JoJo’s Bizarre Encyclopedia member Lou conducted an interview with Satoshi Kurusu, a Japanese manga artist who worked as an assistant on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure for Hirohiko Araki from 2001 to 2004. At the time, JoJo was on its sixth and seventh parts, Stone Ocean and Steel Ball Run, respectively.
About Satoshi Kurusu
Satoshi Kurusu (ćĽć ăă¨ă) is currently serializing the manga Everyone Except Meâs a Zombie?! (俺䝼ĺ¤ĺ ¨ĺĄăžăłăďźďź), published on Yahoo’s ebookjapan service.
He read JoJo since he was a child, encountering it when Stardust Crusaders was in the Empress arc. After seeing an advertisement in Weekly Shonen Jump, he applied to work for Araki when he was 23 years old.
He often posts tutorials of art techniques he learned from Araki on his Twitter and pixivFANBOX accounts. He also drew a short series titled Hirohiko Araki Does Not Move (čć¨éŁĺ彌ĺ çăŻĺăăŞă), an autobiographical depiction of how Kurusu started working for Araki.
Full Interview with Satoshi Kurusu
Which Araki works were you involved in?
Mid-JoJo Part 6 to the first half of Part 7.
What were the biggest challenges working as an assistant?
The background of one panel with food in it didnât match Araki-senseiâs vision, so I had to keep redrawing it for 3 days.
Did you have fun working with Araki?
Since the drawings had to be so top notch, I was frantic. That being the case, I canât really say I had fun. However, there was a sort of âprideâ in drawing JoJo. I now think it was absolutely a gold experience.
Whoâs your favorite JoJo character?
Rohan Kishibe. As expected, I have an admiration for him as a manga artist now.
What is your favorite JoJo Part?
If given the chance, would you want to work with Araki again?
Yes. Not as an assistant, but as a manga author. When I draw manga, Araki-sensei is always in my heart, encouraging me, and teaching me.
What kind of work did you do as Arakiâs assistant?
- Drawing backgrounds and characterâs clothing designs.
- Picking up the food everyday (bento).
- Managing art supplies.
Which Stand battle that you drew was your favorite?
In Part 6, I enjoyed drawing the battle where the massive number of snails appear, during Weather Reportâs Heavy Weather. The assistants had to draw it without any detailed explanation from Araki-sensei about why a large number of snails appeared. As such, we would only understand the story after the manuscripts were completed. It was definitely a âbizarreâ job.
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Kurusu’s answers were translated to English by Irene and proofread by Vish. This interview is also available in Italian on the Italian Instagram page JoJoFeedback which Lou runs.
For more information about Kurusu, see his wiki page or check his Twitter!
