Tokyo life starting with painting

"Basically all the voice actors for "Spirited Away" have been found, Mr. Higashino."

"Yeah?"

Tonoji put down the pencil in his hand and rubbed his wrist.

"Well, not only has the problem of voice actors been solved, but most of the animators in the production of "Spirited Away" have adapted."

Yano Ryuichi turned over the small notebook in his hand and answered with a smile.

Many painters could not adapt to the full hand-painted watercolor requirements required by Higashinoji at the beginning, but after one or two months of training, many people have adapted.

The production progress of "Spirited Away" has also been further accelerated.

"This is a good thing."

Higashinoji also smiled: "Treat them when you have time, Yano-san. Find a time to organize an internal tour of the studio."

Employees are like the blood of the studio. They need to be active all the time to stay energetic. If there are no extra rewards for employees, they will lose vitality if they move.

Higashinoji is not that kind of unscrupulous capitalist. Compared to a businessman, he is actually more like an ordinary painter and is willing to share the cake in his hand with others.

Yano Ryuichi obviously also understood Higashinoji's temper. He didn't say anything to object, he just nodded and recorded what Higashinoji said in a small notebook.

After doing all this, he seemed to remember something: "By the way, Teacher Higashino, there is one more thing."

"What's up?"

"It's Mr. Higashino, your apprentice, Nakano Arisa's manga. The first single volume will be published recently."

oh.

After Yano Ryuichi said this, Higashinoji remembered.

"The Grudge" drawn by Arisa Nakano is said to have done very well on the website, and Koharu Hosokawa has decided to promote her "The Grudge" as the first physical publication of Higashino's web comic.

It’s been a few days since the book was published in a single volume.

It's just that Higashinoji has been busy with the production of "Spirited Away" and forgot about this.

Now the production of "Spirited Away" is mostly on track.

"It's better to pay attention."

Higashinoji made a decision.

After all, Nakano Arisa also claimed to be his apprentice. It would be a bit bad for him as a master to not even care about his apprentice's achievements.

And "The Grudge" has been a work vigorously promoted by Tono Web Comics from the beginning.

In a sense, the achievements of Nakano Arisa's single volume also represent the achievements of Higashino's webcomic development.

Now let’s see if Nakano Arisa can give him a perfect answer.

Thinking of this, Higashinoji got up and made a special trip to find Hosokawa Koharu.

"The situation with Arisaki's "The Grudge"? It's pretty good. The total circulation of the first edition has been decided to be 50,000 volumes. Then we'll see if it can be reprinted."

The first edition was 50,000 volumes.

This result is indeed not bad.

Although it is not as good as the 100,000 first edition volumes of Higashinoji's "Midnight Ring", for a newcomer, selling 50,000 volumes is already a good deal.

If it can sell 50,000 volumes and the market response is particularly good, Nakano Arisa may even have the possibility of reprinting it.

The so-called ‘reprinting’ has been explained earlier, that is, when popular works are sold out and the market is in short supply, another batch will be printed. This process is called reprinting.

"When will it go on sale?"

Higashinoji thought to himself that this was the first time a single book about his apprentice had been released. As a master, he had to buy a few copies to cheer for him.

"About three days from now."

Hosokawa Koharu knows this process by heart. After all, when she was at Tomishima Publishing House, she was often responsible for the sales of Higashino Tsukasa's single books.

“So that’s how it is”

Higashikata nodded.

It may be because the animations of "Winner is Justice" and "Unnatural Death" are relatively well-known.

Therefore, Higashino Studio reached cooperation agreements with major bookstores in Tokyo without much effort.

Then there is the printing house.

At the printing factory, since Higashino Studio's predecessor was PW Animation Production Company, there are many previous relationships, and there is no shortage of connections in the printing factory.

So it was solved very easily.

"Then we have to look at Arisaki's results next."

Higashinoji probably understood the current situation and said with a smile.

The results of Nakano Arisa's "The Grudge" are very important, at least for Higashino webtoons.

Because her achievements will illustrate the question of whether online comics are popular nowadays.

If all 50,000 volumes of the first volume are sold and reprinted, it means that online comics are definitely not weaker than physical comics. In other words, as long as they can be reprinted, it will be considered a success.

But if the first volume cannot sell even 50,000 volumes, it will be considered a failure.

Therefore, Higashinoji is still more concerned about it.

"I roughly understand the situation. I'll go ask Arisaki about her situation."

Higashinoji said hello to Hosokawa Koharu and left the office to find Nakano Arisaki.

"master?!"

Nakano Arisaki, who was still a little distracted at first, was shocked.

She didn't expect Higashinoji to come to her door.

She felt inexplicably panicked when the teacher caught her playing with her mobile phone in class, so she immediately stood up and made room for Higashinoji: "Master, sit down."

"No."

Seeing her sudden hurried action of 'bounced' from her seat, Tonoji was a little amused: "I just came here to check on you."

He found an empty seat and sat down, looking at Nakano Yusaki who was restless in front of him: "Why are you still standing there? Sit down."

"Ah good."

Nakano Arisaki sat down slowly.

Seeing her somewhat uneasy look, Touyoshi finally understood.

This guy must be a little nervous.

But this is normal.

After all, this is her first comic book publication.

I think when Higashinoji's "Midnight Ring" was first published, it was actually better than hers.

but

"Are you too nervous?"

Higashinoji was a little funny: "What are you drawing?"

"It's the author's words at the end of the single volume."

Nakano Arisa showed the draft to Higashino Tsukasa.

On the top of the draft paper is a portrait of a little Kayako coconut, and below is a line of her own handwriting.

Her handwriting is a standard girl's font. It looks round and a bit cute, which doesn't quite fit in with the illustrious name of 'Junji Ito'.

However, Tonoji's attention was not on what the other party wrote on it, but on her nervousness: "Why are you so nervous?" I won't eat you.

"well"

Hearing Higashinoji's question, Nakano Arisa sighed in agreement, and then touched his head: "Master, I know I am indeed a little too nervous. But... I just can't control it."

Can't control it?

Tonoji glanced at Nakano Arisaki and said with a smile: "Why can't you control this? Aren't you usually very carefree? Why are you so nervous now that you can't speak?"

Could it be that you encountered some trouble while painting "The Grudge"?

Because Higashinoji built on the successful experience of his predecessors, he never encountered any bottlenecks when drawing comics.

But Nakano Arisaki is different.

Although he is a genius, it is normal to encounter difficulties.

"Have you encountered any difficulties or reached a bottleneck?"

Higashino asked patiently.

"Ah, I have some troubles. But"

Nakano Arisa secretly glanced at Higashinoji and quickly lowered his head: "I'm embarrassed to say it."

ah?

Embarrassed to say?

Higashinoji recalled how carefree Nakano Arisa looked before, and wondered if there was anything else you were embarrassed to say.

"It's okay. You can tell if you have difficulties. Everyone encounters difficulties when creating."

"Really? Master?"

After hearing Higashinoji's answer, Nakano Arisaki raised his head.

"Really, don't be nagging, just say it directly."

Higashino answered with a wave of his hand.

"Okay. This is what you asked me to say, master."

Nakano Arisaki coughed dryly.

Then he touched his head a little embarrassedly.

"Actually, I am very confident in "The Grudge"."

"Uh-huh."

Higashikata nodded.

Having confidence in your own comics is a psychological quality that every comic author should have.

But in this case, Nakano Arisaki has nothing to worry about.

Tonoji felt a little confused.

Soon, he heard Nakano Arisa's next words: "Then, I was a little worried that this comic would surpass the master."

Forehead.

Tonoji almost coughed when he saw Arisa Nakano holding hands with each other with an awkward expression.

Good guy!

So you are worried that your comics will surpass mine?

This is true

At first, Tonoji thought that Nakano Arisa didn't have confidence, so he looked uneasy.

Who would have expected the result?

How could Nakano Arisa have no confidence? She was simply bursting with self-confidence.

I wanted to surpass him in my first comic!

If you want to surpass Higashinoji, you must surpass "Naoki Hansawa".

"Naoki Hansawa" currently ranks first in Japan in average volume sales, breaking records and ranking first in Japan.

If Arisa Nakano wants to surpass "Naoki Hansawa", he must break the record and reach the top in Japan.

Higashinoji was also worried that the other party had low self-confidence and needed to be comforted by himself.

As a result, he now wants Nakano Arisa to give him some of her confidence.

Higashinoji was lost in thought as he thought about it. It wasn't until Nakano Arisaki asked him, "Would it offend the master if I said this?" He came back to his senses.

"Offend me?"

Hearing this, Higashinoji was really angry and funny: "What kind of offense is this?"

Higashino Tsukasa's manga is currently the number one in Japan.

Many people strive for his goal.

If Nakano Arisaki targets himself, it is considered offensive. Then Tonoji doesn’t know how many people in the entire industry are ‘offending’ him every day.

As for Nakano Arisa's goal, is it a bit too ambitious?

Higashinoji didn't feel this at all.

From Tonoji's point of view, it is normal for creators to want to surpass their predecessors, break records, and get first place.

Just like most Qidian.com writers.

Before publishing a book, who didn’t think that their book was really invincible and that as long as they wrote it, they would become a god?

This is a truth.

Targeting Higashinoji is a good thing, definitely not a bad thing.

On the contrary, there are those climbers who dare not aim for the highest peak.

That made Higashino feel a bit scornful.

So Higashinoji wasn't angry at all. On the contrary, he was kind and cheerful: "Arisaki, I'm actually very happy that you can consider so much. As for the offense, I didn't consider that at all. I think it's very strange that you are targeting me." good."

"Really?" Nakano Yusaki finally felt relieved after hearing this.

She has always been worried about what she would do if her work surpassed Higashinoji.

In the end, Tonoji didn't care at all.

This made her eyes sparkle, and she felt some inexplicable admiration for her master's broad-mindedness: "As expected of the master, I will work hard!"

Nakano Arisa finally seemed relieved.

At the same time, he turned to focus on the closing message of the author of "The Grudge" in front of him.

She cheered up again, and Higashikata no longer stayed here to disturb the other party.

But since Nakano Arisaki wants to surpass herself.

This makes Higashinoji even more interested in Nakano Arisaki's solo work.

"Everything has to wait until the release date in three days."

Higashinoji returned to his seat and looked forward to Nakano Arisaki's sales in three days.

Unlike Arisa Nakano, he is quite aware of the quality of the other party's works.

He felt that there should be no problem if Nakano Arisa sold 50,000 volumes or even reprinted it.

But the actual situation.

That's unknown.

Three days is not a long time, but it is not a short time either.

The first batch of physical books of Higashino Studio's online comics have finally appeared in major bookstores in Tokyo.

These bookstores still give Higashino Studio a lot of face.

Basically, they all give a prominent position of ‘Store Manager Recommendation’.

And there is a sign on the outside saying ‘New work by Junji Ito, a disciple of the famous Japanese manga artist Higashino! ’

This seems a bit hard to pronounce.

But actually hanging it outside doesn’t take up much space.

It seems that he is also thanks to the name 'Disciple of Higashinoji'.

Many readers who have suffered from "Higashino disease" (refers to fans who have not read Higashino Tsukasa's new comics) were attracted by this sign.

A disciple of Higashinoji?

Junji Ito?

This author's pen name sounds a bit like a male author.

Apart from anything else, because of this pen name, they all wanted to buy a copy and come have a look.

Many readers bought the works and started reading them right outside the bookstore.

They just looked at it, and their eyes slowly lit up.

This is really interesting.

Although it doesn't have the feeling of being scared to the point of making your soles weak and your vision black at every turn, like Mr. Higashino, it's still pretty good.

Especially when Sabotakaya, who was covered in black blood and climbed down the stairs, appeared, it really sent a chill down the spine.

And the painting style is also very particular, very similar to Higashino Tsukasa's painting style... This is really good!

But why haven’t I seen this kind of good work before?

There is no name "The Grudge" in the well-known comic magazines...

That…

Where did Junji Ito serialize it?