I Gained 7 Kilos

By Kotaro Ohkoshi in Garo 1993-06

Last June, after the meeting

It was about seven years ago when my manga was first published in Garo, which is 2,370 days ago in terms of days. In hours it is 56,880 hours ago and in minutes it is 3,412,800 minutes ago. During that time I turned 26 and gained 7 kilograms. I really feel that a long time has passed, and it makes me nostalgic for the days when I was a newcomer to the company.

At that time, Mr. Nagai would sit at the very back of the room, looking at the manuscript and saying, "Thank you very much for all your hard work." I had brought my manuscript to other publishers several times, and the editor there, I don't know if he was busy or what, but he turned the manuscript over roughly (really roughly) and said, "Have you ever brought your manuscript anywhere else?" When I responded, "To Seirindo," he said, "Aaah, Garo, right." Any author from Garo has probably seen this "Aaah," look at least once. It's a nasty look. I was not afraid to be told off for my immaturity. In my case, I don't like it when someone treats my manuscript, which takes hours to draw a single frame, in a rough manner. I realize that a few hours per frame is unacceptable for a profit-oriented magazine, but they could have shown a little more consideration. Mr. Nagai carefully turned over the manuscript, page by page, and said, "Do your best, draw more, and bring it in."

I feel that Seirindo editors have a kind of respect for manuscripts. Considering my own personality, I don't think I would have continued to draw manga if not for Seirindo. I don't say this out of flattery, but if it weren't for Seirindo's system of promoting newcomers, I would have changed jobs a long time ago. 

Putting on 7 kilos over the course of this job (because I don't move) came as a shock to me, but I'm very happy to have learned so many things and met so many people. I received letters from readers for the first time and had the opportunity to talk to my favorite band, Ningen Isu. I am now very grateful to my editors and friends who helped me at every step of the way.

I heard that Garo is featuring newcomers this time, and thinking back to when I was a newcomer, I don't think i've changed much. Technically, I've improved, but I'm not there yet, I don't have much money, and my mentality hasn't changed since I turned 20. To be honest, though, I think that's a good thing. I will continue to do my best to keep my manga fresh for readers. Thank you very much.

By the way, among recent newcomers, Mr. Mitsumoto is by far the most interesting. Veterans of "Tarirariran" should take a lesson from "Nippon Paradise"!

From the Honorable Mention Award-winning work Akagumi no Kachi ('86/12)