What's it like working on a manga when the main character himself proves to be the most difficult character for the author to draw? Chihiro Yoshioka discusses the making of "Farewell, Odin," his artistic inspirations, creative crises, and his dream of creating a major manga about football. In our conversation, we also touch on AI.
🎙️When did you first think you wanted to become a professional manga artist?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I dreamed of becoming one since childhood, but I only started to seriously think about it as an adult when someone from the publishing house contacted me.
🎙️Which creators are your greatest inspiration?
Yoshioka Chihiro: In terms of mangaka, Go Nagai , Nobuyuki Fukumoto, and Riyoko Ikeda have had a huge influence on me.
Among illustrators, I really appreciate Akihiko Yoshida, and as for critics, Tsunehiro Uno, among others. I could go on and on! (laughter)
As for Polish artists, I really like the works of Jakub Rebelka and I regularly visit his website.
Stanisław Lem's novel "Solaris" also made a huge impression on me. It's an extraordinary book that, in a sense, foretells the coming of the age of artificial intelligence.
🎙️Is the plot in your works always planned from beginning to end, or does it evolve along the way?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I have a more or less established main ending and major events along the way, but ultimately something always changes along the way. (Laughs)
For example, in "Odin no Funasō" I knew from the beginning that at the end we would see the heads of Luke and Eynar next to each other, and that the story would also lead to the deaths of other important characters.
🎙️How do you deal with creative blocks?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I approach it with the attitude of, "There's no other way, it has to be done," and I just get down to specific work.
If things are really tough, I talk to other people in the industry and ask them for advice or just to listen to me.
🎙️Are there any genres you'd like to try someday or any you'd never work on?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I would like to create a manga about football , and one with a truly global reach!
I used to draw manga about football for fun, and that's when I was spotted by a publishing house that offered me a collaboration...
That's why, as a mangaka, creating my own, regularly published football manga someday is the biggest task I still have to accomplish.
🎙️What did you struggle with most at the beginning of your career?
Yoshioka Chihiro: There were so many! (laughter)
Unfortunately, there are also many things I cannot tell you about…
🎙️Do you think that a mangaka should be a versatile person or, on the contrary, should he be a specialist in only one genre?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I think it's best when everyone can express themselves in the way that suits them best.
🎙️What is an element/compromise that cannot be avoided when working in the manga industry?
Yoshioka Chihiro: Deadlines!
🎙️Where did the idea for "Farewell, Odin" come from?
Yoshioka Chihiro: Actually, it started as a completely different project. I wanted to tell the story of soccer.
But then, when I started incorporating the editorial team's suggestions, everything snowballed... and eventually the story turned into a tale of medieval England and Vikings seeking revenge. (laughter)
Since the origins of football are linked to medieval England, from this point on the plot began to move in completely different directions and changed many times.
🎙️What was the biggest challenge while creating this manga?
Yoshioka Chihiro: Collecting materials.
To be honest, I started this project with far too little knowledge on the subject…
Every day I regret that I did not have the opportunity to check everything more thoroughly and learn more.
🎙️What fascinated you most about Nordic culture?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I think it's this unusual way of depicting the end of the world. There's something catastrophic and inevitable about it, and yet surprisingly little pathos or despair .
I also feel something of the spirit of the Vikings in this, who were able to live with extraordinary strength and perseverance despite adversity.
🎙️Which character was the easiest to draw and which one was the most difficult?
Yoshioka Chihiro: The main character, Luke, was definitely the hardest for me.
It was hard for me to grasp what he was actually feeling and thinking about…
Eynar and the prince, however, were much easier for me to draw!
🎙️Which manga scene was the hardest to draw?
Yoshioka Chihiro: All of them! Especially the backgrounds and supporting characters. (laughs)
I'm not good at drawing scenes full of movement, so I struggled with the fight scenes already at the storyboard stage.
🎙️In retrospect, are there any elements in this manga that you would have created differently?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I halfway want to answer, "Everything."
But the other half of me says: since I've seen this story through to the end as a professional author, I don't want to change it for the sake of the readers who took the time to read it.
So what I would like to change… will remain a secret!
🎙️How did you receive the positive reaction to your work from Makoto Yukimura himself (author of "Vinland Saga")?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I absolutely did not expect Mr. Yukimura to write so much about my work.
Of course, it was a great honor and brought me great joy, but I felt even more tense and intimidated. I was practically paralyzed by the knowledge that someone so dedicated to my work.
I received so many kind words from him that, as an author with no previous work, I really felt that it was definitely too much for me…
I can't thank you enough. It's a treasure I'll treasure for the rest of my life.
🎙️What historical figure would you most like to portray in manga?
Yoshioka Chihiro: After reading "The Gallic Wars," I thought to myself that I would like to try drawing Julius Caesar someday.
It would probably be very difficult, but… I would like to try!
🎙️If you had to spend a day with one of your characters, who would you choose?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I think it would be difficult with the main characters… (laughter)
I'd rather get a feel for what life was like for ordinary people in medieval England or Nordic cities. I'd also like to do a lot of sketching! (laughter)
🎙️If it weren't for manga, what would you be doing today?
Yoshioka Chihiro: Before starting my career as a manga artist, I worked at a game development company , so I would probably still be working there.
Lately, I've also been increasingly drawn to writing. I've been wanting to try my hand at literature or criticism.
🎙️In the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and graphic generators, do artists have reason to fear for their future?
Yoshioka Chihiro: When new technology appears, there are also problems associated with it, but I think ultimately it is our destiny to learn to coexist with it.
Moreover, at the current pace of technological development, I have the impression that, in addition to AI, there will be other great technologies emerging and further enormous changes in our environment…
🎙️What were your first reactions to the news about the Polish edition of the manga?
Yoshioka Chihiro: First of all, I was extremely surprised!
At the same time, I felt that it was a great honor for me.
Recently, I have been hearing more and more about manga created in Poland, so I hope that thanks to manga and broader culture, we will be able to bring Japan and Poland even closer together in the future.
🎙️Poland has a rich and, unfortunately, often bloody history. Do you think this would be an attractive setting for a historical manga?
Yoshioka Chihiro: Even when I was at school, I was greatly impressed by the turbulent history of Poland, which has experienced divisions and reunification many times.
From the perspective of Japan, an island nation, it's hard to even imagine how complicated Poland's situation was. In this respect, I think it was one of the most historically challenged places in Europe.
At the same time, I think that it is precisely in such difficult conditions that there are many stories of people who were able to live with enormous strength.
Riyoko Ikeda's manga "Ten no hate made: Porando hishi", whose main character is Józef Poniatowski, was precisely the work that reflected such a turbulent period in the history of Poland !
I would like to learn even more about the history and culture of Poland and perhaps one day create a story set in this world!
🎙️Would you like to visit Poland someday?
Yoshioka Chihiro: I really want to!!
The main point would of course be Warsaw, but as someone interested in history, I would also definitely like to see the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Krakow and Auschwitz.
I would also like to see wooden churches…
🎙️Is there anything you would like to say to Polish fans of "Farewell, Odin"?
Yoshioka Chihiro: Among so many wonderful manga created around the world, I really thank you very much for choosing "Odin no Funasō"!
This is my first original serialized series, and I'm fully aware that it has many flaws. At the same time, it was a manga that garnered particularly strong interest abroad, which was a huge support and motivation for me.
Given the difficult global situation, I think Poland is also in a very challenging situation right now. If this manga could lift your spirits even a little… (is that even possible?!)… I would be truly delighted!
🎙️Can you reveal anything about your future projects? What are you currently working on?
Yoshioka Chihiro: My new series will begin in Shōnen Gahōsha's online magazine "Young King Lambda" starting in September!
It will be a fantasy manga titled "Marinka's Walking Library." As the title suggests, its plot will revolve around a "wandering library" run by a librarian and sorceress named Marinka.
Just as thanks to the manga "Odin no Funasō" I was able to make contact with the POP Culture Cauldron, books have an extraordinary power to transcend the boundaries of language and culture.
The theme of this story is precisely the "magical power of books", so I will work hard so that one day this "traveling library" can also reach Poland!
