- Interview location: Anime Expo 2026
- Interview format: Face to face, one to one
Animation Herald: What was your artistic training?
Yuhachi: I’m studying product design Tama Art University.
Animation Herald: When you were studying product design, did you plan to enter this industry?
Yuhachi: Yes, I totally want to be a product designer.
Animation Herald: What happened?
Yuhachi: I graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, I couldn’t find a job.
Animation Herald: Which comics or anime inspire you?
Yuhachi: i loved crayon shin-chan. I have loved comedy comics since I was a child, and I think comedy comics have had the greatest influence on me.
Animation Pioneer: crayon shin-chan It ran for three seasons in the United States. We have different translations. This is very interesting. I’m a huge fan of Crayon Shin-chan.
Yuhachi: Really? (laugh)
Animation Herald: How did you feel when you learned that your work was going to be adapted into animation?
Yuhachi: It’s hard to put it into words. More than anything, I want fans to be happy with it.
The adaptation was made possible by the help of those around me, as well as the support of everyone who reads the original comics. Thank you all very much for your continued encouragement. The anime has original characters and its own world that are slightly different from the manga, I hope you will enjoy it. I’ll be putting just as much effort into future comics, so I’ll be grateful for your continued support. Thank you so much.
Animation Herald: Which of your comics is the most popular?
Yuhachi: To be honest, it’s hard to tell whether civet cats, bees, spiesor hamsters are the most popular.
Animation Pioneer: What do you think will be the difference between the animation and the original manga?
Nakatani (Fuji TV/animation producer): This is a difficult question. For the adaptation, we invited the director larejo and directors Mount Kinoshitaso this animation was created based on Mr. Yuba’s comics and the director’s own creativity. As for differences, since everything is based on her comics, I don’t think there are any noticeable differences between the two. We want people to enjoy both. Manga is manga and anime is anime and I think the best thing is to appreciate them for what they are.
Anime Herald: What would you like our readers to know about anime adaptations?
Yuhachi: I hope existing fans will enjoy the anime as well, and I’ll be happy if new viewers who came in through the anime continue reading the manga.
Animation Pioneer: In Spis, Pisu works as a cashier. Is this a job you’ve done?
Yuhachi: I have never worked in a convenience store, but I have had jobs dealing with customers. I referenced this experience in the comic.
Animation Herald: What kind of work have you done?
Yuhachi: I worked part-time in food service and at an amusement park.
Animation Pioneer: It looks like one of the tanukis is obsessed with social media. Is this the case for you too?
Yuhachi: Yes, I will admit it. I’m also addicted to social media. (laugh)
I drew this comic when tanuki cats were trending on Japanese social media. That manga is a good example of what was going on back then, but with Tanuki.
Animation Herald: What attracted you to Thick Bee?
Yuhachi: They’re more than just cute. They have a childlike selfishness and will do things that humans cannot do without thinking. I find it cute and attractive.
Anime Herald: The Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) was the last system to place all of the controller’s buttons on the front. Do you think this is the best system for large bees?
Yuhachi: There are several scenes of Big Bee playing video games. One was in front of a candy store and the other was in a high school student’s home. However, I’ve never played a Mega Drive myself.
Animation Herald: I recommend mini hyperdrive and Hyperdrive Mini 2.
Do you love roller coasters as much as Bee?
Yuhachi: I love them! I became completely obsessed with it while I was working at an amusement park. The roller coaster that the bees ride on is based on the roller coaster in that park. One day, the three of us went to Universal Studios, but the other two were not very good at riding roller coasters, so I took it by myself. (laugh)
Animation Herald: How would you describe your pet hamster’s personality?
Yuhachi: Have you ever read the hamster comics?
Animation Herald: Yes, I do.
Yuhachi: This is a difficult question…
Animation Herald: If you have a funny hamster story, we’d love to hear it.
Yuhachi: I have had many hamsters over the years and each one is always trying to chew on something. When they are in a cage, they chew the cage; when they are in a cage, they chew the cage. When you let them out, they will chew on the furniture.
One of them was particularly bad and chewed all the time. This is completely different from the cute image of hamsters in our minds. (laugh) But I was very impressed.
Animation Herald: Did Hamster-san bite you?
Yuhachi: every day! My hands are always bandaged.
Animation Herald: Do you have any questions for us?
Yuhachi: Have you seen my work elsewhere besides the materials we send you?
Animation Herald: Yes. My favorite among your works is the civet cat, because the civet cat is cute and interesting. I love the Mr. Hamster merchandise, though.
Yuhachi: So are tanukis your favorite?
Anime Herald: I love Tanuki’s sense of humor.
Yuhachi: I was surprised. I drew it as a rather Japanese humor, so I didn’t expect it to be popular with overseas readers.
Animation Pioneer: My favorite tanuki joke is when they look at a dog and try to figure out if it’s a tanuki. This is very interesting.
Have you ever been to the USA?
Yuhachi: No, but I’d love to go. I went to Sydney, Australia when I was in high school.
Animation Herald: Have you ever visited the Opera House?
Yuhachi: I did it!
Animation Herald: I want to go there one day.
Yuhachi: Do you have any advice if I go to the US?
Animation Herald: I am a New Yorker, so I recommend New York to everyone. This is truly a wonderful city.
Yuhachi: I would love to go to New York!
Animation Herald: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today.
Yuhachi: Thank you so much.
Yupachi’s works are being animated, welcome to Yupachi’s house! (Yusanji!). These include BIGBEE, Spis, Shopkeeper and my personal favorite “Oh great, the tanuki is finished”.