Tokyo MX TV Special: Shingeki no Kyojin FINAL Exhibition Opening Memorial (July 20th, 2019)

On July 20th, 2019, Japanese TV network Tokyo MX aired a special promoting the FINAL Manga Exhibition, hosted by comedian Kawashima “Kirin” Akira (Cosplaying as Eren), TV announcer Ugaki Misato ( Cosplaying as Mikasa), idol group Kis-My-Ft2 member Miyata Toshiya (Cosplaying as Armin), and the duo Non Style (Inoue Yuusuke cosplaying as Levi & Ishida Akira cosplaying as Colossal Titan ) - all of whom are fans of the series.

The entertainers originally hosted the official opening program for the exhibition, and in the TV special, they visited the full exhibition while participating in indirect interviews with Kawakubo Shintaro and Isayama Hajime. As part of an in-program trivia contest as to who “loved the series the most,” they also guessed what Kawakubo/Isayama would respond to certain questions in order to earn points.

The below translations are specific to Kawakubo & Isayama’s interviews portions (Timestamps provided).

Translation: @suniuz & @fuku-shuu for snknews.com​; Please credit if used.

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25:25

Kawakubo Shintaro Interview



Kawakubo: The initial draft Isayama-sensei brought to us is Shingeki no Kyojin’s one-shot version. At the time, I had him practice illustrating action scenes, so he completely redrew a chapter of Hajime no Ippo. [T/N: As the video states at 25:50 - Isayama was only 19 at the time!]

26:40

Graphic: “Secret #1 of Shingeki no Kyojin’s Birth: The Engaging Action Sequences Stem from Hajime no Ippo”

Kawakubo: This is the first time I’m showing this. Isayama-sensei often sketched a very rough outline on the back of the paper before tracing over it in the actual draft. Every mangaka is different - some are better at drawing expressions on the right side of the face, some are better at the left side. If one encounters a situation where they must create what they’re less skilled at, they can do a rough sketch on the back first, then flip it around for the actual process.

27:23

Graphic: “Secret #2 of Shingeki no Kyojin’s Birth: Isayama-sensei was not Skilled at Drawing the Right Sides of Faces”

Reporter: He doesn’t implement this method any longer these days, right?

Kawakubo: He actually still sketches on the back, especially when it comes to important scenes.

27:42

Kawakubo (Question posed to the entertainers/hosts): It has been almost ten years since Shingeki no Kyojin’s debut. In the series’ history, what is the chapter that caused the biggest reaction and became the most popular? (Up to the filming of this clip, SnK has been published up to chapter 114)

(The hosts share their guesses)

32:22

Kawakubo: The correct answer is Chapter 42 in Volume 10, “Warrior,” when Reiner and Bertholt revealed their true identities as Titans. On the day that Bessatsu Shonen’s issue went on sale, the online forums exploded just past midnight. No one expected that “They just exposed themselves like this??” “The conversation happens within that one tiny panel??” Since Isayama-sensei already illustrated Annie’s reveal - and that whole sequence was pretty exaggerated - he didn’t want to repeat the same method and wanted to showcase just the contrary. Therefore, the developments became what was published/what everyone read.



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44:00

Isayama Hajime Interview

Question from Kawashima: What was your intention for creating the fake previews at the end of each tankobon/manga volume?

Isayama: Originally I didn’t draw them as the final pages of each volume, but there must be something placed there. Initially I always drew pretty rough content - for example, the final panels of volume 2 had text like “Our battle begins now!” But everyone who read it wondered, “Did this series get cancelled already?!” That’s when I thought, maybe pranking everyone with “Next volume preview” would be a fun idea.

Reporter: What’s your favorite fake preview?

Isayama: Definitely the High School Caste AU. Even though there are only two pages each time, I spend about five pages worth of time and energy to complete them.

Reporter: What’s the appeal of that AU?

Isayama: If possible, I want to draw something that is linked to the original manga’s universe. That’s how I’m approaching it now.



48:45

Question from Miyata (Who wrote an actual letter): Isayama-sensei, nice to meet you. This is Miyata from Kis-My-Ft2. Is it possible for Krista/Historia to marry Miyata Toshiya?

Isayama: But she’s a drawing [So that’s not going to be easy]. I’m thankful that you think this way - that gives Krista’s creation even more meaning.

Reporter: So it’s still going to be pretty tough?

Isayama: She’s a drawing though…I feel like the “Wall” here is way too high.



49:38

Question from Ugaki: What is Isayama-sensei’s favorite gag/funny scene?

(The hosts share their guesses)

54:11

Isayama: The scene when Connie yelled, “Eren’s houseeeeee!!!” [T/N: From Volume 20 chapter 79, this is a Japanese pun. Connie’s original Japanese dialogue is “エレンの家ぇぇがあああ,” which is pronounced “Eren no ieeegaaaaa.” “ieeegaaaa” sounds just like “Yeager.”]

Isayama: When I noticed this pun I just couldn’t help myself - once you think of it you absolutely want to show it off! So I drew that scene, and afterward I had a “I did it!” feeling of accomplishment.

Reporter: Have you thought of any new gags recently?

Isayama: Recently…ay, not really (Laughs). Probably juts something like “The stomach feels good, right?”… [T/N: Even the hosts didn’t really understand Isayama’s pun here, but胃の調子がいい is pronounced “i no choushi ga ii,” where “i” (Stomach) sounds similar to “ii” (Good), so it might be that…maybe.]





Related News: Interviews || Isayama Hajime || Kawakubo Shintaro || Translations: Interviews || Videos: TV Programs

Archival News: Interviews || Isayama Hajime

