detective Conan, a detective story whose main character, little Conan Edogawa, is a teenager detective trapped in a body of a little kid, is still going on. Uber-busy Aoyama, who is required to draw twenty pages of manga every week, wasn’t able to meet me for a face to face interview, but even so he was so kind as to agree to answer to my questions via e-mail. Here I transcribe the interview in full.

Please do not publish this interview on other blogs or publications without my permission. (Tough cookies Masters of Manga, if the originals go down, someone's gotta rehost for the good of the fandom)

1. Why did you decide to become a mangaka? How did it all start?
It all happened because I wanted to give shape to stories that were only in my head in order to show them to everybody.

2. What other mangaka or artists had influence on you?
Tetsuya Chiba, Monkey Punch and Mitsuru Adachi.

3. Do you usually read or watch detective stories? What kind of stories do you prefer?
I watch a lot of movies and TV series, so many I’m even unable to count them. Sherlock Holmes, Furuhata Ninzaburō, Columbo, and the novels of Hercule Poirot would be good examples of what I like.

4. Outside Japan there are a lot of famous authors specializing in detective stories, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie. I believe that the same can be said about Japan, where there are also many novelists specialized on the genre. But what about manga? Were there other manga stories before Detective Conan whose main character was a detective? If the answer is “no”, was Conan a pioneer of the genre?
If I’m not mistaken, Kindaichi Shōnen no jikenbo (The Case Files of Young Kindaichi) serialization began earlier than Conan’s.

5. What was the driving force behind your decision to draw Detective Conan?
I wanted to write/draw a romantic comedy whose main character was a detective that has been made small again.

6. Detective Conan is now a big hit and many other stories of the same kind have been appearing here and there on other manga magazines of other publishing houses. What do you think about this phenomenon?
I think that this is happening because there is a detective inside every person in the world. We all like mysteries, this is why.

7. Detective Conan’s world has expanded hugely; it has been adapted to anime, movies, live action TV series and many more media. What do you think about this?
I think that I’m very happy and very lucky (laughs).

8. Why did you decide to make Conan a child? Do you think that the series would have been equally successful had the main character been a teenager detective, as it was in the very beginning?
I think that precisely because I made him become a child again, I could gain the attention and faithful readership of a broader range of readers, from children to adults.

9. Is it very hard to be in charge of the same series during years and years? Exactly how hard is it?
It’s so hard I cannot sleep for more than three hours a day (laughs).

10. Have you already decided the end of Detective Conan?
Yes, I have. However, I don’t know when I’ll be able to draw it (laughs).

11. Do you think all the cases of Detective Conan by yourself? Or does somebody help you with that?
I painfully think them all with my very limited brain with the help of my editor in charge (laughs).

12. How many assistants do you have? Some of them went on to create new stories based on your characters and situations with the title of Detective Conan Special. What do you think about this? How do you feel having your characters and plots in others’ hands?
I have five assistants. About how I feel letting others take control of my plot and characters, I felt anxious at first, but later on I’ve discovered they really make me think: “Wow, this situation is not bad at all, why didn’t I come up with it before?” (laughs).

13. Enough about Conan for now. Did you inspire yourself on the story of Musashi Miyamoto to create Yaiba?
Yes, of course. Some characters have been taken directly from that story (laughs).

14. Yaiba, which is a kendo-themed story, is famous all over the world. What, in your opinion, is the key to that success?
I think that maybe the fact of setting a story in which the characters can put different “orbs” in their swords was the decisive factor, as it makes it feel like a videogame.

15. You are one of the most prominent shōnen manga authors of our times. From that position, I’d really like to know your views on nowadays’ shōnen manga scene.
I’m so focused on my own work and circumstances that I’ve never really thought about it, sorry (laughs).

16. Of all your works, which is your favorite and why?
Well, that would be Detective Conan. We have been together now for too long not to be friends, in fact (laughs).

17. What kind of manga would you like to draw if you had the chance?
A story about Sun Wukong (Son Gokū).

18. What do you think that your manga is popular in son many countries all over the world?
It’s a huge honor.

19. Manga has finally become a worldwide phenomenon. What do you think about that?
I’m convinced that Japan, and Japanese people, should be proud of manga and anime. I really believe it.

20. Could we ask for a final comment from you to manga readers all over the world?
Conan is full to the brim with tricks and ciphers only Japanese can understand and, even so, many foreign readers keep faithful to his stories. I’m very grateful for that and I hope they continue to do so. Thank you very much, really.

Magic Kaitou Treasured Editions: Playback Episode Interviews (no raw)

Released at the end of the Treasured Editions through out 2011
Translated from German to English by : Cocoa moth / Cocoa

  Show spoilers »

Volume 1

Hello, it's me, Aoyama.

In the course of the republication of Magic Kaito I take the liberty to show my memories of this time straightforwardly. (grin)

The Revived Phantom Thief

The memorable first chapter! Actually I became a Mangaka because I wanted to write about a high school phantom (grin) and so I drew it under great tension! Well and back then I was short of money which is the reason why his hatband around his tophat isn't shaded with screen tone...

The Police Are Everywhere

The original title „Keikan ga ippai” referred to a movie... „Taiyou ga ippai”, a movie with Alain Delon („Purple Noon”). Detective Doron is an allusion, too, because „Delon” is written as „Doron” in Japan. (grin) By the way! The words „When you bend them, they...” Kaito announces the light-emitting diode were literally written on the package of one of those things I purchased on a public festival as a kid. (grin) Appearantly they're actually known as „glow stick”.

The Clockwork Heart

A science-fiction-thriller! A rarity for Kaito (grin). I recall that I perceived it as really exhausting to draw all the parts of the robot and that I had no computer, so that I had to write Kaito's farewell letter by hand (Haha!). By the way! In the panel the robot says „I'm Kuroba Kaito... Haha!!” Kaito's pupils look kinda strange (?). There I mimicked Akemi Matsunae of which I was a big fan back then. (grin)

Kaitou Kid's Busy Day Off

Back then, the 3D movie „Captain EO” starring Michael Jackson was being played in cinemas and has been satirized in this chapter, although I never thought 3D movies could have been revived because of „Avatar”... (grin) By the way! When I read the closing scene today I think that the phrase „But, ice cream... still tastes great!” is my most embarrassing quote ever (grin).

The Pirate Ship Unsurfaced

A sea adventure with Kaito? This is a rarity, too! (grin) I can't remember at all why I wanted to draw this story, but maybe I wanted a confrontation between a thief from the mainland and a thief of the seas...? (Ha!) Well, and so Kaito brought his costume of Kaitou Kid even to this place...?! (grin)

The Scarlet Temptress

There she is! Mistress Akako! To be honest, she, as practitioner of black magic, is the reason who drove me into the corner the most during Kaitos appearances in Conan. Well, you just have to accept these works as parallel universes. (grin) By the way, Kaito Kuroba is written on the handkerchief, this probably was a prank done by his mom (Chikage)... (grin)

Aoyama Kid ♥

Volume 2

Stay Away From Him

Although it's more of a romantic tale than a thief story I really like this one ♥ Especially the panel with „Well, excuse me for being an idiot...“ is a real gem, because of how often I had to redraw it! (laughs) Additionally, Superman and Top Gun appear... which is according to my taste! It's also revealed in this story that Aoko is flat-chested. (laughs)

Japan's Most Irresponsible Prime Minister

A story I used one of my then-favourite actors Hitoshi Ueki, who has passed away in the meantime, as model! I also dared to use the Japanese prime minister - this was probably really audacious... And then characters appear who look like the past leaders of the USSR and the USA, Gorbachev and Reagan... (sweating). By the way, did anyone notice the „Akako balloon“ in the night sky? (laughs)

I Am the Master!

This story was purely written because I felt like it! Anyway, I really wanted to draw how Kaitou Kid makes a balls to the wall ride down the facade of a building... (laughs). I would be nice if they one day made an Anime out of it ♫ Oh well, even if Cleopatra's Vanity case should really exist, two thousand years later one probably couldn't use it anymore... (laughs)

Would You Grow Up

If I remember correctly, the hang-glider associated with Kaitou Kid lifted the first time in this story. Well, one could also say that Kaitou Kid could have fled from the get-go with it, instead of stretching a rope to the Tokyo Tower first (laughs). I'd really like to bring the motorized roller skates again.

The Boy Who Bet on the Ball

It has also been really daring to take real professional baseball player as a model... (laughs). I think the story was created after I talked with my editor in charge about how thrilling it would be if Kaitou Kid appeared on a pole in Tokyo Dome. Well, the Yomiuri Giants are working together with Conan in several ways anyway, so I hope they can turn a blind eye to this... (fierce laughter)

Ghost Game

If I remember correctly, I was frantically busy because I had to draw „Tantei George no Minimini Daisa-kusen“ („Detective George's Mini-Mini Big Strategy“) three weeks in a row for the Sunday magazine, so I finished this chapter in a very short time... (laughs). Directly afterwards my series „Yaiba“ started, because of which „Magic Kaito“ had to pause for a while. Hard to believe that the series is continued until today...! (laughs)

Hustler vs. Magician

Originally this was the true second chapter of „Magic Kaito“! But... it was rejected! Since my debut in „Sunday“ there was never a story before or after it that was rejected. It's real luck that it made it into this volume! (laughs)

Omake

„Magic Kaito“ was the first Manga I was allowed to publish as a Mangaka, which could be the reason I drew this story with zest and high motivation... Oh well, this probably was my youthful enthusiasm... (laughs)

Aoyama Kid ♥

Volume 3

Star Wars

The first „Magic Kaito“ story I drew in the Heisei era (since 1989 -editor's note). There are several stories in which someone tries to gain profit from using a false Kid, but this is the shining first one! At the crime scene Kid announced a lot of Kid fans have assembled and shout "Kid! Kid!". Pretty clever idea, huh? Because this has developed to a classical element until today.

The Great Detective Appears!!

Entrance of Saguru Hakuba! No, not only that, the chief inspector also shows his face...! Perhaps the junior was just worried because the top policeman never appears at the crime scene? (grin) By the way, Kid is so bad at ice skating because I'm so lousy in it myself.

Kaitou Under Scrutiny

The skirt of Aoko's school uniform is so long and Kid's television is so big! From this you can tell the time! (Haha!) Apropos, the newspaper appearing on the last page is called „Oshima Daily Paper“ in the original version. Most of the newspapers shown in „Magic Kaito“ were named after my then editors. I beg your pardon. (grin)

Akako's Delivery Service

Kaitou Kids measurements, 1.74 m (~ 5'9") and 58 kg (~ 128 lbs), naturally are my measurements from back then! The same goes for his blood type! (grin) Back then I thought it's really cool that it's possible to figure out skin colour and age of a person just by a single hair, but today, with DNA analysis you can figure out the whole identity of the person the hair belongs to. The progress of science is frightening... (Haha!)

(Extra Chapter) Yaiba vs. Kaito!

I was told to draw a short, self-contained story and this dream sequence is the result. Back when I was a kid I already loved collaborations like „Mazinger Z vs. Devilman“, so I wanted to draw something like this. This is also the reason Kaitou Kid appears in Conan... (grin)

Blue Birthday

The first time the gem Kaitou is after is the name origin for the title! Because this was the first „Magic Kaito“ after a very long time I debuted Kaitou Kid's arch-enemy and I can remember how much this motivated me... but it's also a story about a nightly firework in the midst of the city which must have made a lot of trouble in the surroundings... (grin)

Green Dream

Oh well, this story is nothing special, but to be honest, it's this story which grew dear to my heart. (grin) What should I say about it? The rhythm is felicitous. This story was the first time I drew Kid's „signature“ we've grown so accustomed to. You can also tell from the name of one of the persons appearing that I really loved „Furuhata Ninzaburō“ back then - a japanese police detective drama.

Aoyama Kid ♥

Volume 4

Hello, it's me, Aoyama.

Since Magic Kaito is being republished I allow myself to show my memories about the past without further delay. (grin)

Crystal Mother

This is the Kaito-train story I always wanted to draw! Including some allusions to "Lupin III" or "Sherlock Holmes" it became a story during which I could live it up... (grin) Snake, who got severely hurt in the tunnel returns in the following chapter completely unharmed. That's what I call "tough“! (Ha, ha!)

Red Tear

Back when this story was published the first time, the thre first pages were in color! In fact, this created a mystery: „The gem on page 1 is blue, but the one on the cover page is red... Why oh why?“ Great that we can revive this mystery in all its glory! (grin) By the way, the closing scene in which all the photos containing the fondest memories are projected against the wall is an homage to the closing scene of the movie „Cinema Paradiso“. ♪ I used this highlight again in „Detective Conan – The Last Wizard of the Century“. (grin)

Black Star

The first confrontation with the one and only Shinichi Kudo! In this story, Kaito says: „The inspector couldn't catch him even if he used a satellite system!“ But really, it's kind of surprising that he hasn't caught him before, isn't it?! (grin) Shinichi is firing a pistol? Akako wants to use magic to get rid of Shinichi? Little Kaito is flirting with Aoko? What a crazy story! (grin) Well, the scene in which Akako uses her magic powers was cut from TV syndication, but it was restored for the DVD, so everyone who wants to watch it, can do so now. ♥ Oh yeah, the title „Black Star“! I believe there are some readers who ask themselves why this gemstone served as the namesake of the story even though it's just mentioned in passing at the end. That's because Kaitou Kid himself is the "Black Star" after all ★ – hence the title! ♪

Golden Eye

The first duel of the phantoms! (... maybe.) Catherine Zeta-Jones was the model for the character Ruby Jones. ♥ Well, they don't look very much alike... (Ha, ha!) In this story it's made clear that Kaito was born in June and Aoko in September! Exactly... Kaitou Kid may be a thief, but he is also a magician, so it really delighted me to slip in the name of the grandiose real-life magician Harry Houdini. (grin) There are a lot of tricky moments that show how much Detective Conan "poisoned" this story... (Ha, ha!)

Dark Knights

The mask Nightmare is wearing is based on one I bought during a vacation in Spain, because I really liked it. It now hangs at the wall of my living room. (Ha, ha!) Again, in this story is a lot to analyze and moreover, it ends in a thought-provoking, grim mood, which isn't very typical for „Magic Kaito“. On the other hand, this isn't bad either, isn't it? Superintendent Chaki, an old acquaintance from Detective Conan, had his origin in this story. Further on, Hakuba's nanny „Baaya“ has her very first appearance in here! Actually, it's said that there is another nanny for him who has a more docile personality, but that's a different story altogether... (He, he...)

Phantom Lady (Preannouncement)

This story revolves around how the original Kaitou Kid obtained a wonderfully beautiful jewel for the first time. ♥ It will be the first in Volume 5... I wonder when it will be released? (grin)

Otona Fami Interview #3 (MIXED IN RAW)

オトナファミ6月号 (Otona Fami or Adult Family June issue), published April 20, 2011
RAW IMAGES: http://imgur.com/a/m7Qen
Proof of Origin: http://www.famitsu.com/blog/otona/2011/04/post_687.html
Included with a section called "Detective Conan Best Episode File 50"
(Alternate translation found here)
Below Translated by: justwananaccount

  Show spoilers »

I'm guessing at the pronounciation of some names, so it might not be entirely accurate. ^^; Also, some characters were so fuzzy that I couldn't make it out – in that case I left a ? in the Japanese text and got the translation from the Chinese translation. As before, let me know if I've mistranslated or I've taken too much liberty in the English or something.

青山剛昌インタビュー
Aoyama Gosho Interview
四半世紀に亘り、少年漫画を描き続けてきた青山剛昌。’８６年の漫画家デビューから「マジック快斗」、「YAIBA」、そして「名探偵コナン」の今とこれからを語る。
Aoyama Gosho has continued drawing shounen manga for a quarter of a century. Debuted as a manga artist in '86, he will discuss Magic Kaito, YAIBA, Detective Conan, and future plans.

Profile
１９６３年、鳥取県生まれ。’８６年、「ちょっとまってて」でデビュー。 「YAIBA」,「名探偵コナン」はそれぞれ小学館漫画賞の？？部門と少年部門を受賞。
Born in Tottori prefecture in 1963. Debuted in '86 with Wait a Minute. YAIBA and Detective Conan won Shougakukan Manga Award in Youth (I got this from the Chinese translation, I can't read the Japanese 'cause it's so fuzzy) and Shounen Divisions, respectively.

Q：先生は小さな頃、どんな少年だったのでしょうか？
What kind of boy was sensei like during childhood?
A：少年探偵団みたいに友達と探偵遊びをよくしました。僕はコナンというより、光彦タイプ。調達や場所探しをするポジションで、実家の自動車整備工場の廃車置場を秘密基地にしていました。
Like the Detective Boys, I played detective with friends. I was more of a Mitsuhiko-type than a Conan-type. I was in a position to search provisions and places, with my family's car maintenance factory's scrap yard as the secret base.

Q：その頃から漫画は好きでしたか？
Did you like manga from that time?
A：そうですね。ニャロメの絵ばかり描いてました。初めて買った漫画は、大好きなちばてつや先生の「おれは鉄平」(should be 鉄兵, seems that the magazine has a misprint)。鉄平が好きで剣道部に入りましたね。でも、親が「漫画なんて読んでも、ロクな人間にならない」という考えの厳しい人で、中学高校時代はこっそり隠れて読んでました。
Yes. I kept drawing pictures of Nyarome. The first manga I bought was my favorite artist, Chiba Tetsuya sensei's I am Teppei. I entered the kendo club because I liked Teppei so much. But, my parents held harsh beliefs like “Those who read manga don't become a worthy human being,” so I read secretly during my middle and high school years.

Q：漫画家への道を歩み始めたのは？
When did you start walking down the path of a manga artist?
A：親に反対されていたので、高校の頃には漫画家の夢は諦めかけていました。そのかわり、絵の先生になろうと思って日大芸術学部に入学したんです。するとそこには、田舎の高校にはなかった漫研が（笑）。そこのOBに漫画家の阿部ゆたかさん（「くまちゃんのクリスマス」、「名探偵コナン特別編」ほか）がいたんです。阿部さんの仕事場にアシスタントに行って、「お前本格的に漫画描いてみないか？」と言われたのがきっかけです。
I was opposed by my parents, so I almost gave up my dream of becoming a manga artist during high school. Instead, I entered Nihon University College of Art to become an art teacher. There, manga research (?) existed, which didn't exist in my countryside high school (laughs). An alumni manga artist, Abu Yukata-san (Bear-chan's Christmas, Detective Conan Special Edition, etc.) was there. I went to be an assistant at Abu-san's work place, and he said, “Do you want to draw manga for real”? That's where it started.

Q：ちなみに大学の専攻は？
Just wondering, what was your major at your university?
A：美術学科の絵描コースです。「コナン」の巻末の名探偵図鑑はタッチが違うでしょ？今でも描けるんですよ。当時は絵を描くバイトもしていました。フジテレビの「ポンキッキ」の背景や、東京ディズニーランドの、”カリブの海賊”の背景も描きました。海賊が町を荒らしているバックのレンガ。命縄をつけられて、一枚の写真を渡されてこのとうりに描けって。給料も良かったのでがんばりました（笑）。その絵はもうないですけど。教職も取りましたよ。地元の高校に、美術の教育実習に行って。親も僕は先生になると思っていたので、突然、漫画家になると言ったら案の定反対されましたね。親父からは「わしの友達には、今にも動き出しそうなカニを描けるやつがいる。でもそいつは全然食えてない。それでもお前は漫画家になるのか？」って（笑）。でも、「もう大人だから勝手にやる」と宣言して、出版社に作品を持ち込んでみたんです。
The Fine Arts Department's artist course. The touch in Conan's end-of-the-volume Illustrated Guide to Famous Detective is different, isn't it? I can still draw. I also used to draw for part time jobs. I drew the background for Fuji TV's Ponkikki, and for Tokyo Disneyland's Pirates of the Carribean*. I drew on the brick wall behind the town that the pirates are vandalizing (I think . . . I'm not completely sure). I was put on a life line, and they gave me a picture and told me to draw just like it. The pay was good, so I did my best (laughs). That picture doesn't exist anymore, though. I also took up a teaching job. At my hometown's high school, I even went to art education training. My parents thought I was going to become a teacher, so when I suddenly said I was going to be a manga artist, they stubbornly opposed me like I expected. My old man said, “I had a friend who can draw a crab that looks like it's about to start moving. But that person can't eat, at all. Do you still want to be a manga artist?” (laughs) Still, [he? I?] declared “[I'm? You're?] an adult already, do whatever [I? you?] like,” and I brought in a work to a publisher.

• I know the timeline doesn't make sense, but I typed in カリブの海賊 into Google and that's what I got. :\
  

Q：最初は週刊少年マガジンに持ち込まれたんですよね。
You first submitted to Weekly Shonen Magazine, right?
A：はい、マガジンでは「さりげなくルパン」（「マジック快斗」の原型）で佳作を獲りました。でも、後にマガジンの編集長になった野内さんに「君の絵はマガジンに向いていない」と言われ、今度は週刊少年サンデーへ。そこで描いた投稿3作目の「ちょっとまってて」（SFラブコメ）が、’86年の小学館新人コミック大賞の入選を受賞。デビューへこぎ着けました。
Yes, I performed well with Nonchalantly Lupin (Magic Kaito's prototype) at Magazine. However, Nouchi-san, who later became Magazine's head editor, told me, “Your art doesn't suit Magazine,” so I headed for Weekly Shonen Sunday next. There, I won Shougakukan Newcomer Comic Award with my third contributed work Wait a Minute (SF love comedy) in '86. I finally managed to debut.

Q：翌年には初連載作「まじっく快斗」がスタート。順調ですね。
Magic Kaito, your first serial work, started the following year. Things are going favorably.
A：大学の同級生や後輩にアシスタントをしてもらっているんですが、初めて原稿料をいただいたときにみんなで寿司屋に行ってお祝いしました。自分をプロとして実感できたのは単行本の1巻が出たとき。うれしくっておまけ漫画をつけたりして、めちゃめちゃ？りました。そんな初連載作が今も続いていますからね（笑）。もうライフワークです。また夏ごろに新作を描きますよ。快斗の母・怪盗淑女（ファントム・レディ）の話・・・になる予定。でも、最初は編集さんにけちょんけちょんに言われたんです。トリックやラブコメの部分が大人や女の子にはウケるけど、少年にはウケないと。「ニャロー！」と思って描いたのが、「YAIBA」。でも、今度は少年にしかウケなかった（笑）。
Though my university classmates and lowerclassmen were assisting me, when contribution fees were paid for the first time, we all went to a sushi restaurant to celebrate. I felt like a pro when the first volume came out. I was so happy, I added extra manga. That first serial work still continues, even now (laughs). It's a life work now. I'm going to put out a new work in the summer. It'll be about Kaito's mother, Phantom Lady . . . or it's planned to be. Although, editor[s] really complained to me at first. The parts about tricks and love comedy is popular with adults and girls, but not with boys, [they/he/she] said. With Yaiba, I thought “you” while drawing it. But this time, only boys liked it (laughs).

Q：「YAIBA」の思い出を是非。
Please, tell us memories of YAIBA.
A：当時は初めての週刊連載でなりふり構わずやってましたからね。無我夢中ですよ。刀の雷神剣の中にいろんな玉を入れて強くなっていくというのは、RPGのアイテムを集めて強くなるイメージで描いていたので、そこがウケてもらえて良かったです。でも、逆に子供っぽくしすぎちゃって失敗したとも思いますね。終盤のヤマタノオロチ編は気に入ってます。うまく描けたなと思うんですが、オロチ編はアニメになっていない（笑）。今のクオリティでアニメ化してほしいですね。
At the time, it was the first weekly series so I did stuff without care. I was completely absorbed in it. The idea of putting in jewels into the sword Raijinken (Sword of Thunder God) to make it stronger came from RPG, with the image of collecting items to become stronger – I'm glad that part was received well. Although, I think I failed because the work became too childish, in contrast [to Magic Kaito]. I like the final stage, the Yamatanoorochi (a Japanese mythical monster with eight heads and eight tails) arc. I thought I drew well, but the arc hasn't been animated (laughs). I wish that it will be animated, with current quality.

Q：「YAIBA」の次はついに「名探偵コナン」ですが、どんな雰囲気をイメージして作られたんでしょうか？
After YAIBA is finally Detective Conan, what atmosphere did you imagine to make it?
A：「三毛猫ホームズ」です。猫がわかるわけないのに、証拠品に触ったりして事件が解決していく。コナンも一緒。子供がわかるわけないのに、「あれれ～？」とか言って。コナンは三毛猫ホームズが喋っているイメージです。
Calico Cat Holmes. Though a cat shouldn't understand, it touches around evidence and such and the case gets solved. Same thing with Conan. Though a child shouldn't understand, he says things like “arere~?” I imagine Conan to be Calico Cat Holmes talking.

Q：最初はどのくらい続く予定で？
How long did you plan on continuing it at first?
A：こんなに長い連載になるとは思ってなかったですよ。最初の1巻で終わるかなと。コナンっていう名前も、編集長からアニメの「未来少年コナン」（宮崎駿監督作品）があるから、「名探偵ドイル」にしろって言われたんですが、「『未来少年』を超えてやるから！」って通しました。なのに新連載の告知記事のタイトルが「探偵少年コナン」になってて、いやいや、それはまずいだろうと（笑）。でも、10年くらい前にジブリの方に「今、コナンと言えば命探偵のほうですよね」と言われまして、「やった！」と思いましたね。
I never thought the serialization would be so long. I thought it would end with the first volume. The head editor said that since there is the anime, Future Boy Conan (directed by Miyazaki Hayao), I should change the title to “Detective Doyle,” but I persuaded him/her by saying, “I'll surpass Future Boy Conan!” But the new serialization notification article listed the title as “Detective Boy Conan”, and I thought, that's not good (laughs). However, about ten years ago, a person from Studio Ghibli told me, “Conan means the detective now, doesn't it?” and I thought, “Yes!”

Q：「コナン」の好きなエピソードベスト5を教えてください。
Tell me your Top 5 episodes.
A：一番は「揺れる警視庁1200万人の人質」（本記事＃28）です。読者人気も一番ですね。あとはなんだろう？アニメで2時間半スペシャルだった「黒の組織と真っ向勝負満月の夜の二元ミステリー」（本記事＃35）かな。平次が初登場する「外交官殺人事件」（本記事＃10）は、新一の「そいつはちがうな・・・」って言う見開きのシーンが、演出的にうまくいったかなと思います。「真実はいつも・・・たった一つしかねーんだからな・・・」って台詞もお気に入り。アニメの台詞で「真実はいつもひとつ！」ってあるじゃないですか。あれはアニメの脚本者が書いたんですが、僕が書いたのと同時期だったんです。偶然一緒で驚きました。「なぞめいた乗客」（本記事＃24）も好きかな。コナンの「逃げるなよ灰原・・・自分の運命から・・・逃げるんじゃねーぞ・・・」って台詞が印象に残ってます。新一は台詞に気を使いますね。あと、最初の「ホームズの黙示録」（本記事＃50）。コナンの憧れの地でしたから力が入りました。現場取材もして。

1. 1 would be “Shaken Police Headquarters: 12 Million Hostages” (FILE 369-373). What else? I guess “Head to Head with the Black Organization: Full Moon Night's Dual Mystery” (FILE 429-434), which ran as a two-and-a-half-hour special in the anime. Ïn “The Case of the Murdered Diplomat” (FILE 92-96), where Heiji first makes an appearance, I liked Shinichi's eye-opening scene, where he said, “That's not right . . .” - I thought it went well, performance-wise. I also like the line, “There is . . . only one truth . . . don't you see?” In the anime, they say, “One truth remains!”, right? The anime's writer came up with this line, but I also came up with this line at the same time. I was surprised by the coincidence. “The Mysterious Passenger” (FILE 287-289) is a favorite, too. Conan's “Don't run away, Haibara . . . Don't run away . . . from your own destiny . . .” remains impressed in my memory. Shinichi picks his lines carefully, doesn't he? I'd also like to add “Following Holmes” (FILE 743-752). Since it was Conan's admired place, I put in some effort. I did some site research for it, too.
   

Q：’03年のインタビューでは、次はロンドン編と仰られていましたね。
You said that the next arc would be the London arc in the '03 interview, didn't you?
A：そうか、だいぶ時間かかったね。描いてみてやっぱり英語に苦労しました。ウィンブルドンを舞台するのは最初から決めていて、ミネルバ・グラスはテニス選手のシュテフィ・グラスがモデルです。コナンが観客席からグラスに「ボクが助けてあげるよ！！」って言うシーンがありますが、あれは’96年のウィンブルドンのエピソードを基にしてます。グラフと伊達公子準決勝、流れを変えるためだかでファンが「シュテフィ！僕と結婚して！」って言ったんです。それに、グラフは「お金いくら持ってるの？」ってジョークで返したんですよ（笑）。
Wow, some time has passed since then, hasn't it? I tried drawing it, and I definitely struggled with the English. I decided from the beginning to feature Wimbledon, and I modeled Minerva Glass with the tennis player, Steffi Graf. The scene where conan says “I'll help you out!!” to Glass from the audience is based on an episode in Wimbledon in '96. During the semifinal between Graf and Date Kimiko, a fan said “Steffi, will you marry me?”, maybe to change the flow [of the game]. Then, Graf replied jokingly, “How much money do you have?” (laughs)

Q：ロンドン取材はいかがでしたか？
How was the research in London?
A：作中に登場する場所は取材に行って撮ったところばかりです。コナンが新一に戻った電話ボックスも、ビッグ・ベンの橋を渡った先にあります。”恐怖の谷”と漫画で描いた排水溝もちゃんとありますよ。泊まったホテルもそのまま。行けなかったところはグーグルマップで調べました。あ、じゃあ取材しなくても描けたかも？（笑）
The places that show up in the manga mostly consist of places I took pictures of during the research. The telephone box where Conan turned back to Shinichi really was at the end of crossing the Big Ben bridge. The gutter with “Valley of Fear” written across the top in the manga exists, too. I drew the hotel I stayed at as it was. For places I couldn't go, I investigated with Google Map. Maybe I could have drawn without the site research? (laughs)

Q：エピソードのラスト（72巻収録6月発売予定）には新一と蘭の念願のシーンがありましたね。
The end of that arc (Volume 72 planned to be sold in June) contained the much-awaited-for scene between Shinichi and Ran, didn't it?
A：あれは反撃？が大きかったですね。恋愛に苦手なホームズに絡めようと思ったり、「厄介な難事件」ってう台詞も前から決めていて。計算通りです。
The reaction was huge for that scene. I thought about tying in the fact that Holmes is weak in romance, and the “A bothersome, difficult case” line was decided before. Things went as planned.

Q：ラブコメと組織の戦い、それぞれのエピソードを描くタイミングには、ルールや周期があるのでしょうか？
Is there a rule or a cycle behind deciding the timing for love-comedy and Black Organization episodes?
A：そろそろかなって言う勘ですね（笑）。ファンレターが結構影響あるかもしれない。「新一と蘭の子供時代が読みたいです！」、「そろそろ組織編描いてください！」とか。組織は読者からの期待も高いです。ただ、普通のフィールドとちがって、ハードボイルドに描かなければならないのでなかなか大変。でもハードボイルドは好きです。
I decide when I feel it's time (laughs). Maybe fan letters have a pretty significant influence. I get stuff like “I want to read about Shinichi and Ran's childhood!” or “Please draw the BO arc soon!” The readers expectations for the BO arc is high. It's just, unlike normal fields, I have to draw hard core so it's quite a lot of work. But I like hard core things.

Q：描いて楽しいキャラは？
Which character is fun to draw?
A：灰原かな。初登場時から人気もありますね。自分が思ったとおりのことをやってくれて、言いたいことを代弁してくれるキャラです。公式HPの”コナン通信社”で僕のコメントを灰原に言わせてるのも、そんな理由です。
Haibara, perhaps. She's popular since her appearance, isn't she? She does exactly what I want her to do, and I can say what I want to say though her. This is pretty much the reason why I have Haibara say my comments at the official homepage, Conan News Agency.

Q：読者人気の高いキャラは？
Which character is popular among the readers?
A：今は最近登場した世良真純。どうやらぶっちぎりらしいです。名前もまあ、わかる人にはわかっちゃうんだけどね。こんなに「ガンダム」でいいのかなって（笑）。ある大物キャラの妹のかも・・・（笑）。アニメの声優さんも今から楽しみです。
Sera Masumi, the new character. It seems that she's winning by an landslide. The name seems to be understood by people who understands. Is it good to have so much Gundam? (laughs) Maybe she's the sister of a major character . . . (laughs). I'm excited to see who the voice actor will be.

Q：高木刑事と佐藤刑事の恋愛も、今後の動向が気になります。
I also wonder about the direction of Detective Takagi and Detective Satou's romance.
A：高木と佐藤は結婚式も描く予定です。本当は去年の映画のときに怪盗キッドと絡めて結婚しきしてやろうと思ってたんですが、映画でやっちゃうと、原作でできなくなるのでとめました。
I plan on drawing Takagi and Satou's marriage ceremony. The thing is, during last year's movie, I thought about getting them married with a Kid plot involved, but if it's done in a movie, then I can't do it in the manga, so I decided against the idea.

Q：「コナン」は学年読の漫画・アニメ・映画・実写ドラマと、メディアミックスも幅広く展開されています。どんな形でプロデュースを？
Conan has expanded broadly into student-read manga, anime, movies, live action drama, and media franchise. How do you produce them?
A：主に映画の脚本と原画に携わっています。ほかのメディアはだいたいお任せにしてますね。
I'm mainly involved in the movie script and the original pictures. I entrust the other media in others.

Q：最新映画「名探偵コナン沈黙の15分（クォーター）」には、どう関わられたんでしょうか？
How were you involved in the newest movie, Detective Conan: Quarter of Silence?
A：15という数字をテーマにしたことに関しては、映画15周年ということで僕とスタッフの総意です。舞台の雪山は僕から提案しました。雪崩に埋まって、助かるまでのリミットが15分だったのでちょうどいいかなと。
About making the number '15' the theme, this was a consensus among the staff and myself to celebrate the 15th year of films. Having the stage be set on a snowy mountain was my idea. I thought that getting buried in an avalanche with a rescue time limit of 15 minutes would be just right.

Q：今作の見どころは？
What are the scenes to watch for in this film?
A：最初のトンネルのスケボーシーンですね。あれかっこよかったでしょ？あと、僕が原画を描いた「言葉は刃物。使い方を間違えると、凶器になる。」ってコナンが言うシーン。原作でも一回使った台詞で気に入ってます。雪崩に飲み込まれるシーンの、コナンと蘭がすれ違うときに現れる新一の願も僕が原画を担当しました。
The skateboard in a tunnel scene at the beginning. Wasn't it cool? Also, the scene where Conan says, “Words are knives. When used wrong, they become weapons.” (I drew the original picture for this). I also used this line in the manga once, I like it. I also was in charge of the original picture of the scene where Shinichi's prayer(?) appears when Conan and Ran miss each other in the avalanche

Q：歴代の映画版で先生のオススメは？
What is your recommended film so far?
A：5作目の「天国へのカウントダウン」ですね。いろんなことがうまく歯み合った自信作です。僕の弟もこれが一番好きだといっていました。弟は医者でアニメオタクなんですよ（笑）。よく相談に乗ってもらっています。死亡推定時期とか、死亡要因とかね。まさに生きる医学書、超便利！声優にも詳しいので、「灰原役の声優さんは林原さんがいいぞ！」って電話が来たり。「あれじゃ人気にあぐらかいてる」なんてダメだしされたりもします（笑）。
The fifth film, Countdown to Heaven. Many things fit just right in that work, I'm proud of it. My little brother says he also likes this film the best. My little brother is a medical doctor who's also an anime otaku (laughs). I often consults with him. About the estimated time of death, the cause of death and such. A living medical book, super convenient! He's also knows about voice actors very well, so he calls and says things like, “Hayashibara-san would be great as Haibara's voice actor!” He also points out my faults, like “You're getting conceited with popularity” (laughs).

Q：「コナン」は連載開始から17年、既刊71巻の長編となりましたが、長期連載を続けるコツはありますか？
Conan has become a long series that has continued for 17 years since the beginning of serialization, with 71 volumes published – any tips on continuing a long serialization?
A：ないですね。逆に、新しい事件を描くときはいつもこれが最後という気持ちでかかります。でも進んでるうちに次の話が始まるという。
No tips. On the contrary, when I draw a new case, I always draw with the feeling that this will be the last. Though when advancing forward the next story begins.

Q：長期連載で辛いと感じたことは？
What felt tough from the long serialization?
A：昔書いた伏線を忘れてしまうところ（笑）。ベルモットの伏線を明かした時はすごく大変でした（本記事＃35）。あれもこれも入れなきゃみたいな感じで。前に複線をすべてメモした紙をアニメのスタッフに渡したんだけど、返してほしい（笑）。それを見れば、”あの方”の正体がわかるかも？
When I forget about the foreshadows I wrote a long time ago (laughs). It was a lot of work when I clarified Vermouth's foreshadows. I felt like I needed to include everything. I noted down all the foreshadows on a paper before and I handed it to the anime staff – I wish they'd return it (laughs). Maybe anokata's identity will be understood if the paper is seen?

Q：’08年の本誌インタビューで、次の山場はバーボンと仰っていましたね。
In the '08 interview with this magazine, you said that the next arc will be about Bourbon.
A：バーボン編はまだ続きますよ。それとは別の山場に世良と灰原の対決を考えてあります。これは見事ですよ。どちらも”オオカミ”ですからね（笑）。
The Bourbon arc is still continuing. Aside from that arc, I've thought about a confrontation between Sera and Haibara. This will be spectacular. Both of them are “wolves,” after all (laughs).

Q：楽しみです！内容は決まっていると仰っていた最後回はいつごろに？
I'm excited to see it! When do you think you can write the last episode that you said you decided the contents of?
A：それはわからないですね。でも「こち亀」の巻数は越えないと思います（笑）。台詞はもう決まってます。ラストはハッピーエンドですよ。だって僕の作品なんだからね。
I don't know. But I don't think I'll exceed KochiKame in volume number (laughs). I've already decided the lines. The ending will be a happy one. This is my work, after all.

Q：20年以上週刊連載をされていますが、1週間どんなサイクルで描かれていらっしゃるのでしょうか？
You've done weekly serializations for 20 years, what does the one week cycle look like?
A：ネームに2日半～3日、画に4日～4日半くらい。1週間使い切ってる（笑）。トリック考える時間ないですよ。だから、どんどんずれていっちゃって。たまに休載させていただいてるんですが、全然休んでいないんです。だって、原作に加え映画の打ち合わせして原画も描いてるんだもん（笑）。だから、締め切りギリギリになっても、誰も文句言わないんです。原稿落としたことは1回もないですよ。1回落とすと、ずっと落としちゃいそうで。
Two and a half to three days on the pre-manuscript, four to four and a half days on the drawing. The week is used up (laughs). I don't have the time to think of tricks. That's why things keep getting off. They let me take a break from time to time, but I don't rest at all. Because, on top of the manga, I have to make arrangements with the movie staff to draw the original pictures (laughs). That's why, when I turn in things at the last minute, no one complains. I've never failed to turn in my work, not once. I feel like I'll stop turning in work if I fail once.

Q：休暇が取れたらやりたいことは？
What do you want to do if you managed to take a break?
A：ねる。ひたすら寝る。ちょっと起きて、映画見て、また寝る（笑）。それが夢の生活ですね。あとはホテル住まいをしてみたいなぁ・・・。
Sleep. Do nothing but sleep. Wake up a little, watch a movie, sleep again ( laughs). That would be my ideal life. Hotel living sounds nice, too . . .

Q：ご実家に帰られることは？
Do you return home?
A：毎年正月だけ帰ってます。色紙を持って、サインしてくれってファンがきてくれるから。さらに、親が1年間溜めたサイン色紙を持ってきます（笑）。コピーしたやつを200枚と普通の色紙が20枚くらい。でもまあ、田舎に帰ると何もないから、絵が描きたくなってきます。
Just on New Years every year. Since there are fans who bring shikishi's (in Japan, fans get signatures on papers called shikishi) and ask for signatures. On top of that, my parents save up one year's worth of shikishi's (laughs). Two hundred of them are copies, about twenty are the normal shikishi's. Still, when I return to the country nothing happens, so I start wanting to draw pictures.

Q：やはりお仕事がお好きなんですね。
As I thought, you like to work, don't you?
A：そうなのかな？そういえば観るドラマも刑事者とかばかりですね。最近はテレビの新番組を全部録画して、ミステリーや刑事もの以外は全部削除しています。下書き中に流しています。会話劇なら、作業中でも内容がわかりますからね。最近では「SPEC」を観ました。超能力者が出てくるのに、ちゃんとミステリーを成立させている。終盤で、当麻（戸田恵梨香）が一（神木隆之介）との頭脳戦に勝って「あたしの勝ちだ！」って言ったところがかっこよかった！戸田さんが10代だったら、実写「コナン」の蘭役をやってもらいたかったですね（笑）。
You think? Now that I think about it, the dramas that I watch are all about police detectives. These days, all the new shows are recorded, and shows that aren't mysteries or about police detectives are eliminated. I play them when drafting. With dramas, you can understand the contents even while working. Recently, I've watched SPEC. Even though ESP people appear, the mystery is set up properly. In the last episode, I thought that when Touma (Toda Erika) said “I won!” (when she won the intellect battle against Ninomae (Kamiki Ryuunosuke)), she was really cool. If Toda-san was in her teens, I would have liked her to play Ran in the live action Conan drama (laughs).

Q：今年の元旦には「泥棒」に鑑識役で出演されましたね。
You've played the role of a police crime lab staff in Thief during this year's New Years.
A：水谷豊さんとも相談させていただいて、念願叶いました。すごくいい人で、右京さんそのものでした。
I was also kindly allowed to consult with Mizutani Yutaka-san, my wish came true. He was a truly good person, he was just like Ukyou-san!

Q：ドラマの脚本などに興味は？
Do you have an interest in scripts for dramas?
A：隠居したらやってもいいかも。でも、僕は絵を描かなくちゃだめっていわれるんじゃない？（笑）
After I retire, maybe. But I think I'll be told that I should draw instead (laughs).

Q：先生が漫画を描く上で大事なさっていることは？
When sensei draws manga, what do you value?
A：男の子はかっこよく、女の子は可愛くですね。最近は蘭や世良などの女の子もかっこよくなってきちゃいましたけどね（笑）。
To draw cool boys and cute girls. Though Ran and Sera and such girls are becoming cooler these days (laughs).

Q：今年で画業25周年を迎えられましたが、どんな四半世紀でしたか？
This year marks the 25th anniversary of your job; how would you describe this past quarter century?
A：半分くらい「コナン」ですからね。人生返せって感じですよ（笑）。始めたときは29歳だったのに。あっという間でした。自分の中では4年くらいしか経っていない感覚です。
Half of it was Conan. I feel like I want to demand my life back (laughs). I was 29 when I started. Time passed by, really fast. I feel like it's only been four years.

Q：何歳まで現役でいたいですか？
Until what age do you want to stay active?
A：まあできる限り。阿笠博士の年（53歳）までには隠居したいな、とも思いますけど、隠居したらまた漫画描きたくなるんじゃないかって。最初からずっと一緒にやってるアシスタントたちも年を取ってますから大変です。でもチャップリンみたいに「代表作は次回作」って言っときます！
As long as I can. I want to retire when I reach Agasa's age (53), I think, but once I retire I think I'll start wanting to draw manga again. The assistants who've been with me since the beginning are aging, too – there's a lot of trouble. But, just like Chaplin, I'll keep saying “My best work is my next work”!

Q：次回作といえば、’08年の本誌インタビューで仰られていた「西遊記」はいかがでしょうか？
Speaking of your next work, what about the Journey to the West that you mentioned in your interview with this mazagine in '08?
A：「西遊記」は描きたい！悟空のキャラデザインはできていて、読みきりをサンデーに乗せる予定はあったんですが、昔の中国の背景を描くのが大変だからもう無理かな。たぶん描かないから言いますけど、超面白いですよ（笑）。
I want to draw Journey to the West! I've finished the character design for Goku, and there was a plan to publish a one-shot on Sunday, but drawing ancient Chinese backgrounds is quite troublesome so maybe not. I'll say this since I don't think I'll keep drawing, but it's quite interesting (laughs).

Q：描いてください！！では、読者に向けてメッセージをお願いします。
Please do draw! Finally, please leave a message for the readers.
A：長い間、青山剛昌ワールドに付き合ってくれてありがとうございます。そしてこれからもよろしく。「さぁ、次の事件です」ってね（笑）。
Thank you kindly for putting up with Aoyama Gosho's world for a long time. And I hope we'll get along in the future. “Let's get to the next case!” (laughs)

EDIT: Fixed 'Three-Haired cat' to 'Calico cat' - my bad, ha ha.

Otona Fami Interview #4 (MIXED IN RAW)

オトナファミ6月号 (Otona Fami or Adult Family June issue), published April 2012
Translated by: justwantanaccount

  Show spoilers »

Ｑ: いつ顷から、どういうきっかけでサッカーを好きになったか。
Q: Since when and how did you come to like soccer?
⇒好きになったのは“ドーハの悲剧”（1993年に开催された日本代表とイラク代表のサッカーの国际试合）の顷から。コナンが始まる前。日本中ががっかりした试合だったけど…顽张れって気持ちにもなった、あの顷からサッカーは好きですね。
A: I liked soccer since the Agony of Doha (the international soccer match between Japanese and Iraqi representative opened in 1993). This is before Conan started. Although this was a match that let down Japan, I also felt like cheering (Japan). I've liked soccer from that time, yes.

Ｑ. ロベルト・バッジョ选手（イタリアの至宝と呼ばれた选手）が好きだと闻いたが、他に好きな选手は？
Q. I heard that you like Roberto Baggio (footballer who was called Italy's treasure), but who else do you like?
⇒确かにバッジョ选手は好き。他にはＣＳＫＡモスクワで活跃している本田圭佑选手もいい。喋りがかっこいいし、面白い。昔だとヒデ。コナンにもヒデがいるが、コナンの方のヒデ（赤木英雄）の方が先に出ている（笑）
A. Yes, I do like Baggio. As for other players, I also like Keisuke Honda, who is active in CSKA Moscow. His way of speaking is cool, and (his speaking? he?) is interesting. In old times, (my favorite was) Hide. Although there's another Hide in Conan, Conan's Hide (Hideo Akagi) appeared first (laughs).

Ｑ. 今回、剧场版シリーズとして“サッカー”を题材するに至って、先生のこだわりとは？
Q. What is sensei's fixation when researching about soccer for this year's film series?
⇒やっぱり前回のワールドカップ南アフリカ大会での远藤选手のフリーキック、凄かった。远藤选手のあの时のフリーキックは凄いカーブで、弧を描きゴールネットに…これをコナンに蹴らせたい!!と思った。その思い入れは込められたかな(笑)。本田の无回転シュートもいいんだけど…今回の作品的に无回転だと无理かなと思って(何で无理かは剧场で确认してくださいね）。
A. Endou's free kick in World Cup South Africa was amazing. Endou's free kick at that time had an amazing curve, drawing an arc toward the goal net . . . I thought, I want to make Conan kick this!!. Maybe this wish was included (laughs). Honda's knuckle shot was amazing, too . . . but I thought that knuckle shots would be impossible this time, product-wise (to understand why, please confirm at the movie theater).

Ｑ. コナンのリフティングについて。
Q. About Conan's (soccer ball) juggling . . .
⇒１巻ぐらいにしか出て来ないんだけど…コナンが推理するときに、リフティングをしてたら面白いなぁと思ったんだけど、リフティングのシーンを描くと、意外とコマをくっちゃうんだよね(笑)。だから１回しかやってない。だから今回はせっかくだし…コナンにリフティングを思う存分、やらせてみた（笑）。
A. This appeared only around the first volume . . . I thought that it would be interesting if Conan was juggling (a soccer ball) while deducing, but the juggling scenes, when drawn, eat up the panel, contrary to expectations (laughs). That's why I only did it once. That's why I had Conan juggle to his heart's content, given the opportunity (laughs).

Ｑ. 现役の选手の方々に声优を実际にして戴きましたが、どうでしたか？
Q. You had actual soccer players voice acting. How was it?
⇒みなさん、顽张って戴いてよかった。カズさん(三浦知良选手)は、とても自然な感じだったし。
A. Everybody did their best for us, it was great. Kazu-san (Kazuyoshi Miura) was a natural, too.

Ｑ. 作品中に出てくる东京スピリッツ、ビッグ大阪のユニフォームのデザインは、どこかのチームのユニフォームからインスピレーションはあったか？
Q. Did you get inspiration from some team for your work's Tokyo Spirits' and Big Osaka's uniforms?
⇒东京スピリッツはイタリア、セリエＡ“ユベントス”。昔、ロベルト・バッジョがいた、あのチーム。ビッグ大阪は特にないんだけど…あえて言うなら、昔の浦和レッズ、鹿岛アントラーズの襟部分などを参考にしたかな。
A. Tokyo Spirits' is from Italy's Serie A Juventus F.C.. The team Baggio was a part of a long time ago. There's no specific (inspiration) for Big Osaka . . . but if you insist, I may have consulted Urawa Red Diamonds', Kashima Antlers' collar.

Ｑ. 今回の构想期间はどれくらい？
Q. How lond was the planning process this time?
⇒大体２年前から始めた。それくらい始めないと间に合わない。
A. We started about two years ago. We can't finish on time if we don't start around there.

Ｑ. 作品を描く时、どうしているか？
Q. When drawing your work, what do you do?
⇒音楽がかかっていると集中できない、だから无音。たまに気分展开したい时に音楽をかけたり、気晴らしに映画を観たりしている。集中して考える时は绝対に音はない。逆に絵を描くときは、音楽をかける。昔は、大滝咏一さんとかブルーハーツ。ブルーハーツは“1000のバイオリン”という曲が大好き。がっかりすることがあると、この曲を聴く。大体オレの头の中って、この曲の歌词みたい。ブルーハーツはコナンの最初の主题歌だし。あとはアニメを流したりもする。例えば、“ちはやぶる”は超おもしろくてあれはいい。このアニメを流しながら、コナンの杀人シーンを描いたりした(笑)。
A. I can't focus when music is playing, so no music. I play music to improve my mood, or play movies to brighten my mood. When I'm thinking with focus, there is never any sound. In the old days, (I played) Eiichi Otaki, Blue Hearts, etc.

Ｑ. 今回のようにサッカーという要素の中に、事件・推理・爆破などの要素を入れて、１つの作品として完成させるのは大変だったと思うが、どうだったか？
Q. It must have been a lot of work to include elements of soccer, incident, deduction, explotion and finish them as one product. How was it?
⇒大変だった。漫画の原作でサッカースタジアムで犯人が狙撃して、コナンが阻止するというのをやってしまったので、狙撃はもうできないし(笑)。狙撃できないなら爆発しかないよね(笑)。
It was a lot of work. (I) already did (a case) in the manga where the culprit is sniping, and where Conan stops him, so (we) couldn't do sniping anymore (laughs). If sniping is out, you can only do explosions, right? (laughs)

Ｑ. 打ち合わせは何度も重ねたんですよね？
Q. Business meetings were held repeatedly, right?
⇒打ち合わせは大体仆の家でするんだけど、暗号をどうしようとみんなで悩んでいたとき、仕事场でトリックの一部を完成させて“これにしよう”と言って决めたり…。トリックは思い浮かんで决まるときは早い。作品を完成させる时は、まず“トリック”を完成させる、トリックが决まらないと全然话にならないので。今回の场合だと、サッカーに全体が引っ张られ过ぎるとよくないし。トリックをしっかり决め、そしてサッカーの要素などを加えて完成させた。
A. Business meetings are usually done at (Not a Japanese name, not sure wtheck this is)'s house, but when everyone was pondering over the cipher, we'll complete one part of a trick at the workplace and decide while saying "Let's use this!" . . . For tricks, the time when thinking up and deciding is fast. To finish a work, first finish the trick. If the trick isn't decided, the story doesn't form. In this case, it's not good to pull apart soccer as a whole. (We) first firmly decided the trick, then added elements of soccer to finish.

Ｑ. これまでの作品で、実在する人がモデルになっているキャラクターはいるか？
Q. In your work so far, do you have character(s) who are modeled off of people in real life?
⇒高木刑事だけ実在ではないけれど、漫画家“よしまさこ”さんの作品で、です・ます调のキャラクターがいて、そのキャラの见た目でなく、中身を参考にさせてもらった。
A. Only Detective Takagi isn't based off of a real-life person; he is based on a character who speaks politely in the manga artist Masako Yoshi's work. I consulted that character's insides, not (his/her) appearance.

Ｑ. 今回の作品を実际に観て、特に印象に残ったシーンや“细かいところだけど気づいてほしい”というシーンがあれば教えてください。
Q. Tell us about scenes that left you an impression or scenes that you want others to notice despite being insignificant when you watched this year's work. ⇒お～っと思ったのは、スタジアムの电光掲示板が爆発して…あることが起きるじゃない?!あとコナンのサスペンダーが(あとは剧场で)。それとカズのシーンが良かった、全体的にアップテンポな进行の中で、ゆったりとしていて。
(The scene that) made me think Wow! is when the stadium's electronic bulletin board explodes, and . . . something happens, right?! Then Conan's suspenders (go to the theater for more). And Kazu's scene was good, its pace was easy-going in the middle of an up-beat one.

Ｑ. 剧场版コナンを一般の映画馆で観るか？
Q. Do you watch Conan's films in an average (or public, I think) theater?
⇒耻ずかしくて一般の映画馆では観ない。でも『世纪末の魔术师』という作品で、怪盗キッドを出そうってオレが言ったんだけど、本当に作品に登场するのか？と思って、映画馆へ『世纪末の魔术师』の予告编だけを确认しに、ガメラか何かの作品を観に行きました(笑)。あの时の怪盗キッドはオレが描いた原画だったし、スクリーンサイズで観れて感动した。
A. I'm embarrassed to watch in an average theater. But in the work "The Last Wizard of the century", since I suggested making Kaito Kid appear and I thought, Will (he) really appear?, I went to a theater to just confirm "The Last Wizard of the Century"'s trailer while watching Gamera or whatever (laughs). Kaito Kid at that time was (based on) my storyboard, and I felt happy to see it on the big screen.

Ｑ. 今回のコナンは冒头からハードアクションだったが、どんなアクション作品のイメージがあったのか。
Q. This time's Conan is hard action from the beginning. What action work did you base it on?
⇒ダイ・ハードか２４かな。それと、“パニック・イン・スタジアム”というスタジアムの中が大騒ぎになる作品も少しイメージした。
A. Die Hard or 24, maybe. (My comment: Gosho has mentioned in the manga how he has watched 24 before. It's a US detective series, so you guys should be able to watch it, if you wanted to.) I also based it a little on the work Panic in Stadium (Note: the US title is Two-Minute Warning), where there's turmoil in a stadium.

Ｑ. 兰が新一に携帯电话で连络するシーンについて。
Q. On the scene where Ran contacts Shinichi with a cell phone.
⇒原作では既にエクスペリアじゃなくてエクスペリカンというスマホを使っているし、灰原はプ●ダフォンだし、ベルモットはアイ●ォンだしね。
A. In the original work (Note: the manga), (Conan?) uses a smart phone called XPERIKAN (Note: this is what's on the manga to avoid copyright violations, probably - not a real phone), not Xperia. Haibara (uses) Prada phone, and Vermouth (uses) iPhone.

Ｑ. 兰など素敌な女の子たちが登场しているが、『名探侦コナン』という作品の中で特に好きな女の子は谁か？
Q. Charming girls like Ran appears (in your work). In the work called Detective Conan, which female character do you especially like?
⇒やっぱヒロインの兰かな。好きなのは兰、そして特别な女の子が灰原かな。こなん通信社の中で灰原の一言もオレが考えているんだけど、ほぼ灰原はオレの代弁者になっているね。あと兰は勇往迈进というか（新一のことを）待っていてくれるのは嬉しいというか…あと强いしね。ちなみに女の子が强いシーンを描くのって嬉しい。今、世良ちゃんも出ているけど、描くのが楽しい…目の下にクマがあるけど(笑)。
A. I guess it would have to be the heroine, Ran. I like Ran, and the special girl would be Haibara. I think about Haibara's comments in the Conan News Agency, too; she's become my spokeswoman, hasn't she? Ran is full of courage, and she waits for Shinichi, which makes (Gosho?) happy . . . she's strong, too. By the way, I feel happy drawing scenes where girls are strong. Right now, Sera-chan is appearing, too, and it's fun to draw (her) . . . although, she has bags under her eyes (laughs).

Ｑ. ジャイアンツが好きだと闻きました。剧场版の作品で、スポーツに関する题材としてどんなスポーツをやってみたいか。
Q. I hear that you like the Giants. What kind of sports do you want to do as the theme of a film, if the theme is sports-related?
⇒野球だね。でもジャイアンツに肩入れするのも…(笑)。やるなら世界的に有名なスポーツがいいと思う。スポーツ観戦するのが好き。基本、何でも観る。
A. It would be baseball. But supporting Giants might be . . . (laughs). If (I'm/we're/etc) going to do it, I think that it's good to (pick a) sport that's famous all over the world. I like to watch sport matches. Basically, I watch anything.

Nihon Uiversity College of Art Lecture Interview (2ch RAW ONLY)

2011/06/24
various collected posts by: justwantanaccount at the bottom of the
DCW interview list forum post : link (see bottom of first post)

  Show spoilers »

I can give a source - and it's from 2chan( http://www.logsoku.com/r/2ch.net/ymag/1307192217/ ), essentially. ^^; This is my original post( http://www.detectiveconanworld.com/forum/topic/523-boss-of-the-black-organization/page-30#entry111958 ) - and as I mentioned in that post, it's up to you to believe this spoiler or not. I can translate the entire post where I got that spoiler from, if you'd like:

---

445 : 作者の都合により名無しです : 2011/06/25(土) 15:28:12.02 ID:rjCoLlGx0 [1回発言] 昨日大学でやったらしい青山トークショーのネタバレすごいんだけど そこまでぶっちゃけるのって感じ おとなファミよりすごい

445: Anonymous: 2011/06/25 (Sat) 15:28:12.02 ID:rjCoLlGx0 [Commented 1 time] The spoilers from a talk show Gosho reportedly did yesterday at a university is crazy Like, you're gonna spoil that much? It was crazier than [the interview in] OtonaFami

(Note: すごい can mean 'great, terrific, horrible', etc, but for this context I chose 'crazy')

(446-450 pretty much ask 445 to spill the details, then)

451 : 作者の都合により名無しです : 2011/06/25(土) 17:11:43.51 ID:nflQXEXH0 [1回発言] もったいぶるバカはほおっておけよ 俺が代わりにネタバレしてやる

博士は黒幕ではない

確定

451: Anonymous: 2011/06/25 (Sat) 17:11:43.51 ID:nflQXEXH0 [Commented 1 time] Ignore the idiot putting on airs I'll give the spoilers instead

Professor [Agasa] isn't BO boss (Note: 黒幕 literally means 'black curtain' or 'political fixer', but I'm pretty sure it means BO boss here)

Settled

453 : 作者の都合により名無しです : 2011/06/25(土) 18:39:03.56 ID:WCtBexQ10 [1回発言] 今後の展開において28巻を読み直しておくと おーとなるというレポがあった

453: Anonymous: 2011/06/25 (Sat) 18:39:03.56 ID:WCtBexQ10 [Commented 1 time] There was a 'Whoa!'-inducing report that said On future developments, [Gosho said that he'll] re-read Volume 28

457 : 作者の都合により名無しです : 2011/06/25(土) 21:48:18.35 ID:ava55YlP0 [1回発言] とりあえず検索して出てきた物

来場者との質疑応答があって 博士は黒組織のボス？って質問があって 「阿笠博士は黒の組織のボスじゃありません」って答える

バーローは何故バーローなの？ タッチかなんかあだち充作品の主人公がバーローって言ってたから

世良真純の人気が凄いと講演会で話す

あの花（あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。）を楽しみに見ていた 最終回も見て楽しんでから講演会に来た 花咲くいろはも楽しみに見てるよ

457: Anonymous : 2011/06/25 (Sat) 21:48:18.35 ID:ava55YlP0 [Commented 1 time] Anyways, here's what [I found] through searching

There was a Q&A session with the attendants, and [Gosho] answered, "Professor Agasa isn't the BO boss"

Why 'バーロー (bah-loh)'? (Note: You usually say 'baka', but Gosho likes to say 'bah-loh') Because Touch and other works by Adachi Mitsuru said 'bah-loh'

Talks about how popular Sera Masumi is during lecture

Was enjoying あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。( http://www.anohana.jp/ ) (We still don't know the name of the flower we saw that day) Enjoyed the last episode then came to lecture [He] looks forward to watching 花咲くいろは ( http://www.hanasakuiroha.jp/ ) (Blossoming Iroha) ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroha )

---

Hmm, you're right, I need better sources - *googles, since apparently that's what the 2chan guy did to get all this info*

It seems true that Gosho really did give a lecture at his former university (Nihon University College of Art) (Original link redirects to homepage: http://www.art.nihon-u.ac.jp/ ), according to the university's website. This page talks about the Nichigei Award for Excellence, which Gosho apparently received this year - the website mentions that the award ceremony was moved from March 11th to April 8th due to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, so the ceremony happened this year. This website also mentions that the university plans on having the two winners (one of whom is Gosho) give a lecture later. (授賞式は、3月11日の東日本大震災から間もない4月8日、芸術学部新入生歓迎式プログラムとして江古田キャンパスの大ホールで行われ、ご出席いただいた林真理子氏からは、壇上から受賞の喜びとともに励ましの言葉が述べられました。また、仕事の都合で残念ながら欠席された青山剛昌氏は、ビデオで心あたたまるメッセージを届けてくださいました。お二人には後日、学内で講演を行っていただく予定です。)

Then this fan website ( http://www.koware.net/cgi/conan_jyouhou/scheduler.cgi?mode=view&no=796 ) says that the lecture commemorating the Nichigei Award for Excellence is held on June 24th 2011 from 2pm at Nihon University College of Art Ekoda Hall. Apparently only university students could attend. (学部所属の学生さんのみ参加可能 ... 2011/06/24の14時から、日本大学芸術学部の江古田大ホールで日藝賞記念講演会として、青山先生の講演が行われます。)

One more evidence for the lecture! The university's blog (Original link redirects to 404: http://blog.ocn.ne.jp/close.html ) mentions that Gosho's lecture is on June 24th 2011. Here's the poster from that blog:

jpg_8.jpg

Okay, the fact that the lecture happened on June 24th 2011 at Gosho's alma mater seems legit . . . BRB googling more.

EDIT: Also, you have to admit that, while 2chan may not be 100% accurate, they do turn out to be mostly right most of the times. ^^; I mean, I learned about OtonaFami from there, and I always go to the 2chan Shonen Sunday Spoilers board to check for the latest spoilers on the latest Conan file, which has turned out to be pretty accurate so far. I'm also impressed that the lecture turned out to be true, as well.

EDIT2: Found one evidence for claim that "Gosho said Agasa isn't BO boss" via Twitter! This 青木敬士 (Aoki Keishi) person is, according to his profile, the Associate Professor at Nihon University of Art, Literary Arts(Creative Writing), and apparently organized the lecture that Gosho gave on June 24th (this tweet says that, since he is organizing the lecture, his classes are cancelled for those days) ( https://twitter.com/AOKI_KC/status/84051732849639426 ). He also lent his pen to Aoyama when Aoyama was signing signatures, and he got excited and jokingly tweeted that maybe he should take care not to wipe off Gosho's fingerprints (lol). ( https://twitter.com/AOKI_KC/status/84173256361394176 )

---

This tweet ( https://twitter.com/AOKI_KC/status/84179949887569920 ) is the main evidence:

青山剛昌先生、講演会の質疑応答で「阿笠博士は黒の組織のボスじゃありません」って明言しちゃってたけど(汗) ……もしかしたら叙述トリックかもしれないよ(笑)

Aoyama Gosho-sensei declared definitively during the lecture's Q&A that "Professor Agasa isn't the Black Organization's boss," ha ha *sweats* . . . maybe this is a narrative trick? (laughs)

This tweet ( https://twitter.com/AOKI_KC/status/84175955802865664 ) corroborates with what the 2chan board said about Gosho's favorite shows - maybe this is that one 2chan guy's source? I dunno.

講演会来場者との質疑応答のなかにあったんですが、青山剛昌先生も「あの花」の最終回は楽しみにして観ていらしたそうですよ！ あと「花咲くいろは」も

This was included in the Q&A with the attendants - reportedly, Aoyama Gosho-sensi also enjoyed watching "Anohana"'s last episode! "Blossoming Iroha", too

This tweet is the main evidence:

青山剛昌先生、講演会の質疑応答で「阿笠博士は黒の組織のボスじゃありません」って明言しちゃってたけど(汗) ……もしかしたら叙述トリックかもしれないよ(笑)

Aoyama Gosho-sensei declared definitively during the lecture's Q&A that "Professor Agasa isn't the Black Organization's boss," ha ha *sweats* . . . maybe this is a narrative trick? (laughs)

This tweet corroborates with what the 2chan board said about Gosho's favorite shows - maybe this is that one 2chan guy's source? I dunno.

講演会来場者との質疑応答のなかにあったんですが、青山剛昌先生も「あの花」の最終回は楽しみにして観ていらしたそうですよ！ あと「花咲くいろは」も

This was included in the Q&A with the attendants - reportedly, Aoyama Gosho-sensi also enjoyed watching "Anohana"'s last episode! "Blossoming Iroha", too

---

Oh! I found Nihon University's profile on Aoki Keishi. ( http://kenkyu-web.cin.nihon-u.ac.jp/Profiles/37/0003669/profile.html )

Interview with Aoyama Gosho and Shibasaki Kou, Movie 17 (WITH RAW)

柴咲コウ＆青山剛昌『名探偵コナン 絶海の探偵(プライベート・アイ)』
コナン史上、最もハードでダイナミックな作品
Original Japanese version: http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/A0003661
Interview occurred around April 2013
Translated by : http://meitanteikonanplot.blogspot.com/2013/04/special-post-interview-with-aoyama.html

  Show spoilers »

This is an interview of Aoyama Gosho (creator of Detective Conan) and Shibasaki Kou (Actress, singer, and voice actress of a character in the new Detective Conan Movie)which was posted by Cinema Today.

The 17th installment of the Detective Conan movie series is called "Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea" and the trailers can be seen here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJHSR2pPS7k

With this film involving entire cooperation of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces things get really intense. There is a special guest performance this time by Shibasaki Kou who has read Conan since she was a student. As a mysterious female member of the defense force, Fuji Nanami is played as a cool character. Her magnificent performance which made it seem easy even after having not been a voice actress for about 7 years, was given the stamp of approval and said to be "very cool" by the original author Aoyama Gosho. The two of them are just meeting for the first time now, but have a connection through Conan. We talked about thoughts towards Conan distinctive of a reader, and the scrutinizing of particular points which is distinctive to an author.

■ A First Time Meeting, but an Association for Nearly 20 Years!

Q: This seems to be your first time meeting but what are your impressions of one an other? Aoyama Gosho (hereafter referred to as Aoyama): I've seen her on TV, on things like "Galileo" and such. Shibasaki Kou (hereafter referred to as Shibasaki): Well, I bought one of the special volumes of the manga, which has a portrait of Mr. Aoyama doesn't it? Aoyama: The one where I'm always being killed right? Shibasaki: Right! There's like blood pouring out or something (laughs). Anyway, it really looks like you. It's just as I expected.

Q: Around what time did you first start to read Conan, Ms. Shibasaki? Shibasaki: It's a vague memory, but I read it in Shonen Sunday. I think when it started getting serialized I had to have been in middle school. I think I started reading from the first story, or maybe the second one. Aoyama: Oh wow! There's actually some people who watched it as a kid, and they have now become fathers and they watch it together with their kid.

Q:As for Ms. Shibasaki, what would you say the charm of Conan is? Shibasaki: Is it okay if I give my impressions completely as a fan (laughs). First of all, the pictures are very easy to get into and to follow. It's very characteristic and recognizable at a glance. But the mysteries to be solved are first-class. It deals with difficult cases that take time just as a TV drama would, so before you know it you're pulled into the world. Aoyama: Such high praise. Thank you very much.

■Can kids really follow the extremely difficult historical subject matter of Conan!?

Q: This time in the world of Conan, you appear as the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Fuji Nanami right? Shibasaki: As a fan, there's a somewhat selfish part to it isn't there? I interpreted it as it was convenient for me (wry smile) As the special guest this time, I got to participate as a character that only appears in this movie, so I thought I was lucky. Aoyama: I also did the character design for Fuji Nanami. I drew it before I knew that Shibasaki would be playing the role, but they told me "we want her to be beautiful" and so I gave her thin eyebrows and sharp eyes like a soldier. Shibasaki: Her eyebrows are cute aren't they! When I heard that her position was military personnel I worried a little about whether I could play the role properly, but I maintained a feeling of tension the whole time so I thought if I could expand on that then I could make it through somehow. And also, when I was recording, most of the other people had already recorded their lines so I could really use them as reference. I thought it would be difficult if it were a situation where no other voices had been recorded yet, but even Conan's voice was already added, so... Aoyama: It was very well done. Nothing felt out of place! Shibasaki: But we did a lot of redoing. Like the way the song was sung, or matching the lines going with the melody, or getting a satisfactory intonation. So when you hear it after that's done it's okay, but sometimes you'd think "is this really good like this" when there was a feeling that it just didn't match up with the melody, and it would leave a feeling that it was just out of place and strange and so we would have to redo it. Aoyama: So at those times you'd say something like "could we record that again?" That's amazing. As for me, if it were ok as it was I'd just be like "alright, it's good like this right?" (laughs) Shibasaki: By nature, I'm probably a little self-conscious about my voice. I felt some relief little by little. But when it's just my voice, I worry about if it came out clearly. So we would test out listening to it afterwards. Aoyama: You've got a voice unlike other voice actresses so I thought it was very nice. Very cool.

Q: In this movie, Fuji Nanami's role left a very hard and dynamic impression different from the other movie versions of Conan so far.

Aoyama: For this movie, from the time that the setting was decided to be the Aegis ship, I requested to the scriptwriter "Sakurai Takeharu" that they try to make it very realistic. So it became very much directed towards adults. Because even for me too, when it's more directed toward kids I don't find it as interesting. Having said that, midway through I started to worry about whether or not kids could also enjoy this movie, whether they could be brought along to see it. But in the movie Conan explains in a way that's easy to understand what you should look for or what you should think about, and so I think that it's contents can be enjoyable for children as well. Shibasaki: I was also thinking "man, this is difficult" as I was working on it.

■What a Shock!! The announcement of the secret rule of Conan!!

Q: As for Mr. Aoyama, do you have any rules for when you're drawing Conan?

Aoyama: There's one rule I have which is "Conan must never cry." Shibasaki: Does he cry this time? Aoyama: Well, I'm not saying he cries.... But, there are people who are planning on seeing the movie so I have to keep it a secret (laughs).

Q: You played an active role in the Detective gadget that will appear this time too. Can you tell us anything about that?

Aoyama: I kept the names absolutely simple. Because if I didn't then it would be embarrassing. Something like "Ball Shooter" isn't embarrassing is it. "Kick-Power Reinforcing Shoes" isn't an embarrassing name, and also it's easy to understand. But those rarely get used. The most recent thing to get used was the belt wasn't it? But it won't get used from here on out. If something strange suddenly shows up then it would be weird, so it always has to be something that Conan can wear. But we've already used so many things, there's not much left besides and backpack. Shibasaki: What about his hair? Aoyama: Well, he's not Kitaro (laughs). (Kitaro is a famous character from a comic called "Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro" created by Mizuki Shigeru. Kitaro is a ghost who has many gadgets at his disposal, some of which being his hair which can be used for various things.)

Q: Lastly, could you tell us a scene that you really liked?

Shibasaki: Well, I've only been able to seen it once, but when I did see it obviously I could here my voice in it so naturally that got my focus. If I were to watch it again I think there's a scene with Conan that would really move me. The sound in the movie is very strong and I thought it was amazing. For example, the scene where the Aegis ship is going to attack was really amazing. Aoyama: I also drew some key-frames, and it's embarrassing to see them appear in the movie, which I think is like what you were saying right? The animators' style and mine are different so it's easily noticed. It wasn't so much that way this time, but... how was it? You couldn't you notice could you? Shibasaki: No, quite the opposite... it was really cool!

Aoyama gave a signed and colored illustration of the rare combination of Conan, Haibara Ai, and (the seldom drawn) Phantom Thief Kid, as a present to the extremely happy Shibasaki. She seems to not have just been giving him a complement, but to truly love Conan. She said ecstatically "I'm going to definitely frame it and hang it in my room!" What's more, from the start and still now she excitedly said "I want to try doing a voice in the animation. Any small role is okay, and you don't have to pay me."

RAW text

  Show spoilers »

劇場版「名探偵コナン」シリーズ、17作目となる最新作『名探偵コナン 絶海の探偵(プライベート・アイ)』。本作では海上自衛隊の全面協力の下、迫力の映像が実現した。スペシャルゲストとして出演したのは学生時代からコナン読者という柴咲コウ。ミステリアスな女性自衛官・藤井七海をクールに演じた。約7年ぶりの声優挑戦とは思えない堂々とした演技に原作者の青山剛昌も「かっこいい！」と太鼓判を押すほど。今回が初対面の二人だが、そこはコナンがつなぐ縁。読者ならではのコナンへの思い、作家ならではのこだわりを語った。

■お互いは初対面。でもコナンとは20年近くの付き合い！

Q：初対面だそうですが、お互いの印象はどうですか。

青山剛昌（以下、青山）：よくテレビで見ているんですよ、「ガリレオ」とか。そのまんまですね。

柴咲コウ（以下、柴咲）：わたしは単行本を買っているのですが、そこに青山先生の似顔絵が描いてありますよね？

青山：いつも、殺されているやつですね。

柴咲：そうそう！　血が流れている（笑）。似ています。さすがです。

Q：柴咲さんが最初にコナンを読んだのはいつごろですか。

柴咲：うろ覚えなのですが、少年サンデーで読んでいました。確かわたしが中学生くらいのときに連載が始まったと思います。もしかしたら、第1話か、その次くらいから読んでいるんじゃないかな。

青山：おお、すごい！　子どもの頃読んでいた人が、今はお父さんになって、子どもと一緒に観ているという人も多いんですよ。

Q：柴咲さんにとって、コナンの魅力とは？

柴咲：完全に読者としての感想でいいですか（笑）。まず、絵がすごく入っていきやすいんです。特徴があって、一目見て覚えやすい。でも、解く謎は一級。テレビドラマで時間をかけて扱うような難事件だったりするから、いつの間にか世界に引き込まれてしまうんです。

青山：べた褒めですね。ありがとうございます。

■コナン史上最もハードな内容に子どもが付いてこられない!?

Q：今回は憧れのコナンの世界に海上自衛官・藤井七海として登場しますね。

柴咲：読者って多少、わがままな部分があるじゃないですか。自分の都合のいいように解釈したり（苦笑）。今回はスペシャルゲストという形で、この映画だけのキャラクターで参加できたので、自分としてはラッキーだったと思います。

青山：藤井七海のキャラクターデザインも僕がやっているんですよ。柴咲さんが演じられると聞く前に描いたのですが、「美人にしてほしい」という要求があったので、眉毛をひょひょひょいと、目は軍人っぽくきりっとさせました。

柴咲：眉毛、かわいいですよね！　軍人役と聞いてきちんと演じられるのか、ちょっと心配だったのですが、緊張感をずっと持ち続けていたので、そこを膨らませていけば何とかなるかなと思っていました。それから、わたしが声を入れたときには、もうほとんどの人の声が入っていたので、とても参考になりましたね。何もない状態で入れるのはすごく大変なんじゃないかと思いますが、コナン君の声ももう入っていましたから。

青山：うまかったですよ。違和感がなかった！

柴咲：でも、やり直ししたんですよ。歌も歌っているせいか、せりふにメロディーというか、ふに落ちるイントネーションがあるんです。それに合ったときは後から聞いても大丈夫なんですけど、時々「これでいいのかなぁ？」と何となくメロディーが合っていないような気がするものはどこか違和感や気持ち悪さが残って、やり直すことがありました。

青山：そういうときには自分から「録（と）り直した方がいいんじゃないですか」って言うの？　すごいなぁ。僕はそれでOKなら「じゃ、いいね？」って言っちゃうなぁ（笑）。

柴咲：もともと声にコンプレックスがあったせいかもしれません。歌を歌い始めてから、少しずつ緩和されていったんです。けれど声だけとなると、はっきりと出るじゃないですか。それを後から聞くのも試練でしたね。

青山：声優さんにはいないような声だったから、何かいいなと思っていました。かっこよかったです。

Q：その藤井七海の活躍をはじめ、今作はこれまでの劇場版より、よりハードでダイナミックな印象を受けました。

青山：今回、イージス艦を舞台にやるって決まったときから、脚本家の櫻井武晴さんに「リアルにしてください」と注文を出していたんです。だから、かなり大人向けになっていますね。あんまり子ども向けにしてしまうと僕的にも面白くないですから。ただそうはいっても、今回はもしかすると、途中から子どもが付いてこられないんじゃないかなと心配になるところもありました。でも劇中ではコナン君がわかりやすく、「何を探せばいい」とか、「何を考えればいい」と教えてくれるので、子どもも十分に楽しめる内容になっていると思います。

柴咲：わたしも「うわ、難しい」と思いながら、やっていました。

■衝撃!!　コナンの秘密のルールを発表!!

Q：先生の中で、コナンを描く上でのルールはありますか。

青山：「コナンは泣かない」っていうのが一つのルールなんです。

柴咲：今回、泣いていますよね？

青山：実は泣いているわけではないんです……。でも詳しくは、これから観る方もいるので秘密です（笑）。

Q：探偵グッズは今回も大活躍ですが、こちらに関しては？

青山：名前は絶対、普通にしています。でないと恥ずかしいから。「ボールシューター」とか恥ずかしくないですか。「キック力増強シューズ」だと恥ずかしくないし、そのまんまだから、わかりやすい。めったに出しませんけどね。一番、最後に出したのがベルトかな？　あれ以降、出ていないです。急に変なものを付けて出てくるとおかしいから、コナン君がいつも身に着けているものでないとダメ。だけど、ほとんど使っちゃって、あとはランドセルくらいしか残っていないんです。

柴咲：髪の毛とかどうですか。

青山：鬼太郎じゃないんだから（笑）。

Q：最後にお気に入りのシーンを教えてください。

柴咲：まだ1回しか観られていないんですが、そのときは自分の声が出てくるものだから、やっぱりついそっちに気を取られてしまったんですよね。見直したら、きっとコナン君とのシーンに感動すると思うんですけど。音がすごく迫力があっていいなと思いました。実際にイージス艦を攻撃されそうになるところとか、良かったです。

青山：僕も原画とか描くんですけど、自分の絵が劇中に出ると恥ずかしいと思ってしまう感覚と一緒なのかな？　アニメーターの人と自分の線が違うので気になるんです。今回はそうでもなかったですが。どう？　気にならなかった？

柴咲：気にならないどころか……いいです！

青山から「めったに描かない」という怪盗キッドと灰原哀、そしてコナンというレアな組み合わせのイラスト入りサイン色紙をプレゼントされ、手放しで喜んでいた柴咲。お世辞ではなく、本当にコナンが大好きのようだ。「額に入れて、絶対、部屋に飾ります」とうっとり。おまけに「アニメ版の声の出演もしてみたい。どんな脇役でもいい。クレジットもなくていいですから」と終始、興奮冷めやらぬ様子だった。

Shonen Sunday Special Booklet File865 (WITH RAW)

少年サンデー３３号特別付録の作者インタビュー
Shonen Sunday interview July 17th, 2013
http://conan-4869.net/post-14509
File 865 Shounen Sunday Special Booklet
Post organized by : Chekhov
Partially translated, comment by Chekhov: """(DCTP translation page no longer exists). Since in its current form it is likely to be disarrayed,
I have organized the text here. Credit goes to the translators which include Fujiwara, Zenthisoror, and Wakarimashita."""
Heiji, Kaitou, Yaiba, and Drawing Conan sections translated by: Cocoa, from German

  Show spoilers »

pg1 Cover
pg2 Index and announcements
pg3 Conan
pg4 Ran and Kogoro
pg5 Haibara and the Detective Boys
pg6 Kaitou Kid and Hattori Heiji
pg7 Okiya and Sera
pg8 Gin and Vodka
pg9 Chianti and Korn
pg10 Vermouth and Amuro
pg11 Extra! Kurogane Yaiba
pg12 Special Interview part 1
pg13 Special Interview part 2
pg14 Special Kaitou Kid Commentary part 1
pg15 Special Kaitou Kid Commentary part 2
pg16 Special Kaitou Kid Commentary part 3
pg17 A lesson in drawing Conan
pg18 A lesson in drawing Conan
pg19 A lesson in drawing Conan

Character Sections

Conan
Hairstyle: Took 1 minute, got Yaiba's hair and made it smoother. Added Mahoutsukai Sally's little brother Kabu's apostrophe. The way he drew the back of the hair came from Adachi Maru's main character of Nijiiro Tougarashi (Rainbow Chilli Peppers) Shichimi...

Fashion: Essentially, 753 wear, i.e. when you're little at ages 7. 5 and 3, when these formal photos get taken, Gosho's 753 photos have him in bow tie and shorts. :P He tries to keep gadgets to what Conan can wear...but he's run out of ideas of late...

Glasses: Gosho likes Superman. And when Clark Kent was hiding his identity, he wore glasses. So when he wrote Ai and Conan's conversation in vol 24, it was like a long held in secret was getting out.

Speaking Habits: Rough but kinda cool, inspired maybe by Joe from Tomorrow's Joe Barooo, and other habits might have aspects of Touch in them as well.

Ran
Ran's concept: "Saying Ran's perfect is probably saying too much, but she's someone you'd want to have on your side. She's can fight and is a diligent student and can cook really well. And she's always waiting for Shinichi. Her only weakness is her fear of ghosts. I wanted to draw a girl that is strong in many ways, as I had never done so before."

Kogoro
Gosho thought that a mystery type story would end pretty quickly so he originally dsigned Mouri like a thinner version of Nakamori. But then he was told that they were too similar, so he changed his hairstyle and his moustache... When both Nakamori and Mouri appeared in the same case there was a lot of thought over which one ought to be taller. On that front, Mouri is supposed to be taller. He made him a detective instead of a police officer because he thought that was easier to manage, He knows about policemen and he knows about cases. It makes things a lot easier... Oh sorry, I meant, the reason for the backstory about why he switched from an officer to a detective...it makes being a private detective easier for Mouri. Also, his face is familiar to a lot of the officers.

Haibara
Haibara's concept: Gosho had planned to introduce ex-BO member Haibara from the start, even though her introduction was later than planned. As for her character, he wanted a tsundere character who's the opposite of Ran. Even though Haibara doesn't have much deer. But that's how he likes her. (laughs)

Detective Boys
Zenthisoror: The original concept of the three Detective Boys was to enable Haibara to hide amongst them! Basically, they provided the hiding place for Haibara. Gosho wanted a fat one, a thin and snarky one, and a cute little girl. They're obviously inspired from Doraemon but the personalities of all three are very different from their Doraemon counterparts. Especially because Conan's very different from Nobita-kun (hahaha, you could say that again) You could say that the three DB kids together are all Nobita-kun, all shouting, "Help us, Conan!" Genta's family run a bar/pub. Mitsuhiko's parents are both teachers. Mitsuhiko's sister is also a teacher. Ayumi's family he's not so sure...they live in a flat modelled on the one Gosho used to live in...so probably not the average salaryman...

Kaitou Kid
Phantom thief and master of disguise. Nobody knows his real identity - but he is a high school student just like Shinichi Kudo and goes by the name of Kaito Kuroba!
Comment! I needed a nemesis for my detective!
Design: He looks pretty cool of course, because he originally is the protagonist of another Manga series. But for every reader who doesn't know Magic Kaito, his guest appeareances in Detective Conan could feel a little bit disconcerting. I for one have the biggest fun while drawing him!
Concept: I wanted to have a powerful antagonist for Conan, someone like the Fiend with Twenty Faces from the works of Edogawa Rampo. And suddenly it occured to me that I drew such a character some years ago! From that time on it was decided that he would have guest appearances. Naturally I talked at length about it with my editor back then... who voiced his misgivings. So I tried to make Kaitou Kid's first appearances not too over the top.

Heiji
His father is the superintendent of Osaka. He is a high school detective. And he is so good, that even Conan/Shinichi respects him!
Comment! The Anime just needed a rival...
The highschool detective of the west: He hails from Osaka and so he has a dialect - which is because a complete opposite just makes a rival all the more interesting! But the whole thing also has the background, that the leading editor from back then came from Osaka, so that I completely trusted him during the final approvals of Heiji's lines. Additionally, his dark complexion is also a strong contrast to Conan's/Shinichi's appearance.
Concept: At first I created a storyline which was designated for the start of the Anime series and should have introduced Ai Haibara, but this wasn't to be. And suddenly it was said that the Anime series needed a rival, so I created Heiji Hattori. It was evident to me that a rival would also have to be a highschool detective and one with a very contrary personality to Shinichi.

Okiya
Hairstyle is Char Aznable from Gundam crossed with Chiaki from Nodame Cantabile, which Gosho was really into at that time. It's the part of Chiaki's hairstyle where it's sticking up all over the place from how he sleeps that he added to Okiya. His identity: Is a SECRET. People might have already figured it out, but he'll leave it to our imaginations (some of the page has been cut off)

Sera
In the detective koushien case, the female detective despite being the culprit ended up being so popular that there was a demand for this character but it was impossible since she was the culprit so Aoyama created... Sera.

Gin
Gin's about the hat and the hair. There wasn't much deep thought behind his design. Just that he had some kind of high leadership position in the Organisation, but as Conan continued and looked as though it would get longer his character development got more complicated. 'The Aesthetics of a Killer' He drives a Porsche 356A and carries a Beretta M 1934, so he's very particular about his tastes. But being particular makes a character cooler? (ahaha)

Vodka
And Vodka is Gin's Watson...and what his eyes are like, Gosho will leave to the readers' imagination...

Chianti
Concept; A character who wouldn't go around sucking up to Gin. He [Gosho] thought the swallowtail butterfly tattoo was cool. He [Gosho] thought a lot about her development and some one liners, like 'When my butterfly flaps its wings, people die'. But snipers keep both eyes open to shoot, so that one liner went down the drain. Her speech habits are supposed to make her seem a bit sexual.

Korn
Concept: Silent, unsophisticated, and a bit of a wierdo...he's got skills though. Things are more fun with characters like these, aren't they? He's designed so that he looks like nobody else in the Organisation. He's got skills as a sniper though! The only person better than him at sniping, including Chianti, is Akai. If he's alive (hahaha) He hates Vermouth. For letting Calvados, a fellow sniper, die. It's not like there was anything particularly special about the relationship between Calvados and Korn. It's probably just that as one sniper looking out for another sniper, he can't forgive her... Fundamentally all members of the organisation with code names are supposed to be at the same level, so Korn's supposed to be at the same rank as Gin. It just happened this time that when they chanced to form a team Gin came out as the most leader-like of all them.

Vermouth
She's the bad side of Fujiko Mine, the good side being Yukiko. Yukiko has Fujiko's hair-style. Both Vermouth and Yukiko have this middle hair-line too. Both hard to draw. It was difficult during the Train Arc because they both had a lot of panels given to them. But it was fun and the result was a success. Leaving aside their standing inside the BO, Vermouth used to like Gin in the past, I'd say. She also had a profound relationship with Gin... However, since Gin isn't the type to fall in love with another person, all this came from Vermouth's side.

Amuro
A character who's neither Akai, neither Okiya. First character with dark skin and blond hair. A long time ago there was the character Jewell (?) in Yaiba though. The cutting and adjusting of the frames was difficult because of the white hair but digital drawing makes it easier.

Extra! Kurogane Yaiba
Towards countless adventures together with his Thunder sword: Yaiba, the hero of the eponymous precursor series to Detective Conan!
Comment! A shared appearance with Conan? At least his mother did herself the honor of showing up!
Here you can see Yaiba, who Gosho drew for the first time after ten years on the occasion of this special booklet!
I haven't drawn him for a long time.
Somehow, I think he looks way to smart on this picture!
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_yaiba.png
Concept: I used Teppei from Ore wa Teppei by Tetsuya Chiba as a model. I loved this Manga back when I was a kid! Teppei was also the reason why I started with Kendo. So Yaiba was kinda conceptualized as a Teppei with Thunder sword. On the other hand, it's fair to say that Teppei is way smarther than Yaiba!
Similarities with Conan: He never gives up and he doesn't cry. But that's just how heroes have to be! Especially in front of the Detective Boys Conan acts like Teppei, just like Yaiba. But when Conan turns into Shinichi he is more like Joe Yabuki from Ashita no Joe.
How about a shared appearance with Conan?: A shared appearance together with Conan? At least Yaiba's mother did herself the honor of showing up. Heiji's mother Shizuka got the second place in a Kendo tournament back at middle school - and the first place was taken by Michiko Tsubaki (maiden name), mother of Yaiba! Her face is the same as that of Moroha, the little sister of Yaiba. Whether Yaiba is also to be found somewhere? Probably not.
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_yaiba2.png
Yaiba's mother in volume 28.

Special Interview

Question 1: Did Heiji make Conan drink Paikaru knowing what it would do to him!?

A: It was all a happy coincidence and the rest is internet conspiracy theory...

2. A message came to Sera from her brother about whether she had met the wizard yet...was that from 'Shuu-nii'?

A: But Sera-chan said that 'Shuu-nii was dead' didn't she? In which case (smile)...

3. Sera seems to have met Conan before, but was that when Conan was Conan or Conan was Shinichi?

A: I can't give too many details, but Ran has met her too...

4. (Translated by Conan#1) Why did Conan tell Miyano Akemi his true identity? Any reason?

A: Because Conan thinks that person is going to die anyway. What if Akemi is taken to the hospital and brought back to life in a miracle!!! (smile)

5. The APTX4869 - it can shrink people as a side effect, so what's it actually supposed to do? Tell us!

A: Er...sorry, I can't say...

6. Apart from Conan and Haibara, are there any others who took the poison and ended up shrinking?

A: Who knows...maybe another one will turn up some time... (laughter)

7. In order to complete the silver bullet, why did Haibara have to separate from her parents?

A: I'm afraid I can't answer that either...But that will be answered eventually! So bear that in mind...

8. Will Itakura's software become important at some point in the future?

A: Well, I took the trouble of introducing it to the plot, so it must become important at some point...

9. Also, any hint as to what sort of thing it was...

A: Ahahahaha! Just remember it! Please keep it in mind!!

10. Gin and Vodka wear suits even in the summer...is there some secret as to how they manage to get by!? Normal people would find it too hot to cope...

A: Because wouldn't Gin in just his shirt be a bit funny?

Yeah...these characters are among the ones that are a bit difficult to write in the summer...Gin, Vodka, Chianti and Korn all wear a lot of layers...

Drawing them becomes a bit of a drag...

Fundamentally, all men in black are a bit of a drag to draw!

Vermouth, I just want to say, "Please no more!" (laughs)

11. In Akemi's mail to Akai Shuuichi that went 'If we could both get out of the Organisation...' what was in the PS?

A: That's an important point! I'll be bringing that up in the story later!

12. One last thing...could you tell us the identity of the Boss of the BO?

A: Wahahahaha! Alright, I'll let you in on the secret...It's actually...

Interviewer: Whaaaaat!!! Answering these rather harsh questions in such a playful manner within his busy schedule, that was Aoyama Gosho! (Note: Gosho did not actually say the name to the interviewer. This is a joke)

Thank you very much!!

A Lesson in Drawing Conan
Gosho Aoyama tells it all!
Concept pages of the last case about Kaitou Kid, inlcuding comments by the master himself!
How is Detective Conan made? On the next pages we will show you some concept art for the episode featuring Kaitou Kid from volume 82, together with some eye-opening commentary by Gosho Aoyama!
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_14_1.png
I drew Makoto over the whole height of the page, because he had to look really cool. I don't really know who the people behind Inspector Nakamori are supposed to be, so I just wrote "Policemen". And because it was hard to tell the gem and the air gun projectiles apart, I provided them with some notes, too.
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_14_2.png
Here you can see the finished manuscript!
On the concept art there was only a simple circle, but on the finished page the gem shines in all its splendor! Makoto's gas mask is also pretty detailed on the finalized page.
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_15_1.png
On the rough page it is hard to see that Ran and Conan are brushing their teeth, so there is an appropriate note. But you can recognize Ran pretty easily by her pointy hairdo, even on very rough concepts. And Conan is always easily recognizable by his text! And of course by his glasses and the crown. Even on the concept pages, the facial expressions are highly convincing!
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_15_2.png
Here you can see the finished manuscript!
The tooth brushing scene was pretty loose in the concept stage, but got a lot of details in the finalized manuscript. And the perspective from which the detective agency is seen has also changed - so its shown to its best advantage.
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_15_3.png
The concept pages are always accompanied by a character overview, which serves as a reference!
Every character is seen in a specific perspective. When Gosho Aoyama has decided about the looks of the respective characters he proceeds with the creation of the manuscripts!
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_16_1.png
Here I used almost the same dialogue from a few pages before with other characters. Because this is a key scene, I kept the panel composition from the concept page in the finished manuscript.
Conan: Looks like Kid stole the show from me in this story!
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_16_2.png
The finished manuscript!
Just like Gosho mentioned in his commentary, the panel composition often doesn't change from concept to manuscript stage.
http://cocoamoth.bplaced.com/images/gosho/knsb_16_3.png
A character overview of the Suzuki family.
An overview of every appearing character serves as a guideline during the production of a manuscript. This time, Sonoko's family gains center stage.
Thanks alot for the exciting insights, Gosho Aoyama!

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江戸川コナン

ヘアースタイル ─

デザインは1分くらいでできました。刃の髪をサラサラヘアーにした感じ（笑）。あと『魔法使いサリーちゃん』の弟のカブの髪のちょんみたいなのをつけて。実は、つむじとかの描き方は、あだぢ充先生の『虹色とうがらし』の主人公・七味の髪型を参考にしました（笑）。

メガネ ─

オレ、スーパーマン好きなんで。主人公のクラーク・ケントが普段、正体隠しているときにメガネをかけてたから。24巻「漆黒の葬列」でのコナンと灰原の会話も、最初からずっと温めてて、やっと描けたよって。

ファッション ─

基本の服装は、子供っていえば七五三かなと。オレも同じ格好してました。で、身につけているモノを探偵グッズに利用するようにしてます。最近はネタ切れぎみで（笑）。

口癖 ─

コナンのちょっと口が悪いけどカッコいい喋り方は、『あしたのジョー』の矢吹丈の影響かな。「バーロー」とかも含めで。あと、あだち充先生の『タッチ』の成分も入ってると思います（笑）。

毛利蘭

コンセプト ─

理想って言ったら言いすぎだけど、こんな女の子いたらいいけど、いるわけないなみたいな。文武両道で料理も得意で、気がきいて。そして新一をずっと待ってる。お化けが苦手なくらい。あと今まで描いたことがなかったので、いろんな意味で強い女のコを描いてみたかった。

空手 ─

剣道は「YAIBA』でやっちゃいましたからね。あとオレが描けるのが、空手と柔道…じゃあ空手がカッコいいなあと。素手や蹴りでモノを破壊できるし。劇場版では、どんどん強くなってますけどね（笑）。

毛利小五郎

コンセプト ─

最初ね、推理物はすぐ終わると思って、本当に中森警部を細くしたようなのを描いたら、一緒すぎるんじゃじゃないのって言われて、リーゼントにして、ヒゲも変えて（笑）。あとで、一緒に出てきた時にどっちの背を高くしようかなって悩みました。一応、小五郎の方が高い設定です（笑）。

私立探偵 ─

刑事から探偵にならせた理由は、一番やりやすいかなと。事件関係のことや警察のことも知っていてるので捜査させやすいじゃないですか。あと警察に顔も効くし。よくある設定ですね（笑）。

灰原哀

コンセプト ─

灰原の組織絡みの設定自体は、ずっと最初からあったんですよ。出番はだいぶズレましたけど。あとキャラクター的に、蘭とは真反対のツンデレキャラを描きたかった。灰原さん、デレはあんまりないんだけどね。それはそれで好きなんで（笑）

出番が延期に！？ ─

アニメの13話で、姉の宮野明美が死なないし、組織とは無関係の事件になっちゃったので・・・。ややこしくなるのを避けるために漫画での出番が延期に。アニメが終わる気配がないので、辛抱たまらず出しました（笑）

少年探偵団

コンセプト ─

実は灰原を潜り込ませるために考えたのが、少年探偵団の３人。でかいのと、痩せてキザっぽいのと、かわいい女のコ、ですねぶっちゃけ『ドラえもん』なんですけど、中身は３人共全然違います。そもそもコナンがのび太君じゃないし（笑）。探偵団の方がのび太君て感じ。「助けてコナンくん」って。

家族 ─

元太の家は酒屋さん。光彦も親は先生。光彦そっくりな姉ちゃんも（笑）。歩美ちゃんとこは何だっけ？（笑）家は、昔オレが住んでたマンションがモデルだから、普通のサラリーマンじゃないよなー。

怪盗キッド

コンセプト ─

コナンと対決する怪盗二十面相的なキャラが欲しいなと思いまして。それなら、アレ？そういうヤツ描いてたなって（笑）じゃ、どうせなら出しちゃおうと。ちゃんと編集長に確認もとりまして…でも、いいのかな～とも（笑）。最初は、少しためらいもありました。

デザイン ─

外見は、違う漫画の主人公キャラですから、そりゃ格好いいですよ。ただ最初『まじっく快斗』を知らない人にいきなり出てきて、活躍しまくるキッドにあれ何者なのって（笑）。でも描いていて楽しいです。

服部平次

コンセプト ─

最初はアニメ化のタイミングで灰原を出す新展開を考えていて・・・でも出せなくなったので、じゃあアニメのほうでライバルキャラが必要だと言われていたので、代わりに出したのが服部平次！そこで、ライバルらしく、新一とは対象的な高校生探偵を考えることになりました。

西の高校生探偵 ─

大阪出身=関西弁は、どうせならまったく言葉遣いも違った方がいいと思って。その当時の担当編集者が大阪出身だったこともあって、監修はまかせろと言うので（笑）。あと色黒なのもコナン、新一との対比です。

沖矢昴

コンセプト ─

何者かは置いておいて、髪形は・・・『ガンダム』のシャア・アズナブルに。その頃夢中になっていた『のだめカンタビーレ』の千秋先輩の髪型を足しました（笑）。千秋先輩の寝癖でピンピン立っている感じを加えました。

正体は？ ─

その正体は、秘密です（笑）バレてるかもしれないけど、皆さんのご想像にお任せします（笑）。

世良真純

コンセプト ─

「探偵甲子園」で出したボクっこの女子高校生探偵・越水七槻がすごい人気で、その子の主演のゲーム企画までやったんですけど。いやいや、犯人ですよって。でも、もったいない、もったいないって言われまして、じゃあ究極のボクっこ出してやるよって。そう思って出してみました。

正体は？ ─

その正体は、秘密です（笑）。いや、赤井秀一がお兄ちゃんだってのは、もうバラしてるか（笑）それ以外は秘密です。

ジン

コンセプト ─

デザインはジンとウオッカ、２人合わせて３０秒ぐらい。で、ジンは、のっぽで長髪。最初はそんな深い設定では考えてませんでしたよ。組織では幹部的な位置づけくらい。それが、なんか続きそうだなって思いまして、じゃあ深く考えようって（笑）。で、いろいろ深く考えました。

殺し屋の美学 ─

愛車は黒のポルシェ356Aで、拳銃はベレッタM1934。とか、ジンにはいろいろこだわりがあるんですが、その方がカッコいいなあと（笑）。殺し屋なので、基本ハードボイルドでカッコよく。目立ち過ぎな気もしますけど、ジンの美学です。

ウオッカ

コンセプト ─

ウオッカはがっしりチビデブ。本当に、推理ものなんてすぐに終わると思っていたので簡単に（笑） えーっと、ジンの子分っていうか、組織もできるやつばっかいると困るから。ジンや組織のメンバーを引き立てたり「大丈夫ですかい」とかツッコミを入れるワトソン役的な感じですかね。

サングラスの奥 ─

サングラスを取ったら、どんな目をしてるか・・・？最初からサングラスをかけたままデザインして描いてきたから、オレですら知らない（笑）どんな目をしてるかは、読者の皆さんのご想像にお任せします（笑）

キャンティ

コンセプト ─

ジンに媚びないキャラを出したかったんですよ。アゲハ蝶のタトゥーはカッコイイなと思って。設定もいろいろあってセリフも考えて「私の蝶が羽ばたく時、人が死ぬ」って両目を開けて撃つから、羽ばたけねえってボツに（笑）あとセリフはちょっと〇ッチ系で。」

ジンとは同格 ─

組織でコードネームを持っているメンバーは基本的にみんな同格な感じ。コルンも含めてジンとも同格かな。たまたま、今回の作戦でチームを組んでみたら、ジンがリーダー的になったというだけですね。

コルン

コンセプト ─

無口、朴訥。ほかにはいない個性派。こういうキャラもいたほうが面白いでしょ。顔も、組織の誰にも似ないようにしました。でもスナイパーとしての腕はいいですよ、かなり！ただし、キャンティも含めて、それよりスゴイのが赤井です。生きてれば（笑）

ベルモットが嫌い ─

スナイパー仲間だったカルバドスを見殺しにしたベルモットを嫌っていますね。カルバドスと特別仲が良かったとかはないんですけど、同じスナイパーとして許せないんじゃないですかね。キャンティは女だから余計に。

ベルモット

コンセプト ─

悪い方の峰不二子。いい方は有希子ですね～。悪い不二子ちゃんが、ベルモット。有希子は髪型とかまんま不二子ですけど（笑）。悪人と善人で、真ん中から分けた感じ。ただ２人とも髪を描くのが大変で、ベルツリー急行の時の対決は本当に・・・でも描いていて面白かったし、見どころですね～

ジンとの関係は？ ─

組織での立場は置いておいて。ベルモットがジンのことを好きだったことが、昔はあったんじゃないのかなあ。ジンと深く付き合ってたことも・・・ただジンは誰かを好きになるってことはないから、ベルモットの方から。

バーボン

コンセプト ─

赤井でもなく昴でもないキャラ（笑）で『コナン』では初めての、肌が黒くて髪が白いキャラに。昔『YAIBA』でジュエルってキャラがいましたけど。当時は白髪に合わせて、スクリーントーン切り抜くのが、大変でした（笑）今は処理がデジタルだから描くのは楽になったね（笑）。

正体は？ ─

赤井のことを恨みに思っていることは確か。あと、ネットとかでもいろいろ噂されてますけどね～。秘密です（笑）これからの展開を楽しみにしていてください。

鉄刀（ヤイバ）

コンセプト ─

モデルは、子供の頃から大好きなちばてつや先生の『おれは鉄平』の鉄平です。本当に『鉄平』読んで、剣道始めたくらい大好きで。鉄平が雷神剣を持ったみたいな感じで描きました。鉄平の方が頭いいですけどね（笑）

コナンとの共通点 ─

あきらめないし、泣かない。主人公だから基本的に同じ。コナンも探偵団の前では、刃と一緒で鉄平な感じでしょ。ただコナンは新一になると、「あしたのジョー」の矢吹丈になるんですけどね（笑）

コナンとの共演は？ ─

コナンとの共演？お母さんは出てたけどね（笑）平次の母親の静華が中学時代に準優勝した剣道大会で、優勝したのが刃の母親の椿美智子（旧姓）。顔は刃の妹の諸羽です（笑）刃もどっかにいるんだろうね～、火星とか（笑）

Q：10巻で平次は効果を知りながら、コナン君にパイカルを飲ませたのでしょうか！？

A：飲ませたのは偶然だよ！ネット陰謀論だねそれは（笑）

Q：世良の元へ、「魔法使いにはもう会えたのか？」という内容のメールがお兄さんから届きましたが、それは”秀兄”からのものでしょうか！？

A：世良ちゃんは、「秀にいは死んだ」って言ってるでしょ！？てことは・・・（笑）

Q：世良は、コナンくんと以前にも会っている様子ですが、それは新一の時とコナンの時のどちらでしょうか！？

A：深くは言えないけど・・・蘭にも会っているよ（笑）。

Q：宮野明美に対してだけは、「江戸川コナン」ではなく、自分で「工藤新一」と名乗りましたが、なにか理由があったんでしょうか！？

A：この人はもう助からないと思ったんだよ。もしあの後、宮野が病院に運ばれて奇跡的に助かったらどうすんだよお前！！って思ったけど（笑）

Q：毒薬と言われたり、副作用で体が小さくなると言われている、APTX4869の真の効果を教えてください！

A：うん。それはまあ、言えないね（笑）

Q：コナン、灰原以外にも、現時点で薬を飲んで小さくなってしまった子供はいるのでしょうか？

A：さあどうでしょう（笑）今後もしかしたら出てくるかもね（笑）

Q：シルバーブレットを完成させるために、なぜ灰原は両親と別れなければならなかったのでしょうか？

A：それも、言っちゃいけないよね（笑）ちゃんと回収しますから、大丈夫です。覚えておいてね！（笑）

Q：板倉のソフトは今後重要になってくるんでしょうか？

A：わざわざ出したってことは、重要ってことだよね（笑）

Q：ちなみに、どんなものなのかというのは・・・

A：アハハハハハ！！（笑）とにかく覚えておいてください！！（笑）

Q：夏でもスーツ姿を貫くジンとウオッカには、何か秘密があるのでしょうか！？普通なら、暑くて我慢すらできないと思うのですが・・・

A：ジンがYシャツ1枚だったらおかしいでしょ？（笑）だから、実はこの2人は夏に出しづらいキャラでもあるんだよね（笑）ジン、ウオッカ、キャンティ、コルンは、着込んでるから（笑）

あれ描くの面倒くさいんだ（笑）。基本的に、黒ずくめは全員面倒！ベルモットなんか、「やめて！」って感じ（笑）

Q：宮野明美から赤井へのメールで、「もしも組織から抜けることができたら・・・」の後のＰ・Ｓ部分の内容は何だったのでしょうか！？

A：大丈夫です！！！（笑）あとで全部回収しますよ。

Q：最後に、「あの方」の正体を教えて貰うことは・・・

A：ワハハハハハ！！（笑）じゃあ、特別に教えてあげよう（笑）実はね、

ごにゃごにょ・・・

◎えええええ───────！！！

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Asahi Evening Newspaper Interview (no raw)

Asahi Evening Newspaper, published January 6, 2014
Translated by: bluesun
Originally sourced from : http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG1534JCG15PUUB001.html (page dead)

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'The Boss of the Black Organisation has already appeared' --Conan author, Aoyama-san
Image: Aoyama Goushou-san answering fan questions at Yurashuku, Hokuei.

On the 4th, Aoyama Goushou-san, the manga artist known for "Detective Conan" interacted with around 400 fans from around Japan in Hokuei, in his home prefecture of Tottori. The event, held at the town's Daiei Rural Environment Improvement Centre[大栄農村環境改善センター] to celebrate Aoyama-san's annual homecoming was full of excitement.

This year, the series has been running for 20 years. With the story nearing its climax, fans asked him pressing questions one after another. When asked "What gender is the boss of the Black Organisation", Aoyama-san wryly grinned and said "I can't say". "[The boss] has already appeared. And it's not Prof. Agasa." he followed up by saying, and the audience was filled with laughter.

Another fan also followed up by asking "By saying 'the boss has already appeared', does that mean his face has appeared too?", but he laughed and said "You never know. That's a bit of a secret. Wait and find out. I can't say."

When asked about tricks he uses when designing characters, he answered "I usually always draw the culprit first. If, say, the culprit has drooping eyes, then the supporting characters will have slanted eyes, or be looking aside. Drawing culprits that don't look like culprits is the trick."

At the event, there were quiz games held to predict Aoyama-san's answers, and a rock-paper-scissors tournament with the winner to have their name appear in the manga. The winner, Oono Kouhei-kun (6) [note: reading may be wrong -- JP is 大野康平君（６）], from the fourth district of Wakabadaikita, Tottori, said "I'm so happy. I'm so excited". (By Satoshi Yamazaki)

Monthly Conan Newspaper 2014 (partial raw)

March (part 1) 2014 and April (part 2) 2014 edition of the Monthly Conan Newspaper
Translated by: meitanteikonan blogspot page
Part 1: http://meitanteikonanplot.blogspot.in/2014/03/special-post-two-part-1-interview-with.html
Part 2: http://meitanteikonanplot.blogspot.in/2014/04/special-post-two-part-2-interview-with.html

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(This interview comes from my translation of the interview posted in the March 14th "Detective Conan Newspaper". I will try to buy next month's issue and post the rest of the interview)

An extra long interview that lasted over 2 hours with Detective Conan creator Aoyama Gosho (50). This time, he talks about the black orginization, how he creates tricks for cases, Kaito Kid...and he gives a full report on his future plans.

So... Please Enjoy! ^o^

I(Interviewer): So, It seems you have decided on the overall ending already right? Have you even planed the final scene?

A(Aoyama): On January 4 this year (2014) I went on a kind of talk show event held in my hometown in Tottori Prefecture, called "Let's Have a Chat with Aoyama Gosho Day!! 2014". And, there we had talked about the black orginization, and the identity of their Boss. I had revealed that the Boss was someone that has already made an appearance and we already know their full name. So, it's a character we already know, and we also know their full name, but there has been some mistake that has gotten out there.It's been going around the internet...and it's wrong!!

I: That would be that it's Professor Agasa...

A: Right right. And it's even being said that it's the woman that Agasa liked, Fusae-chan ( Fusae Campbell Kinoshita), but that's wrong too. hahaha. Even personally, I think their story ended up beautifully. And it's been said many times that that story is just too nice, and that it just has to be her, but I don't think I want to have that be a major plot point.

I: So, at the present moment, are there no other hints about the identity of "that person".

A: No, not for now. Just please look forward to it. (laughs)

I: So then, the black orginization is full of mysteries. But, what sort of orginization are they, and what is their goal? World Conquest?

A: Well, the world....or rather, they want control of lot's of money. They're moving stealthily in the shadows...sort of like (Al) Capone did right? Or, sort of like the image of the bad guys in 007 or something...sitting there stroking a cat. It's probably best not to say too much.

I: Is there any standard procedure when you're drawing the black orginization?

A: As for the members, like Gin or Vodka, their names must be some type of alcohol. But, I'm running low on different types. They're all distilled alcohols. And the girls, like Sherry and Vermouth, are named after sweet alcohols. (As for why) I just think it sounds cool.

I: And as for Haibara Ai, did you intend from the start to have her on the side of the black orginization, or did you always plan to have her develop in the way she has?

A: Yeah, even in volume 2 she had already made an appearance, though it was just a silhouette. And, because she's was a character sort of in between Conan and the orginization, her name Haibara (灰原) came from Haiiro (灰色) meaning grey.

I: The movie that came out at the end of last year "Lupin the 3rd VS Detective Conan THE MOVIE" (The second cross over movie) there's a scene where Haibara gets in the bath with Mine Fujiko. So, what direction is Haibara going from here on out?

A: Hahaha....Yeah, I don't know. I guess nature will have to take it's course (Laughs) The bathing scene was a little surprising. At first, my editor handed me the story board and was like "Aoyama-sensei, there's a scene here where Haibara gets in the bath with Fujiko!" And, I had read the script and didn't remember there being a scene like that in there. So, when I asked if we should have them cut it, he said that Monkey-sensei (Monkey Punch: the creator of Lupin the 3rd) requested there be a scene with Fujiko in the bath. So, I thought, if it's going to be in there I wanted it to be cool, so I added a bunch of lines, and there was a lot of content that got cut. There probably aren't any manga artists who are cutting things from animations. But I had originally wanted to be an animator.

Haibara's lines are my true intentions

I: The lines that Haibara says when she's merely muttering to herself are impressive and actually very poetic.

A: The only person thinking them up is me, so I struggle with it. She herself is an easy character to write, because the things she says, I could say in real life. The things I couldn't have Conan say inspire what Haibara says. And you could say that those things are my true intentions. If there were someone that killed a person to protect a bear, Haibara would look at them with an angry face and say "You can't take animal rights that far", but if it were Conan he would say some harsh words. Because they'll say some indiscreet line with a stern face, Haibara and Kogoro are valuable.

I: Even if Kogoro is an idiot who's always joking around, he does have some cool moments doesn't he.

A: I created him with the image of just a generally bad detective. He has a habit of misreading things, but he's actually very important. When he should be cool, he isn't. He's very easy to write. I can easily write some perverted thing I'm thinking. I'm probably most like Kogoro.

I: So it's safe to say that your true intentions/thoughts are hidden in Haibara and Kogoro's lines?

A: Yes, those two are very easy to write.

I: How do you think up the tricks?

A: It's painful. Every time it's very difficult. But, there are times when my editor will also come to me with an idea. When we go into a meeting I'll ask "have you seen anything interesting recently? Have you read any novels? Is there anything we could use?" and if there's anything interesting, we'll use it. Of course, we'll end up changing everything about it though. And then we'll start asking various people things. My younger brother is a doctor so, I'll ask him about the time of death, rigor mortis, how much postmortem lividity appears etc. It's important to wring out the foundation.

I: Do you ever try out the tricks in real life?

A: For ones we can test, we test mostly all of them. A long time ago there was one where an answering machine was used as a tape recorder and then the tape was recovered. We had to actually test that. And just recently we tested if you could float a tomato on water using salt. We wanted to know how much salt would it take. And in order to get it to float, you have to put a ton of salt in the water. So, we didn't know what to do with that. But, at first, if you put just enough salt in there so that it's not quite floating, but it hasn't quite sunken either, and then you just barely sprinkle a tiny bit more in, it floats right to the top. And I thought that was really cool.

I: If you test things too much you'd probably get hurt wouldn't you.

I: There is a lot of variation in the stories, but do you ever reference cases that occurred in real life?

A: Actually I don't reference cases that have actually happened. That would probably be a little inconsiderate. But, actually a few weeks after I had drawn the Bus Jacking case, something similar to that had occurred in real life. I thought "Oh man, this is bad. Should I stop drawing Conan." Although, I could probably use cases from a long time ago. Like the "3 hundred million yen case" (He is referencing the largest heist in Japanese history. It occurred in 1968 in Tokyo, and has yet to be solved.) But I couldn't reference cases that are still ongoing or that have recently occurred. It might seem like I'm making fun of it, or making light of it, and that wouldn't be good.

I: Of the tricks and the story, which do you think of first?

A: Without a doubt, the tricks. And then I write a story for the tricks. Because I start with the most difficult thing and go from there. The trick will take about a half a day, or about 6 hours. If it goes quickly, maybe 3 hours. But even in 1 day, there's stuff I can't get done. There are times when I'll only get to sleep about an hour and a half. So, I'll be like "I'm gonna sleep, so hang on a little while."

I: Of these past 20 years, what trick are you most satisfied with?

A: Hmm...What would that be? Maybe I should ask you that. But, the code with the sun and the moon (vol 12), the secret to that was originally from Sherlock Holmes in "The Adventure of the Dancing Men". That's one that you can figure out on your own. That's also the first Holmes story I read. I was really excited and very moved. I was a kid, so I couldn't read English, but I still thought it was really cool. Even if it said, this person is an "L", as a kid it still didn't click immediately and I would read it while referencing the dictionary.I was in about 2nd or 3rd grade. I thought "wow, Holmes is cool. I want to do that someday."　

I: Where do you get the news and lingo related to the police and investigations?

A: I've asked the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. They'll tell me various things.

Kid is a sneaky character

I: Kid is also a very popular character. Could you tell us the details of his creation, and your future plans for him? Is he going to be involved with Conan and the black orginization?

A: Well, he's originally from my previous work called "Magic Kaito". I created that because I really liked Arsene Lupin and Lupin the 3rd. And recently he got involved a little with the black orginization during the Bell Tree Express case (the mystery train case from vol 78) but from here on out I don't think he will very much. Kaito Kid is a very sneaky character. He can disguise himself, and he can change his voice and stuff. It's better if he's an enemy. He's too sneaky to be an ally. There are a lot of female fans of his, but I don't plan on bringing him out too much.(wry smile)

I: There are creators who decide how much a character will make and appearance completely on their own.

A:Yeah, there are. Just freely doing whatever they want. When there's a movie, saying things like "No, don't have them say something like that" and then changing everything. Then they'll notice how it ends and really just change everything.

I: The Conan anime is faithful to the original.

A: Yeah, that's because it's a very long story. If it wasn't faithful to it, it would become inconsistent. And at the beginning I asked them to please do just as the original does.

I: When a movie comes out, I heard you are very involved.

A: I am. There's the feeling with a movie that you can do larger scale things that you couldn't do in a manga.

I: I also heard that there was an idea to set something up that would link the "Lupin the 3rd VS Conan THE MOVIE" with the 18th Conan movie "The Sniper from another Dimension".

A: The setting is the "Tree" but we weren't allowed to use the name "Sky Tree" (The Tokyo Sky Tree is a tower recently built in Tokyo). They weren't sure about having people dying there. They were probably right about that. (wry smile)

I: I guess there aren't too many differences between making it a movie, or for TV, but the TV series is steadily becoming larger scale.

A: Just as long as they don't interfere with the original.

I: Last year the Conan series was awarded the Fujimoto's "Special Series Award". There was an award recognizing the people who make it, and as one of the great anime which have crossed over to become movies.

A: Yeah, that's amazing isn't it.

I: Even as a movie and anime, you're still pretty involved aren't you?

A: I feel I might as well get involved. At first I was just going to completely leave it up to them, but then I thought, well, I better not. And I ended up changing things on all the scripts. And I was wondering if that's really something a manga artist does. It was a lot of work. After I would finish the name (the term for the "story board" like stage of a manga) I would read scripts and check them. That's a lot of work.

Q(Questioner): So, you originally wanted to be an animator, and in college you were part of a manga study group. Why did you change to wanting to become a manga artist?

A(Aoyama): That's because I like making stories. And, I also like manga. And, I couldn't just suddenly go from wanting to be an animator, to wanting to be a director. But, as a manga artist, I'm really effectively always working as a director. So, really, it's just because I wanted to write stories.

Q: But it seems your father was completely opposed to it right?

A: Not just my dad, but really my whole family was opposed to the idea. They told me I should probably stop, when I told them I would become a manga artist. They said "I knew an illustrator. He could draw a crab so life-like that it looked like it would jump off the page. But despite that, he died poor. Do you want to be like that?" But, from the time "Magic Kaito" came out their responses changed. I always go back to my hometown on New Year's and I'll draw pictures and sign autographs that people requested from my family, and one time, I was sitting in the living room drawing, and my old man came in, he asked me to draw (Nakamori) Aoko-chan, and I just thought "Yes, I won!"(Laughs)

Q: By the advice of your upperclassman in college, you decided to aim for your manga debut, but originally you took your manuscript to a different company? Is that right?

A: It was Kodansha's weekly published Shonen Magazine. When I drew the prototype for Magic Kaito, I got an honorable mention or something, and just when I was thinking I was gonna draw for that magazine, the editor changed and the new guy didn't seem to like my style. He said "If you want to continue, you'll need to change your drawing and writing style." I didn't really like the sound of that, and and editor at the time, who would later become editor-in-chief, told me that if I didn't think changing my style sounded good, then I should probably just go to a different magazine. So I went right on to Shonen Sunday and made my debut drawing non-serialized stories.

Q: Did you ever think you would fail as a manga artist, or did you regret your decision?

A: I completely thought that. I didn't think it would be this busy! It's more difficult being a manga artist than becoming a manga artist. When you're new, you want to hurry and get a serialized story before you're forgotten so you spend every day drawing names (Rough story boards for manga), but once you actually get serialized, it's way busier. (Before you're serialized) It's beyond your imagination. "Detective Conan" is particularly busy. In the days I was drawing "YAIBA" it was way more peaceful. The pictures were difficult, because it was an action manga. If I hurried I could get the names done in about a day, and could get everything finished in about 5 or 6 days. Then, with my left over time I'd go play baseball. My assistant would be like "Let's go play ball!" And, I still had free time left over. If I tried to do that while making "Conan" it'd be too difficult...

Q: Usually, your work week is 3 days for the name, and 4 days for the manuscript?

A: Yes. And my daily routine is usually, I go to sleep at about 10 am, and wake up at around 1 pm, that's when my assistants usually arrive. I'll usually write a sign that says something like "Wake me up when you get here -Aoyama-" So, my sleep time is about 3 hours. It's usually like that. I'll work and then at around midnight I'll usually get tiered and tell them I'm gonna go sleep for about 30 minutes. They'll wake me up, and we'll work through to morning. And that goes on and on for 20 years. (Laughs)

Q: What about your meals?

A: When I wake up, I'll always eat udon or soba or something. Then at about 7 pm I'll usually order something. I'm always ordering delivery. But in the middle of the night I'll go to a convenience store or something. A long time ago, sometimes my assistants would make something. Now that we're working off computers we're even more busy and my assistants don't have time to make any food either. Our dinner is from a convenience store! My favorite thing from there is oden. It's delicious and healthy.

Q: After 20 years of working, have your methods changed?

A: After about 3 hours of work, I'll take about a 30 to an hour and a half break. Maybe sleep for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes sleep, I'm rested enough.

Q: Do you have any superstitions?

A: When I'm about to start work I'll spin my chair before I sit down. It's sort of become a habit.

Q: Do you ever think "Based on that spin, it feels like today's gonna be a good day"?

A: No, not really. (laughs) It's just a stupid habit of mine.

Q: I heard that tendinitis is common among manga artists, but do you take any precautionary measures?

A: Well, it seemed like I was headed in the direction of developing it, so, probably over 10 years ago I switched to using milipens (type of pen). A long time ago I just used the regular G-pen, but that requires more pressure and my hands would hurt, but when I draw with milipens I could draw all the lines very easily. "YAIBA" was completely drawn by pen, but I guess "Conan" was only done with pen in the beginning. With the thick and thin lines in Conan, with a regular pen you could just do it with one stroke, but with a milipen, you have to go over it several times to get the right thickness. If you're a person who's never used a pen, then you won't know that amount of pressure that needs to be applied, so if you're just starting out as a manga artist, please use a pen. An other thing that's changed is the about 3 or 4 years ago we switched to using computers for the drawing, and we don't have to apply tone by hand anymore.

Q: The Conan movie that is coming to theaters in April "The Sniper from a Different Dimension", it has some very pivotal and mysterious characters like Akai Shuichi and Okiya Subaru making their first appearances in a movie, and they seem to play a key role.

A: Well, I can't really say too much, but if you go see it, a "certain something" gets confirmed in the movie. It may be the first time a movie gets there before the manga on a main plot point. If you're a fan, you won't want to miss it. It's very cool.

Q: In the manga, Akai presence has been gradually becoming felt.

A: It's a very scary and cool image. In the manga, various mysteries are going to be cleared up. Of course that is to be expected from a mystery series. (laughs) Like the waterfall that Holmes fell over with Professor Moriarty (Reichenbach), the place where Akai was shot was called Raiha Ridge. (Reichenbach in Japanese is ライヘンバッハ or Raihenbahha which if you take out the middle becomes "Raiha") And after Holmes fell into the falls, he was still alive right?

Q: So that's a clue isn't it.

A: Yeah. Of course I'm a big Holmes fan. But Akai's name I took from from "Mobile Suit Gundam".

Q: In the explanation of the key characters on the site for the movie, it is written that the FBI investigator James Black is a fan of Mine Fujiko. Was that decision influenced by the "Lupin VS Conan" movie?

A: That's sort of a fan service. It's sort of interesting when stuff like that is written. Black knows about various things. And those character explanations were also written by me. At first, only Akai's was long, so I made the others match his length, and added the bit about Fujiko.

Q: Nowadays, the manga artists of the original work are becoming more and more involved with the theatrical version of the movies as well, but I've never heard of the original author even writing the character profiles on the movie's site.

A: Am I the most involved manga artist? I just added a few notes to what the advertising department wrote. There were several hints in the parts I wrote. I wrote several very fishy things.

Q: Why is it that you are so involved?

A: I just like anime. I originally wanted to be an animator after all. I just ask if I can see any news before they release it. They let me get away with a lot.

Q: Speaking of originally wanting to be an animator, what do you think about the anime series?

A: There are times when I think "thank you for taking it to such an extent," but there are also times when I think about how they went through such trouble to draw it, and it's ended up like this. When things are good I tell the editor over the phone "tell them they're doing a good job."

Q: The anime has things that the manga doesn't like sound and movement. Have there been any other effects by the anime on the Conan world?

A: Yeah, in the "Moonlight Sonata Murder Case" (manga volume 7, anime episode 11) Beethoven's Sonata "Moonlight" is flowing through Moonshadow Island. You can't hear the music in the manga. When I was drawing it I could here it myself, but that can't be conveyed to the reader. But it can to the viewer with the anime. I thought that was really cool and exciting.

Q: Do you ever take inspiration from other manga artists who have had long running series or manga that have been made into successful anime, or from voice actors?

A: Of course. I'm influenced strongly by the voice of the actors, definitely. I'll have an idea for the voice of a character in my head. Conan is voiced by Takayama Minami, and Mitsuhiko, at first I sort of was drawing him with more of a mischievous face, sort of like Suneo (a character from Doraemon), but Otani Ikue has a cute voice, so I started drawing him with a cuter face. And Conan always says "あれれ？(roughly, a cutesy kid way of saying "Oh? What's this?")". Originally he said that in the first volume but didn't really say it after that, but when Takayama said it in the anime, it was cute, and I started having him say it more. In the beginning, it was only my influence on the drawings, but the influence of others is good. I'm very glad, and I'd like to say thank you very much.

Q: You like sports too right? I heard you like the Giants, and soccer. So, what do you think about Japan in the World Cup this year?

A: It's great isn't it. I like Honda Keisuke who went to AC Milan. I was thinking "this guy is good" before he started really making a name for himself. He's got a big mouth doesn't he. He looks cool. He's a man of his word. He's number 10 for AC Milan....that's so cool. It seems like he's gonna do something really great. I hope he gives it his all.

Q: Do you watch European Soccer?

A: I used to a long time ago. I really liked (former Italian player) Roberto Baggio. I liked Serie A. And I really liked Juventus because Baggio originally played with them. Their uniform was really cool too, with the black stripes. It actually influenced the uniform of the Tokyo Spirits in my manga. So, yeah, I like Juventus. Usually I'll take a vacation once every 4 years, and I'll go see the World Cup. I went to see in person the '98 France World Cup, with Japan vs Argentina. I'm gonna go with my editor this year too.

Q: Conan's Super Kick Shoes have soccer influences as well don't they.

A: Conan began serialization in '94, and it was around that time that the J-league had just started ('93). So, I'm sorry for hopping on a fad like that.

Q: There are also Kendo and martial arts motifs aren't there.

A: That's because I was in the Kendo club at school.

Q: Changing topics, about a news paper, you haven't designed one have you?

A: No, I haven't. But the Nikkan Sports News Paper printed a full page advertisement of the Bell Tree Express. I was so happy. I framed it and hung it in my room.

Q: Sports newspapers themselves play important roles here and there don't they. With the Sumo wrestling record chart etc., I'm glad the contents in real life are different than the story. But anyway, lastly, could you give a message to your fans, especially the young people.

A: Thank you for supporting me these past 20 years. And thank you for your future support as well. If you're thinking "should I give up on becoming a manga artist? Is it too difficult?" No...I have fan letters saying "I think I want to be a manga artist.", but I just want to say, be prepared, and resolute.

Q: When you've ended Conan, are there any themes you'd like to try out?

A: Journey to the West! I really like it. And, I wanted to do something like that. But, well, too many years have gone by. If this were when I was drawing YAIBA, I could easily do it, but now it would be too hard. I'd like to draw some kind of Science Fiction too. That'd be good. If I could have a break from Conan, I'd draw that. (laughs)

Q: Lastly, could you give a few words to the readers of the Monthly Conan Newspaper, about the core of Conan.

A: The next movie is a production that couldn't be done as a manga. It could only be done as a movie, and it's very cool. It couldn't be done in the manga, and it has a lot of ties to the original story. This could only be done in anime. And, because this couldn't be done with manga, there's a ton of action packed cool stuff in it. Normally, the movie wouldn't go ahead of the original work and reveal something about the story. This is the first time. If people think "What? Is that all?" I don't know what I'll do. (Laughs) We can probably only do this with a movie. You'll probably think "Ah, I see." So, please look forward to it.

(The End)

Part 1 Raw

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Gosho Aoyama X Yomuri Giants Hayato Sakamoto (WITH RAW)

青山剛昌X坂本勇人SP対談(クロストーク)
Officially released in the March 16th, 2016 Shonen Sunday #16,
but happened the previous week

  Show spoilers »

Special Post March 2016, Aoyama Gosho Interview.

Gosho Aoyama and Hayato Sakamoto Cross-Talk. Creator of Detective Conan and The Yomiuri Giants' Captain.

Why is it you became a fan of Sakamoto's, Mr. Aoyama?

Aoyama: Well, I've been a fan since he was first drafted. At that time, I was very pleased with the scout Omori, and I had wondered what sort of player he would bring in. I thought "well, he's a little thin, but he looks like he can hit." (laughs) I had a good feeling about him when watching him play. He really stands out from the crowd! I've been a fan since then. Today's the first time we've met, and I couldn't believe it was really him. (laughs) It felt like is was still looking at a TV. Sorry. (laughs)

Mr. Sakamoto, today's the first time you've met, so what's your first impression of Mr. Aoyama

Sakamoto: My first impression? Just "this is the guy who draws Conan!" (laughs) I'm a big fan of manga and I've got an autograph I received before in the locker room. I'm gonna put the picture I got today there too.

What do you think about the role Sakamoto played in last year's season

Aoyama: While I was in the hospital they didn't have Nippon TV G+ so I only got to see highlights on the news, and that was difficult. (laughs) Also, I hadn't realized Sakamoto was batting cleanup. That surprised me when I noticed.

Sakamoto: It was my first year as captain of the Giants, so I'm getting a lot of new experiences. It was my first time batting 4th as well. My record wasn't that good, but all in all it was a good year.

You're both professionals in your respective fields, so you must encounter some real difficulties.

Aoyama: Well, first, I really worried about whether I could draw a serialized comic. I felt like I wouldn't have any more ideas after 3 months. The first year or two was really difficult. (laughs)

Sakamoto: For me, it's that we've got a game every day. That's physically tiring of course, but also you have to play in front of forty thousand people, and that's very mentally exhausting. How many hours do you usually spend drawing manga?

Aoyama: When I'm in production, I only sleep about 3 hours a night.

Sakamoto: And the rest of the time you're drawing manga?

Aoyama: Or watching the Giants. (laughs)

Sakamoto: Thank you very much. (laughs) I've gotta be able to run around so sleep's very important. I get about 7 or 8 hours. So, you don't get any time off?

Aoyama: Time off? No, no!

How about right after you've finished the manuscript

Aoyama: Ah, that's when I'll watch the Giants game they've won. On nights they've won, it gets broadcast on Nippon TV G+. So, I'll record it and watch it later to refresh myself. (laughs)

Sakamoto: Haha! You really do like the Giants don't you!?

Aoyama: I've been a fan since the Nagashima days. (Shigeo Nagashima: coach of the Giants from 1972 - 1980, and 1993 - 2001) How do you feel about the change of coaches?

Sakamoto: It's my first experience with that. It feels fresh and exciting.

Aoyama: Can I say this? For me personally, I want Sakamoto to be batting third. Then I want you to get .300 average with 30 homers...then once you do that, please make an appearance in Conan!! Also, I want you to go a year without injuries.

Sakamoto: A .300 Avg. and 30 home runs! Since you're expecting it I'll do it. Then we'll aim toward winning the Japan Series. After I do that you put me in Conan? (laughs)

Aoyama: Definitely! (laughs) I'll be supporting you with all my might this year!!　

Raw Images

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Movie 20 interview CimemaToday (WITH RAW)

「名探偵コナン」漫画家・青山剛昌インタビュー：劇場版で原作者として名前がクレジットされる意味
http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/A0004961
April 14, 2016

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Q: Both anime and movies have been running for 20 years. How do you feel like?

A: "20 years already!"... That's the general feeling (laughs) I think it's surprising that it's come this far. I didn't think that the weekly magazine chapters would last this long. But I got to admit that the ammount of things I want do is steadily increasing. (laughs)

Q: You surely didn't think that a confrontation between the FBI, the PSB and the BO would become reality in the movies, did you? (NOTE: I know Amuro is not PSB but that's what's written in the interview. My hypothesis about why: the movie staff assumed Amuro was PSB and Gosho then thought of making him NPA but by then the script couldn't be rewritten)

A: And that's the main dish of this movie. It's been made with the idea of "let's do this!". In the manga it's pretty hard to properly draw an action scene so there are some aspects that it can't portray. The confrontation between Akai Shuuichi (FBI Investigator) and Amuro Tooru (PSB-affiliated) is an aspect I wanted to do in this movie, so I thought that we could have them fight in the movie (laughs). I want fans to see this confrontation scene, I really do.

Q: Does it happen that the anime and/or the movie staff come to you with an idea, with "we want do this/that"?

A: It more or less happens every year. They want to do something. It's not that they ask for this or that to be specially made for "this work (episode/movie)", it's always like this. When there are things hard to do in the manga. When I want to make things explode or draw a large-scale action in the manga then my assistants start crying (laughs). I think of doing things that can be done in a movie.

Q: Would that mean that it was your idea to make the BO appear in this movie?

A: The reason the BO come out is the because the producer told me he wanted to do that since it's the 20th movie (laughs). But they've placed a lot of energy into it, really. A lot of ideas came up at the draft stage.

Q: It'd seem that you're working on an original illustration this year as welll...

A: That's correct. I drew Akai and Amuro on this illustration as well. There's another character, someone surprising, that shows up in that illustration too, so... Try searching for that illustration in the theater (laughs).

Q: It'd seem that you're also supervising other things apart from the illustration...

A: Yes. I check the script and the storyboards as well. I'm more involved than the usual because the BO show up in this movie. I don't want trouble to pop out because the setting is wrong. The anime staff have been asking me a lot of questions ever since the drafting stage. And I shared the identity of the BO's "Boss" with the director and the producer of the anime staff. Because I think that, since they're making a story about the BO, I must explain that to them: else they wouldn't understand (laughs).

Q: Those words Ran said at the end [of the trailer] were surprising. Did you come up with them?

A: But of course I did! That line wasn't there at the beginning [of the project]. I inserted it when I went over the script but the storyboard at the time was almost finished, looked like there wouldn't be time [to fit the scene in] and it was about to be cut. But I thought those words were a must so I brought them back.

Q: If you say that supervised the draf and the storyboards then you must surely hold the post of General Supervisor, don't you?

A: It's something obvious in the "Conan" team. I feel like I don't join them because I don't see the need to join the team. I'm satisfied with writing the manga. When I see (other anime movies') manga authors being billed as General Supervisors, I end up thinking "What in the..." (laughs).

Q: What would you do if they offered you to work in building a script from the very start?

A: I think that I might do that but if I were to do that then I would have to stop working on the weekly manga chapters... It's a difficult topic. If I were to do it I'd rather prefer to be the director. I'd like to draw a confrontation with Kaito Kid or the BO. Maybe I should come up with one... (laughs).

Q: You introduce all kinds of detectives in the Conan volumes' cover sleeve, the "Aoyama Gosho Detective Encyclopedia". A lot of detectives of movies and novels show up. Despite how busy you are you do check out other movies and drama series.

A: I watch a lot of movies. It's hard to read novels (laughs) but you can see a film in 2 hours. I also check out drama series and mystery series. As of late I enjoy watching "Clinical Criminologist Himura Hideo's Deductions" every week.

Q: Is there a movie that you like a lot?

A: "Amalfi: Rewards of the Goddess" (2009). I like it a lot: and it's not just because the guest voice actress acting in this movie [Movie 20] Amami Yuki - san [Silver-haired woman role] is acting on it. I watch it a lot of times when I feel blocked or without ideas. It's a very good movie, from the start to the end. I like the lines by the characters too so I rewatch it a lot.

Q: Is there some aspect of movies that you see that gets reflected when you work on your works?

A: There is. The previous movie, Movie 19 "Sunflowers of Inferno", had elements from "Towering Inferno" (1974). Movie 13 "The Raven Chaser" had elements from "Blue Sunday" (1983). There are ideas born from having seen some movie. They can be used as examples and it's easy to explain to the movie staff by saying "like that scene of that film".

Q: How do you come up with the tricks?

A: I and the editor in charge come up with most of them. We talk a lot in the workspace but our chat begins with "Have you seen anything interesting movies as of late?". We come up with a lot of ideas so we pick up the tricks that we could use. We do that everytime and it's hard (laughs).

Q: Does it happen a lot that the trick takes up more time than the story in your meetings?

A: It does happen. The story is faster. The tricks take up a lot of time. I think that the time to come up with the story is about 2 hours and the time needed for the tricks is about 8 hours more or less. It's pretty difficult. And we experiment as much as we can to see if the trick can be really used. The trick in the chapter being published in the Sunday magazine now (File 954-957) has been properly tested, truth to be told (laughs).

Q: Do you think on the anime when you draw the original manga chapters?

A: I do think that "this might be hard to express in the anime" so I express it in a certain manner. It can be the movement between the panels, or a trick explanation that might be hard to do in the anime, trying to change the schedules.... Ah. But it's not like I think a lot about it (laughs). I draw the manga in my own manner.

Q: In the movie the BO is portrayed as gigantic but Gin and Vodka are riding in an amusement park's roller coaster in the 1st chapter of the manga. Was it on your schedule from the start that the BO would become such a big thing?

A: I'll leave that up to your imagination. But it's pretty rare that Gin and Vodka were riding the roller coaster... Vodka might've made the queue to buy the tickets and ask for "2 adult tickets", I guess (laughs).

Q: "Conan" has fans that range from small kids to grown-up adults. We'd like of you to give them a message.

A: In some fan letters it was said that, when they were a kid, they found the drawings to be cool. And when they became an adult they could understand the story. So they could enjoy it twice. So, those parts that a small kid can't understand can be checked out when they become adults: and thus they can enjoy "Conan" a lot of times. Adult fans: please enjoy Conan even if you go on aging, don't graduate from it. If you have a son or a daugther... Then please go watch it together (laughs).

Raw Text

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記念すべき20作目となった劇場版『名探偵コナン　純黒の悪夢（ナイトメア）』では、原作漫画のストーリーの根幹となる「黒ずくめの組織」とコナンたちの対決が描かれる。またその構図にFBI（米連邦捜査局）や日本の公安警察も絡み合い、漫画の重要キャラクターが一堂に介することに……。さまざまなエピソードについて原作者の青山剛昌に話を聞いた。（編集部・井本早紀）

◆劇場版20周年を迎えて

Q：アニメと劇場版が20周年を迎えました。今のお気持ちは？

「もう20年!?」という感じがします（笑）。よくここまで続いたなと思いますね。週刊連載についてもここまで続くとは思っていなかったです。まあ、やりたいことはどんどん増えていくんですけれども（笑）。

Q：映画でFBIと公安と「黒ずくめの組織」の対決が実現するなんて思ってもいませんでした。

それは今回の映画の一番の見せ場でもありますしね。「これをやろう！」と思って作っていますから。なかなか、漫画だとアクションシーンはコマを多くとってしまうので、表現しきれない部分があるんです。（FBI捜査官の）赤井秀一と（公安所属の）安室透の対決は今作でやりたかった部分なので、彼らを映画ならではの場所で戦わせてやろうと思いまして（笑）。この対決シーンは、ぜひファンの方に見ていただきたいですね。

Q：アニメや劇場版のスタッフに先生からこういうことをやりたいとアイデアを持ち込むことはあるのでしょうか？

割と毎年そうですよ。こういうことをやろうと。特別に「この作品だけは」とお願いするのではなく、毎回そうなんです。漫画じゃやりづらいところとかね。爆発させたり大規模なアクションを漫画で描いてしまうと、アシスタントを泣かせることになるので（笑）。映画だからできることをしようとは思っています。

Q：ということは今回「黒ずくめの組織」を登場させたのも先生のアイデアなのでしょうか？

劇場版第20弾で「黒ずくめの組織」を出すきっかけは、プロデューサーに言われたから（笑）。でも、かなり気合入れてやりました。原案段階から、たくさんアイデア出していますよ。

◆原案・脚本・原画・画（え）コンテ……毎回総監修を務めている『コナン』シリーズ

Q:今回も先生は原画に携わっているということですが……

そうですね。今回は赤井も安室も描きましたよ。もう一人、意外な人物も原画で描いているので、ぜひ映画館で探してみてください（笑）。

Q：また原画以外にも監修もされていらっしゃるとか。

ええ、脚本も画（え）コンテも全てチェックしています。特に今回の話は「黒ずくめの組織」が登場しますし。設定と違ったことをやられてしまうと困るので。アニメのスタッフとは原案段階から常に相談していますよ。それに監督やアニメスタッフのプロデューサーの方たちには、「黒ずくめ」のボスの正体を共有しているんです。「黒ずくめ」のお話を作る上で、そこは話しておかないとわからないと思いますので（笑）。

Q：ラストの蘭の言葉にはグッときました。あの言葉は青山先生が？

もちろんです！　最初はあのセリフはなかったんです。脚本をチェックしたときに入れていたんですが、画コンテ時点でなくなっていて。時間が足りなくて、カットになりそうだったんです。でもあの言葉がなければならないと思い、なんとか復活させました。

Q：原案や画コンテもチェックされていらっしゃるということで、総監修という立ち位置でも間違いないですよね。

毎回『コナン』チームでは当たり前のことなので、あえて入れる必要はないから入れていないという感じなんです。原作と書かれていれば、それでいいと思うんですよね。（ほかのアニメ映画で）原作者が総監修と銘打たれているのを見ていると、俺は毎回なんだよな～と思ってしまいます（笑）。

Q：もしも先生に一から脚本を手掛けてほしいというオファーが来たらどうしますか？

やりたいとは思いますが、そうなると連載を休まなければならなくなってしまいますので……難しいですよね。もしもやれるのであれば、監督をやりたいです。怪盗キッドや「黒ずくめの組織」との対決を描いてみたいです。ちょっと考えてみようかな（笑）。

◆忙しくともミステリーものは必ずチェック！

Q：「名探偵コナン」コミックスのカバー袖でさまざまな探偵を紹介する「青山剛昌の名探偵図鑑」では、小説から映画まで多くの探偵たちが登場していますが、お忙しい中でも先生は映画やドラマもしっかり観られていますよね。

映画はかなり観ます。小説は読むのは大変ですが（笑）、映画は2時間で観られますから。ドラマもミステリーものは確実に見ています。最近ですと「臨床犯罪学者 火村英生の推理」は毎週楽しみに見ていました。

Q：特に一番好きな映画作品はありますか？

『アマルフィ 女神の報酬』（2009）ですね。今回ゲスト声優の天海祐希さんが出演されていらっしゃるからというわけではないのですが、すごく好きなんですよね。作業が行き詰ったときとか、何回も観ちゃいます。頭から最後まですごくいい映画なんで。セリフとかも好きで観てしまいますね。

Q：映画などをご覧になられて、実際の作品づくりに生かされている部分はあるのでしょうか？

ありますよ。前作の『名探偵コナン　業火の向日葵（ごうかのひまわり）』には、『タワーリング・インフェルノ』（1974）の要素がありますしね。第13弾の『名探偵コナン 漆黒の追跡者（チェイサー）』は『ブルーサンダー』（1983）ですし。アイデアが以前に観た映画から生まれることはあります。またうまく例えると、映画のスタッフにも、「こういう感じか」と伝わりやすいので。

◆漫画のトリック裏話

Q：トリックはどのように考えているのでしょうか？

ほとんど自分と担当編集者だけで考えていますね。「最近面白い映画観た？」から始まって、何時間も仕事場で一緒に話して、案をたくさん出してから、使えそうなトリックをピックアップしています。毎回大変ですよ（笑）。

Q：打ち合わせではストーリーよりもトリックに時間を割かれる場合も多いのでは？

そうですよ。ストーリーの方が早いです。トリックはかなり時間かかっています。話を考える時間とトリックを考える時間は2：8くらいなんじゃないでしょうか。なかなか難しいので。それからトリックはできる限り実験もしているんですよ。今週刊少年サンデーに載っている話（FILE954～957）も、実はきちんと試しています（笑）。

Q：原作漫画を描かれているときに、アニメのことを意識されることも？

アニメになったときに表現しにくそうだから、こういう表現にしておこうかなということを考えたりはしますね。コマの間の動きであったり、アニメでやりづらそうなトリックの説明は、予定と変えてみたりとか……。あ、でもそんなには考えていないです（笑）。漫画は自分勝手に描いています。

Q：映画では「黒ずくめの組織」の巨大さも描かれていますが、漫画の第1話ではジンとウォッカは遊園地のジェットコースターに乗っていましたよね。こんなに大きな組織になると当初から予定されていたのでしょうか？

それはご想像にお任せします。でも、ジンがジェットコースターに乗っていたなんて、かなりレアですよね。ウォッカが券を買うところに並んで「大人2枚」って言っていたんでしょうね（笑）。

Q：小さな子から大人までファンがいる「コナン」ですが、ファンのみなさんにメッセージをお願いします。

ファンレターで、子供の時は絵がかっこよくて見ていたけれども、大人になって内容を理解して2度楽しめたという言葉をいただいたりします。なので小さい子には、わからなかったところは大人になってから見てみたりと、何度も「コナン」を楽しんでほしいですね。大人の皆さんは、どうかこれから年を重ねてもコナンを卒業しないでください。息子さんや娘さんができたら一緒に観に行ってください（笑）。

編集後記

劇場版を含め「名探偵コナン」に関することはしっかりチェックをしているという青山。作画が休みの日も映画や小説などを楽しみ、作品につながる時間の過ごし方をしているという。「もともとメッセージ性のあるものを見るのが好きなので、それが自分の作品づくりにはいいのかもしれませんね」と笑顔を見せる彼の作品への愛情が、子供から大人まで幅広いファンを惹（ひ）きつけているのかもしれない。

劇場版『名探偵コナン　純黒の悪夢（ナイトメア）』は4月16日から全国東宝系にて公開 オフィシャルサイト

Gosho Singapore visit Interview

Novemnber 12-13, 2016

Q AND A SLIDE SHOW
Audio only : https://clyp.it/mwoiwshx (slide show and Q & A)

attempt at transcript of audio, stops at 19:23 of 57:52

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(Video 1 starts here)

Slide: Creating Detective Conan: The Life and Works of Gosho Aoyama

Program Director: So, a warm welcome to Singapore Writers Festival 2016, organized by the National Arts Council. Before the Start of this event we will like to thank our key venue and program partner the Arts House for their generous support. Thank you very much. So, we would like to, uh, start with the (inaudible, name of translator)

Translator: Ah, yes, good evening. I’d like to get started. (inaudible) Excuse me for those. Welcome to the panel Creating Detective Conan: The Life and Works of Gosho Aoyama. I’d very much like to thank you all for coming this year and we can (?rate?) this today. Let’s welcome the creator of Detective Conan, Gosho Aoyama.

(Loud Claps)

Translator: Ah, my name is (inaudible, don’t want to screw up name) the translator for this session. I will talk in Japanese with Aoyama-sensei today and show the question in English (inaudible) the answer of Mr. Aoyama will translate it in English. Then, the first question: (Japanese question)

Slide: How do you like Singapore? Is this the first time to come Singapore for you?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

(laughs)

Translator: So, Singapore equals (inaudible) to Aoyama-sensei

(more laughs)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: And (inaudible) of course.

Slide: Aoyama Gosho Manga Factory in Tottori Prefecture

Translator: Mr. Aoyama (inaudible) in Tottori Prefecture, have a museum called Aoyama Gosho Manga Factory. Which you can enjoy, if you choose (inaudible). And the comics Conan has been translated in 21 countries and regions. You can also see these comics in this museum, if you have the chance to come visit there.

Slide: (various pictures inside museum)

Translator: (Japanese question)

Slide: What kind of child were you? Have you been creating Manga since then?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, when he was a child he was somehow the character was like Mitsuhiko than Conan, so he was like naughty kid.

(laughs)

Translator: (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, he was drawing manga since he was very young. (Japanese question)

Slide: What Manga did you like when you were young?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, uh, he was a big fan of Mr. Chiba Tetsuya’s “Ore wa Tepei” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore_wa_Teppei). That was his favorite manga when he was young. (Japanese question)

Slide: Where you also a fan of mystery novels?

Gosho: (Japanese answer) Sherlock Holmes

(loud cheers)

Translator: So his favorite novel was Sherlock Holmes, and he really loved the (inaudible) series. (Japanese question about Sherlock Holmes)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Slide: I heard that when you were in primary school, you have wrote (……..not readable……….) for private detective stories? Is this true?

Translator: (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, uh, when he was in Primary school, he really did determine himself to write a manga, create a manga about private detective stories, but at the time the character of Conan was not in his head yet. (Japanese question)

Slide: This is about the dualism exemplified in Conan as a character. How did you come up with the idea of creating a single character that embodies such dualism?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, he actually had this idea of the character (inaudible) character from (inaudible) Mikeneko Holmes which is by Akagawa Jirou (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jir%C5%8D_Akagawa#Calico_Cat_Holmes)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So in that story, Mikeneko, which is a cat, a multicolored cat, who is a detective, a cat is a detective.

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So in the story, the cat being a detective was a quite cute setting, so he thought of Conan the character. (Japanese question)

Slide: I suppose you may have been inspired by Ranman ½? The transformation in Ranma ½ is a gender shift while Detective Conan is an age shift. Can you please elaborate on this?

(loud laughs)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: He was not inspired by Ranma 1/2. (Japanese question about Soccer)

Slide: What made you decide Shinichi Kudo as a boy who is good at football?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: The reason is quite simple, because in that period when Conan started its series that J-league, the football team in Japan was a really big trend, so that’s why he thought of making that setting of Shinichi being good at football. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: Shinichi, he is really good at sports, but not at music. Why is it so, because Mr. Aoyama said he is not a good singer.

(loud laughs)

Translator: (Japanese question)

Slide: I heard when you just started Conan, you didn’t expect this series to be very long since it is a mystery. Why did you think this although you are a mystery fan?

(Video 1 cuts out here so we are missing a few of the question slides)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: He predicted that a reader wouldn’t read a manga with so many words because for Aoyama-sensei, if he was a reader, he thought it would be a bit to tiring if there were a lot of words in manga. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: He was surprised how Conan series was very very popular from the very first volume of the book. So since, for the first book, he thought of a long setting, story setting. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So Mr. Gosho Aoyama asked so the Black Organization setting was slowly changed through the series in the long term, but Aoyama-sensei actually had the idea for the setting from the beginning. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So every time he talked with the editors for long long hours (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: He always gives homework to the editors to think of the ideas for the tricks and actually sometimes there is the tricks can not be used. (inaudible) can not be used in the comics. Sometimes in the long time they have reflect to the ideas in the past and they use it for new comics

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So both Aoyama-sensei and the editor actually brief together especially when they have to read the mystery novel or mystery movies that they most recently to have new ideas.

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So they get a lot of clues from the movies a lot. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: Sometimes the briefing takes up to 12 hours. Just by writing the Name, which is a rough setting. He took three days just to think of the plot. And drawing five days. So it actually doesn’t finish within a week. (Japanese question about tricks and gimmicks)

(loud laughs)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So he really likes the gimmick. Which is like the (inaudible). So it’s easier to understand for kids and is more exciting. He does experience by himself whether it really works. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So he takes turn of the story, so once the gimmick is inside the locked room, the next time is different gimmick.

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So when there is actually a real murder which happen in real life, he would not try to do that. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: In the London Series, Shinichi tells actually how he feels about Ran (inaudible) (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So when his favorite time, so the time when Akai-san was alive. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: He doesn’t target any of the (inaudible)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: He doesn’t even really children, he doesn’t target adults, he just target everyone

(loud laughs)

Translator: (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: He doesn’t really think of what kind (inaudible) just when he likes it. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, Sonoko was actually appearing as a detective in quite many episodes, but recently Sera-chan has appeared so she’s not becoming a detective anymore so much. (Japanese question)

(loud laughing over question)

(Video 2 starts here)

Slide: Until the 30th volume, Ran was always suspecting that Conan was actually Shinichi. Was there any possibilities to let Ran know the truth?

Translator: Actually Aoyama-sensei thought why does Ran never actually realize that Conan is Shinichi?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, He still thinks it’s more fun, it’s more exciting that Ran doesn’t know about the truth, so he just continue like this. (Japanese question)

Slide: Not only Dr. Agasa, but Hattori Heiji also knows that Conan is Shinichi. Why did you come up with this setting?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, Hattori knows about what, who Conan is actually the truth but why is it so is the question? It’s the same for Ran, because it’s more fun.

(loud laughs)

Translator: (Japanese question)

Slide: You say that Conan series not only murder mystery but also love story. How come there are couples who knows each other since young?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: Since it’s a love, a love comedy, uh, it’s better to have couples that they know each other since very young.

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So it’s easier for, uh, readers to remind what happened in the past, uh, when they know each other since very very young, for the couples. (Japanese question)

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: It’s not fun if people know of who the character is then what kind of fact there is behind the character. He just follows what is fun. (Japanese question)

Slide: How much do you take a role for the anime series?

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, he’s a lot of, he’s really really related to the movie series

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: So, he really really put a lot of ideas for himself into the latest movie The Darkest Nightmare.

Gosho: (Japanese answer)

Translator: He does stuff, wanted to stuff related into the movie because he says a lot

(videos are missing some of the questions found in the above auido)
Slide show Qs part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGGhvkmku-c
Slide show Qs part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXJQWwhq4Io
Slide show Qs part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ODk__NhljE
Slide show Qs part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP8foBO6cPU
Q & A part 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6YqtasJmtE
Q & A part 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI0jANZcPeI

TWO COMIC ICONS AND POST MOVIE INTERVIEW
Text

  Show spoilers »

Starting from Question 1 is the "TWO COMIC ICONS: GOSHO AOYAMA MEETS SONNY LIEW",

Starting from Question 44 is a second Q & A session that was done after a special screening of Movie 20

Q1: You are admired as a mangaka but what do you think about it?

A: Well… I’m not conscious of it.

Q2: What do you think you are for everyone out there?

A: Well… I wonder about that. I’m Conan’s creator… Hum… I really don’t know. I’m always shut in my room and working.

Q3: Is mangaka very lonely job?

A: It’s very lonely.

Q4: Have you met any young mangaka who admire you and got inspired by you to become mangaka?

A: I haven’t. (Audience laughs). There are fan letters that say “I admire you, I want to become a mangaka”

Q5: You said you’re not conscious of it but do you feel any pressure from the admiration many place into you?

A: I don’t. I don’t feel anything like that. (Replies at once)

Q6: You’re very popular so… Do you have any bodyguards?

A: Yeah! A bodyguard was assigned to me when I went to Germany!

Q7: When you work on the stories… Do you take into mind what kind of stories could be popular or what the readers would like to read?

A: Hum… I don’t… think much about it. I prioritize what I want to draw. If I try to figure out what the readers like I’ll most likely end up guessing wrong. (Someone: Really! Have you had that experience before?)

Q8: You said you receive tons of fan-letters but do you write answers to them?

A: Japan has “New Year’s cards” and I always write my replies in those.

Q9: Do you read opinions about Conan on the Internet? What do you when you find a comment that criticizes Conan?

A: Yeah. I check them out. If there’s a comment that criticizes Conan then I don’t come back to that website. (Audience laughs)

Q10: Conan is being loved across the world, not only Japan. But did you predict it’d end up like this? It’d seem it’s also pretty popular in Western countries as well, did you know?

A: I didn’t expect that. On the contrary: I thought nobody would take it seriously.

Q11: We’re now at Volume 90 but when did you start thinking that “this is working”?

A: Ever since Volume 1… (laughs). (Sorry for not being humble!)

Q12: How do you manage time when you’re busy? A: When working on the key frames… Then I only sleep 3 hours a day

Q13: How much time do you work like that?

A: 5 days.

Q14: You don’t rest on weekends or holidays?

A: I don’t make a distinction

Q15: So you spend 5 days to make 1 file?

A: Wrong. The key frames take 5 days. Drawing the file takes 3 days.

Q16: Do you have a studio at home?

A: Yes, my home is my studio.

Q17: You don’t have any pressure regarding deadlines?

A: I don’t. Edits made when busy are bad! (laughs)

Q18: Have you ever missed a deadline?

A: I haven’t! (Replies at once)

Q19: What do you think it’ll become of manga and anime in the future?

A: Well, I’m wondering that too. I don’t think much will change… As long as they’re popular… I haven’t taken that into consideration when writing the manga

Q20: Which has more readers in Japan? Digital manga or printed manga?

A: Hum… I wonder about that. Digital seems to be in the rise, though.

Q21: Do you have any assistants? And are they young mangakas?

A: I’ve got 6 assistants. They’re colleagues from the college manga club. They’re all… pretty old. But a young girl joined us. She’s the only one who looks lively… (laughs)

Q22: Do you have any mangaka you admire?

A: Tetsuya Chiba. And Mitsuru Adachi too.

Q23: I’ve been a fan of Conan since elementary school (no won my 30s). Will Conan end before I die?

A: Do your best to live on.

Q24: Is there any prediction on when will Conan end?

A: It’s a secret!

Q25: Conan is popular but can you tell about your other works?

A: Huh? What? What? Ah… I drew Yaiba a long time ago. Because I did kendo in the past. Kaito Kid as well… I don’t know what I could explain about it… I like Arsense Lupin a lot so I put that passion into Kid’s character

Q26: You said that drawing manga is a lonely thing and that you stay in your room and only sleep 3 hours, but how do you manage to stay healthy?

A: I’m not healthy. (Audience laughs). No, no, no! You shouldn’t laugh at that!

Q27: Conan is very popular and goes on but, do you have any ideas of any series you want to continue once Conan ends?

A: I haven’t thought of any.

Q28: Why is it that Vermouth and Sharon and mother and daughter?

A: Ah… Is it OK to say that? Hmmm… Look forward to it.

Q29: There’s a manga about mangakas named “Bakuman”, but do think that its story is correct or realistic?

A: I saw the anime. That’s a lie. That doesn’t happen in real life. Doesn’t. There’s a lot of things… most of them… that aren’t real. The authors said they did like that to make it interesting. Real life is more sober than that.

Q30: Have you considered any fellow mangaka a rival to compete against, or have you been irritated by any?

A: (laughs). That hasn’t happened… In my case, though. I’m a sloth myself so I myself am my greatest rival.

Q31: Do you have any plans to draw a manga showing a mangaka’s real lifestyle?

A: (laughs again). I don’t.

Q32: In “Bakuman”… You can see the relationship between the mangaka and the editor, but how is the relationship between you and your editor?

A: Nothing like the one in the manga. The editor might be a different company, even. Conan is one of the main manga in the Shonen Jump of Shogakukan. I think that the Sunday mangaka who saw Bakuman thought “that’s not true!”.

Q33: Apart from manga… Do you believe that works explaining a mangaka’s lifestyle are close to the real stuff?

A: Yeah. What was it? “Overprintable”. That was pretty real. It was made into a TV drama too.

Q: Your clothes make me recall Akai Shuuichi but… why?

A: HUH? * laughs * … No way… Well, I came cosplaying as Akai. (laughs).

Q: When you write the stories… Amongst the DBs, Kaito Kid, the BO, Heiji Hattori and others… Is there a type of story you enjoy a lot when you write it?

A: Kaito Kid is fun and the BO is exciting.

Q36: How about those cases when Heiji and Shinichi solve a mystery together?

A: Well, I enjoy them too. They’re fun.

Q37: Is there any important lesson or message you want to transmit through the manga?

A: I’ve been saying this for some time but… Boys are cool and girls are cute.

Q38: A lot of songs are used in the anime and it got popular. Do they ask for your opinion when the songs are chosen? What is your favorite main song?

A: They only asked me the first time. That was the only time I told them my opinion… There a lot of songs so… Choose by yourself. My favorite one is the very first song “mune no dokidoki”.

Questioner: “My favorite is Garnet Crow’s ”Wasurezaki”…” (ED 20)

Aoyama: “Huh? Wasurezaki? Huh? I don’t recognize the name. (Audience laughs). Garnet Crown? Ah… I like Garnet Crow.

Q39: You’re a Gundam fan, right? Akai got his name from Char, and Amuro is from Rei Amuro. Are there other works that influence Conan apart from Gundam?

A: Are there…? Apart from Gundam? What could it be…? I can’t think of any. Sorry.

Q40: I believe that, in Japan, mangakas and editors are very close and create a manga together, but how much do they influence and how do they collaborate in balancing things?

A: We might spend meandering about 12 hours to come up with a trick. Once we decide on the story then we don’t discuss editing.

Q41: Have you heard of any real-life policeman or private detective inspired by Conan who’s solved any real-life cases?

A: I haven’t! (Audience laughs). But I heard about someone who, imitating Conan, jumped into a river to jump someone who was drowning.

Q42: You draw murders as a mangaka, but have you thought about someone possibly using the story or a trick in real life to cause a case?

A: Fortunately enough no-one has insofar caused any cases in which they imitate Conan. But if there was a real-life case like that I promise I won’t draw a story that resembles it.

Q43: Are there any cases in Japan of a manga being qualified as not being too good?

A: Hmmm… Are there? Both children and adults read a lot of manga nowadays. Time ago it was children only. That’s why my parents were against me becoming a mangaka. They said it’d end up being no good.

Q44: The Darkest Nightmare is the 20th movie. The manga has 90 volumes. (Conan’s popularity) increases by the year but why do you think it’s so popular?

A: Well… What can I say…? I work hard on the manga but the movies have also been working hard since their beginnings. And thus popularity has gradually spread… I believe that maybe that’s what makes it popular.

Q45: Apart from the script, do you get involved in some other aspect of the movies?

A: Well, I draw key frames and help fix the storyboards

Q46: You can see Singapore in the staff roll, right? Why is that?

A: It’s not like I decided THAT… (laughs). Guess they choose there because we don’t have a big, huge Ferris wheel here.

Q47: Will Singapore show up as a location in Conan’s story?

A: I have a tentative plan do that

Q48: When will that be?

A: Hmmm… When…? Hmm… Within a year’s time? I don’t know.”

Q49: In the manga? Or in a movie?

A: In the manga. It’ll eventually be adapted into the anime.

Q50: Regarding characters’ designs… For example, Conan’s bow tie. How did you get the idea for that?

A: That’s… “Shichi – go – san”… There’s a traditional Japanese event called “shichi – go – san”. Boys wear like that. I wore like that when I had my “shichi – go – san”.

Q51: Where do your ideas for many cases, tricks and episodes come from?

A: Well… From a lot of places. I see interesting movies, read interesting novels, and come up with interesting ideas.

Q52: Do you get inspiration from real-life cases?

A: No, I don’t.

Q53: You’ve just answered that you don’t want them to resemble real-life cases but… You make your cases in a way that the “fiction” aspect prevails in them?

A: Yes, I do. If I use a real-life case someone might feel annoyed at that, after all.

Q54: Conan is supposed to be an elementary school student. But there are a lot of dark aspects in the series. What kind of readers do you have in mind when you work on the cases?

A: Well… I don’t have any specific kinds. I aim for every kind.

Q55: Some readers have grown and become adults ever since the series began, right? Have you felt the need to change the story to take in mind the growth of the readers?

A: I haven’t. Kids are very smart, and when I write a childish story some say “this is for kids” and they look down on it

Q56: Do you also get ideas from children close to you?

A: I don’t have any children close to me. (laughs)

Q57: So you come up with everything using your imagination?

A: Correct. Sometimes using my experiences as a kid.

Q58: I guess most people are interested on it yet… Do you have an idea of how will Conan’s end be like?

A: I have it, of course

Q59: How much time will it take to get to that resolution?

A: That’s a secret.

Q60: If Conan goes back to Shinichi would the story continue as the life of the high-school student Shinichi?

A: Well… I haven’t really given it a thought yet. But that could be interesting to do.

Q61: Kogoro has 2 disciples, no? Do Amuro and Wakita know each other?

A: Huh? Why do you think that? Ah… There are a lot of things involved there. Look forward to them.

Q62: Why did Curacao die? Why did she have to die?

A: Ah… Curacao? Hmmm… That was sad, yeah. But, well… Hmmm… I think that even if she’d lived on she wouldn’t have an easy life. I’m sorry (public laughs)

Q63: Do you feel pressured by the level of popularity? Like, when popularity is high do you feel that you want to keep on? Or that when a new volume is less popular than the one before you feel troubled?

A: No, I don’t. I don’t feel that at all.

Q64: Is there something specific you do to relax?

A: Nope… Ah. Well. I like baseball so I watch baseball.

Q65: Will Conan alone defeat the BO? What about Akai and Amuro?

A: Akai and Amuro will be needed, of course! (laughs). I think that things may happen as you imagine.

Q66: There are a lot of mangakas who have cameo appearances in some movies: do you intend to make a cameo appearance in a movie?

A: * laughs *… No, I’m too shy to do that. I was once asked to do a cameo appearance but I refused the offer.

Q67: What’s your favorite female character of the manga?

A: Well… That’d be Ran – chan. Is that OK?

Q68: What are the key elements (those things you consider important) when it comes to making a Conan movie?

A: Hmm… They’re always different. For this year’s one I thought of involving the BO…

Q69: When you draw the manga you take the movies and anime into consideration?

A: Well, I do

Q70: You’ve been keeping that in mind ever since you began serialization?

A: Nope. When I began serializing it there wasn’t an anime so I didn’t think of those. I didn’t think such a small manga would have an anime.

Q71: Did you use yourself as basis for creating Kudo Yuusaku? Because he can be smarter than Conan

A: Nope, I’m not that smart. If I’m forced to say who was the basis that’d be Mycroft from the Sherlock Holmes novels.

Q72: Will Eisuke Hondo make a comeback?

A: Say… (laughs)… Do you really want him back? Well… I might give it some thought

Q73: What motivated you to become a mangaka and what motivated you to create Conan?

A: I liked mystery stories. The reason I became a mangaka was because I was good at drawing. I also liked coming up with stories ever since I was a kid so I thought of drawing a story I’d come up with.

Q74: Does that mean that you were popular amongst your classmates?

A: Nope, I was only slightly popular (laughs)

Q75: There are lot of double-faces (NOCs) infiltrating the BO. How can they infiltrate SO easily? The BO doesn’t check their backgrounds?

A: You’re right. It’s very mysterious indeed. (laughs).

Q76: Kichiemon Samizu appears in Conan. You don’t intend to make a spin-off about him?

A: A spin-off? Ah… True… That could be interesting. He’s a very useful character.

Q77: You fulfilled your childhood dream of becoming a mangaka, right? Is there a next dream or dreams you want to fulfill?

A: Other dreams? Ah… I’d like to be director even if it’s a one-timer experience

Q78: Director of a Conan movie?

A: Indeed.

Q79: A live-action Conan film?

A: Ah… That would be neat.

Q80: What actors would you like to have in the casting?

A: Do you mean Conan’ actor? Hum… That’s a hard question. Hmmm…

Q81: What would happen if the story was written from Shinichi’s Pov?

A: Huh? But the story is Shinichi’s PoV to begin with. Ah. Do you mean if he hadn’t become Conan? If that’d been the case the series wouldn’t be this popular. (laughs)

Q82: Do you have any advice for people aspiring to become mangaka?

A: Hmmm… Let’s see… What should I say…? If you want to be mangaka then I think it’d be better for you to go to upper college, if possible. Why, you ask? Because you must be able to think of a good story. That’s what mangakas must do.

Q83: Will Dr. Araide appear once again? Did you wholly forget him?

A: Ah… Dr. Araide, huh… Until you asked me about him I’d forgotten about him.

Q84: Will a Conan videogame come out?

A: I think that there are already Conan videogames. There are several in Japan. But I don’t know if they’re as popular as Pokémon GO, though.

Q85: Did you parents support you in any manner when you decided to become a mangaka?

A: They didn’t support me. They were against the idea. But now they’re very thankful of my decision.

Q86: When did they thank you?

A: When I began to gain money from my activity. (laughs)

Q87: Are there people who you invited into the world of manga?

A: There’s a senior from college who’s become a mangaka. That would be it.

Q88: Will Lupin meet Conan again?

A: Ah… I’ve heard people talk about that here and there

Q89: Which is your favorite (Conan) movie?

A: Hum… This year’s movie, I think…? It was good, wasn’t it? Of course it was… Hmmm… I think that, as you can see, it was impressive and cool. Because I added a lot of corrections. (Laughs)

Q90: In the Phantom of Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes is depicted as Kudo Yuusaku instead of Conan. Is there a reason for that that (Why’ that)?

A: That way it gets more interesting, doesn’t it?

Q91: How much time were involved with the movie?

A: About a whole year. Maybe a year and a half. We’re doing the meetings about the next year’s movie already.

Q92: Do you have plans of doing a collaboration with other characters of other stories like Harry Potter? (Have you actually approached their makers?)

A: * laughs * . Well… I wonder about that. Conan would be surprised if an owl landed on his arm. Well. If they actually happened I think they could be interesting to see.

GOSHO AOYAMA MEETS SONNY LIEW Q & A 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AofBjLCbJ4
GOSHO AOYAMA MEETS SONNY LIEW Q & A 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYFBZ9SPMh8
GOSHO AOYAMA MEETS SONNY LIEW Q & A 3 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otZFryt92a0

Post Movie screening Q & A 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKiGBa3KGx8
Post Movie screening Q & A 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzqEE7riqQg

Book signing part 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WDfaI9D20Q
Book signing part 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op9HON7v9Jc
Book signing part 3 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDF_ywmI0Y8

News Zero 200 Million Copies Video Interview

Mid April 2017
(AC hints place it before April 13th)
Translated by Anime_Lover4869
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iil7oopohas

Gosho NHK Interview about Sherlock Holmes

June? 2017
Red Thread video link: https://www.facebook.com/DCTheRedThread/videos/1511205238931424/

  Show spoilers »

Aoyama's latest interview for NHK: he talks over his interest in the Sherlock Holmes' series and how he got inspiration from Conan Doyle's works to create his own characters. Guess what character was based off Moriarty? ;)

transaltion of info, thanks to Anime_Lover4869:

Gosho Aoyama first found out about Conan Doyle in elementary school, through the book "The Dancing Men". It seems he became obsessed over the code during that time. "It scared me but at the same time, the curiousity rose" "If I hadn't seen this, I probably wouldn't have written Conan" In his elementary school essay, he wrote that he wanted to be a manga writer before but now (as in that time) he wants to be a detective. But he doesn't have good physicality so he'll put both dreams together and write a manga about detectives. 🕵 As you may already know, the town Beika is a spin-off of Baker and that Beika's "Bei" is the letter that also means rice. And that letter is similar to the Union Jack 🇬🇧 Continuing on, they asked Gosho to name his top 3 characters in Holmes. He put James Moriarty as #3 He said Moriarty is the ideal character for the Black Organization boss. Just like Moriarty, the boss doesn't show their face and works behind the scenes, only pulling the strings on the crimes from far away Gosho says "I try to make it so that they (the boss) is cold-blooded, won't leave a single scrap of evidence, and almost invisible" He put Mycroft Holmes in #2 Gosho says that he's smarter than Sherlock Holmes, the protagonist, which is also the same situation with Yusaku Kudo, Shinichi's father And lastly, he put Irene Adler as #1. Apparently, Haibara Ai's "Ai" is taken from Irene Adler's "I" which is similary pronounced