Kahoku Shimpo (February 2004)

Published February 10, 2004

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Commentary from Hirohiko Araki published in the local Sendai newspaper, Kahoku Shimpo, on February 10, 2004.

Interview

Daily Expeditions for Buried Gold
On That Day, At That Time
Written by Manga Artist Hirohiko Araki

I used to hanker for the world of Edogawa Ranpo when I attended Komatsushima Elementary School in Sendai. Pretending to be the Boy Detectives was the go-to play for make-believe, and I never went straight home on my way back from school. My friends and I built a secret base by stacking up wooden crates from the fishmonger, in somewhere hidden that only we knew about.

There were big forests and swamps nearby the residential areas where we could explore, with the historical townscape still well preserved in my neighborhood. It was brimming with enticements and mysteries which aroused the curiosity of children.

For example, the legend of buried gold. There was a legend of buried gold hidden by an old man who had renounced the world, and we used to go around exploring the bomb shelters on the outskirts of Dainohara. We had a fantastic time, laying out symbols only understood between ourselves with twigs and such.

There were also rumors of psychic phenomena and places where unidentified flying objects (UFOs) would supposedly appear. I got all worked up when a university professor conducting research on thoughtography showed me a photograph of the dark side of the moon. Setting aside the veracity of this photograph, my imagination was strengthened by being drawn in to the unknown.

I always enjoyed drawing since I was small, even though it was only upon entering Tohoku Gakuin Tsutsujigaoka High School that I started drawing manga seriously and began submitting my work to publishers.

I made my first manga when I was in the 4th grade of elementary school. I was so happy when a childhood friend came and told me how good it was.

Looking back at it, all the things that made me want to become a manga artist originated from my neighborhood.

(Note: A photograph and a personal profile of Araki appeared as well, with the following comment printed inside a speech bubble drawn above: Whenever I watch the movie Stand by Me, it reminds me of my childhood days and warms my heart.)

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[Translated by Aldo and Morganstedmanms (JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia)]

「埋蔵金求め日々探検」

あの日、あの時

　　漫画家　荒木飛呂彦さん

　仙台市の小松島小に通っていたころは、江戸川乱歩の世界にあこがれていました。遊びといえば少年探偵団ごっこ。学校の帰り道、まっすぐ家に帰ったことはありません。仲間しか知らない秘密の場所に、魚屋の木箱を積み上げて、秘密基地を造ったりしました。

　近所には古い町並みが残り、住宅地の近くには探検できるような大きな森、沼がありました。そして子どもの好奇心をくすぐるミステリーとしげきにあふれていました。

　例えば埋蔵金伝説。　世捨て人のおじいさんが埋蔵金を隠したという伝説があって、台原周辺の防空ごうを探検して回りました。木の枝で仲間だけが分かる印をつけたりして、本当に楽しかった。

　未確認飛行物体（ＵＦＯ）が現れるという場所や、心霊現象のうわさもありました。念写を研究している大学の先生からは、月の裏側の写真を見せてもらって興奮しました。本当かどうかはともかく、未知の世界に引き込まれて、想像力が鍛えられたと思います。

　本格的に漫画を描いて、出版社に投稿をはじめたのは東北学院榴ヶ岡高に入学してからですが、小さいころから描くのは好きでした。

最初に漫画の同人誌作ったのは小学四年の時です。幼なじみが「荒木、いいねえ」と褒めてくれるのが、とてもうれしかった。

　今、振り返ってみると漫画家を志すすべてが近所にありました。

また、荒木先生の写真とプロフィールが掲載されており、その上には吹き出しで、”映画「スタンド・バイ・ミー」を見ると、少年時代を思い出して胸が熱くなります。”とのコメントが付けられていたとか。

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