THEME1 What should be exported is the grammar of manga creation, not the works. "It's becoming more of an editor's research institute and a manga research institute."
───What areas are Coamix currently focusing on? Horie: A company-wide effort is to train editors. We are currently focusing on thoroughly honing the editing skills of our staff. ───Coamix is unique in that it only does business related to manga. Horie: We've been making manga for a long time. I myself have been doing this for almost 40 years. Therefore, you can accumulate editing skills. Therefore, I think that now we are becoming more of an ``editor's research institute'' and a ``manga research institute'' than a publisher. ────“Research”? Horie: In fact, by collaborating with a research team at a university, we are conducting research on the mechanisms of human emotion, brain waves, and biological reaction experiments, in order to scientifically verify the manga that is really needed. We are making progress.
──Do you mean to incorporate a systematic logic into the manga creation process of manga artists and editors?
Horie: Yes. Seeking a reason for everything and putting it into words. You can explain it in words. It is very important for editors to hone their language skills. I think it is necessary to be able to give advice on drama production based on solid logic rather than "gut feeling."
────That's why you're putting a lot of effort into training editors.
Horie: The reason is that I think that what Japan should export overseas is not the manga itself, but the grammar of manga creation. That's why it's so important to have a solid understanding of the grammar and the ability to explain it in words.
────I hear that Japanese manga works are a certain number of hits overseas as well.
Horie: Of course, if you look only at the numbers, there may be some works that can be called hits. However, I think it's a different idea as to whether it will be viable as an industry in that country. After all, the best ideal is for something written by people from that country to use that country's language and for people in that country to become a hit. If this happens in many countries, the base of manga culture will expand. For this reason, I believe that logic and theory are necessary.