Volume 9

The other day, I was taken to a sumo tournament. I was impressed by Wakahanada's brave appearance.

Volume 10

Takazeki, congratulations on your promotion. Of course next will be Wakahanada's turn, right!?

Webmasters' Note: These are two sumo wrestlers.

Volume 11

Thank you for the gifts you gave to the characters. I want them to play an active part.

Volume 12

Comparing the top nations overseas with Japan it makes me keenly aware of the happiness of living in a peaceful country.

Volume 13

On the 18th of this month, Ranma volume 24 is released. I hope you'll all read it and love it.

Volume 14

The TV anime Ranma 1/2's laserdisc box is out. I drew the jacket.

Volume 15

I attended Shiina and Aoyama's Manga Award party. Congratulations to both sensei!

Bonus Question: A fan writes a personal comment just for Takahashi, saying "Female Ranma is so bold and energetic!" to which Takahashi responds, "I will do my best to make Ranma more interesting.".

Volume 16

There are many Shiina-sensei fans among the staff. Please win an award again and invite me to the party.

Webmasters' Note: Takashi Shiina is the mangaka of Ghost Sweeper Mikami. Takahashi's assistant Aya Shimizu would later marry Shiina.

Volume 17

I played a Super Famicom game against my nephew and lost. I'm frustrated from the bottom of my heart.

Volume 18

Finish work, take off, and thank the staff. Maybe I'm just tired of all the noise.

Volume 19

My editor is really crazy about soccer. At least work is going well (affirmation).

Volume 20

I have Cool Five as the background music while I'm working. It's not good when doing planning because it blanks out your mind.

Volume 21-22

I saw Akihiro Eiwa's Kuroshinba. It's a strong piece. It's set in a world that I like, so it's very fulfilling.

Volume 23

Miyuki Miyabe's novel is very interesting. I forgot about my deadline and read it.

Volume 24

I watched Ennosuke's Super Kabuki Hakkenden. I was impressed by the amazing contents. It was beyond my imagination.

Webmasters' Note: This is a reference to kabuki star Ichikawa Ennosuke. The Super Kabuki is a modernized, contemporary kabuki dance drama directed in a different manner from the original, classical kabuki theatrical dance, which was introduced by the third Ichikawa Ennosuke in 1986

Bonus Question: "Ranma 1/2 Hard Battle on the Super Famicom is super fun! The graphics are beautiful, and each character has a variety of techniques. Takahashi-sensei, do you play Super Fami? Please tell us your impressions." Takahashi answers: Both the staff members are crazy about it, and I have a callus on my thumb... Happosai is a tough one.

Volume 25

I went to the National Railway Workers Center again but all I could think about was work. Really.

Volume 26

Akudou Nikki (Badboy's Diary) was dark but very interesting. I read all three parts at once last year.

Webmasters' Note: Akudou Nikki is known as The Notebook Trilogy outside of Japan, and was written by Agota Kristof and was massively popular in the mid-90s, earning recommendations from mangaka Kyoko Okazaki and Shigesato Ito who apparently based Mother 3 on the books.

Volume 27

Volume 25 will be released around the 18th. Thank you for your continued patronage!!

Volume 28

Hinako-sensei's activities are also in volume 25 of the tankobon that will be released around the 18th. Please look for it.

Volume 29

On the day of the Crown Prince's wedding I ended up working with the TV on all day.

Volume 30

I went to a preview of Disney's Aladdin. The music and animation were really rich.

Volume 31

I saw a stage play called Ryugoku. It was so wonderful that it makes you cheer for the main character without hesitation.

Volume 32

Ranma and Mermaid's Scar are both going to get OVAs. I'm looking forward to them too.

Volume 33

There will be a one-shot in the Spirits magazine that will be released on July 26th!! If you like it, please read it.

Webmasters' Note: Invitation to Takarazuka and an interview between Takahashi and Ichiro Maki of the Takarazuka Revue's Snow Troupe was pubished in Big Comic Spirits Vol. 34.

Volume 34

It is rumored that the OVAs for Ranma and Mermaid are really good. I want to see them soon.

Volume 35-36

I was happy Akebono won the Nagoya basho. I think Futagoyama will be advantageous after all.

Webmasters' Note: Takahashi is discussing sumo wrestling in this post. The Nagoya "basho" was a tournament held in Nagoya. This particular tournament ran from July 4th through 18th and saw Akebono earn his first championship as yokozuna. Futagoyama is a sumo stable.

Volume 37

I listened to the ending song for the Ranma OVA. It was amazing.

Volume 38

I had dinner with the cast of Ranma and Mermaid's Scar and was deeply moved by their cheerfulness and enthusiasm!

Volume 39

Its the end of summer vacation everyone. Ultimately I didn't go out and just kept working.

Volume 40

Volume 26 of the manga will be out around January 10th. There is also an OVA, so please look forward to it as well.

Volume 41

It's 10 days until the release of the Mermaid OVA and 4 days until the release of the 26th volume...my heart is pounding.

Volume 42

I did a new, original drawing for next year's calendar. It was tough, but I was confident. Stay tuned.

Volume 43

I got the Mermaid OVA and thought it was really great... right?

Volume 44

If Akebono won the championship by the time this book comes out, please give a round of applause.

Volume 45

Ranma OVA reservations are doing well. It's really good, so please watch it.

Volume 46

Simon & Garfunkle are coming to Japan for a concert. I really liked them in the old days... does everyone know who they are?

Webmasters' Note: Kazuhiro Fujita who was publishing Ushio & Tora at the time said: If you draw three calendars, Ms. Takahashi will draw seven. That's amazing.

Volume 47

Ranma will hit 300 chapters soon!! I'm thinking of doing something special for the occasion. Stay tuned.

Volume 48

The other day I saw an actual mermaid mummy. I was intrigued by the strangeness of it.

Volume 49

I drew a pinup to commemorate the 300th edition of the next issue Ranma 1/2. It's really beautiful.

Volume 50

Thanks to everyone's support, Ranma has been published 300 times. I'm truly grateful.

Volume 51

I saw a preview of Ranma OVA volume 3. It will be released in February of next year, but please look forward to it.

Webmasters' Note: This was the 2,000th issue of Shonen Sunday.

Volume 52

Recently, I'm obsessed with old enka. Cool Five, Hibari Misora ​​.... It's still good.

Big Comic Spirits Volume 34

Please tell me a horror movie that you think is especially scary!
I haven't watched it in awhile, but Halloween.

1994

Volume 1-2

We will take questions from the readers starting this issue! Looking back on 1993, what was the most lucky thing that happened to you this year?
I was able to find a barn in my neighborhood I'd heard so much about!

Bonus Quote: I wrote the first and second parts of the 7th and 8th issues to be released in January. Please look forward to it.

Volume 3-4

What are your hopes for 1994?
I hope this year will be peaceful and free from disasters and natural calamities.

Volume 5

Please tell me the person you'd like to meet the most this year!
I'd like to meet Marilyn Monroe. But that's impossible.

Volume 6

What hobby are you most passionate about right now?
Going to see plays in the theater. I want to go once a month!

Volume 7

Perhaps you don't still get New Year's presents, but what's the best thing you've gotten recently?
I made an impulse buy and got a toaster oven. It's more convenient than a range stove.

Webmasters' Note: Takahashi also said in this issue, which featured the Mermaid Saga story "The Last Face"...

Responding to a letter asking to see more of Akane, she stated, "after this we'll see a lot more of Akane. I hope you look forward to it."

Volume 8

When you're feeling tired, what do you do for a change of pace?
I call a friend on the phone or go and see a play.

Takahashi also said this, as the issue featured the second part of "The Last Face"... "I spent my entire New Year's break working. I hope you'll give it a read."

Volume 9

What are some things that annoy you and how do you deal with them?
With the exception of work I don't have many troubles. None honestly.

Volume 10

What are the best presents that you've ever given or received?
The best I've gotten was an HDTV. The picture is amazingly clear and sharp.

Volume 11

If your current serial were turned into a film, who would you want to play the protagonist? How about the heroine?
I would like a panda from the Ueno Zoo for Genma...

Volume 12

What sort of television or radio programs do you watch or listen to in your workplace?
Mostly TV news.

Volume 13

What sports figure have you been cheering on lately?
I'm assuredly a Hanshin fan, so it's Yakult's Lord Furuta.

Volume 14

Has there been a movie or novel that has made a strong impression on you?
Miyuki Miyabe's Kasha was very good.

Webmasters' Note: Miyabe is a Japanese author of popular fiction. Kasha is her most well known work in Japan and was translated into English under the name "All She Was Worth." In America, her most well known work is "Brave Story."

Volume 15

What country would you like to visit and what would you like to do there?
I'd like to go to Mexico and climb a Mayan pyramid.

Volume 16

It's spring break!! Parks or amusements parks... what's your recommendation for a place to go for fun?
I'd probably go to Takarazuka Theater or Korakuen Hall.

Volume 17

If you could return to your high school days, what's the first thing you'd do?
In those days NHK was showing Shin Hakkenden. I'd like to watch that.

Volume 18

Here is something we don't know about you, who is something that you admired when you were a teenager?
Ryoichi Ikegami-sensei and Hanshin's Tabuchi.

Volume 19

In spring one sleeps a sleep that knows no dawn", please tell us about your best dream.
Long life and happiness, lotus blossoms, and sea breams.

Volume 20

Spring is the exciting season when both flowers and women are at their most beautiful. That being said, which woman is currently most on your mind?
After all is said and done, it's novelist Miyuki Miyabe.

A reader also asked a question about Ranma, Akane and Ryoga's height and weight and provided her with government statistics stating that the average high for a 15 year old Japanese boy was 168.2cm and weighing 59.3kg, while a girl was 157.2cm and 52.2kg respectively. Takahashi's response was... "Short or tall... they're all average size for high school students."

Volume 21-22

Please recommend a book for Golden Week.
I recommend the works of Yukito Ayatsuji!

Volume 23

Sweet memories, bitter memories... please tell us the theme songs of your youth!
Takuro, Tulip, Princess Kaguya, and Yuming.

Volume 24

At a restaurant I recently had some delicious things. Please tell us what delicious menu items you've had lately.
I had some delicious food at a Chinese restaurant in Shibuya.

Volume 25

It's the rainy season and my sports day keeps getting postponed! What's a challenging sport that you'd like to try?
After all this time, I think I'd like to try skin diving.

Volume 26

I'm in the middle of school. Please tell us what you favorite subject in middle school or high school was and why.
I liked Japanese history because it was so dramatic...

Volume 27

It doesn't matter if its a man or a woman, but please tell me who you think is a cool television talent.
I think Yumi Adachi's Ie Naki Ko (Homeless Child) is really good.

Volume 28

Where is your hometown? What kind of place is it?
Niigata. The home of delicious seafood.

Volume 29

Since its the rainy season and the weather changes frequently, please recommend a funny movie or video.
Yoshinori Shimizu's series of novels is quite light-hearted!

Volume 30

Who (or what) have you ever been told you resemble?
My name is similar to the idol Yumiko Takahashi.

Webmasters' Note: Thirteen years later, Yumiko Takahashi would go on to play Akemi Roppongi in the live action Maison Ikkoku drama.

Volume 31

If you were to start working out, how would you get started?
For now, I'd just take a walk. I think its best to start with the basics.

Volume 32

What clubs were you in in junior high and high school?
Art Club was a matter of life or death for me in high school.

Volume 33

What are some TV shows you often watched or toys you frequently played with in the past?
A plastic boat, drawing paints and a ping pong ball doll.

Volume 34

If you could have any creature as a pet, what would it be?
Well I'm a Tigers fan, so....!

Volume 35

What's your favorite drink?
Lately, I've been addicted to Diet Pepsi.

Volume 36

Koshien is a summer tradition! If you were to play baseball, what position would you play?
I guess I'd play 8 in the right field.

Webmasters' Note: The 8th jersey usually connotes the centerfielder, so we're not sure if she's joking around here. Batting eigth is a non-power hitter position that has a lower batting average.

Volume 37

What can you be proud of this summer, or what collection are you proud of?
My Ranma and Urusei phonecard collection.

Volume 38-39

This summer had record breaking heat but what do you think is the worst thing in the entire world?
A swarm of ants lining up in the kitchen in summer.

Volume 40

What's your favorite phrase or motto?
Someday it will work out!

Volume 41

If you could transform into anything, what would you transform into?
To become a domestic cat and sleep soundly.

Volume 42

What was your favorite food as a child that your mother made?
It's marinated horse mackerel.

Volume 43

How do you feel about horses? If you owned a horse what would you name it?
Akanetendo. There was a horse with a similar name.

Volume 44

What are some of your memories of Autumn school trips?
During a school trip I ate a cup in the middle of the night.

Volume 45

There are different kinds of "autumn," like the Autumn of Arts. What kind of "autumn" would you like to see?
I don't know, maybe flower buds.

Volume 46

What's your favorite autumn fruit?
Mandarin orange. They're hard to peel though...

Volume 47

It is said that highly effective people have seven habits. What is your habit?
My storyboards are affected by the BGM I listen to.

Webmasters' Note: This is a reference to the 1989 self-help book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.

Volume 48

If you were to compete in the Olympics what event would do?
Being a member of the audience would be best.

Volume 49

If you could have one more special skill, what would you like to be able to do?
I want to be able to play the ukulele.

Volume 50

When it comes to manga artists, late night snacks are a must. What do you recommend for dinner?
Spaghetti's a little heavy. Maybe somen.

Volume 51

If you could get any item or gift, what would it be?
Salonpas or Menfra.

Webmasters' Note: These are patches for stiff shoulders and muscle aches.

Volume 52

This is the last month of the year! What do you want to accomplish?
New Year's card writing. It may be stupid, but...