The Masakazu Katsura Interview From 4C

The Road from Submitting, Debut, to Cartoonist

Around Junior High, I wanted to get this "component stereo" called Technics V55 which cost 500, 000 Yen. At that point, Jump Comics' Tezuka Prize was worth 500, 000 Yen, so I began to draw comics to get that prize money. (Laughs) But after all that, when I actually won it, it was near the third year Senior High graduation. It took a whole three years! In that time, I bought a stereo, and I really found drawing fun. During Senior High, I would draw during class, too. (Laughs)

Actually, I submitted a comic called "Tsubasa (Wings)" for the Tezuka Prize, and also a different comic for the Fresh Jump Prize (the equivalent of Jump's present Tenkaichi (Matchless) Prize). Then, Fresh Jump's editor (now Weekly Shounen Jump's head editor Kazuhiko Torishima) looked at my submitted work, rang me up and said, "You didn't win this time, but would you like to try for the next one?"

After I graduated Senior High, and the when I entered a Fine Arts School, I drew only science fiction. But after I was given advice by the person in charge to try out a romantic comedy and did one, I won the second place for the Tezuka Prize. And that was my debut work "Tenkousei wa Hensouhei! (Transfer Student, Transform!)"