Famous manga artists Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto meet their enthusiastic fans in Paris

On Sunday 25 August, manga artist Masashi Kishimoto and his successor Mikio Ikemoto could barely contain their emotions on the stage of the Grand Rex in Paris as the 2,500-strong audience erupted in applause and cheers. Understandably so: the audience had come to honour not only the creator of their childhood hero, but also his creation, one of the world's most famous fictional ninjas and one of the French public's favourite manga characters for over 20 years, the mischievous Naruto. Fans will not be able to relive this unique moment, however, as no photos or videos were allowed.

Received with the attention that star authors deserve and under the strict supervision of a select group of Japanese publishers, the two manga artists visited Paris for two days to celebrate the publication in France of the latest installment in the great ninja saga that began in 1999. Boruto: Two blue swirlsa series in which the hero is no longer the famous blonde ninja, but his son Boruto.

If Kishimoto had a tear in his eye, it was a tear of joy. He realized very early in his career that in order to survive in the highly competitive cultural industry, he needed to develop a kind of “inner stability,” as he himself put it. The World during an interview on Sunday morning in the prestigious private salons of Le Bon Marché, where the two authors held a book signing. For him, it is impossible to be dazzled by success or discouraged when popularity wanes because “under pressure, it becomes difficult to draw,” and he adds: “When I started, it was difficult to be in the same arena as the great authors.”

In fact, it took Kishimoto more than three years of unsuccessful attempts before he managed to get his work published in the prestigious pre-publication of the magazine Weekly Shonen Jumpthe same magazine in which the Dragon Ball (a great inspiration for the young Kishimoto) and A piecehis competitor, who had launched two years earlier. This experience is directly reflected in his hero, an aspiring ninja who has been ostracized from his village and aspires to become the highest dignitary in the city, hoping to finally be loved by everyone else through his fame. “When I drew Naruto, I realized the importance of perseverance and I made it a [central] subject of my work.”

“Family is important”

Their visit was a big event. And for good reason: Kishimoto's last trip abroad was in the fall of 2015, when he met his New York fans, a year after his series ended. Since then, his former assistant Ikemoto has the future of this universe in his hands, while Kishimoto is only a spectator and “first reader” of the world he invented. “For BorutoI have written the story up to the third volume. I have partly [the plot] and a few hints. But since then it is Mr. Ikemoto who [has been thinking of and drawing] everything. Right now I'm just doing a few checks like I'm a big boss!” he said The World with a laugh. “I didn't think it would take this long, but Mr. Ikemoto took many ideas, developed them further, and added characters…”

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