Ribon Issue : January 1998

Interview with Ootsuka Yumi sensei about her manga

"Drop Kick"

Q. What kind of girl is Kotobuki chan?

A. Very happy-go-lucky. I wanted to make the main character

more and more unhappy so a strong character was born to

overcome her bad luck.

Q. Is there any similarity between you and Kotobuki chan?

A. We're meant to be nothing alike, but we're not exactly

strangers.... To tell the truth, I have a very bad habit

with my hands (and feet). I always give my friends a punch or a

kick (lightly) and I like doing wrestling tackles. I guess

our violent sides are similar.

Q. Kotobuki chan is the school queen, so what about your

school life?

A. I was friends with a school queen. When we walked down

corridors, guys from other classes would come out for a

sneak peek and I though "Am I that popular?", but they were

actually looking at my friend (of course).

Q. Do you believe in fortunes?

A. Yes. If something good happns or if it keeps happening, then

my fortune bothers me. And by coincidence, the fortunes always

say good things and I think "No wonder" and grin to myself

*laughs* But when bad things happen, I tend to not look at them

so I don't know if it works.

Q. What did you benefit from being a mangaka.

A. When good characters are created or I draw a really nice

picture, I feel happy as if I've won a lottery jackpot.

Kotobuki is a favourite and I've been feeling happy lately.

Q. Lastly, a word for our readers.

A. I'll be bullying Kotobuki with love *laughs* Please love

Kotobuki too and if something bad happens that you want to

boast about, please tell me.