>> I don’t suppose you’re a woman, are you? Rumiko: Whaaat? >>What was the first thing you bought when you started making money? Rumiko: A laundry service! At that time I was destitute (and often the money I made wasn’t enough to cover everything) so the laundry had really piled up. >>If your editor at Shonen Sunday was an animal what animal would he be? Rumiko: Wh-what sort of animal… I don’t want to say. A… hippopatamos I’d like to think. As for me… >>Recently it looks like you changed your hairstyle from a bob to a perm. Has that changed the way you think about things? Rumiko: I tried to disguise myself! I enjoyed walking around and not having people recognize me. But when I came out of the salon I said “It’s me! It’s me! Don’t you recognize me?" 

>> Do you have any special memories of wearing a sailor fuku (school girl outfit)? Rumiko: Actually when I was in middle school we didn’t have uniforms, so I couldn’t wait to get mine in high school. But the high school I went to didn’t have sailor suits, we wore blazers! The Marisol Look was really popular at this time too. I really wanted my parents to buy me one though. I’m still holding a grudge over that. >>Do you have any strong feelings regarding your success? Rumiko: All the food I can buy now, that is pretty exciting. I can buy really good yakisoba (fried noodles with meat and vegetables) and oden (fish cake stew) at a place called "Nobori”. Now I seem to be quite popular there. >>Do you believe in God? Rumiko: My ancestors did.

>>How do you finish a manuscript if an earthquake hits? Rumiko: Which am I more afraid of, deadlines or earthquakes? I do what I can, and just try to be safe. >>What do you wear to sleep in? Rumiko: I wear pajamas and a negligee. From flower patterns to striped and I have everything from pink to blue, all kinds. That doesn’t sound like I’m boasting does it? >>Where do your energy and ideas come from? Rumiko: Usually I have a meeting with my editor and just hum and doodle and see what he laughs at. >>Are there any manga creators that you are close friends with? Rumiko: When I was at my university I was classmates with Hanako Mejiro and in high school I was friends with Yoko Kondou. When I was at Gekigason Juku I was friends with Atsuji Yamamoto. Rumic World note: The “Gekigason Juku” that she is refering to is “Gekigason Cram School” the manga school run by Kazuo Koike where she was trained. Yoko Kondou debuted in “Garo” magazine in 1979 with “Monologue”. Some of her series include “Roommates” and “Horizon Blue”. Atsuji Yamamoto did “Mr. Boy,” “Sabercats and "Ultimate Teacher” which was made into an OAV and released by Central Park Media in the USA. >>Why do you hate earthquakes? Rumiko: Because when the world collapses no one will read manga anymore. >>Are you planning on getting married? Rumiko: Nope. >>If Ataru’s parents hadn’t named him “Ataru Moroboshi”, would he still have been a problem child? Rumic World note: This reader is referring to the Japanese meaning behind Ataru’s name, which has unlucky connotations. Rumiko: His name is a bad omen, but I think his luck would be the same regardless. No one seems to help Ataru’s Mother deal with him. >>I want to get intimate with my teacher, what should I do? Rumiko: ……………………………… I’m a cartoonist how should I know!? >>I own all of your tankoban, but now when I go to the used book store I see Lum’s face staring at me and feel pitiful so I buy ones I already own. What should I do? Rumiko: God!!! >>When the Hanshin Tigers win, does if affect your work at all? Rumic World note: The Hanshin Tigers are Takahashi’s favorite baseball team and are historically known as the second best team, usually losing out to the Yomiuri Giants. Rumiko: Well, when I was 17 the Tigers lost to the Giants in the championships but it didn’t affect me. I faced the setting sun and shouted “You stupid bastards!”. I wouldn’t say that means I was affected, would you? >> Assuming that reincarnation exists, what would you like to be born as in your next life? Rumiko: I would like to be a manga artist. We never change, so I think it would be impossible to want to be anything else. 

>> Using your video projector, I heard you watched “The Thing from Planet X” on a 100 inch big screen. It’s a good one, but what other things do you watch? Rumiko: Right now the video projector is broken, but I really want to see if “Night on the Galactic Railroad” is any good. >> What if you suddenly became a man? Rumiko: Then I’d get a wife. >> What do you do when you need ideas? Rumiko: The same as I said above. And sleep. >>Which of the following do you hope is the next type of earthquake we have: 1) One that hits underwater in the Sea of Japan 2) One that hits in Westren Nagano Prefecture 3)An ordinary earthquake Rumiko: I can’t answer that! Earthquakes are a plague to society! >>Why won’t you use a male assistant? Is it because he would be the black spot in your group of females? Rumiko: It’s no good!! If a man joined it would be troublesome. The women may not have the willpower and find him cute. And that would affect the whole atmosphere of the studio. >>Right before a deadline, who’s name or face comes to mind? Rumiko: Who comes to mind… My editor’s face. >> What would you like to brag about? Rumiko: I can bend my thumb at a perfect right angle. >>Do you like love stories? Rumiko: I love them. I don’t write them very often, but even “Urusei” is a love story. >> Where would you really like to go on a date? Rumiko: The sea. I would like to go diving in the sea. I love going back and forth to Palau and skindiving there. I like doing it even without a date. >> If you found some money in the street, would you report it to the police? Rumiko: If it was more than 1000 yen I hope I would. It it was just small coins like 500 yen or something I would probably just pocket it. It would take a lot of will power to return something that small. >> I really like “Urusei Yatsura”. What are your thoughts on it? Rumiko: I enjoy all of the projects I do. And because people buy and enjoy them it makes me even happier. >> Last year you made the annual list of millionaires. So once and for all, how much does Shogakukan pay you for your stories? Rumiko: That’s confidential. >>That was an odd cat you cared for. Was Min really that energetic? Rumiko: Unfortunately about 2 weeks after she went home she jumped in front of a motorcycle and died. Rest in peace. >> When I want to relieve stress I go to bed or talk on the phone. What’s the longest you’ve ever talked on the phone? Rumiko: The most was probably about 12 hours. >> If you have a long telephone call what sort of things do you do? Fix a meal? Take a bath? Rumiko: Yeah, fix a meal, take a bath, or help the person on the other line out. They’ll say “I have to go to the bathroom” and I’ll say “In that case, I’ll go too." 

 >> You get hundreds of fan letters everyday all saying very nice things about your work, but do you ever get letters that say bad things? Rumiko: In the past 3 years, I have gotten 1. I tore it up. >> In your manga Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, the protagonists are always male, but they are always portrayed in a very poorly. Do you have some sort of grudge against men? Rumiko: I don’t have any resentment towards men, however they behave that way because they are the main characters. If they did not it wouldn’t be nearly as interesting. I think I am hard on the female characters too because of what they have to endure!! They have to withstand a lot because they are the main characters.