Hey guys! Amazing news regarding Haikyu!!. There’s an article published yesterday by https://globoesporte.globo.com., remember the manga took a break for the first time a couple of weeks ago? Furudate sensei said it was for research and seems like it was to interview some Brazilian beach volleyball players!. This made me incredibly excited so I translated the article.
Here the original editorial. Please also retweet their post!.
Shueshia Editorial interviews Brazilian athletes looking for inspiration for Haikyu!! manga.
Haikyu!!’s anonymous author speaks with the beach volleyball duo Bárbara Seixas/Fernanda Berti for inspiration for the 30 million copies selling manga.
Bárbara Seixas and Fernanda Berti had a pretty unusual training day last Monday. The volleyball pair was part of an interview, and not of the kind they’re used to with sports journalists, Bárbara and Fernanda had a talk with Haikyu!!’s manga creators.
The volleyball manga is published by Shueshia, one for the most important manga editorials in the world, responsible for publishing hit series like Dragon Ball and Naruto. Before returning to Japan they’re planning to interview beach volleyball duo Bruno Schmidt and Evandro Gonçalves as well.
- “It’s the first time I’m serving as inspiration for a story, and it’s a Japanese series, which makes it special. It’s different, it’s cool, I’m all giddy. Athletes often dedicate themselves to work and work without realizing the extent of their accomplishments. We forget the world is actually watching us and how far our work reaches out. It’s something to be really proud of” - says Barbara Seixas, Silver medalist in Rio 2016.
The duo, currently looking for a spot in Tokyo 2020, is serving as inspiration for the manga. The editorial’s goal with the interview is understanding the qualities a character related to beach volleyball would need in order to remain faithful. And no better way to do that than submerging in the culture of the country that has been dominating the beach volleyball stage for years now, having conquered 13 of the 36 olympic medals that have been disputed ever since beach volleyball became an Olympic sport.
- “When I think about a fictional character who plays beach volleyball I think of someone stubborn; who has difficulties from the very beginning of their career but won’t give up. I think of someone strong, passionate about the sport, and disciplined” - Barbara teases while trying to imagine how a faithful beach volleyball player could be like. “You have to be someone ready to confront fear. Someone who won’t give into pressure, who in a 20 - 20 final won’t shake, but feel ecstatic of playing such a tough game, in such a decisive moment.”
Japanese Juggernaut.
“All this professionalism towards the development of the story’s characters is directly related to the reach of the series.”
Haikyu!! is published in the famous anthology magazine Weekly Shonen Jump, with a distribution of almost 2 million copies each week - The books (coming usually 5 a year) have passed the 30 million copies sold. It’s interesting how Japanese folks still prefer physical books over digital.
Secrets.
A peculiar detail that gets our attention is Haikyu!!’s writer and artist, who uses the pen name Haruichi Furudate, to remain anonymous. It was this mysterious artist who got the interview with GloboEsporte.com and talked with the duo of athletes. The anonymous status has been present ever since the first volume of the manga was published in February 2012.
- “The interviews with the young women will serve as inspiration for the character’s stories, having them personified in the manga won’t be the case. We’re here to understand their environment better and thus write a richer story” - says Haruichi Furudate.
Consider a “state secret” what was discussed for the future of the manga. Haikyu!!’s creators tell us how Japanese readers are always looking forward the next chapters. In these cases a spoiler about the Brazilian duos’ influence in the story would cost a lot to the editorial. It’d be like knowing the plot of the upcoming episodes of a popular soap opera.
Cultural Impact.
According to the creators, the manga’s influence in Japanese culture has been outstanding. The different themes covered in the story have had an impact on society’s behavior. Volleyball’s popularity may not match that of the major Japanese sports, baseball and soccer, but it has grown in the past years. More kids have grown interested in the sport after Haikyu!!’s debut.
Towards Tokyo.
Despite the secrecy, Haikyu!!’s creators ensure Bárbara and Fernanda will get access to the interview’s results. They promised to gift them the product inspired in their trajectory. “We hope to give it to them in Tokyo 2020, we’ll be looking forward their visit”.
Special thanks to @aweboloco and @fafaux at twitter for proof reading my translation :)
