Chapter 227: 《doraemon》 Good News! Key Attention From Tokyo’s Ministry Of Education! Shueisha’s Joy!
The third day after the engagement banquet arrangements for Sakura Village were settled, Hiroshi Nohara sat on the tatami mats in the study room on the second floor of the Oyama family home, before him, the opened sketchbooks were already stacked into three neat piles.
Morning sunlight filtered through the paper-shoji screen, casting dappled light spots on the off-white manuscript paper, making the black short hair of Yusuke Urameshi in Yu Yu Hakusho, the round belly of Doraemon, and the calloused hands of the chef in Late-night Diner appear even more vibrant.
His fingers, holding an HB pencil, tightened slightly, and he signed “Hiroshi Nohara” on the bottom right corner of the last page of manuscript paper, the “swish” sound of the pen tip scratching against the paper finally ceasing.
Hiroshi Nohara leaned back against the cushion, raising his hand to rub his slightly sore shoulders and neck. His gaze swept over the three stacks of manuscript papers on the desk—each volume containing fifteen chapters, the storyboards were precise, and the hiragana in the speech bubbles were as neat as print, even the golden-yellow sheen of the tamagoyaki in Late-night Diner was expertly shaded with a light orange marker pen.
“Phew, finally finished,” Hiroshi Nohara picked up the green tea from the side of the desk. The celadon tea cup touched his lips, bringing a cool sensation, and the clear sweetness of the tea soup slid down his throat, relieving the fatigue of the morning.
He had just put down the cup when his pants pocket suddenly vibrated, accompanied by a short electronic beep. Hiroshi Nohara took out his mobile phone.
The number flashing on the screen looked somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, he remembered it was the desk phone number of Masato Tadokoro, his exclusive editor at Shueisha.
He pressed the answer button, held the phone to his ear, his tone still carrying the ease of having just completed his work: “Hello, Tadokoro-san?”
“Hiroshi-san! You finally answered!”
Tadokoro Masato’s voice on the other end of the line sounded slightly agitated. The sound of a printer “click-clacking” could also be heard in the background: “I paged you twice this morning and got no reply, I thought you were busy with something else—how has your health been lately? I heard you were in Kumamoto recently preparing for a relative’s engagement banquet, was it smooth sailing?”
Tadokoro Masato’s tone carried a cautious concern, which made Hiroshi Nohara chuckle.
This editor had been with him since he started serializing Yu Yu Hakusho. He was overly meticulous, always asking about his health first before discussing work, acting as thoughtful as a relative.
“I’m fine, Tadokoro-san. I was indeed busy with Misae-san’s engagement banquet recently. I left the pager in the living room and forgot to bring it, so I worried you.”
Hiroshi Nohara picked up the manuscript papers on the desk, his fingertips gently brushing the pages: “On the other hand, listening to your voice, you seem even busier than when we last met—is Shueisha rushing to print lately?”
“You bet!”
Tadokoro Masato sighed, but his voice carried an energetic drive: “Your Doraemon is currently serialized in Shogakukan’s Monthly CoroCoro Comic. The reader mail for each issue piles up to half a desk, and the printing factory is urging us to increase print runs every day; not to mention Late-night Diner, the volume that came out last week sold over fifty thousand copies in its first week. Editor-in-Chief Torishima even praised you in yesterday’s meeting, saying you’ve brought ‘urban warmth’ to life.”
He paused, his topic of conversation naturally shifting to work: “By the way, Hiroshi-san, a serious matter—when can you send the subsequent manuscripts for these three manga volumes to Tokyo? The printing factory wants to schedule ahead, and people from the Manga Association have also inquired several times, saying they want to use your works for the ‘Annual Excellent Manga’ exhibition and review.”
Hiroshi Nohara lowered his head and looked at the three stacks of manuscript papers on the desk, a confident smile rising to the corners of his mouth: “They’re all done. Each volume has fifteen chapters, with storyboards and coloring instructions clearly marked. I’m returning to Tokyo next week, and I’ll deliver the original manuscripts directly to Shueisha then. You don’t need to rush the schedule; just let the printing factory handle other publications first.”
“Fifteen chapters… all, all finished?” Tadokoro Masato’s voice suddenly rose, and the printer sounds in the background seemed to pause for a moment.
Hiroshi Nohara could imagine him widening his eyes and holding the phone receiver at that moment—after all, the action storyboards for Yu Yu Hakusho were complex, the prop designs for Doraemon required meticulous detail, and the scenes in Late-night Diner had to capture the bustling atmosphere of Tokyo’s alleys. To work on three books simultaneously while maintaining quality would take at least two months for any other manga artist, yet Hiroshi Nohara had finished it in less than two weeks.
“Hiroshi-san, you, you don’t have to rush like this!”
Tadokoro Masato’s voice was full of admiration and a touch of urgency: “Your health is important! Last time, a manga author had to stay in the hospital for two days due to rushing the plot. Editor-in-Chief Torishima specifically instructed me that if you submit your manuscripts too quickly, I must urge you to rest more—you don’t need to worry about the plot at all; your story pacing has never been wrong. Even if you deliver the manuscripts two weeks late, readers and the association will understand!”
Hearing this, a warmth spread through Hiroshi Nohara’s heart.
He leaned back against the cushion, his gaze falling on the window outside—several cherry blossom trees were planted in the Oyama family’s garden, their buds already swelling, ready to bloom in a while.
He recalled the feeling of following these manga in his previous life, the plots etched in his memory, like pre-written scripts that required no effort to ponder.
“I know, Tadokoro-san,” Hiroshi Nohara’s voice was gentle yet firm, “the plot won’t be wrong, so don’t worry. I’ve already sorted out the threads of these stories, and I didn’t stay up late drawing them; I drew them during the day in my free time. My health is fine.”
What he didn’t say was that every storyboard and every line of dialogue in these manga were clearly imprinted in his mind—from Yusuke Urameshi’s first battle after his resurrection in Yu Yu Hakusho, to Nobita’s adventure to Antarctica using the Anywhere Door in Doraemon, and then to each story in Late-night Diner, he was merely “copying” memories from his previous life onto paper.
There was a silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, then Tadokoro Masato’s voice came, filled with emotion: “Hiroshi-san, you truly are the most talented manga artist I’ve ever met—no, the most talented creator. You can make movies and be a director, write scripts and produce variety shows, and now you can even serialize three manga simultaneously, and each one is so popular… Honestly, applying to be your editor was the most correct decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
Tadokoro Masato’s tone was filled with sincerity, and Hiroshi Nohara couldn’t help but smile: “You’re too kind, Tadokoro-san. Without Shueisha’s layout and promotion, my manga wouldn’t reach readers. We achieve success together.”
“That’s too modest of you!”
Tadokoro Masato quickly replied, then seemed to remember something, his voice becoming excited again: “By the way, Hiroshi-san! I saw the news on Kumamoto Television this morning and learned that the Kumamon, which is now all the rage in Kumamoto, was also designed by you? That little bear wearing a red vest and waddling along is so adorable! My daughter was begging for a Kumamon doll yesterday!”
Hearing this, Hiroshi Nohara recalled Mage holding the Kumamon doll and cheering in Sakura Village that day, the smile on his lips deepening: “I designed it. Besides the short films, I also plan to make it into a manga, and have Misae’s ‘Future Manga Company’ handle the illustration—after all, the manga artists in the company are young people, and they’ll have a better grasp of this cute style. I’ll have to trouble you and Tadokoro-san with the publication of the manga later.”
“Don’t worry! Absolutely no problem!”
Tadokoro Masato’s voice immediately became respectful, even a little flattered: “It’s my honor to cooperate with ‘Future Manga Company’! President Misae previously colored your Late-night Diner, and the details were handled exceptionally well. Editor-in-Chief Torishima even asked me if he could invite manga artists from her company to help with illustrations for other publications—don’t worry, I’ll contact President Misae tomorrow and finalize the layout and printing details for the manga!”
Hiroshi Nohara could imagine Tadokoro Masato bowing and scraping at that moment, and couldn’t help but find it amusing.
He picked up his tea cup and took a sip of green tea, saying leisurely: “No need to rush. Wait until I get back to Tokyo next week, and Misae will discuss it with you in person—she’s currently busy recruiting new manga artists, and the company now has seventeen people. We just need some mature publishing resources.”
“Okay! Okay! Everything you say!”
Tadokoro Masato quickly agreed, then continued to chat with Hiroshi Nohara about the style of the Kumamon manga—should it be a slice-of-life comedy or incorporate adventure elements? Should a few supporting characters be designed, such as Kumamon’s “friends”?
Hiroshi Nohara listened patiently, occasionally offering his own ideas, such as having Kumamon “visit” various attractions in Kumamoto in the manga, which would both maintain its cute persona and promote Kumamoto’s local customs and traditions. Tadokoro Masato praised this idea repeatedly, calling it “both interesting and meaningful.”
They talked for about ten minutes, when Tadokoro Masato suddenly stopped, his tone becoming hesitant, even a little stammering: “Hiroshi-san… there’s something I don’t know if I should tell you…”
Hiroshi Nohara raised an eyebrow, his fingers gently tapping on the tatami mats: “What is it? Is there a problem with the manga publication, or does the association have any objections?”
“No, no!”
Tadokoro Masato quickly denied it, his voice dropping lower: “It’s about Doraemon… The All-Japan Manga Association sent a letter to Shueisha yesterday, saying they want to collaborate with the Japan Science and Technology Association to adapt Doraemon into an animated film and promote it to all Japanese elementary school students… but this is just a preliminary idea and hasn’t been confirmed yet, so I didn’t dare tell you…”
Hearing the words “adapted into an animated film,” Hiroshi Nohara’s heart stirred slightly.
He remembered the grand occasion of the Doraemon anime’s premiere in his previous life. That blue robot cat had become the childhood memory of generations.
In 1991, without the internet, and with television still being the primary form of entertainment, the Doraemon anime would undoubtedly become a phenomenal work.
“This is a good thing.”
Hiroshi Nohara’s voice carried clear approval: “Doraemon’s stories are naturally suitable for children to watch. After being adapted into an anime, more elementary school students will be able to see it—does the Science and Technology Association have a suitable production team?”
“Not yet determined…” Tadokoro Masato sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness: “The Manga Association and the Science and Technology Association have only had preliminary discussions and haven’t found a suitable production company. People from the Science and Technology Association said that the prop designs in Doraemon are too complex, such as the Anywhere Door and the Time Machine, requiring high-precision animation production technology. Currently, Japanese animation companies either lack the capability or are concerned about high costs… so this matter hasn’t been settled.”
Hiroshi Nohara listened, his fingers gently stroking the edge of his mobile phone.
He thought of his “Nohara Independent Production Department”—the animation production division was led by Ichiro Hashimoto, and the team had already bonded well during the production of An Shizhi. They currently had free time.
Moreover, he was intimately familiar with the animation style and character voice acting for Doraemon. If his own team were to handle it, not only would the quality be guaranteed, but it would also prevent “major modifications” to the plot during adaptation.
“If they really want to do it, I can help.”
Hiroshi Nohara’s voice was calm but carried an undeniable confidence: “My Nohara Production Department has a dedicated animation production division. Section Chief Ichiro Hashimoto was previously in charge of An Shizhi and is very familiar with animation storyboards and production processes. Furthermore, as the original author, my grasp of the characters and plot will be more accurate—if our team handles the adaptation, we should be able to produce a work that satisfies the audience.”
There was a sudden silence on the other end of the line. After a few seconds, Tadokoro Masato’s voice, trembling with excitement, came through: “Hiroshi-san! You, you’re serious?! If your production department helps, then the Doraemon anime will definitely be a success! I’ll report this to Editor-in-Chief Torishima first thing tomorrow morning so he can coordinate with the Manga Association and Science and Technology Association as soon as possible—with you, the original author and director, personally overseeing it, they definitely won’t refuse!”
“No need to be in such a hurry, Tadokoro-san.”
Hiroshi Nohara said with a smile: “Wait until I get back to Tokyo next week, and then we can discuss it with the association in person—let’s hand over the manga manuscripts first, and we can talk about the anime at our own pace.”
“Okay! Okay! Everything you say!”
Tadokoro Masato quickly agreed, his voice full of excitement: “Then I won’t disturb your rest. If you have any other arrangements, feel free to call me or leave a message on my pager—I’m at Shueisha 24 hours a day.”
After hanging up the phone, Hiroshi Nohara placed his mobile phone on the desk, his gaze returning to the three stacks of manuscript papers.
Sunlight streamed through the window onto the manuscript papers. The scene of Nobita and Doraemon sitting on the tatami mats eating dorayaki in Doraemon appeared particularly warm in the light and shadow.
“What are you thinking about? Smiling so happily.”
Light footsteps came from the doorway, and then Misae entered, wearing a light purple home dress, holding a wooden tray with freshly cut strawberries and a cup of hot milk.
She walked to Hiroshi Nohara’s side and sat down, placing the tray on the tatami mats, looking curiously at the manuscript papers on the desk: “Was that the editor Tadokoro on the phone? Is there good news about the manga publication?”
Hiroshi Nohara reached out and rubbed Misae’s hair, handing her the phone to look at: “Yes, Tadokoro-san asked when I’d submit the subsequent manuscripts, and I said I’d bring them when I return to Tokyo next week. By the way, there’s something else I need to tell you—the Manga Association and the Science and Technology Association want to adapt Doraemon into an animated film, and I recommended our Nohara Production Department, as well as your Future Manga Company, to handle the character design and auxiliary drawing for the anime.”
“Doraemon is going to be adapted into an animated film?!”
Misae’s eyes lit up instantly, forgetting to eat the strawberries in her hand: “You mean the manga with Doraemon and Nobita? When I saw you drawing it before, I thought it would be really cute if it were made into an anime! If our company’s manga artists were responsible for character design, they would be very happy!”
Misae said, excitedly pulling Hiroshi Nohara’s arm: “Hiroshi Nohara-kun, you don’t know, Kobayashi-san from the company was telling me yesterday that she especially likes Shizuka from Doraemon, and said she’d be willing to work overtime if she could design Shizuka’s animated image! And Sato-san, he loves Doraemon’s gadgets the most, he even drew several design sketches of the Anywhere Door for me last time!”
Hiroshi Nohara watched Misae excitedly like a child, and couldn’t help but smile.
He picked up a strawberry and handed it to Misae, his voice gentle: “Don’t rush. Wait until we get back to Tokyo next week, and we’ll discuss the cooperation details with the association first, then let the manga artists in your company start preparing—you don’t need to rush to meet deadlines, just draw slowly and express the characters’ cuteness and details.”
“Okay! I know!”
Misae took the strawberry and took a bite, its sweet juice spreading in her mouth. She closed her eyes with satisfaction: “By the way, Mom just said she’s making your favorite Tonkotsu Ramen and asked me to call you down to help—Dad said he’s going to teach you how to make Tonkotsu broth, saying it’s a secret family recipe of the Oyama family.”
Hiroshi Nohara heard this, smiled, and stood up, reaching out to pull Misae up: “Okay, I’d love to learn how to make delicious Tonkotsu broth too—when we return to Tokyo in the future, I can make it for you and the manga artists in your company.”
Misae stood up with Hiroshi Nohara, casually picking up the manuscript papers on the desk and carefully hugging them to her chest: “These manuscript papers need to be kept safe, don’t lose them—these are the original manuscripts that can become an animated film!”
Hiroshi Nohara looked at Misae’s serious expression, his heart filled with warmth.
He took the manuscript papers, neatly placed them in the drawing folder beside them, and then, holding Misae’s hand, walked downstairs.
From downstairs came the sound of Takao Oyama chopping vegetables, as well as Yoshiharu Oyama humming a Kumamoto folk song. The aroma of Tonkotsu wafted from the kitchen, mixed with the sweetness of strawberries, spreading through the air.
Sunlight streamed through the first-floor window, falling on the wooden floor and casting long shadows of the two of them.
“Hiroshi-kun.”
Misae suddenly stopped, looked up at Hiroshi Nohara, her eyes full of anticipation: “When the Doraemon anime is made, can we take Mage to the premiere? She told me last time that she likes Doraemon’s Bamboo Copter the most, saying if she had one, she could fly to Tokyo to see me.”
Hiroshi Nohara looked down at Misae’s sparkling eyes, pulled her into his arms, his voice gentle yet firm: “Of course we can. Not only will we take Mage, but we’ll also take Uncle and Aunt and Misae-san—when the anime airs, we’ll all watch Nobita and Doraemon’s adventures together in our Tokyo home, okay?”
Misae leaned into Hiroshi Nohara’s embrace, nodding vigorously, her cheek pressed against his suit jacket, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
The aroma from the kitchen grew stronger, and Takao Oyama’s voice called out: “Hiroshi! Misae! Hurry down and help with the broth! The Tonkotsu needs to be blanched first to remove the gaminess!”
“Coming!”
Hiroshi Nohara, holding Misae’s hand, quickened his pace towards the kitchen.
Sunlight cast behind them, dyeing the entire house warm—in Kumamoto in 1991, cherry blossoms were about to bloom, and their story, like the upcoming anime, was slowly unfolding in a hopeful direction.
…
Seven in the morning in Tokyo, the air in Chiyoda Ward still carried a faint morning mist, the “clatter-clatter” of the train tracks vibrating along the streets. Commuters in dark blue suits hurried along, clutching their briefcases, occasionally taking out their pagers to check messages.
This was Tokyo in 1991, after all, the epitome of prosperity. Everyone walked at a brisk pace, and even the glass curtain wall of the Shueisha headquarters building exuded a sense of busyness in the morning light.
Masato Tadokoro, carrying a thick manila folder, his forehead beaded with sweat, quickly entered the office building.
He had arrived forty minutes earlier than usual today. The folder contained notes he had stayed up all night compiling, all regarding Hiroshi Nohara’s manga manuscripts and the details of the Doraemon anime adaptation.
This was a key project for Shueisha in the latter half of the year, and he didn’t dare be careless, not even having time to eat his convenience store onigiri this morning.
“Knock, knock, knock—” he
Stood before the walnut door labeled “Editor-in-Chief’s Office,” his fingers gently tapped three times, and Editor-in-Chief Torishima’s steady voice immediately came from inside: “Come in.”
Pushing open the door, the desk was piled high with manga manuscripts and publication proofs. Editor-in-Chief Torishima sat in a black leather chair, holding a red ballpoint pen, and was circling something on the Late-night Diner volume.
His black-framed glasses had slid down to the tip of his nose, and his graying hair was neatly combed. On the old Panasonic television in the corner of the office, a morning news program from Kumamoto Prefecture was playing, with occasional flashes of Kumamon’s waddling figure on the screen.
“Good morning, Editor-in-Chief Torishima,” Masato Tadokoro bowed, placing the folder gently on a corner of the desk, careful not to knock over the coffee cup next to it: “I spoke with Hiroshi Nohara-san yesterday about the manuscripts for those three manga volumes and the Doraemon matter. I’d like to report to you in detail.”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima looked up, adjusted his glasses, and his gaze fell on Masato Tadokoro’s tense face. He couldn’t help but smile: “You seem anxious, sit down first. There’s freshly brewed matcha on the desk, pour yourself a cup—is there good news from Hiroshi Nohara-san?”
“Yes! Tremendous good news!”
Masato Tadokoro quickly sat down, but didn’t dare touch the tea cup. He leaned forward slightly, his voice filled with excitement: “Hiroshi-san said that Yu Yu Hakusho, Doraemon, and Late-night Diner, each has fifteen chapters finished! Storyboards, dialogue, and even coloring reference numbers are clearly marked. Next week, when he returns to Tokyo from Kumamoto, he’ll personally deliver the original manuscripts—and he also said that the remaining fifteen chapters are also completed, and he’ll bring them all at once, so we don’t have to wait!”
“Fifteen chapters for each? And all finished at once?”
The ballpoint pen in Editor-in-Chief Torishima’s hand fell to the desk with a “clack.” He abruptly stood up from his chair and walked to the window, pacing back and forth a few times, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the glass.
The morning mist outside the window gradually dissipated, revealing a long line of people queuing outside the convenience store downstairs. However, his mind was currently filled with Masato Tadokoro’s words.
One had to know that the action storyboards for Yu Yu Hakusho were the most time-consuming, with precise action transitions in every panel; the prop designs for Doraemon had to be meticulous, with no errors in the gears of the Time Machine or the patterns of the Anywhere Door; and Late-night Diner required the depiction of urban details, with the shine of the tamagoyaki and the steam of the miso soup needing to be drawn with a sense of life.
It would take at least two months for the most senior manga artists in the company to work on these three simultaneously. Yet Hiroshi Nohara had completed them in half a month?
“This efficiency… is simply outrageous.”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima turned around, the surprise still on his face, but he couldn’t help but smile: “When I last spoke with him on the phone, he said he was helping a relative prepare for an engagement banquet. I thought the manuscripts would be delayed until next month, but I didn’t expect him to waste even that time—Tadokoro, have you confirmed with him? Are the manuscripts really okay? He didn’t omit any plot details to rush the schedule.”
“I’ve confirmed it! I specifically asked three times!”
Masato Tadokoro quickly took out his notebook from the folder and flipped to the densely written pages: “Hiroshi-san said that the storyboards for each chapter have been checked, the plot transitions are fine, and he even added two small easter eggs in Doraemon as a surprise for elementary school students. He also said that if we have any unclear points, we can call him or leave a message on his pager at any time, and his mobile phone is on 24 hours a day.”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima took the notebook and scanned it briefly. He saw that Masato Tadokoro had circled “flawless plot” and “easter egg design” and nodded: “Good, good. However, Tadokoro, you must remember that when Hiroshi-san delivers the manuscripts next week, you must meticulously check each page—especially Doraemon. There are many young readers now, and the characters’ personalities must not deviate. Nobita’s cowardice, Shizuka’s gentleness, Gian’s straightforwardness, and Doraemon’s helpfulness—all of these must align with the previous content. Under no circumstances should there be ‘character derailment’ or ‘plot derailment,’ understand?”
“Yes! I understand!”
Masato Tadokoro immediately straightened his back, his tone extremely firm: “I plan to take the manuscripts to the proofreading room and go through them page by page with three senior proofreaders, checking storyboards, dialogue, and even character expression details—for example, Doraemon’s bell must be in the same position in every episode; the chef’s scar in Late-night Diner must not change its angle. If there’s any problem, I’ll immediately confirm with Hiroshi-san, and absolutely no flawed manuscripts will enter the printing factory.”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima patted his shoulder with satisfaction: “I trust you to handle this. By the way, besides the manga manuscripts, is there anything else? You mentioned Doraemon just now, is there any new development?”
Masato Tadokoro’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said: “Yes! Hiroshi-san also asked about the Doraemon anime adaptation yesterday—he knows that the All-Japan Manga Association and the Science and Technology Association want to adapt this manga into an animated film and promote it to elementary school students nationwide. He’s very interested and even said he wants his Nohara Production Department to be responsible for the production!”
“Oh? He offered voluntarily?”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima raised an eyebrow and walked to the television, casually changing the channel to Tokyo TV. A rerun of World of the Strange was playing on the screen: “This saves a lot of trouble. In fact, this matter was decided long ago. The Ministry of Education has already sent a letter stating that they want to cultivate elementary school students’ imagination through ‘edutainment’ anime, and Doraemon is a highly recommended work. Moreover, as you know, the current ruling Liberal Democratic Party is in the same faction as Tokyo Television. Hiroshi-san is also a director at Tokyo TV and the original author of Doraemon. With him producing it, there definitely won’t be any objections from higher-ups.”
He paused, picked up the Doraemon volume from the desk, flipped to the page where Nobita and Doraemon were eating dorayaki together, and said with emotion:
“Speaking of which, when I first met Hiroshi-san two years ago, he was a recent university graduate, submitting his manuscript for Yu Yu Hakusho to the company. At the time, I was worried he couldn’t handle a long-running series. Who would have thought that in just two years, he not only became a third-class director at Tokyo TV and has his own production department, but his manga are also getting more and more popular—now even the Ministry of Education values his works. Life is truly unpredictable.”
Masato Tadokoro nodded in agreement, recalling the scene two years ago, and couldn’t help but smile: “Yes, back then Hiroshi-san was still wearing a school uniform and spoke quite shyly. Now, when I call him, his tone is as steady as a seasoned director. However, he’s still very polite to people. Yesterday, he even asked me if Shueisha was busy lately, telling me not to work too hard—unlike some authors who put on airs once they become famous.”
“That’s why you need to maintain a good relationship with him.”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima turned off the television and sat back in his chair, his expression becoming serious: “Hiroshi-san is now the future of Tokyo TV and Shueisha. His works can boost our company’s sales, and his resources at the television station can help our manga get more opportunities for anime and live-action adaptations. In the future, pay more attention to his manuscripts, fulfill his needs as much as possible, and don’t let him feel that Shueisha is neglecting talent.”
“Yes! I’ll keep that in mind!”
Masato Tadokoro nodded vigorously: “In the future, I guarantee a response to Hiroshi-san’s pager messages within ten minutes; when he delivers manuscripts, I’ll personally go to the entrance to pick them up; if he has new manga ideas, I’ll report them to you immediately and strive to get them approved for production as quickly as possible.”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima waved his hand with a smile: “No need to be so tense, just interact normally—Hiroshi-san isn’t someone who cares about pomp and circumstance. By the way, when you came in just now, did you see the Kumamon doll on my desk? My granddaughter insisted I bring it yesterday, saying this little bear is particularly cute.”
Masato Tadokoro followed his gaze and indeed saw a palm-sized Kumamon doll in the corner of the desk, with “Kumamoto” printed on its red vest: “I saw it! My daughter has one too. She hugs it to sleep every night and says she wants me to take her to Kumamoto to see the real Kumamon—by the way, Chief Editor, what channel were you watching just now? It was Kumamoto Prefecture’s television, right? When I called yesterday, Hiroshi-san said he filmed the Kumamon promotional short film.”
“Indeed!”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima picked up the doll, gently squeezed Kumamon’s round ears, his eyes full of smiles: “I watch the morning news from Kumamoto every day, just to see Kumamon’s short films—look how it waddles, and occasionally stumbles, it’s not artificial at all, much more pleasant to watch than those idols pretending to be cute. From my perspective as a publisher for so many years, if this Kumamon were adapted into a manga, it would definitely be a hit, especially with elementary school students, they would certainly like it.”
Masato Tadokoro immediately chimed in: “Chief Editor, you’re absolutely right! Hiroshi-san also told me yesterday that he’s already preparing manuscripts for the Kumamon manga and has his fiancée Misae’s ‘Future Manga Company’ handle the drawing—you know President Misae, right? The one who colored Late-night Diner before. The manga artists in her company are very talented. The illustrations they drew for Doraemon last time received excellent feedback from readers. Hiroshi-san said that once the manga manuscripts are finished, they will be published by Shueisha, and he asked me to give you a heads-up in advance.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima’s eyes lit up instantly, forgetting to put down the doll in his hand: “That’s wonderful! Kumamon is already popular in Kumamoto. If we can publish a manga and then promote it with the momentum of the Doraemon anime adaptation, it might become this year’s ‘phenomenal manga’! Let’s cooperate well with Future Manga Company, and handle the layout, printing, and promotion with the highest specifications, aiming for a first-week sales of over 100,000 copies!”
“That’s what I thought too!”
Masato Tadokoro eagerly leaned forward: “I already left a message on President Misae’s pager yesterday, saying that Shueisha is very much looking forward to the collaboration. When she returns to Tokyo, I’ll arrange a meeting to discuss the manga’s format, printing paper, and merchandise development in detail—for example, Kumamon stickers and notebooks will surely sell well.”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima smiled with satisfaction, took a sip of the matcha on his desk, and said with gratification: “Good, you’ll be responsible for this. Now we have the follow-up manuscripts for Hiroshi-san’s three manga, as well as the Doraemon anime adaptation and the Kumamon manga projects. Our performance in the second half of the year is secured. Please compile today’s report into a document and send it to my desk. I need to report to the President this afternoon—oh, and be sure to clearly mark the time Hiroshi-san will deliver the manuscripts next week. I’d like to meet him then to discuss future cooperation plans.”
“Yes! I’ll start organizing it immediately!”
Masato Tadokoro stood up, bowed, and then quickly left the office with the folder.
The sound of other editors discussing manuscripts could be heard from the hallway, and the “click-clack” of printers echoed. Masato Tadokoro touched the pager in his pocket and smiled, recalling Hiroshi Nohara’s gentle tone from yesterday.
He had a hunch that his collaboration with Hiroshi Nohara would make Shueisha shine again in the manga world, and he himself would be able to establish a firm foothold in the publishing industry through this opportunity.
In the office, Editor-in-Chief Torishima picked up the Doraemon volume, flipped to the first page, and looked at the scene where Nobita and Doraemon first met. A smile involuntarily curved his lips.
He recalled Masato Tadokoro’s words from just now, then looked at the Kumamon doll on his desk, contemplating—when Hiroshi Nohara comes to Tokyo next week, he must discuss long-term cooperation with him, and perhaps even sign his exclusive manga rights.
After all, a creator like Hiroshi Nohara, who is both talented and understands industry rules, is not someone one encounters every day.
Morning light streamed through the window into [Truncated: Max tokens]
Editor-in-Chief Torishima gently closed the book, his heart already filled with anticipation—anticipation for the grand occasion of the Doraemon animation broadcast, for the best-selling success of the Kumamon manga when it goes on sale, and even more for Hiroshi Nohara to bring more heartwarming and creative works like this, to bring more memorable brilliance to Japan.
‘Ring-a-ling—’
Editor-in-Chief Torishima had just placed the Doraemon volume on the corner of his desk when the old-fashioned desk phone in the office suddenly rang, its clear chime breaking the morning tranquility.
His fingertip was still stained with the red ink he had used for drawing earlier. He unconsciously rubbed his suit cuff and reached for the handset.
The old rotary dial telephone felt heavy, and the metal handset was slightly cold when pressed against my ear.
“Hello, this is Shueisha’s Manga Department, Torishima speaking.” His tone became unconsciously steady. Phone calls that reached the Editor-in-Chief’s office directly were usually from official or important partners, leaving no room for carelessness.
The handset on the other end emitted a deep, formal male voice with a clear official tone, each word exuding strictness: “Good morning, Mr. Torishima. I am Ken Sato from the Education Promotion Bureau of the Ministry of Education, and I also serve as the liaison director for the All-Neon Manga Association. I’m calling to invite you to an important meeting.”
“Director Sato! Hello, hello!”
Torishima quickly sat up straight, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the handset. Direct calls from the Ministry of Education were uncommon, and he immediately tensed up: “May I ask what the meeting is about? What materials do I need to prepare in advance?”
“The meeting’s theme is ‘Seminar on Policies for Inspiring Manga and Animation Adaptations for Elementary School Students’.”
Ken Sato’s voice came through the handset, with the faint rustling sound of paper turning in the background: “Recently, the Ministry of Education has received feedback from many local education committees stating there are too few quality manga suitable for elementary school students. They want to collaborate with the Manga Association and the Science and Technology Association to select a batch of works that align with an ‘edutainment’ tone, with a focus on animation adaptation, so that more children can engage with positive content through animation. Shueisha, as a leading publisher in the industry, will definitely participate.”
Torishima’s heart leaped. He immediately thought of 《Doraemon》. Masato Tadokoro had previously mentioned the Manga Association wanted to promote this work, and now the Ministry of Education was directly organizing a meeting. Wasn’t this an opportunity handed right to them?
He quickly replied, “Director Sato, please rest assured! Shueisha will fully cooperate! I happen to have a work here, 《Doraemon》, which tells the story of Doraemon and the elementary school student Nobita. It contains themes of friendship, courage, and many plot points about ‘effort yielding rewards’. The reader feedback has been excellent, especially from the elementary school demographic; we receive half a drawer full of reader mail every issue. I will definitely bring detailed materials for this work to the meeting and introduce its advantages thoroughly!”
“《Doraemon》, hmm, I recall it.”
Ken Sato paused, followed by a slight sound of pages turning, as if he were reviewing some documents: “In the recommendation list previously submitted by the Manga Association, this work has a high priority. Mr. Torishima, you really must prepare this introduction material well. Not only should you cover the plot, but also compile reader feedback and evaluations from elementary school teachers. It would be best to bring some original manuscript pages to allow the committee members attending to directly experience the work’s style.”
His tone suddenly softened slightly, losing some of its official stiffness and gaining a hint of subtle reminder: “This meeting will ultimately determine 3-5 works for focused promotion. The Ministry of Education will provide policy support for the animation adaptation of these works and will also coordinate broadcast slots with television stations. Some works’ tones already align very well with the Ministry of Education’s requirements. The more thoroughly you prepare beforehand, the smoother the promotion will be during the meeting. Do you understand what I mean?”
Torishima’s mind instantly brightened. Director Sato’s words were very clear – 《Doraemon》 was likely already on the Ministry of Education’s radar. As long as the introduction at the meeting was effective, its selection was almost guaranteed.
He quickly bowed towards the handset, nodding. Even though the other person couldn’t see it, the gratitude in his voice was undeniable: “Yes! I completely understand! Thank you for the reminder, Director Sato! I will arrange for someone to organize the materials today and compile the original manuscripts of 《Doraemon》, excerpts of reader mail, and even the ‘student popularity survey’ feedback from Shogakukan previously. I will ensure we thoroughly explain the work’s advantages at the meeting!”
“There’s no need to be so polite; this is also for the development of educational content for elementary school students.”
Ken Sato’s voice returned to its previous formal tone: “The meeting is scheduled for Friday morning at ten o’clock, at the first meeting room on the third floor of the Ministry of Education building. I will have my secretary fax the meeting agenda and a list of required materials to the Shueisha front desk shortly. Please have your staff keep an eye out for it.”
“Okay, okay! I’ll have the front desk watch out for the fax right away!”
Torishima quickly agreed, afraid of missing any details: “I will definitely arrive half an hour early on Friday. If there’s any temporary material needed, please call me anytime; I’ll be available 24 hours a day.”
After hanging up the phone, Editor-in-Chief Torishima still held the handset, lost in thought for a few seconds until the train’s whistle announced its arrival outside. He then snapped back to attention.
He put down the phone, his fingertips tapping lightly on the desktop, unable to contain his excitement.
With policy support from the Ministry of Education and broadcast resources from television stations, once the animation adaptation of 《Doraemon》 is finalized, it will not only elevate Shueisha’s sales to a new level but also establish a closer cooperative relationship with the Ministry of Education. This will be a significant benefit for the company’s future development.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
The sound of knocking came again. Masato Tadokoro entered with a stack of compiled report materials. Seeing the smile on Editor-in-Chief Torishima’s face, he couldn’t help but curiously ask, “Editor-in-Chief Torishima, why are you so happy? Did you receive some good news just now?”
“Good news! Tremendous good news!”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima pointed to the telephone on his desk, his voice filled with excitement: “Director Sato from the Ministry of Education just called to invite us to participate in a policy seminar on Friday, focusing on inspiring manga for elementary school students and animation adaptation. I’ve already told him we will focus on introducing 《Doraemon》, and he subtly reminded me that the work’s tone aligns very well with the Ministry of Education’s requirements, so if we prepare our materials thoroughly, the probability of selection is very high!”
The materials in Masato Tadokoro’s hands nearly fell to the ground, and his eyes widened instantly: “The Ministry of Education is directly inviting us? And they mentioned 《Doraemon》? Does that mean the animation adaptation is practically secured?”
“Whether it’s secured depends on our performance at the meeting, but at least the opportunity is here.”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima stood up and walked to the file cabinet, pulling out the reader mail and sales reports for 《Doraemon》. “Now, you need to do three things immediately: First, organize the serialized content of 《Doraemon》 into plot summaries, emphasizing scenes that resonate with elementary school students, such as Nobita helping Shizuka find her lost notebook, and Doraemon using his gadgets to help everyone solve problems. Second, make ten copies of the ‘student popularity survey’ feedback from Shogakukan, and select twenty representative reader letters to bind into a booklet. Third, go to the proofreading room and borrow the five most brilliant original manuscript pages of 《Doraemon》. We will bring them to the venue on Friday for the committee members to directly assess the artwork and storyboarding.”
“Yes! I’ll get started right away!”
Masato Tadokoro turned with the materials and hurried towards the door. His steps were quicker than usual. He stopped at the doorway and looked back, asking, “Should we inform Mr. Hiroshi Nohara in advance? So he can also be prepared?”
Editor-in-Chief Torishima thought for a moment and shook his head. “No need to rush. Once we have a clear outcome from Friday’s meeting, we can discuss it with him in detail. Informing him now, in case of any changes, might distract him. Once we confirm 《Doraemon》 is selected, we can invite him over to discuss the animation adaptation details together, such as character design and liaison with the production team. This way, it will be more secure.”
“You’re right!” Masato Tadokoro nodded and quickly left the office.
Editor-in-Chief Torishima sat back in his chair and picked up a volume of 《Doraemon》, flipping to the page where Nobita and Doraemon were repairing a worn-out toy together.
In the image, Nobita was squatting on the ground, carefully sewing the ear of a toy bear, while Doraemon helped with a miniature sewing machine. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on them.
His fingertips lightly brushed the paper, and he suddenly recalled Director Sato’s words from earlier: “Some works’ tones already align very well with the Ministry of Education’s requirements.”
Yes, 《Doraemon》 has no intense conflicts or complex conspiracies. It only contains friendship between children, the pursuit of dreams, and the belief that “there is hope if you don’t give up.” Such works are truly “inspiring” content suitable for elementary school students.
In the corner of the office, the television was still broadcasting news from Kumamoto Prefecture. On screen, Kumamon was clumsily helping an old woman by the roadside with her shopping bag, prompting passersby to take photos.
Editor-in-Chief Torishima looked at the wobbly little bear, then at 《Doraemon》 in his hand, and suddenly felt that Hiroshi Nohara, as a person, seemed to always grasp the softest parts of people’s hearts.
Whether it’s manga, animation, or even a cute mascot, it can make people feel warmth.
He picked up his ballpoint pen and wrote on his notebook: “Key points for Friday’s meeting”:
1. Introduction to 《Doraemon》’s plot highlights;
2. Presentation of reader feedback data;
3. Analysis of animation adaptation feasibility.
After writing, he drew a small Doraemon avatar beside it, as if to encourage himself.
The morning mist outside had completely dispersed. Sunlight streamed through the glass into the office, falling on the volume of 《Doraemon》. The blue robot cat appeared exceptionally lively in the light and shadow.
Editor-in-Chief Torishima closed the notebook, his heart already anticipating Friday’s meeting. He had a premonition that after this meeting, 《Doraemon》 would embark on a brand-new journey, and Shueisha would also ascend to a new level.
