MJ Feature: Translated Interview with 07th Expansion

[Floating_Sakura]

Dear everyone in Akiba Blog,
Nice to meet you! My name is K from the editorial department of Square Enix's Gan Gan Powered. This column will start serializing in Gan Gan Powered, please support me.

Then, in memory of our first article, we have someone that everyone is already familiar with, someone who has manga serializes in Gan Gan Powered as well as other Square Enix's magazine! We will be doing an interview with Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni's 07th Expansion-san!! We will be introducing it like a manga.



--07th Expansion-san, do you visit Akiba Blog?
I come visit a lot. When I search for Higurashi, I got a lot of hit from Akiba Blog.

-- Do you go to Akiba?
These days, not much. I used to come here every week though. Akiba has become really stylish these days. That may be more classy, but I like the the unrefined image of a "forever under construction" feeling. I like that suspicious atmosphere where all the junk houses are lined up together with the other buildings.



-- Higurashi has a PS2 game, Higurashi no Naku koro Ni Matsuri out, huh?
I've bought the game at my neighbourhood game store. I am happy that I get the chance to do this.

-- The manga version of Higurashi is serializing in Gan Gan Powered and other magazines, huh?
Thanks to the manga, we have a lot of young [game] users now. I keep hearing junior high student says "I'm going to play the original when I finish my midterm exams." It's been a long time since I've heard about "midterm exams."

-- Speaking of which, Mikougkai Shonjyuu Kuradashihen is recruiting right now, but there are an overwhelming amount of applicants, huh?
Yeah. I'll make sure everyone enjoys it.



-- Gan Gan Powered is calling for a "Moe Manga Prize" right now, what does 07th Expansion-san consider "Moe"?
I think something like an "evil king" is moe. I find it interesting to see distorted relationships between a prince and a princess. For example, in this certain robot cat manga, Suneo X Goda is quite hot -- (After that is taken off the record)

-- Uhh, you can't publish that, huh?
I think it's the same as those shoujo manga that deals with "age gap". People with huge age gaps rarely meet, and it's hard for them to become a couple. However, it's very "moe" if they can climb over that war and become couples.

"Age gap" is a big topic. Maybe I should enter too. How about a couple with a student (male) and a teacher (female)? Eh, I think I've heard that before.

-- That's awesome. I am looking forward to your entry. Then, how are you these days?
Right now, I'm working on a lot of things related to Higurashi and my new work, Umineko no Naku Koro ni[ is coming. I've done designing the characters. I have a few pieces of music in mind. I am working hard to release that in the summer so please look forward to it.

-- Thank you very much.



I think those who have seen him on TV or at events will know that 07th Expansion-san is a very charismatic speaker. I really admire him, as he is a very interesting and intelligent person and very fast-thinking. 07th Expansion-san also carefully supervises the production of the manga version of Higurashi. He is also involved with the PS2 game, so you should try them all!

Translated from: http://www.akibablog.net/archives/20...ed_070228.html
Translated by Floating Sakura
Proofed by Ishaan