We've asked questions about FB until the plot took shape. Questions with a * are those submitted by readers.
| Question |
Reply |
| The secret of Furuba's birth |
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| Q1 Please tell us how you came up with the idea for Fruits Basket. |
It's been a long time since I started drawing Furuba so I don't clearly remember things from the beginning but... I believe...... writing something like a home drama was one of my goals; as a manga-ka that is. But naturally, when I was a beginner, I still had a lot to learn and couldn't draw very well, I gave up once and ended up doing other things. After "Genei Musou" and "Tsubasa wo Motsu Mono" were done, I thought "let's try it again!" and I came up with the overall concept of Furuba. |
| Q2 From what aspect was Fruits Basket first created? Theme, story, character, scene; from which part was it born? |
From the last or near last scene's conversation. It took shape from there. |
| Q3 Is there a scene that you especially wanted to write in Fruits Basket? If so which one? |
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Q4 Why did you choose to use the 12shi for the story?*
Submitted by Totoran |
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| Q5 At the very beginning when you started the series, what was the total number of chapters Fruits Basket was to take? |
Unlike the current length, I'd prepared a "total 6 chapters" and "total 12 chapters" version. Yes. I figured that no doubt, they wouldn't let me continue it very long... I had that little confidence (laughs). I'm glad, that it was wasted preparation... |
| Q6 Please tell us your editor's initial response when you first explained Fruits Basket's concept to them. |
It was a strange reaction (laughs). I had one other story prepared and (s)he'd asked "how about doing this one?" (laughs) But, I asked "please let me write it." I definitely didn't have any strong confidence but I thought "right now, this is what I want to write." |
Q7 What was the title before "Fruits Basket" was decided on?*
Submitted by Terasato and others |
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| Furuba's Characters |
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| Q8 Who was the first character to be born (created)? |
Uh...mmm... Who was it... (fighting with vague memory). First was Tohru, then Yuki and Kyo I think... Thing's are really hazy now. Ah, but with respect to deciding on the personality and appearance, the one that had the least uncertainty and snapped into place might've been Kyo. I have a memory of not hesitating much. |
Q9 Tohru is called "Tohru-kun" by Hanachan and Kagura. Why -kun?*
Submitted by Yuki |
I felt that "Tohru-chan" just doesn't quite fit. "Tohru-kun"'s short and neat end seemed to suit Tohru's more out of it feel. |
| Q10 Tohru's character seems to have a very unique personality. How was her personality created? Also, was she supposed to use keigo (polite speech) normally right from the very beginning? |
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| Q11 Why did you make Tohru's best friends "yankee" and "denpa" such strongly individualistic characters? |
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| Q12 Are there any characters that have changed greatly from what was originally planned in design, role, personality etc? In what way did they change? |
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Q13 Was Akito set to be female right from the very beginning?*
Submitted by Eriko and others |
Yes, that's right. It seems that, from a long time ago, I like drawing characters that you can't tell what sex they are. How would you put it... a thing for it (laughs)? |
| Q14 The God and 12shi that were born before now, did they also suffer the way Akito and the current 12shi do now? |
I wonder; it's not like all the 12shi and God had been gathered together before and it's possible that they never met so, it's possible they felt differently too. But I don't think the cat's suffering has changed at all. |
| Q15 It seems that since learning that Akito is female, that developments have become a lot more grown up, were these developments decided from the beginning? |
Yes, but the adult developments that are happening right now aren't what I want to write the most. Being at a loss, while making mistakes, it doesn't matter if they're unsightly, what lies ahead of their clambering over the hurdle is what I most want to write so that's why I'm writing what's currently being revealed. That's how it always is. |
| Q16 While it seems that the characteristics of the different animals are seen in he 12shi's character and design etc., did you also refer to 12shi fortune telling? |
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| Q17 There are so many touching scenes in "Fruits Basket", are there any scenes where you'd cried while writing? |
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| Q18 There are also lots of hilarious scenes, are there any scenes where you started laughing while writing? |
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| Q19 As you decide on the composition and setup etc., what do you consider to be important? |
The overall rhythm, placement, facial direction; I pay attention to these finer aspects. It's hard to get any results though... |
| Q20 What do you hold most important as you write "Fruits Basket"? |
That which is at the very root. |
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