During the hustle and bustle of Comicon, Akadot had a chance to sit down and have a brief chat with Tohru Fujisawa, the creator of the popular GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka) manga series. Calm, collected, and wearing his ultra-cool sunglasses, Fujisawa was accompanied by Toshihiro Miura, his editor at Kondansha Ltd. Publishers. Fujisawa gives Akadot the 411 on his high school background, inspiration for his popular manga series, and hopes for GTO in America.

Akadot: So let's get started. How did you create the idea for GTO?

Tohru Fujisawa: The previous manga Syonan Jyunai Gumi was about a biker-gang, so I thought would be interesting to do the opposite of that. Then I started GTO.

Akadot: Are any of the stories in GTO based upon your own school experiences?

TF: Some parts, such as smoking at the bottom of the stairs. [laughs]

Akadot: What was your high school experience like?

TF: When I was in high school, students disliked teachers and teachers thought students were troublesome too. As I became an adult, I could understand a little of what the teachers were going through. Of course, I understand the students' feelings too. That's the reason why I wrote GTO from a teacher's viewpoint, even though I didn't really like teachers. Since I understand teachers' thinking a little better now, I created the role of Onizuka to convey to students how teachers feel, even though I may have disagreed with their ideals.

Akadot: Have you ever thought about becoming a teacher? Did you create GTO because you wanted to be a teacher?

TF: When I had a great teacher who helped create a good class and atmosphere, I wanted to become a teacher.

Akadot: When you were in high school, would you have liked to have a teacher like Onizuka?

TF: Not really. But I believe it would be fun if a teacher like Onizuka existed.

Akadot: Did you have any model for Onizuka?

TF: Not really. It just came to me suddenly. There were no models for any of the other characters as well.

Akadot: In Japan, the GTO manga was transformed into both an anime and live action version. Both versions were really popular in Japan, but which version did you like best?

TF: Both versions were good. The live action GTO was good, but since I wanted GTO to be animated, I liked the animated GTO too. Although I liked the animation version of GTO, I told the creators to make some small changes to the art.

Akadot: Was Takashi Sorimachi (Japanese actor) the person you had in mind to play Onizuka in the live action GTO?

TF: Yes, the TV station asked me which actor is good for Onizuka, then picked him up.

Akadot: Did you feel any pressure when Mr. Sorimachi was casted for the role? Any influence on manga?

TF: In the live action version, Onizuka was called "Oni-cchi" (a nickname for his character). [laughs] I really didn't like to use that in the manga.

Akadot: If GTO were made into a live action series in America, which American actor would you want to cast for the role of Onizuka?

TF: U~~~mm, Nicolas Cage? [laughs] What do you think? Is there anyone else besides Nicolas Cage? Who do you think is best? Maybe Ewan MacGregor from Star Wars (Episode One). [laughs]

Akadot: Do you still read manga?

TF: Yes. I like it. I read a lot!

Akadot: What is your favorite animation and manga?

TF: My favorite is Initial D by Shuichi Shigeno because I like cars. I also like Hikaru no Go by Ken Obata and Zipangu by Kaiji Kawaguchi. Mainly manga for guys. I don't read shoujo manga so often

Akadot: Are there any manga titles that have influenced you?

TF: I was influenced by Akira. I have been drawing since I was child, but my drawings are totally different from the way it was back then. My work has totally changed because of Akira. Also, Gundam has influenced me too.

Akadot: How do you feel about GTO's popularity in America?

TF: I was really surprised. I thought it was not going to be popular because it's was mainly created in a Japanese way and the jokes are all in Japanese style. I was surprised that GTO is popular in France also. Manga is popular there too.

Akadot: Is it your first Comicon?

TF: Yes. It's interesting. I read American comics too. There are a lot of comics I want to buy!

Akadot: Do you have any message for your American fans?

TF: Please read GTO a lot. Please buy a lot of GTO to make it a live action series in America! You can even make a parody! [laughs]

Akadot: Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview.

TF: You're welcome.

Want to read more?! Then check out GTO Live: Anime Evolution, a review and comparision of the manga, anime, and Japanese live action versions of Tohru Fujisawa's GTO.

Still haven't seen GTO yet?! Akadot Retail's got your copy here.