Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most prolific writers in the history of Japanese comics, with more than two hundred volumes in various series and several self-contained stories published over the course of a career spanning more than forty years. But what is behind Takasahi’s storytelling? Let’s find out through his own revelations.
After revealing his atypical and impressive productive pace, The mangaka actually commented on the storytelling techniques in a meeting reported in the Weekly Shonen Sunday S, which was also attended by Takashi Shiina, author of the paper version of Inuyasha’s sequel, Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. The interesting comparison between the two started with Takahashi’s reflections on Shiina’s excellent work, particularly in relation to his talent for storytelling events and ability to best portray the characters.
Shiina reciprocated by admitting that she sees the mangaka as a teacher, and they both agreed on how important the beginning of a story is to their overall structure. In particular, Takahashi has stated that any work she engages in, whether it is a series or a one-shot story, The characters and the situation they are in must be defined within the first 6-7 pages, which play an important role in catching readers’ attention.
The second aspect addressed in the discussion was the building strong characters, and the relationships established between the protagonists, one of the main drivers of the work and at the same time allowing the readers to empathize with them. Particular attention should also be paid to the portrayal of the antagonists, who should never appear flat and uncharacterized. Let us know what you think with a comment below.
Finally we leave you to the images of the studio where Rumiko Takahashi works.
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