Tatsuki Fujimoto, author of Chainsaw Man, recently referred to the precarious working conditions he faced in his early years as a mangaka. In an interview taken up by Japanese media, the creator confessed that during his first serialization he barely slept and went so far as to work at the limit of his physical and mental resistance.
“It was my first time doing a weekly serialization, and it was honestly brutal. I was constantly worried that they were going to cancel me. All I could think about was ‘if I deliver everything on time, I can continue’”, the mangaka said. “I was so full that I could barely sleep. When my assistants came I had to get up to greet them, so I ended up sleeping next to the front door”, he added.
Fujimoto's words reflect a constant problem within the Japanese manga industry, where weekly publication rates require long hours and little rest. Similar cases have been documented in the careers of recognized artists such as Akira Toriyama (Dragonball), Eiichiro Oda (OnePiece) and the deceased Kentaro Miura (Berserk), who also faced severe consequences from workloads.
Although the outlook remains demanding, Fujimoto claims to have found a healthier balance today, supported by a stable team of assistants that helps it maintain the pace of production Chainsaw Man. The manga continues in publication and its arc Reze it will soon be adapted to the big screen, while expectations grow for the return of the anime with its second season.
