We’re back with the third installment of our monthly interview with a bara artist. If you’re new to this series then feel free to catch up by reading our talk with Gai Mizuki and Dainyu Dougumo. For November, we sat down with the absolutely delightful and comical creator of the Dragon Ranger series, Nakata Shunpei. As always, the interview has been translated into English. For the record, he did, in fact, use so many emojis.
Walker: Thank you so much for joining me, Nakata-sensei. It’s great to be talking to you today.
中田先生: Thank you for inviting me.
Walker: Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers before we get started?
中田先生: It’s nice to meet all of you. I’m Nakata Shunpei. I’m a gay Japanese manga artist. If you’re interested, please support my work.
Walker: Alright, now I guess it’s always great to ask what got you started as an artist?
中田先生: I think I always wanted to spend my life drawing comics, ever since I was a kid.
Walker: Really? There was never another ambition you had?
中田先生: Well yes. There was a time when I really wanted to be a teacher or a newspaper reporter. However, my mother was always telling me that I was really bad for those aspirations. Eventually, I felt I couldn’t do anything. Still, I’d rather continue with my job as an artist even if the future is uncertain, than do what I originally wanted.
Walker: Really? You don’t want to still be a reporter or anything? No regret?
中田先生: Not at all. (^-^) I think my current job is the best!
Walker: That’s really good to hear.
Walker: Now, you have a very distinctive art style. Every time I’ve seen one of your drawings I’ve thought “Oh, that’s Nakata’s!”
中田先生: Thank you. I’m happy to hear that.
Walker: You’re welcome. Can you tell us a little about what’s inspired the way you draw?
中田先生: I’ve taken influence from various people. There are a lot of wonderful artists in the world, and they all do amazing work, some famous and others not so much. (^-^)
Walker: Can you give an example? Particularly with the way you draw faces?
中田先生: Well, my favorite manga artist is Go Nagai (Devilman, Cuite Honey). His work has a lot of erotic and attractive characters. Not just his artwork, but his stories have been strongly influential. They are very appealing. (^-^)
Walker: One of your earliest works is Dragon Ranger. I first heard about it in college (around 2011). Can you tell us about it?
中田先生: Before I answer, can I ask how you like it? (laughs)
Walker: Oh, well…I think it’s great! I love it. The blue ranger is my favorite.
中田先生: I designed Blue to be the decent one of the group. (^-^) Now, to answer your question — Dragon Ranger is a really fun series for me. I still need to continue it since I stopped halfway through.
Walker: Really?! So fans can expect a new chapter?!
中田先生: Yes. Right now I’m in the middle of the Black/White Ranger story. After that, I have concepts planned for a Green/Yellow Ranger story. But right now I’m working on 1room. When that’s finished I’ll get back to Dragon Ranger. It’s not over yet!
Walker: Ahhhh! I’m excited! We’ll be looking forward to it.
Walker: What do you think is a common misconception people have about gay artists?
中田先生: Sorry. What do you mean by a ‘misconception?’
Walker: Hmmm… ah! “A false understanding.”
中田先生: Oh! Well, I actually think that gay artists aren’t as discriminated against nowadays, but all hentai artists are being treated harsher as a whole.
Walker: That’s great to hear on that first note. However, on the latter, why is that? Is it because of Japanese pornography laws? Opinions and views from the readers?
中田先生: I think it’s just a trend right now.
Walker: Now, you seem to draw a lot of holiday fanart. What’s your favorite holiday (休日) to draw for?
中田先生: How do I spend the holidays? I draw something every day. (^-^) Then I go to the gym or go shopping. I really like home appliances and visit mass retailers to see new products often. (^-^)
Walker: Sorry. Maybe I used the wrong word. In English ‘holiday’ refers to days like Christmas, Halloween, or Valentine’s Day.
中田先生: No. I understood you. (laughs) Every holiday is a good day to draw. (^-^) Summer greeting cards are the most fun for me. (^-^)
Walker: Daw. These are all so cute and sexy!
中田先生: Summer greeting cards are fun because you can draw muscles. (^-^) Today (11/11) is Pokey Day so I drew this.
Walker: What is some advice you’d give someone wanting to start drawing their own bara manga?
中田先生: In the end, manga is fiction. So there is no need to stick with reality. I think it’s better to value your own passion and not focus too much on the actual sex aspect. Readers can enjoy plenty of fantasy, so I think it is important to draw what you and readers can enjoy instead of focusing on what’s realistic. Don’t look for correct answers. Have fun. (^-^)
Walker: Have you thought about English versions of your manga?
中田先生: Well, right now there is more manga I want to release. There are still stories I want to draw, like a mountain-size of work. So I can’t slow down. I would like to see it translated by a company if they wanted to publish it all somewhere outside Japan. (^-^)
Walker: Recently, some companies have begun translating bara manga. I think it’s only a matter of time for you.
中田先生: I wish I had such an offer (laughs). I would like to be active overseas. (^-^)
Walker: Alright, next is a few questions just for fun. Shall we?
中田先生: Yes!
Walker: What are your other hobbies in addition to drawing and home appliances?
中田先生: I go to the gym, play games, and watch movies.
Walker: What kind of games? What is your favorite series? Favorite movies?
中田先生: I really like Marvel films and romantic comedies. (^-^) My favorite games are Monster Hunter and Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild (^-^)
Walker: Good choices! (´ • ω • `) Now, this is my signature question, but I think it needs an explanation for Japanese people. In the US, friends and family can make records using their ashes after they are cremated. The record can have any song on it. SO! What song would you like if you were made into a record after you died?
中田先生: That’s really a thing?! I’m surprised! Nice! I’ve heard that you can make diamonds from ashes, too. I’d pick Wind Beneath My Wings.
Walker: Let’s say you can create any new kind of story. What kind of characters would you include and what story would you want to see?
中田先生: This is something I always think about for new manga. One story would be a student who catches his teacher doing something secretive after school. So he blackmails his teacher into a physical relationship.
Walker: Last question! What are your future aspirations?
中田先生: I want to work on manga and illustration jobs all over the world. I’d like to work in more media forms so that everyone can see my art. (^-^)
Walker: I can’t wait to see you out there! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all my questions, Nakata-sensei. お疲れ様でした。
中田先生: お疲れ様でした。
To keep up with Nakata Shunpei, you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram. His Pixiv also has a Fanbox where fans can pledge sponsorship for monthly rewards and more steamy stuff we couldn’t include here.
As always, if there’s an artist you’d like us to feature next month then let us know in the comments and we’ll try to reach out to them.
