Interview:Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! (December 2022)
GrandGuerrilla (December 2022)
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An interview with Hirohiko Araki from Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! (このミステリーがすごい!), a guidebook for mystery novels and manga, which was released on December 4, 2022.
Interview
Two years ago, we featured Gosho Aoyama's Detective Conan series, and now Rohan Kishibe is featured in Volume 101 of Detective Conan's Detective Picture Book.
Araki: That's right. I was very honored for him to receive the title.
Was it your intention to make Rohan Kishibe a "detective"?
Araki: Rohan...a detective? I guess so (laughs). When I draw short stories that play out like mysteries, it becomes like Detective Rohan Kishibe, who is both an investigator and a storyteller. That's the kind of character that developed while I was drawing.
[...]
The way you had Yoma Hashimoto be defeated in "The Run" was very smart.
Araki: I'm always thinking about what kind of ending I should create. It's not always possible to come up with a solution from the beginning. But Yoma Hashimoto is still out there somewhere. I wouldn't mind bringing him back for a revenge battle.
[...]
Has there been any change in the way you portray Rohan Kishibe now compared to 25 years ago?
Araki: I'm a bit more conscious of Rohan's manners now, having gained a certain respect for the way things were done in the past. For example, had it been his Part 4 self who was dealing with the sacred tree in "Hot Summer Martha" (From JOJO Magazine 2022 SPRING), Rohan would have likely gone a little too far and suffered divine retribution (laughs), but now he fights while maintaining some level of etiquette. I think such a philosophy is important. Rohan has become much kinder nowadays and will actually help people. Even if he dislikes his editor, Kyoka Izumi, he'll still help her should she need it.
[...]
What do you do when you can’t come up with a solution?
Araki: I guess I often cheer on my protagonist and tell them to give it their all, or I ask God to help them out. But that might be a good thing since it helps show the reader how serious the stakes are. That’s why I sometimes like to write without an ending in mind.
As a result, it becomes an interesting mystery that even the readers don’t know how to solve.
Araki: It’s okay to have a mystery that may not be solved, right? Or is that bad? (laughs)
I don’t do that only for mysteries, but even for my drawings. I sometimes start drawing without knowing what I’ll end up with. I often find myself thinking, “I wonder how I should draw this part,” or “Oh, I screwed up this color.” In such cases, I say, “God, I’m sorry, please help me.”
I am curious how you usually find ideas for mysteries.
Araki: There are mysteries in my everyday life. For example, I have a friend, a lady who keeps an eye on what I’m doing all the time.
…What do you mean?
Araki: I have a friend who doesn’t directly monitor me, but she guesses my whereabouts based on information she gets from others around me and would say “That’s where you’re going.” But her motive is a mystery to me. I always wonder what that person is trying to do (laughs). Even though I have no idea, I like it that way. Every day for me is a mystery. That’s life, isn’t it?
Is there anything you would like to draw in the future with Rohan Kishibe?
Araki: There are currently two volumes in the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan series, so I don’t want to do anything too similar to what I’ve done so far. How about a change of scenery? I’d like to draw a story where Rohan travels to a place he’s never been before, like the Americas. I can’t wait to see where he goes next. I’d also like to draw a game-like fight against the people who live there, similar to in “Rock-Paper-Scissors Kid.”
Last year, you completed the eighth part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, JoJolion. What more can you tell us about the future of the series?
Araki: I’m currently planning out Part 9. Of course, it’s going to be a story about the “Joestar bloodline“. “Joseph Joestar” appeared at the end of Part 8, which was foreshadowing that this story will be about his descendants.
Finally, do you have a message for the readers?
Araki: I think human life is a mystery. Mysteries are the royal road of stories and even life itself. I’ll continue to draw “mysteries” from here on out, and look forward to your continued support.
[Translated by Morganstedmanms, MetallicKaiser, and Vish (JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia)]
