Kino no Tabi:Volume13 Author's Notes

"Afterword" —Preface—

Volume 13 Release!

"Special Afterword Project" Let's Ask Sigsawa Keiichi!

Editorial Department: Why a Q&A?

Sigsawa: Are we starting? I sometimes get questions from my fan letters, and there were also some during a talk I gave at a library a while back that I wasn't able to answer, and I don't have a blog to write these on. I did some of this for "Gakuen Kino 2", for the same reasons, but I felt like I should do it again for the main series, "Kino no Tabi". It's special!

Editor: "Special", huh? Have you ever written a normal afterword?

Sigsawa: That's that, this is this. No connection. Noresore.

Editor: "Noresore"?

Sigsawa: It's an eel, of the Congridae family. Well more accurately, it's a larva (Leptocephalus), if you want to be really exact. Sometimes you can eat them at rotating sushi shops inside of gunkanmaki. It has a slippery texture, and it's slightly sweet. It's delicious.

Editor: ...So what's the connection between "noresore" and "the afterword"?

Sigsawa: There isn't really any!

Editor: ...Okay then, can I start asking actual questions now?

Sigsawa: Bring it!

Editor: What's your name? And is it your real name or a pen name?

Sigsawa: Sigsawa Keiichi. It's a pen name, of course. To any Japanese people with the name "時雨沢", pronounced Shiguresawa/zawa, I apologize. I'm not part of your bloodline.

Editor: You weren't very popular in class, huh?

Sigsawa: "Weren't very"?! Please don't ask questions and assume the negative from the start. Also, how is this the second question? Please don't ask these questions as if you already know the answers.

But I guess it's true, I wasn't very popular...

Editor: What's the origin of your pen name?

Sigsawa: Sigsawa comes from the firearm maker, Sigsauer. Keiichi is a certain manga character's name with different kanji. I didn't have much time when I was writing my first manuscript, so I kind of just chose it off the cuff, but now I like it. By the way, it doesn't look anything like my real name. Not even one character. I wanted to become a different person.

Editor: So what's your real name?

Sigsawa: Edward Nitori Van Buren III.

Editor: Sure you're okay with that? From now on, we'll call you "Ed".

Sigsawa: Sorry. My real name is a secret. From now on, I'll answer seriously as usual.

Editor: "As usual"?

Sigsawa: Correction. I'll do it politely and sometimes seriously. Also, the time of writing is 2009. Please note　this is subject to change.

Editor: Date of birth? Blood type? Gender?

Sigsawa: I was born in 1972, the month and day are a secret. A+. I'm supposed to be a male.

Editor: Are you married?

Sigsawa: I have never been married, and I have no arrangements or plans for it in the future. However, I kind of want to try divorce.

Editor: Why?

Sigsawa: I heard that after getting divorced, men become free!

Editor: Are you an idiot?

Sigsawa: Please keep it a secret from everyone else.

Editor: What's your body data?

Sigsawa: My body is 177 centimeters tall. In elementary school, I was short, but then around middle school, I grew 10cm in a single year. Because of that, my uniform never fit, and I always felt like I looked awkward. Recently, my weight has been 75kg, give or take. I'm scared of health complications, so I want to drop to around 70kg. By the way, I was 95kg at my heaviest; I got fat due to my American lifestyle. My eyesight is bad. Without glasses on, I can't even tell who the person next to me is. I do have disposable contacts, but putting them in and taking them out is so troublesome, so I don't use them. I prefer glasses, which I can doze off wearing.

Editor: Any health problems?

Sigsawa: I'm fairly healthy, so I don't go to the doctor very often. Maybe once a year, when I get a cold. Well at the start of the year, I did have some liver sashimi that left me screaming in pain...

If you mean serious issues, I have tendonitis in both hands from typing every day, so that hurts. I regularly get massages. I have no back pain, thanks to my excellent RECARO chair. However, ever since I had a herniated intervertebral disk over 10 years ago, I have to be careful in the winters and when I carry luggage.

Editor: Are you worse with the heat or the cold?

Sigsawa: Definitely hot weather! When it gets too hot, my brain melts and I can't think at all. I love air conditioning so much that it usually makes everyone else complain, "it's too cold!" In cold weather, you can just wear more clothes and still be comfortable. I will say though that I'd rather not experience -40 degree weather again, like I did in America. At that point, it's basically "violence"; just walking from the dorms to the cafeteria made me feel like my life was in danger.

Editor: Anything about your body that bothers you?

Sigsawa: Other than my weight, my ears. Because of my nervous personality, my ears are extraordinarily good, and I hear all sorts of noises and voices. When I stay in a hotel, the refrigerator and air conditioner keep me from sleeping. When I go to karaoke or concerts, my ears and head hurt. I don't want to, but I hear all the people whispering around me. It's a huge problem, even from far away.

Editor: What food do you love? Hate?

Sigsawa: My favorite food is nigiri sushi, by far! I'm so glad I was born in Japan. Fluke fin, white trevally, alfonsino, pickled mackerel, and fatty tuna are some of the kinds I like most. I also enjoy sashimi. Besides that, it's pretty normal, but I like curry rice and ramen. For set meals at restaurants, I like fried chicken, chicken soba, and fried ginger pork. As a kid, I loved instant ramen, but I guess my tastes have changed, and I don't really eat it these days.

As for food I hate, I don't think I would say "I will never put that in my mouth" to anything that's regularly eaten in Japan. I won't go out of my way to buy and eat natto though, and even though I like the taste of grilled or boiled fish, I'm bad at taking out the bones, so I'll pass.

Editor: What drinks do you love? Hate?

Sigsawa: Usually, I drink mineral water. When I'm eating, I mainly have oolong tea. I also like carbonated drinks like Dr. Pepper and root beer, because in Japan, they're treated as weird.

I hate coffee because I can't handle it. I cannot drink it black at all. Even if you give me nice coffee, I will pour sugar and milk into it. Also, I have a bit of a "cat's tongue", so I need to cool hot drinks down before I drink them.

I used to love milk. In middle school, I would chug 1-liter packs in one go, but now it makes my stomach rumble, and I hate that I can't drink it anymore.

Editor: Do you drink alcohol?

Sigsawa: For the last few years, aside from the sake used in shinto ceremonies (omiki), I haven't drunk a single drop. In my student days, I did drink a bit, but I've never able to hold it well, so I never came to enjoy it. I probably won't drink in the future, either. By the way, I have never once in my lifetime experienced a hangover.

Editor: Do you smoke cigarettes?

Sigsawa: I have never smoked in my life. I don't have any reason to start, so I don't think I'll smoke in the future either. My head hurts quite a bit when I'm in a small room with someone that smokes, so I think it's probably impossible for me to even live together with a smoker.

Editor: What are your hobbies?

Sigsawa: Anime, manga, motorcycle touring, driving, cameras, photography, guns, anything military-related, scuba diving, traveling, karaoke, etc. etc. Too many, even for myself. And whenever I get the chance, I find myself adding more.

Editor: Of those, which have you been interested in for the longest?

Sigsawa: Probably anime? Around my second year of middle school is when I really started to watch anime and learn about new series and creators. Without that, the current me wouldn't exist.

Editor: Do you watch TV? What shows do you like?

Sigsawa: Honestly, I don't watch much these days. My current office doesn't have a TV in it. The shows I watch most would definitely be anime. I try to research what's what and watch as much as I can, but it's impossible to cover everything. Still, I look forward to the start of every new season.

Editor: Do you read?

Sigsawa: I do, but not very much. For the last couple years, I've been reading even less. And I don't think that's a good thing.

Editor: What have you read that's left a strong, lasting impression? Please name five. Not including your own work.

Sigsawa: "Samurai!" (by Saburo Sakai) - The Mitsubishi Zero pilot Saburo's air combat records. I read it in my elementary school library, and at the time, it was the book I was most impressed with. Humans must never give up until the very end.

"The Adventures of John Manjiro" (author unknown) - A story about the man who drifted to America in the late Edo period.　I remember being late to elementary school because I started reading it in the morning and lost track of time. 10 years after that, I went to America too.

"Record of Lodoss War" (by Mizuno Ryo) - A popular series, everyone knows it. They were my favorite books in high school, and after that is when I started to pay more attention to light novels (although we didn't call them that back then).

"Boogiepop Never Laughs" (by Kadono Kouhei) - This is also a popular series, and it made me aware of the Dengeki Bunko label. Without Boogiepop, I might never have sent anything to Dengeki Bunko.

"Textbooks" - All the textbooks I've read up to now are included in this. When I was a kid, I believed "What is written in textbooks doesn't contain a single error." That's taught me a few things.

Editor: How about in the past year?

Sigsawa: "Sniper on the Eastern Front" (by Albrecht Wacker, translated by Nakamura Yasuyuki) - The record of a German sniper on the Eastern Front, during World War II. It’s a spectacular book that doesn't just cover the battles, but also the torture and killing of prisoners. It feels like every gruesome thing you can imagine is there, including a number of photos of corpses on the battlefield. It is a good source for depicting what the battlefield was like, so I recommend it to anyone that's interested, but I promise it will make you feel sick.

Editor: What films have left a deep impression on you? List 5.

Sigsawa: "Roman Holiday" - It's a worldwide masterpiece. Especially the painful silence of the last scene. I use it as a reference for trying to create a story that's beautiful even though it didn't have a happy ending where the two of them got together. It was the inspiration for Gakuen Kino 3.

"Laputa: Castle in the Sky" - Of Director Miyazaki Hayao's works, this is my personal favorite. When I going through puberty, I was seriously infatuated with the heroine, Sheeta. I learned about it through newspaper ads right before release, and I was moved when I saw it on the theater big screen. Ever since then, I've been buying anime magazines to stay up-to-date with new information. It was a big turning point in making me into an anime otaku.

"Die Hard" - A widely acclaimed movie with a perfect screenplay. You cannot find a better film for studying how to present your characters, or how to build and release tension. For any aspiring writers that haven't seen this film, you might think I'm screwing with you, but you should definitely watch it.

"Amadeus" - The tale of Salieri, the hard worker, and Mozart, the genius. It's a film that makes you consider what talent is, and whether it can make you happy. The long director's cut came out in 2002, and I was quite impressed by it. If you haven't seen it, please do.

"Patlabor: The Movie" - This is another film with splendid foreshadowing and screenwriting that I use as a model for when writing action plots. In college, I watched it so much that I could recite all of the lines from memory. I'm really glad I was able to come across this movie.

Editor: How about in the last year?

Sigsawa: "The Dark Knight" - The second installment of the newest Batman series. I'm not very familiar with American comics, and I haven't watched much of Batman in the past, but this film's screenplay, direction, and cinematography were all incredible.

Editor: What games have left a lasting impression on you? List five.

Sigsawa: "Life" - The board game. Even though you're just playing a casual game, it makes kids understand the severity of life. Also, I thought you could sell your kids in the game.

"Concentration" - The card game. This is the game I was best at as a kid. I was often praised for having a good memory, and I remember being awakened to the pleasure of remembering things.

"Gradius" - A shooting game. In middle school, I used to play the MSX version every day. Thanks to that, my eyesight got worse really quickly, and I've been living the glasses life every since. Still, it was really fun. This game taught me "even though it's hard, if I keep trying, I can clear it." Well, I'm still not very good at it, though.

"Ys II" - As you all know, this is a monster title that's still being remade and sold today. I didn't have a PC at the time, so in high school, I used to go over to my friend's house to play. I developed a crush on the heroine Lilia when she turned around in the OP. Actually, that was the inspiration for the Lillia in "Lillia and Treize". I had been thinking of using that name at some point for the last 10 years or so.

"Act Combat" - I first played it on the PS1, and since then I've been chasing the series as much as possible. I bought a PS2 specifically to play this game. It's fun to play even after clearing it, just flying around in Free Flight mode, without anything shooting at you.

Editor: Anything in the last year?

Sigsawa: I haven't been able to finish any games in the last year... Sob.

Editor: What TV anime series have left a strong impression on you? List five.

Sigsawa: "Mobile Suit Gundam" - The very first Gundam. When I was in elementary school, there wasn't a single boy that hadn't seen it. Also, I've also built some gunpla, even though I'm bad at it. I love the Z'Gok.

"Galaxy Express 999" - When I didn't have any money to buy manga, I got interested in TV anime. Travel, guns, unique world views, etc. "Kino no Tabi"'s greatest influence was undoubtedly this.

"Lupin the Third (Second series)" - The second series gets a lot of rebroadcasts, so I was always watching it. The scripts were bright and always so full of variety, so I could enjoy it every day.

"Metal Armor Dragonar" - When I finally got a VCR, I remember that this was the first anime that I recorded in full. I was mesmerized by the realism of the mechs taking off from the aircraft carrier in the OP. This series is the reason I love robots with airplane wings.

"Neon Genesis Evangelion" - I watched it while I was studying in America, and I had the videos sent over from Japan. I'm not going to say that I like everything about Eva, but it's still a memorable masterpiece.

Also, these aren't TV anime, but please let me include "Genmu Senki Leda" and "Windaria", as the classics of early OVAs. I love them so much, and I've rewatched them countless times.

Editor: How about in the last year?

Sigsawa: "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2" - That's within a year of when I'm writing this. To be honest, I learned a lot from the screenwriting, foreshadowing, direction, etc. The beauty of the finale, with its climactic ending, was brilliant.

Editor: What manga have left a considerable impression on you? Name five.

Sigsawa: "Doraemon" (by Fujiko F. Fujio) - When I was in elementary school, I loved to imagine my own gadgets. I also had delusions of what I would do if I was put into the world of Doraemon. It's been thirty years since then, and now I can talk to my nephew about Doraemon, which makes me feel youthful. By the way, my favorite episode is "The Reality Pillow".

"T-P Bon" (by Fujiko F. Fujio) - This is another from Fujiko F. Fujio-san, a time patrol story. When I was in elementary school, I loved its hard worldview, where people died quite easily. This is another series where I liked to imagine what I would do in their situation. I was quite happy to see that the complete version recently came out.

"Possible/Impossible Secrets" (by Uchiyama Yasuji) - Of all the series in Gakken Manga Himitsu series, this is the best, and the one that I read the most. Several years ago, I repurchased it, and it's still on my bookshelf today. I want to ride a linear motor car soon.

"Aoi-chan Panic!" (by Takemoto Izumi) - Due to my older sister's influence, I read a lot of shoujo manga. This was the first shoujo series that I bought for myself, and I remember being so furiously embarrassed when I went to the bookstore that I wanted to die. It's a bright and fun sci-fi comedy, and I'd like to rewrite it at some point (by that I mean creating something new with the same motifs). I still fiercely hope they adapt it into a TV anime someday.

"Oz" (by Itsuki Natsumi) - Near-future science fiction. I remember when I read it in college, I so was moved by the drawn-out tension and the incredible final scene that I was determined to "novelize it myself, and study writing!" Then, after just a few lines, I became incredibly frustrated. I am also hoping for a TV anime adaptation of Oz (although I did enjoy the OVA).

Editor: And in the past year?

Sigsawa: "The Summit of the Gods" (by Taniguchi Jiro) - A mountainous drama based on the novel by Yumemakura Baku-san. Takahashi Yashichiro, who wrote Shakugan no Shana, recommended it to me, and it was really interesting. I found the camera that appears in the manga at a local camera shop, and ended up buying it. It's over 80 years old, but it still takes pictures just fine. The film and development costs are expensive though.

Editor: So it seems you like motorcyles. What have you ridden in the past, and what do you ride now?

Sigsawa: The bikes I've ridden in the past, which is to say that I've let go of, are the Yamaha DT50 and the Honda XLR250R.

The DT was a low-power offroad model. It was my first, and I got it when I was 20 years old. With it, I learned a lot about what you need to own and ride a motorcycle. I fell a lot, but since it was slow, I was never injured.

The XLR was the one I got next; another offroad bike, but this time with 250cc. I traveled more than 10,000km on this in a single year. I loaded it up with luggage and traveled all over the place, from Hokkaido to Kyoto. This was, without a doubt, the motorcycle that made me who I am today.

Right now, I own several, but the one I usually ride is a model that's very rare in Japan (it's not very expensive, it's just not popular). if I wrote its name here, I'd be found out, so it's a secret.

Recently, I got my hands on the lovely Super Cub 90, and I take it on short rides, like to go shopping or to go to the bank. It's quite convenient, since now I don't need a car. Someday, I'd also like to take it out on a tour.

Editor: Have you experienced any danger, riding your motorcycle before?

Sigsawa: I've been riding for 17 years now, and I haven't gotten a single traffic violation or been in any accidents. I haven't even fallen, except on forest trails or offroading.

That said, I have been in some dangerous situations. Twice now, I've understeered on a corner and gone flying. Once, I was almost sent flying by a light truck that popped out of a side street. I've slipped on a snow-covered road once (don't hurry when it's snowing out...). I dozed off on the highway once. Also, there was one time when I rode into the opposite lane.

Lastly, you know how they say "the brain increases its processing speed to avoid crisis, and your surroundings seem to move in slow motion"? I have experienced that in real life. In a sense, it was a valuable experience, but I never want that to happen again. I will continue to keep safe driving in mind from now on.

Editor: Going back to the topic of writing, what do you need in order to write?

Sigsawa: Some method of taking notes (more on that later), a computer, word processing software, a Japanese input method editor, dictionary/thesaurus software, a wrist brace to prevent tendonitis, and finally, an internet connection for collecting materials and email. I wish I could say that as long as I have those, I can write anywhere, but my own room is where I can settle down the best. Many of my fellow authors usually write in family restaurants or cafes, but I can't do it. When I started writing the first book of "Meg and Seron", I tried locking myself up in a hotel for about a week. Since the hotel was so expensive, and the results were about the same, it felt like a waste, and I haven't done it again since.

Editor: Where did you live when you debuted? Where do you live now?

Sigsawa: Just before I debuted, I was kicked out of my parents' house, so for two years after that, I was living in a small apartment for 35,000￥/month. It used to be a student dorm, so everything I needed, like air conditioning and a fridge, were already there, which was really convenient. The only part I didn't like was how small the bathroom was.

After that, I lived in a much more spacious apartment for two years. It was in the suburbs, so the rent was cheap, but since the property was family-oriented, and I was a single guy that didn't go outside much, they must have thought I was creepy.

I also lived in a family-oriented terrace house for four years. It was comfortable, but I couldn't fit all of the stuff that kept piling up, so it became way too messy, and so last year, I finally moved into a house.

Houses are so easy. I can store tons of books, leave my motorcycles in the yard, and friends can stay over, I love it. Its nickname: "The Kino Palace".

Editor: When in the day do you write?

Sigsawa: I've said it elsewhere, but usually I wake up around noon, and then I start. I make most of my progress late at night. If a deadline's getting close, though, I can't be that leisurely, and the entire time I'm awake, it's work work work.

Editor: What do you always keep in mind when you write?

Sigsawa: The most important thing is to make your deadlines. If you don't, the book can't be released.

Aside from that, remember to keep notes and not to use words or phrases that are too complicated. Notes are really important, because no matter what wonderful ideas you think up, it's all meaningless if you forget them.

Editor: How do you take notes?

Sigsawa: If I'm in front of my computer, I use that. I have a file for ideas I've come up with, and it's gotten pretty big.

If I'm driving, I have a voice recorder that I use. Otherwise, I'll send an email to myself on my phone. Since it's waterproof, it's also usable in the bath. If you don't have a waterproof phone, I recommend using a notebook meant for diving, since you can write with it underwater.

By the way, I pretty much only write by hand for autographs and sending packages. My writing is quite messy. I almost can't read it myself.

Editor: Do any of your characters' names have specific origins?

Sigsawa: Some do, some don't. I'll focus on main characters and characters that I haven't talked about yet.

"Kino" - It means "movie/theater" in German. In German class, I heard it and liked the sound of it. It was originally the name for a male character, as previously shown.

"Hermes" - From the mythological Greek god. I preferred the sound of "Erumesu" over "Herumesu".

"Riku" - From the name of an acquaintance's dog. Same for his breed and appearance.

"Rafa" - From the name of a town in the Palestine/Gaza area. I saw it on the news, and used it just for how it sounded. There's no particular political meaning behind it.

"Tifana (Ti)" - The name of a town in Mexico. To contrast with Rafa.

"Allison Whittington" - Taken from the name of a friend's daughter. On a side note, she also has a little sister, named "Anika", who's a bit annoyed that I didn't use her name. I'll use it someday.

"Wilhelm 'Wil' Schultz" - It's just kind of feels German. The abbreviation should technically be "Willy", but I came up with "Wil" first, and that was that. Schultz came from the name of the creator of "Peanuts" (the one with Snoopy).

"Benedict" - It just sort of happened. (Sorry fans, for the second time).

"Fiona (Fi)" - The name sounds beautiful. On a side note, Fi and Ti share the same voice actress, Noto Mamiko!

"Lilliane (Lillia)" - As I mentioned before, it came from the character in "Ys II". This was another name that I was going to use for a male character... I chose "Lilliane" so that I could make Lillia an abbreviation. Then I googled it and found out that it was a real name.

"Treize" - It originates from the character Treze in the same series, and I thought he seemed like a good fit (sorry fans, for the third time). "Treize" also seems to mean "thirteen" in French, but there's no relevance to that.

"Axentine" - Actually, this is the name I initially thought of for Lillia when I was writing "Allison III". Having a heroine named "Axe" came off too strong, so it turned into a side character's name, but I kept it as a girl's name.

"Megmica (Meg)" - I wanted to use "Meg" because it sounds nice. I came up with "Megmica" so that "Meg" would be the abbreviation.

"Seron" - It comes from "The Spear of Seron", which is the symbol of the eastern faction in the series. Actually, in the original plot, the ending had Seron throwing spear-like objects at the enemy to save Meg.

By the way, no one mentions it when he introduces himself because in their world, it's a popular name. If you're wondering what the origin of the word "Seron" is, it's the Japanese word for "public opinion" .

Editor: What surprised you the most when you debuted as an author?

Sigsawa: In the results from the "Kino no Tabi" questionnaire, the percentage of female readers was considerably higher than the rest of the Dengeki Bunko series. I hadn't written the series especially for women, so it was a really nice surprise.

Editor: Do you get along well with other authors?

Sigsawa: We hang out quite often. Most of my college friends live in rural areas, so right now I only have my fellow writers to hang out with. We usually just go eat or sing karaoke, meet up at events, and go sightseeing once in a while. Things like that. Dengeki Bunko has a lot of authors, but I've been introduced to writers from other labels too. Also, I've talked to anime directors, producers, voice actors, singers, and mangaka.

Editor: Where do you go?

Sigsawa: When we're not traveling, then Tokyo, usually in the area around the stations in Shinjuku or Ikebukuro. Once in a while, they'll come visit my home in Kanagawa. I wrote this in the afterword of "Meg & Seron IV" too, but I have a curtain with the signatures of everyone that comes by. Right now the count is at 17.

Editor: When you're together, what do you talk about?

Sigsawa: In most cases, it's otaku talk, or things we enjoy like cars or diving. Sometimes we'll actually have serious discussions about the industry or about writing. Everyone has different values, and there's no right or wrong to it. It's really inspiring for me when I talk to people that are a different age or come from a different background.

Editor: For the last three years, you've been part of the selection committee for the "Dengeki Novel Prize". Do you have anything to say about that?

Sigsawa: When they first asked me to do it, I was really worried whether I was really fit for the position, but as the saying goes, "it's easier to give birth than it is to worry about it", and the work is more fun than I expected.

The selection process makes me think a lot about the passion, effort, and talent of the applicants left in the final selection. Sometimes I end up feeling like "whichever new author we choose, won't they someday overtake me? Isn't this just enabling the person who will bury my career in the dust?"

Still, for the sake of the next generation of Dengeki Bunko, I want to choose the very best people. The number of entries has increased again this year ('09), which is really quite incredible. By the time this book is published, this year's selection will probably be over already.

Incidentally, I have a little bit of insider info to share.

When the works are sent to the selection committee members, we don't know anything at all about the applicants' backgrounds. The only thing we know is the author's penname; things like their age, background, and sex are unknown. Once the committee comes to an agreement, then we do get to learn those things, but the evaluation is untouched by any sort of profiling. Everything is about how interesting the work is.

Editor: Do you have any message for future applicants?

Sigsawa: I respect your courage for challenging a competition with such a small chance of success, from the bottom of my heart. There's a joke among Dengeki Bunko authors that comes up in conversation a lot - "If we entered the Dengeki Novel Competition today, we probably couldn't win (or debut as authors), huh?"

Also, do your best every year not to miss the deadline for the contest. If you become a pro, the number of deadlines will only increase.

All I have left to say is, "I'll be waiting."

Editor: This is a bit impolite to ask, but can you tell us honestly what your annual income is? At your lowest and at your highest.

Sigsawa: Many authors do think it's a bad idea to discuss income or number of sales... but I'm pretty open about it with other writers and my close friends. I can't write any specific figures here, but I will answer in hopes that it encourages anyone thinking about becoming an author.

My lowest annual income was, naturally, the year I made my debut. I debuted in Bunko in July, so my total income for that year was much lower than a salaryman at my age. However, it was enough to sustain my lifestyle of writing in my apartment from dawn to dusk. Even the fact that I ate bargain spaghetti every day is now a fond memory (by the way, before my debut, I was borrowing money from my mother, and after, I paid it all back).

The year after that, my income increased like a double-or-nothing bet.

The highest point was when "Kino no Tabi" was made into an anime, and I had my largest number of reprints. It was enough that in a single year, it completely cancelled out the fact that I hadn't worked at all until my debut. Looking at the numbers on the ledger, and especially knowing how much had already been paid in taxes, no one was more surprised than me. I haven't reached that point again since then, but it's been stable.

Editor: Didn't you hate having to pay that much in taxes?

Sigsawa: I hired a tax consultant and we went over "tax reduction" methods. I pay my taxes properly, since live in the country called Japan, and paying taxes is mandatory, but also in order to fully exercise my rights. Also, I wouldn't be able to live without this country's "public servants".

Editor: What do you think of the fact that you earn a lot?

Sigsawa: First of all, I am so grateful to everyone that buys my books.

It's thanks to you that I can live without having to work another job, and I can focus on writing.

I can also buy reference materials (unless it's something very expensive), and it's definitely easier to have the real thing in front of you.

I don't think being poor means "unhappiness". However, it's certainly "inconvenient".

Because I'm in such a blessed siutation, I won't slack off, and I want to write the next book. Bringing new stories quickly to all of the fans waiting for me is what I should do, and what I want to do.

Editor: So if you accrue enough wealth, will you stop writing?

Sigsawa: Unless there's a very good reason, like if I fall ill, I won't stop.

Even if I won 10 billion yen in an overseas lottery (which is illegal in Japan anyway), I would probably still write novels. Writing is a job, yes, but it's also a very fun hobby.

Editor: What would you do if you had 10 billion yen?

Sigsawa: First, I'd go on a trip to outer space! Then, I'd make a life-size Zaku, and put it next to the life-size Gundam statue!

Then, I'd throw my money at the developers of those robots you can ride and move in! A gundam's way too big, so something like an 8m tall Patlabor.

Editor: What extravagances do you treat yourself to?

Sigsawa: At the nearby mall, I eat at the rotating sushi shop without paying attention to the color of the plates, I buy reference books without looking at the price, and I use the expensive soft toilet paper!

Editor: Okay, and where do you cut costs?

Sigsawa: I drink a bottle of mineral water (2L) every day, and I buy them from the supermarket when they're on sale. I save 100 yen on every bottle, and it makes me really happy.

Editor: What is the hardest part of your daily life?

Sigsawa: Since I usually sleep from midnight to the middle of the day, the timing for taking out the recyclable garbage twice a month never works out. The biodegradable waste is collected separately for each house, so I can just throw it in the bucket and leave it out, but the recycling is impossible.

As a result, the kitchen is lined with empty plastic bottles. As if I'm planning to build a raft. The living room has a mountain of cardboard boxes. As if I'm planning to build a robot.

Editor: Right now, what do you want most?

Sigsawa: It's not just right now, but for my whole life, I've wanted "good health, in body and mind".

I've never had any serious illness, and I hope that continues to be the case. With that at least, I believe that even if life has its obstacles, I can survive and carry on.

Editor: What is a phrase you love?

Sigsawa: "Good things come to those who wait." - That is, after you've done as much as you can, it's up to luck. I don't think it means that you should just wait around without ever doing anything.

I think it's the same as "Do your best, and let the heavens do the rest."

Editor: What is a phrase you hate?

Sigsawa: "I'm from UNICEF." - I used to laugh at it, actually, but recently I haven't been laughing, and I've come to hate it.

Editor: What are your goals for the future?

Sigsawa: As of right now, I've been an author for nine years, so my first goal is to do it for ten years. Then, I want to do it for 20 years. Finally, for 30 years. There are many stories that I still want to write.

Editor: Aside from work, what do you want to try most right now?

Sigsawa: The other day, when I helped a fellow writer move, I stayed in a room there, and thought "I'd like to try living in Tokyo for once." I've lived in fairly convenient suburbs and in the empty countryside, but I've never lived in a big city, with every kind of store right there in the neighborhood. Looking around at all the tourist attractions, museums, and historic landmarks seems like it would be very stimulating, so it would be nice for two years at most, and I'm trying to calculate whether I can handle living in a city apartment building.

Editor: What do you want to try doing before your life is over?

Sigsawa: I wrote it before too, but definitely "space travel"! I want to see what it's like to look down at Earth from outer space. I wonder whether it will be possible within the next 30 years.

Editor: It's about time to wrap things up, but do you have anything left to say to all the readers that read this to the end?

Sigsawa: I truly feel happy knowing that you read this book. From now on too, I'll do my best to constantly put out books!

Thank you so much for picking up this book! Let's meet again in the next book!

October 10, 2009     Sigsawa Keiichi

Translator’s Notes

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