Interview with Shuichi Shigeno about MF Ghost (2023)

We talked to Shigeno-sensei about the concept of this work, the attachment to the protagonist's car, and what he expects from the anime.

Profile: Shuichi Shigeno. Born in 1958. Debuted in Shonen Sunday Zōkan magazine, and then debuted again in 1981 in a special issue of Shonen Magazine (Kodansha) with "We're in great shape". In 1985, he won the "Kodansha Manga Award 9" in the teen literature category with "Bari Bari Densetsu". "Bari Bari Densetsu" and "Initial D" are the mangaka's calling card. Currently working on the manga "MF Ghost" for Young Magazine.

When and how did the idea to create MF Ghost come to you?

Shuichi Shigeno (hereafter referred to as Shigeno): While working on the Sailor Ace manga, I went golfing with one of the executives of Kodansha and the president of Ichijinsha, with whom I had collaborated in the past. We stayed overnight at a cottage. The conversations of that evening were the starting point.

And have you discussed the possibility of an Initial D sequel?

Shigeno: Not really. It was more like, "If I can create another manga about cars, what kind of setting would it have? I've already drawn a decent amount of domestic cars. I want to create a story where a lot of foreign cars appear, and how they are defeated by an inferior one. And that the action takes place in Hakone." That's the kind of conversation we had.

These thoughts kept me up even after I went to bed. All kinds of ideas came into my head, and I couldn't sleep until the morning. The scene of the action is 5 stages in Hakone and Atami. Closed public roads and only cars with internal combustion engines. Those who make it to the finals are called the "Divine 15"... About half of the basic structure  of the story was devised in one night. A lot of things were defined... The same traversal of the temples of Kamakura, relying on just one photo, and yes, the addition of a female protagonist to tie everything together into one story that would have both racing and a romantic comedy.

How did it come about that "MF Ghost" became the sequel to "Initial D"?

Shigeno: While working on the story, I thought I could use the world of "Initial D". Of all its characters, I like Takahashi Ryosuke the most. And so the organization he created fit perfectly into the concept. "But what about Takumi?" - I thought. And I had no choice but to introduce his student into the narrative. That's how Kanata came to be.

Why is the action taking place in the not-too-distant future?

Shigeno: It was necessary. When I was working on Initial D, it was like I had a heavy heart. After all, that manga in a way glorified aggressive, even anti-social actions. You know, when I see on the news that motorcyclists are causing trouble for the locals by racing over mountain passes, I feel a little depressed.

And that's why I wanted to make the world of MF Ghost have no points of contact with the real world. Moving the action to the not-too-distant future is self-justifying, because it's a story about another world. But now I can do whatever I want with peace of mind (laughs).

Why did you choose Hakone, Atami and Kamakura as the location?

Shigeno: I like Kamakura and I’m familiar with the area. I've been driving around Izu (now Shizuoka Prefecture) for a long time. And when you know the area, it's easier to come up with episodes.

Have you had to take your own photos in the field?

Shigeno: There are both "digital" and just regular photographs, and I traveled for material many times. It was so often that I can't even tell you how many times I traveled back and forth along the Odawara-Atsugi road. I did the drone filming myself, too. My manager "let" me sink 2 of them into the sea, so thanks to him, I learned how to pilot them pretty well (laughs). Also... For the scenes where Kanata and Shun are eating, I took photos in the place itself. They looked at me very suspiciously. Moreover, when I took photos on the roads in Manazuru, I caught the attention of police. But when I showed the police officer the photos, to my surprise, with the words "Ah, Shigeno-sensei. MF Ghost!" he recognized me and became friendlier (laughs). I attracted attention locally.

We know you drove an AE86 in the days of Initial D. And now you have a Toyota 86?

Shigeno: Of course. At the beginning of the manga, I was able to talk to the person who had a hand in creating the 86. Except at that time, to tell you the truth, I didn't have any experience driving a Toyota 86, unfortunately (laughs). But because I've always liked light sports cars, when I tried to drive it, I had a lot of fun. Compared to the AE86, it's more elegant and easier to drive. However, when I drove it around the suburbs, I thought the car's dynamics were a bit weak. But now that the suspension and engine have been tuned, it's certainly not like the Kanata’s, but it's fast enough (laughs). As the developer said, the Toyota 86 is "a nice car when tuned and painted in your color".

As the manga came out, the Toyota 86 underwent a restyling, and then the new GR86 appeared in the artwork itself. Do you have any plans to "switch"?

Shigeno: To tell you the truth, I've already been given a ride in it, and I know how good the GR is. But Kanata has the old version, and if I change the car, won't my love go to the new one? And so while I'm working on the manga, I won't change my car. Again, if you compare the two cars, the old one looks better. The curved body lines, the low hood, it all looks cool. I'm an artist, that's really important to me.

Choosing for the main character a car less powerful than others appearing in the series. Can you call it your "obsession"?

Shigeno: I think this is the most important point. The more technically superior and more expensive cars lose to the weaker one. For example, if a Toyota 86 meets a Porsche on the racetrack, there's no way it will win. However, if one can find someone with as special a talent as Kanata, on a public road in difficult conditions, such as a mountain pass, the result.... Of course, this is far from reality, but the reader may think that this is quite possible. I get a lot of pleasure when I draw scenes where drivers overtake with the help of incredible and impossible on the track techniques. I love those moments.

Why did the battles between domestic cars in Initial D change to foreign-made cars in MF Ghost?

Shigeno: The plot of "Initial D" revolved around domestic cars, but imported cars are becoming more and more popular among car enthusiasts. There are a lot of high-powered sports cars overseas, and I wanted to try to portray them without any restrictions. As expected, high-end sports cars are cool (laughs).

In "Initial D" there were difficulties with depicting the actions of the raiders. But this time everything takes place in the near future, when there are already marks from AI, broadcasts from drones... So you can develop the story as you want.

"It's nice to draw scenes of everyday life happening between races. I especially like the moment when Kanata and Ren went to visit her grandmother in Niigata. I think that's where my childhood memories are projected."

Among the “Divine 15”, Shigeno-sensei especially likes Kouki Sawatari.
- I think there's a fine line between pervert and genius. I like that behind the outward barb, there's a certain ephemerality and fragility that I feel is akin to Gun Koma, the protagonist from Legend of the Spinning Wheels (Bari Bari Densetsu, 1987).

The races take place in Hakone, Odawara, and Atami, and the scenes of daily life in Kamakura and Enoshima. The reason is that "I like them myself, and I know the area well". Shigeno-sensei has traveled back and forth along the Odawara-Atsugi road many times, and has collected a lot of photographic material.

In "Initial D" there were difficulties with depicting the actions of the racers. But this time everything takes place in the near future, when there are already flags from AI, broadcasts from drones... So you can develop the story as you want.

"It's nice to draw scenes of everyday life happening between races. I especially like the moment when Kanata and Ren went to visit her grandmother in Niigata. I think that's where my childhood memories are projected."

Let's talk about Kanata. He's modest and reserved in character, plus he's a half-blood. What was the reason for creating such a character?

Shigeno: I wanted him to be cute, but also not look like a "typical Japanese". That's how his Japanese-British background came about. The "amateur phase" of Kanata's career is somewhat based on the biography of British racing driver Lewis Hamilton. Kanata's character traits are... For example, "popular with women but doesn't realize it" or "kind and very grateful to the family that sheltered him", "polite and honest".... I drew Kanata as someone I could say, "I like this guy." I think readers will like him that way too. On the other hand, regarding his genius as a racer.... It's very hard to get an emotional response. So when drawing such moments, I hope that Ogata, Shun, and other characters can take it upon themselves to express the readers' feelings.

How did Ren become the character we know?

Shigeno: The reason Ren became an MFG Angel is because of the increase in scenes featuring her. The average high school girl is at school on race day or at home watching the broadcast on TV. Right? But MFG Angel is always in the same "space" with Kanata. This allowed for a one-time increase in the number of scenes. I mean, it's good to increase the character's recognition as a protagonist. Again, as a high school student, she's serious, tidy, and has good grades. But the visual "disconnect" that occurs after she changes into Angel's uniform is also important. It's like a wild male fantasy, but it makes more sense than it seems (laughs).

In MF Ghost, the development of the young protagonists' romantic line is given more attention than in Initial D. Is this done intentionally?

Shigeno: That work was essentially a "male" work, where "love" was not essential. And readers, I think, appreciated that "purity" of the story. However, I don't like it myself when they do the same thing. So the love line is stronger this time around, and Kanata searches for himself amidst his internal strife.

I wanted the story to be a whole story, rather than one made up of separate parts for each race. That's why I chose a structure that intertwines racing and everyday life, with room to modernize the car and at the same time reveal Kanata himself. In "Initial D" I wanted to project on Takumi the desires of readers who like car stories without impurities, so I concentrated on his exceptional driving technique and did not delve into the human aspects.

Kanata thoroughly enjoys the change of seasons, eating and relaxing in the countryside. Is this how you wanted to portray his daily life?

Shigeno: I wanted to portray how, through coming to Japan, he "grows up" by encountering something new to him. Since I love Japan so much, I kind of praise it in the story. "Japan is a good country, right?" I allow Kanata to be slightly sarcastic in saying things on my behalf (laughs). The episode in Niigata is a reflection of the scenery from my childhood.

Which of Kanata's opponents do you like the most?

Shigeno: Kouki Sawatari. He has somewhat strange taste in women, but there's a fine line between genius and pervert (laughs). I feel that this "I like 17-year-old girls" thing he has done has been taken surprisingly without negativity by fans, and is even considered cute. After all, first of all, Sawatari is very much in love with his current girlfriend Sana (laughs). It's adorable. Then again, I also like him as a racer, the way he has an intertwining of "spikiness and fragility" that is akin to Gun Koma, the main character of Bari Bari Densetsu.

I also like the straightforwardness of Shun Aiba's feelings and his awkward manliness. I really like the scene in the Odawara race where Shun is trying so hard to win the braking that he gets blown away. I really wanted to put him in the GT-R, the purebred Japanese. But in doing so, the GT-R's greatness was not really revealed. Maybe my desire was a mistake (laughs).

Who is your favorite Angel?  
- "I've been waiting for that question (laughs). The more insufferable, the cuter."
To tell you the truth, he likes Marie Sawamura.

About Kanata's character:
- In addition to his genius, he is also reserved, kind, not greedy for money, honest and handsome. I wanted to create a character that I myself could say, "I like this guy".

The characters from "Initial D" are appearing in MF Ghost. Which of them do you favor?

Shigeno: Like I said, Ryosuke Takahashi comes first. But I like the guest commentators too. Kogashiwa Kai from the first round, Ikeda from the second, Akiyama from the third, Sudo from the fourth... Well, you'll find out who will be the commentator for the final round in the manga, so look forward to it. 

And finally a question regarding the release of the anime this fall. How did you feel about the decision to make the series?

Shigeno: When I was told about the creation of the anime, I was really excited. My feelings were like "as a mangaka, I'm completely rewarded."

What are your expectations for the anime?

Shigeno: Naoyuki Onda-san is a really talented artist. So when I saw the finished character, I thought, "Ahh, I want to draw a face like that myself!" It's kind of a shame, even. Initially, I expressed my wish that he should not draw from the original artwork, but show individuality. I was very pleased with this man. The most impressive change from the manga was the addition of "sound". The voices of the actors brought the characters to life, and the cool background music in the races elevates the battles. The battle scenes in "Initial D" were accompanied by great Eurobeat, so I hope to see it return in "MF Ghost" (laughs).

Source: MF Ghost Guidebook
Translated from Russian into English using DeepL.
Original translation by DORIFTO/TRANSLATION in 2023.