Shonen Jump Question:
Your work seems to have a science fiction influence. Approximately speaking what is the technology level in the world of Naruto?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Actually, the world of Naruto doesn't differ very much from our present time. TV, refrigerators and air conditioners exist in the world. The only exceptions are weapons and explosives, which I've decided to set in a much earlier era. That's why you don?t see firearms.
Shonen Jump Question:
Many "Shonen Jump" mangas have puns for character names. So can you explain some of the puns in the names of the characters? I know that Naruto is a word for the spiral fishcakes in ramen?But I've also heard of a place off the sea of Japan called the "Naruto Uzumaki" (the Naruto whirlpools), like Naruto?s a first and last name.
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Uzumaki (spirals) are a very cool Japanese pattern. "Weekly Shonen Jump's" philosophy for naming characters is to create a name that the readers can easily associate with the character, by combining it with puns and gags.
Shonen Jump Question:
How did you develop the chakra power system in Naruto? Are you interested in East Indian mysticism?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
I actually have no interest in East Indian mysticism. I needed a hook to tie in those points in the story when characters would use powers that were beyond normal human capabilities. The term is chakra, which is used as an explanation for readers to better understand the powers. Its similar to ?the Force? in Star Wars, or chi (aka. - Ki) in "Dragon Ball", or magic points in RPGs.
Shonen Jump Question:
How did you develop the mystic hand gestures used by the ninjas in Naruto?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
As an alternative to the standard verbal method of casting spells, like in RPGs, the ninja use hand gestures instead.
Shonen Jump Question:
In Naruto, the frog seems to be associated with the character Naruto. Also, in an early drawing you associate the snake with Sasuke, and the snail with Sakura. What about these animals caused you to connect them with these characters? Are ninja associated with frogs in Japan?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
When you talk about ninjas, you invariably talk about frogs. There is a ninja manga whose main character is "Hattori-kun," who (also a joke in the story) does not like frogs, so this connection between ninjas and frogs is a close one. (In Japanese folklore, frogs are concerted magical animals, and the oil from a frog?s skin is a traditional ointment for wounds and other ailments.) The triad of snake, snail and frog is from Japanese mythology. The snake is more powerful then the frog, the snail is more powerful then the snake, and the frog is more powerful then the snail, Making a paper, rock, scissors? sort of situation. These three are collectively called the ?Sansukumi?.
Shonen Jump Question:
What inspired you to do a story about a demon fox? What interests you about foxes?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Because the fox, in particular the nine tailed fox, is considered to be one of the most powerful supernatural beasts.
Shonen Jump Question:
What is the relationship of Naruto and the demon fox? Was the demon fox killed and reincarnated inside Naruto?s body, or was it sealed inside the baby Naruto with out dying? Are there two souls within Naruto?s body, in a mystical sense, or is it more like two personalities, in the psychological sense?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
The demon fox has been sealed inside of Naruto without having been killed. It?s because the nine tailed fox couldn?t be killed, so they had no choice but to seal it away?probably?which us why there are two personalities inside of Naruto.
Shonen Jump Question:
Do you get more fan letters from boys or girls? Do boys and girls like different things about the series?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Fan letters are typically written by girls, as it seems that ?boys don?t write letters?. About 90% of the fan letters seem to be from girls, even though the majority of readers are suppose to be boys. It was like that when I used to read Weekly Shonen Jump as a kid, and apparently it?s the same today.
Shonen Jump Question:
Naruto and Sasuke kiss (accidentally) in the first chapter where they appear together. Does this add a special dimension to their rivalry?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
I didn?t have any particular reason for it, other then to surprise readers. I mainly did it because I don?t think there has ever been a manga where two rivals kissed. Also, by having this encounter, it was easier to set up the love triangle: Sakura, who had intended to be the first one to kiss Sasuke, has it stolen by her rival Naruto, Sasuke and Naruto are rivals, so there?s and added tension there. And so on and so forth.
Shonen Jump Question:
Is there ever going to be a manga adaptation of "Ichalcha Paradise"? (Make-Out Paradise" or "Cum-Cum Paradise")
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
NEVER.
Shonen Jump Question:
In closing, what advise would you give fans who are interested in becoming artists themselves?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Creating manga isn?t just about drawing well, but writing a good story. Keep the art and the story real, and you can't lose. Also, watch a lot of good Hollywood movies. Those who rail against the entertainment industry are just being close-minded.
Your work seems to have a science fiction influence. Approximately speaking what is the technology level in the world of Naruto?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Actually, the world of Naruto doesn't differ very much from our present time. TV, refrigerators and air conditioners exist in the world. The only exceptions are weapons and explosives, which I've decided to set in a much earlier era. That's why you don?t see firearms.
Shonen Jump Question:
Many "Shonen Jump" mangas have puns for character names. So can you explain some of the puns in the names of the characters? I know that Naruto is a word for the spiral fishcakes in ramen?But I've also heard of a place off the sea of Japan called the "Naruto Uzumaki" (the Naruto whirlpools), like Naruto?s a first and last name.
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Uzumaki (spirals) are a very cool Japanese pattern. "Weekly Shonen Jump's" philosophy for naming characters is to create a name that the readers can easily associate with the character, by combining it with puns and gags.
Shonen Jump Question:
How did you develop the chakra power system in Naruto? Are you interested in East Indian mysticism?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
I actually have no interest in East Indian mysticism. I needed a hook to tie in those points in the story when characters would use powers that were beyond normal human capabilities. The term is chakra, which is used as an explanation for readers to better understand the powers. Its similar to ?the Force? in Star Wars, or chi (aka. - Ki) in "Dragon Ball", or magic points in RPGs.
Shonen Jump Question:
How did you develop the mystic hand gestures used by the ninjas in Naruto?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
As an alternative to the standard verbal method of casting spells, like in RPGs, the ninja use hand gestures instead.
Shonen Jump Question:
In Naruto, the frog seems to be associated with the character Naruto. Also, in an early drawing you associate the snake with Sasuke, and the snail with Sakura. What about these animals caused you to connect them with these characters? Are ninja associated with frogs in Japan?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
When you talk about ninjas, you invariably talk about frogs. There is a ninja manga whose main character is "Hattori-kun," who (also a joke in the story) does not like frogs, so this connection between ninjas and frogs is a close one. (In Japanese folklore, frogs are concerted magical animals, and the oil from a frog?s skin is a traditional ointment for wounds and other ailments.) The triad of snake, snail and frog is from Japanese mythology. The snake is more powerful then the frog, the snail is more powerful then the snake, and the frog is more powerful then the snail, Making a paper, rock, scissors? sort of situation. These three are collectively called the ?Sansukumi?.
Shonen Jump Question:
What inspired you to do a story about a demon fox? What interests you about foxes?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Because the fox, in particular the nine tailed fox, is considered to be one of the most powerful supernatural beasts.
Shonen Jump Question:
What is the relationship of Naruto and the demon fox? Was the demon fox killed and reincarnated inside Naruto?s body, or was it sealed inside the baby Naruto with out dying? Are there two souls within Naruto?s body, in a mystical sense, or is it more like two personalities, in the psychological sense?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
The demon fox has been sealed inside of Naruto without having been killed. It?s because the nine tailed fox couldn?t be killed, so they had no choice but to seal it away?probably?which us why there are two personalities inside of Naruto.
Shonen Jump Question:
Do you get more fan letters from boys or girls? Do boys and girls like different things about the series?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Fan letters are typically written by girls, as it seems that ?boys don?t write letters?. About 90% of the fan letters seem to be from girls, even though the majority of readers are suppose to be boys. It was like that when I used to read Weekly Shonen Jump as a kid, and apparently it?s the same today.
Shonen Jump Question:
Naruto and Sasuke kiss (accidentally) in the first chapter where they appear together. Does this add a special dimension to their rivalry?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
I didn?t have any particular reason for it, other then to surprise readers. I mainly did it because I don?t think there has ever been a manga where two rivals kissed. Also, by having this encounter, it was easier to set up the love triangle: Sakura, who had intended to be the first one to kiss Sasuke, has it stolen by her rival Naruto, Sasuke and Naruto are rivals, so there?s and added tension there. And so on and so forth.
Shonen Jump Question:
Is there ever going to be a manga adaptation of "Ichalcha Paradise"? (Make-Out Paradise" or "Cum-Cum Paradise")
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
NEVER.
Shonen Jump Question:
In closing, what advise would you give fans who are interested in becoming artists themselves?
Masashi Kishimoto Answer:
Creating manga isn?t just about drawing well, but writing a good story. Keep the art and the story real, and you can't lose. Also, watch a lot of good Hollywood movies. Those who rail against the entertainment industry are just being close-minded.