The Eastern Edge

Little time meant I had to rush through a couple passages of this. I hope it's not too rough around the edges, but here finally is the final part of my translation of the discussion between Takehiko Inoue & Eiichiro Oda from the below magazine.

For previous parts click the Takehiko Inoue category link at the bottom of this post.

Incidentally, chapter 60 of Real was in last week's Young Jump (available until tomorrow when the next issue comes out), and volume 10 of the collections will be released in November (in Japan).
No sign of Vagabond yet, though.

In any case, enjoy the final part!

Inoue: What’s amazing about Mr. Oda’s One Piece is that Luffy’s eyes are dots. That’s really something. Mr. Oda says, “Something that’s really good, is still good without adding this or that.” I think that's an expression that is really representative of him. The unwavering belief in his work is consolidated in the way he draws those black eyes. I bet that his editor and the staff around him said he should make the pupils brighter, or he should draw bolder lines and all kinds of things like that, but he didn’t budge an inch.

Oda: Yes, in the beginning I was told a lot of things.

Inoue: And you didn't waiver, you stuck with the dots, and you produced great results. That's brilliant. Your original inspiration of wanting to draw exciting pirate comics is what put the life into Luffy’s eyes. When I read chapter one I thought, "This guy knows what he's doing!"

Oda: Wow, you're actually making me blush (laughs).

•••• Mr. Oda, if you ever have the chance to do an art exhibition of your own, what type of exhibition would you like to do?

Inoue: You don’t need a chance or anything, all you have to do is say you want to do it, and everyone around you would probably jump at it.

Oda: To tell you the truth, I do have some interest in that. When One Piece is finished, there are a lot of things I’d like to try doing, including an exhibition. While I’m working on the serial, though, I really don’t have to capacity to work on other things. I think it’s truly amazing that you could do an art exhibition like this in the middle of doing Vagabond!

Inoue: Well, I have put Vagabond on hiatus, though (laughs).

Oda: But just being able to do something else while dedicated to another thing… On top of that, being able to draw the characters from your serial in a setting like that… I can’t keep up with that kind of strength. In any case, my One Piece serial is everything to me. When it’s done, I think I can begin my real life (laughs).

Inoue: What? You mean it isn’t now?

Oda: Right now I live for my readers.

Inoue: That’s fantastic!

•••• Even in saying that, if doing an exhibition became a reality for you, what kind of exhibit would you like to do?

Oda: It would be a waste to have something that is just looking at pictures. I would like to do something on more the scope of arts and crafts and building things. I like to use my hands to build and put things together. I think I’d really like to do something with 3D models.
Have you thought about any new types of exhibits ?

Inoue: Hmm, well… I don’t feel that The Last Manga Exhibition represents my be all and end all. Thematically, though, I‘ve gone as far as I can go so I don’t think I could do another exhibit like this one. If I do another one, it would have to be something completely different. I think that’s probably a long way off, though. Right now my stance is that the Last Manga Exhibition is the last. I’ve said this a number of times to a number of people, but I think this exhibit has taken its best possible form right now. I really hope you can come to Kumamoto to see it.

Oda: Only Kumamoto? You should take this overseas too! Like to New York! I bet people would love it. Mr. Yoshitaka Amano did one in New York and it was a huge success. People over there love Samurai and stuff, right?

Inoue: Yeah, but there is dialogue too. I don’t know if I can convey that properly. You need to know something about reading and understanding manga too.

Oda: Take a chance and don’t explain anything at all, and just leave the dialogue in Japanese. Let them feel it like readers here do.

Inoue: I see. Maybe just having a translation beside… That’s something to think about.

Oda: Please bring your work to the world! Vagabond is the pride of Japan.

Inoue: No, when people say, “That would be One Piece!” there’s no comparison (laughs). I’m really glad I had the chance to talk with you today. Please come to the Kumamoto Last Manga Exhibition.

Oda: I’ll pay a visit to my home town and check it out!！