One of the most anticipated guests at this year's Anime Expo was manga artist Watase Yu. The animated series based on her manga FUSHIGI YUUGI has enjoyed growing popularity with U.S. fans, despite not being officially released in the United States (until now, that is).
At her press session, EX was there to ask its share of questions, along with other members of the press. Ms. Watase shared her thoughts on manga, the creative process, and the fans in America as she explained what it was like to be a manga artist.

Q: Do you think the television series, the video series, and the CD dramas for FUSHIGI YUUGI are faithful to your original manga and story?

WY: Yes, they are very similar.

Q: How did you develop your interest in manga and how did you go about getting published?

WY: I've been drawing manga ever since I was very young—about five or six years old. So, there isn't really a start. I don't know when I "started."

Q: When did you first get published and how did that come about?

WY: When I was eighteen, my first comic was published.

Q: And that was?

WY: PAJAMA DE OJAMA (EXCUSE ME, IN PAJAMAS).

Q: I couldn't help but notice that there was a big cheer when you were introduced at the opening ceremonies yesterday, so people seem to enjoy the work that you do. What is your reaction to the fact people so far from your home enjoy your work?

WY: I didn't know how people would react to me, and I was really surprised when people were really cheering for me. On the other hand, I was worried that there wouldn't be any cheers for me when I got up.

Q: One of the questions that comes up along with that: does it make you feel good, better, or different to know that people so far away enjoy what you do?

WY: The joy of being a manga artist is to hear people enjoy what I do, and so I was really happy when I heard a lot of fans are here and outside of Japan.

Q: What was your original inspiration for FUSHIGI YUUGI?

WY: I was looking something up in a book, and I found the term "Seven Stars of Suzaku," and I wondered what would happens if they turned into characters. That's how I came up with the story.

Q: I have a question. Is this the first time you are in America? If so, what made you accept Anime Expo's offer to come here?

WY: It's not my first time. I went to Florida—to DisneyWorld—last year. When ANIMERICA came to Japan to interview me, [they asked] what would happen if someone invited me to America for a convention or something. And I said, if that happened, that would be great. And that's how I came to be here.

Q: What do you think of Disney animation in general?

WY: Disney animation goes way back in history, and the movement is very very smooth. And it is very admirable. The stories themselves usually have very happy endings and give dreams to children. And also for adults. When I watch them, I can go back to my childhood in a way. So I think they should keep on working hard as an animation studio.

Q: How much control over the anime production of your manga did you have? Did you have any say in the decisions that were made?

WY: I did have a little bit of control which was to check a little bit what was going and that was about it. Everything else I left up to them.

Q: How do you find inspiration for your storylines and characters? Do you read manga, watch movies, or read books?

WY: Sometimes, when I am dozing off, ideas pop into my mind. Also, when I read novels and watch movies I think about how maybe the story should be like what I'm watching.