Yoshinori Kanada

(animator)

“I’ve come to feel like I should try doing what I want to do, even if I make a fool of myself.”

Yoshinori Kanada is currently busy working on the much-talked-about blockbusters Harmagedon and Final Yamato. This year, he is also starting a manga series (Birth), and with his thirties upon him, he is more motivated than ever. This time, we asked Kanada about his private life, which he has rarely talked about before.

He’s been enjoying driving to relax

Interviewer: Did you have a car accident and end up in the hospital?

Kanada: Yes, I did. I’m all messed up. (Laughs) I was in the hospital for about a week and just got out.

Interviewer: How are your injuries?

Kanada: It’s just a minor scrape on my forehead, nothing serious. But when I hit the windshield, the impact caused my head to slam against it. I was worried that a blood vessel in my brain might have been damaged, so I was admitted to the hospital for tests. The results aren’t back yet, but it seems like everything is okay. More than that, my work schedule has been completely disrupted. Actually, I had a production meeting for Harmagedon the day after the accident, but I couldn’t make it… .

Interviewer: Where did it happen?

Kanada: It was at an intersection near Tokorozawa (Saitama Prefecture) on the Kawagoe Kaido. I didn’t even have time to react before I hit something. The car was completely wrecked.

Interviewer: Do you drive often?

Kanada: I only started getting interested in cars this year. Normally, people get interested when they’re in high school and start studying for their license, but I was a cycle or two behind. Also, I stopped drinking about two years ago, so I had some free time on my hands. I suddenly felt like driving, so I started studying for my license. I got my license this spring and have been driving every day.

Interviewer: How much do you drive every day?

Kanada: Not so much now, but for the first month after I bought the car, I was driving about 100 kilometers a day. I would think, “Where should I go today?” and have fun.

Interviewer: Is it a regular passenger car?

Kanada: No, it’s a Jeep. A small one called the Suzuki Gemini. A friend of mine really likes Jeeps, and I rode in one once, and I fell in love with it. I decided that if I was going to drive a car, it had to be a Jeep. I just love the open feeling. I was hoping to take it on long trips to Hokkaido or Kyushu, but I got into an accident, so that’s not going to happen for a while.

Recently, I’ve also become interested in motorcycles, so I bought a 50cc bike and have been riding it around here and there. Whether it’s a car or a motorcycle, riding really calms me down and is a great way to clear my head. Sitting in a chair all day just makes me feel down.

Interviewer: Speaking of clearing your head, what else do you do?

Kanada: I don’t go much anymore, but about two years ago, I used to go to the movies a lot. I used to go to all-night screenings on Saturdays with my coworkers after work. We’d just say, “Let’s go!” Movies are not only a good way to change my mood, but I also learn a lot from working in anime. And, of course, I’ve always loved movies.

Interviewer: What kind of movies do you like?

Kanada: I don’t have a particular genre that I like, I just watch whatever comes my way. I like romantic movies, and I love the Ka-san series (laughs). I don’t mind Japanese or foreign movies.

Interviewer: When you say you don’t go anymore, is it because you’re busy with work?

Kanada: No, it’s not that. As I mentioned earlier, I quit drinking about two years ago, and once I quit, I became reluctant to go out. I ended up not going at all. I know I should go more often, but I buy advance tickets and then don’t go. Also, lately, when I have free time, I drive around, so I end up going even farther away.

Interviewer: Did you stop drinking because of an illness?

Kanada: That’s right. I’m still young, but I developed gout. Apparently, you can’t drink alcohol with this disease. Especially drinking while eating yakitori at a street stall. (Laughs) So I quit completely. I used to drink quite a lot, so not drinking was tough at first, but I’ve gotten used to it now and I’m fine. Well, it’s okay to drink a little, but if I drink a little, I get tired instead. So I hardly ever drink these days.

Interviewer: I heard that you like dancing at discos.

Kanada: Yes, I love it. (Laughs) I haven’t been lately, but I used to go often with my coworkers (mostly to discos in Shinjuku). Dancing is something you don’t have to think about, and moving your body makes you feel liberated, so it’s a great way to refresh yourself. I still feel like going sometimes, but I used to go mostly when I was drinking, so now that I’ve quit drinking, I don’t have many opportunities to go.

A sudden decision to start a manga series

Interviewer: I’d like to ask you a little about your work. How is the work on Harmagedon and Final Yamato going?

Kanada: I haven’t started yet. I haven’t even met with the staff for Harmagedon yet. We were supposed to have a meeting about it the other day, but I was hospitalized due to the accident just before the meeting. Of course, it was decided a long time ago that I would draw animation, and I’ve met with some of the staff members personally to talk about it, but we haven’t discussed the overall plan at all. I think we’ll probably start working on it in earnest in late August.

Interviewer: Will you be working at the Magic Capsule studio in Asagaya?

Kanada: I think so. However, we haven’t discussed the details yet, so I’m not sure what will happen.

Interviewer: Harmagedon is already generating a lot of buzz. Do you have any ideas about how you want to approach it?

Kanada: Actually, I’ve been asked that question a lot, but as I mentioned earlier, I’m not fully involved yet, so I can’t really answer. Besides, production has just started, and we don’t know what will happen in the future. It would be bad if I said something now and it turned out to be different later. At this stage, all I can say is that I will do my best.

Interviewer: The original artwork is by manga artist Katsuhiro Otomo. What do you think of his artwork?

Kanada: I think it’s amazing. I’ve been a fan for a long time and have seen almost all of his works. It’s hard to say exactly what makes it so amazing, but it’s definitely a new kind of picture, or rather, the atmosphere is different…

Interviewer: What about Space Battleship Yamato?

Kanada: Nothing has actually been done on that yet. I hear the storyboards are behind schedule.

Interviewer: By the way, are you working on any TV series right now?

Kanada: No, I’m not working on anything. I’ll be completely busy with Harmagedon and Yamato until the end of this year. Also, I started a serialized manga in a manga magazine called Ryuu this year, so I have that to work on as well. It’s a bimonthly magazine with only 16 pages, but since it’s my first time doing this, it takes a lot of time. Especially the dialogue. I don’t read many novels or books, so it’s very difficult.

Interviewer: What kind of work is it?

Kanada: It’s for Motion Comic, and the title is Birth.

Interviewer: What made you decide to draw (manga)?

Kanada: Actually, I’ve been told to try it for a long time. But until now, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I kept making excuses. However, this year, I finally let go of those feelings. I decided to just go for it, even if I might make a fool of myself, and do what I really want to do.

Interviewer: But you’ve drawn a lot of works before, even if they haven’t been published in magazines, right?

Kanada: I’ve been doing imitation drawings since I was little. I liked it. But since I started working on anime, I haven’t drawn much at all.

Interviewer: How does it feel to have your dream come true?

Kanada: I’m happy that it’s being published, but I have no idea if it’s good or bad. I’m not sure what to do next.

Interviewer: Do you ultimately want to turn Birth into an anime?

Kanada: Of course I do. That would be ideal, really. But right now, more than that, I’m worried that by drawing this, I might end up causing trouble for the staff of Harmagedon and Space Battleship Yamato.That doesn’t mean I can give up on the manga either. I’m in a difficult situation. (Laughs)

Interviewer: I’d like to ask you about Studio No. 1. What kind of organization is it?

Kanada: It’s just a group of individuals. We all bring our own work and do it. So, I don’t really know what anyone else is working on. However, even though we are a group of individuals, we co-exist together, so it wouldn’t be good if everyone just did whatever they wanted, so we asked Takuo Noda to be the leader. He’s like the group leader.

Interviewer: Does the whole group ever work on a single project?

Kanada: That would be ideal, but it’s rare that everyone wants to work on the same project.It might be possible if two or three people in the group teamed up, but I think it would be difficult for everyone to do it.

Okinawa is a place that stirs the soul

Interviewer: By the way, it’s the height of summer right now (although this issue will be published in early autumn), and I hear that you love the southern islands and always go there at this time of year. This is a great opportunity to ask you about that, so where do you go every year?

Kanada: Okinawa. I’ve been going there for seven years now. A friend introduced me to it, and I was so taken with the beauty of the ocean that ever since then, when this time of year comes around, I can’t stay put and I just have to go. Recently, it’s been very difficult, but in the past, I would go and stay for 30 or 40 days without coming back. I don’t intend to do that when I go, but before I know it, that’s how long I’ve been there. So, if I’m not careful, I’ll come back and find that I have no work. (Laughs)

Interviewer: Where do you usually go in Okinawa?

Kanada: For the past two or three years, I’ve mostly been going to Iriomote Island. It’s quite far from the main island of Okinawa, and there aren’t any popular beaches that appear in women’s magazines, so even in summer it’s relatively quiet. The sea is still beautiful, and because there aren’t many people, you can enjoy the ocean in peace. Plus, the people on the island are incredibly kind.

Interviewer: How do you spend your time on the island?

Kanada: I spend the whole day snorkeling. I bring my usual three-piece set with me. I tried snorkeling for the first time when I visited Yoron Island, and it gave me an indescribable feeling of freedom. Since then, I’ve been hooked. You really have to try it to understand its appeal. Okinawa is also famous worldwide for its beautiful coral reefs, and the rich colors are truly amazing. I had seen scenes like that on TV before, but in reality, it’s even more colorful and fun. It’s truly a different world.

And at night, the stars are incredibly beautiful…

Interviewer: So, for you, going to Okinawa is the best way to relieve work stress.

Kanada: Yes, that’s right. Lately, I’ve found that I need to immerse myself in that kind of environment at least once a year. Even when I’m not working in Tokyo, I don’t feel like I’m free from work. It’s as if work is stuck in the back of my mind. If I continue in that state, I can’t do good work. Just as the body needs rest, I think the mind also needs sufficient rest (freedom). In Okinawa, I can really do that. Of course, once I get there, I can’t work even if I want to, so I have no choice but to disconnect from work.

Interviewer: Do you go to Okinawa by yourself?

Kanada: Sometimes I go by myself, but most of the time I go with my colleagues from Studio No. 1.

Interviewer: By the way, as you mentioned, you spend your summers in Okinawa to refresh yourself. What do you do during the rest of the year?

Kanada: Actually, I started skiing last year. When I say “started,” it sounds like I did it on my own, but the truth is that a friend forced me to go, and I reluctantly went along. (Laughs) The reason I reluctantly went along is because my friend was very good at persuading me. “Skiing is just as good as the sea in Okinawa,” he said. (Laughs) I couldn’t resist, so I went with him. It was my first time skiing, and I couldn’t understand what was so fun about putting such heavy things on your feet, so I didn’t have high expectations. But when I actually tried it, it was more fun than I imagined. That’s why I decided to give skiing a try this winter as well.

Interviewer: So, that leaves spring and fall. (Laughs)

Kanada: Yeah, what to do during these seasons (laughs)… People always ask me when I get my work done, since I’m always talking about this. (Laughs) But lately, I’ve been seriously thinking about it. With this job, I’m always being chased, so a year goes by in the blink of an eye. It’s scary how fast it goes. And every year, I think, “What did I do this year?” It’s a bit unpleasant. We always say we’re busy, but if we really wanted to, we could make time for ourselves. If you want to do something in the four seasons, it’s not impossible. As I mentioned earlier, this year I decided, “Even if I make a fool of myself, I’ll try doing what I want to do.” This came from reflecting on my life up to now, thinking, “What have I been doing all this time?” From now on, I want to play just as hard as I work.

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