Artwork of Berserk interview - Page 5 part 1

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Interviewer: Since Schierke and the others joined, there have been more enjoyable things in the journey scenes.

Miura: As you know, to go on a journey with a gathering of companions is a staple of fantasy entertainment. "Berserk" started in 1989, when the mood was such that even super-violent works were accepted. However, when a piece of entertainment lasts so long (like my work), everybody might be hurt (1), exhausted and unable to endure with only violence (in the end). It has also become hard for me to read manga, I think I'm growing old. *laughs*

Interviewer: As for the so-called "input" (2) that is stimulated by other works, how have you been faring?

Miura: First, I read certain things as a pastime and others as material needed for my creation. Regarding necessary inputs, currently it's material about ancient times, about iron making (that I need) in order to draw "Duranki", etc. As I read them, I get to find them enjoyable.
I read or watch what I like without any particular direction, so I’m not sure these have been input. Recently, I've often been reading light novels. I might spend more time reading them than manga. As for visual media, I’ve watched animated works as usual and I wanted to make an effort to watch foreign (TV) dramas as well, but… it’s hard for me to watch them because they’re long. Rather, I'm re-watching what I liked in the past, like "Lone Wolf and Cub", "Kogarashi Monjirō" or "Zatoichi".

Interviewer: Why do you read a lot of light novels?

Miura: To try to look cool, I sometimes say "I need to understand the trends of today’s youngsters", but (in truth) I just like them. *laughs* There are quite many wonderful works, from serious ones to playful ones, and I can read them easily, which is good for me. I think it's great that they can be so interesting to read with only back and forth exchanges between characters. I'd say that I can't draw a tale that is neither an episode nor a story (3)… Or maybe I should say, I don't think anybody wants me to do a conversation-based drama. *laughs*



Note 1: He means that the readers' feelings might be hurt.
Note 2: They use the English word "input" in Katakana, with the meaning of something that can stimulate one's creativity.
Note 3: He uses the words "episode" and "story" written in Katakana, from English, referring to a form of narrative (with specific scenes or sequences of events) as opposed to pure dialog like in light novels.