Q: |
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How did you come up with the idea for SAILOR MOON? |
TN: |
I was talking with my editors and trying to decide on the story, when I mentioned that I was a fan of sentai shows [live-action team shows]. I decided I wanted to do a team show with an all-female group. |
Q: |
How do you feel about SAILOR MOON being called a "new kind of cartoon for girls"? |
TN: |
In Japan, there is a lot of anime targeted specifically at girls. I would like to see this trend continue throughout the world. |
Q: |
Will SAILOR MOON continue? |
TN: |
The SAILOR MOON manga ends at volume 18. That's it, there won't be any more. |
Q: |
Will there ever be male Sailors? |
TN: |
Sailor scouts are only girls. |
Q: |
What influenced your creation of SAILOR MOON? |
TN: |
In Japan, junior high and high school girls wear seiraa-fuku (sailor suit uniforms), so these clothes are a very widely recognized symbol of young girls. I wanted to turn it into a super hero that everyone could relate to. Also, many Japanese guys really like those uniforms. (laughs) |
Q: |
If you could be one of the Sailor Scouts, which one would you be and why? |
TN: |
I'd be Sailor Moon, because when I created the character, she was close to my own personality. |
Q: |
There is some controversy over the character Haruka. Was she a man who transformed into a woman when she became Sailor Uranus? |
TN: |
Haruka has always been a girl. Always will be. As for the Starlights, in the manga they were always girls. In the anime, however, they got turned into guys, and I wasn't very happy about it. |
Q: |
Will there be any Starlight movies or OVAs? |
TN: |
I want them to do that, too! |
Q: |
Are Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune lovers? If so, why did you write the story that way? |
TN: |
Yes, they are lovers. The reason why is because they fit together. Neptune is very girlish and feminine while Uranus is kind of boyish and has the heart of a guy. And at that age, girls have a lot of emotion. (She pauses). And compared to all the other five, they have the most free time. (laughs). |
Q: |
Why is there no Sailor Earth? |
TN: |
Tuxedo Mask takes the place of a Sailor Earth. |
Q: |
Why are Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars always fighting? |
TN: |
Because they're such good friends. They're so close they fight all the time. |
Q: |
Did you always want to be an artist? |
TN: |
In Japan, it's very common for children to want to be artists when they grow up. It's been my dream since I was young.
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Q: |
Why is the SAILOR MOON comic, which is targeted at young girls, so popular with older guys? |
TN: |
Because there are a lot of cute, sexy girls in them. (laughs). |
Q: |
What are you working on now? |
TN: |
I'm trying to decide on my next project. I'd like to do something with magic. |