#q21)

[blmpff]

WANDEE GOODDAY Q21

24.04.24

[jcrmhscasereports]

 De novo acute B-cell acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with BCL2/IGH and BCR/ABL1 rearrangements by Pier Paolo Piccaluga in Journal of Clinical Case Reports Medical Images and Health Sciences

ABSTRACT

T(14;18)(q32,q21) and t(9;22)(q34;q11) translocations, leading to BCL2/IGH and BCR/ABL1 rearrangements, respectively, are common genetic aberrations in hematological malignancies. Particularly, t(14;18)(q32;q21) is the genetic hallmark of follicular lymphoma, while t(9;22)(q34;q11) is commonly rearranged in acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) and chronic myeloid leukemia. Nevertheless, their association has never been described. We report the first case of acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) in which both BCL2/IGH and BCR/ABL1 rearrangements were present. The patient presented with pre-B ALL, achieved molecular complete remission with intensified chemotherapy, then reinforced with autologous stem cell transplantation, relapsed after a few months, and unfortunately died 17 months after diagnosis. Of note, only BCL2/IGH but not BCR/ABL1 was detected at relapses.

Key words: B-acute lymphoid leukemia, BCR/ABL1, t(14;18)(q32,q21), BCL2, Philadelphia chromosome, apoptosis, Imatinib, targeted therapy

INTRODUCTION

The t(14;18)(q32;q21) translocation is the most common translocation in B-cell malignancies; in particular, it is found in about 90% of follicular lymphomas, being the chromosomal hallmark of this tumor, and in about 20-25% of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas(1–4). Only a few cases of de novo B-acute lymphoid leukemia (B-ALL) carrying t(14;18)(q32;q21) have been described(5–13). Most of these cases presented with additional chromosomal abnormalities, often involving band 8q24 and/or MYC rearrangement and had a very aggressive clinical  course(5,6,8,9,12). Central nervous system (CNS) involvement seems to be a frequent event, despite of adequate prophylaxis. The association between t(14;18)(q32;q21 ) and BCR/ABL1 rearrangement has never been described in ALL. We report on a de novo B-ALL carrying both t(14;18)(q32;q21) with  BCL2/IGH fusion and BCR/ABL1 rearrangement.

METHODS

Cytogenetics 

Short term cultures from bone marrow samples were performed at diagnosis and during the follow-up. Metaphases were analyzed after G-banding with Wright’stain. Karyotype was described according to the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN 1995)(14–16).

FISH

FISH was performed on fixed cells. Directly labeled BCR and ABL probes (Vysis, Inc), producing a split of red signal when ABL is involved in genetic rearrangements. FISH data were collected with a fluorescence microscope (E 1000, Nikon Instruments) equipped with a CCD camera and Genikon software (Nikon Instruments). Two hundred nuclei/cells were analyzed for each experiment.

Molecular evaluation of BCL2/IGH rearrangement

Molecular evaluation was based on nested PCR(17). Mononuclear cells from BM and PB samples were obtained by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. Genomic DNA was isolated from mononuclear cells using the QIAamp DNA mini kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany)(18). DNA integrity was assessed by amplifying a 510 bp fragment of the Beta-globin gene. Samples positive for Beta-globin were then investigated for the BCL2/IGH rearrangement using a nested PCR specific for MBR and mcr breakpoints. The first round of amplification was done using 1 microg of genomic DNA and the following primers: 5’–CAGCCTTGAAACATTGATGG–3’(forward, for MBR), 5’– CGTGCTGGTACCACTCCTG–3’ (forward, for mcr) and 5’–ACCTGAGGAGACGGTGACC–3’ (reverse, for the JH consensus region). An initial denaturation step of 5 min at 95° C was followed by amplification for 30 cycles (denaturation: 40 sec at 95° C; annealing: 40 sec at 55° C (MBR) or 58°C (mcr); extension: 50 sec at 72° C) and final extension for 7 min at 72° C. Reamplification of a 1 microL aliquot from a 1:50 dilution of the first PCR product was then performed using the internal primers: 5’–ATGGTGGTTTGACCTTTAG–3’ (forward, for MBR), 5’–GGACCTTCCTTGGTGTGTTG–3’ (forward, for mcr), 5’–ACCAGGGTCCCTTGGCCCCA–3’ (reverse, for the JH consensus region), and the following

PCR conditions: initial denaturation step of 5 min at 95° C; amplification for 35 cycles (denaturation: 40 sec at 95° C; annealing: 40 sec at 56° C (MBR) or 59°C (mcr); extension: 50 sec at 72° C); final extension for 7 min at 72° C. All PCR experiments were performed in 50 microL final volume containing 1U of Taq Gold DNA Polymerase (PE Applied Biosystems, San Francisco, USA), 10x PCR buffer, 100 mM of each dNTP, 2.5mM MgCl2, and 1 microM of each primer. Samples were tested twice, and both positive and negative controls were included in all experiments. A patient-specific positive control was also included in every follow-up experiment to compare the BCL2/IGH fragment length with the PCR product obtained at the time of diagnosis. Amplified products were visualized on a 2% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide. The sensitivity of the assay for the detection of BCL2/IGH rearrangement was routinely =10-4.  

Molecular evaluation of BCR/ABL1 rearrangement

RNA extraction was performed by phenol/chloroform using bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. One microg of total RNA was reverse transcribed using random hexamer primers and MMLV reverse transcriptase; briefly, RNA was prewarmed for 10 min at 70°C and subsequently cooled for a further 10 min at 25°C. The RNA solution was then incubated for 42 min at 45°C in a 20 L reaction mixture containing 10 mM Tris

HCl (pH 8.3), 50 mM KCl, 5.5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM of each deoxyribonucleotide, 20 U of RNAsin

(Pharmacia, Upsala, Sweeden), 25 microM random hexamers (Pharmacia, Upssala, Sweeden), 10 mM of DTT (Pharmacia, Upssala, Sweeden), and 100U of MoMLV reverse transcriptase (BRL, Bethesda, MD). After incubation, cDNA solution was diluted 1:5 to 50 microL final volume. The cDNA integrity was assessed by amplifying a 296 bp fragment of the ABL1 gene. Samples positive for ABL1 were then investigated for the BCR/ABL1 rearrangement by qualitative PCR. Five microLs of cDNA were PCR-amplified using the following set of primers: EA500 5’ TGTGATTATAGCCTAAGACCCGGAG 3’, and R112 5’ TTGTCGTGTCCGAGGCCACC 3’. Thirty-five cycles of PCR were performed as follows: denaturation (30 sec at 96°C), annealing (30 sec at 60°C), and extension (30 sec at 72°C). Samples were tested twice, and both positive and negative controls were included in all experiments.

Amplified products were visualized on a 2% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide (19).REF

Case report

In July 2020, a 40-years-old woman, presenting only with moderate fatigue, was diagnosed with pre-B ALL, L2 subtype. The peripheral blood count showed: Hb 9.3 g/dl; WBC 17x109/L; PLT 56x109/L. The bone marrow aspirate was hypocellular with 80% of lymphoid blasts. The karyotype was: 46,XX, del(6)(8q21q25), t(9;9)(p11;q22), t(14;18)(q32;q21)(10/20). The immuphenotype, assessed by flow cytometry, was: CD19+, CD22+, TdT+, CD20-, CD3-, CD10-.

The molecular analysis carried out by PCR confirmed a BCL2/IGH rearrangement (mcr breakpoint) but also unveiled a BCR/ABL1 (E1-A2 /p190) rearrangement. Thus, FISH analysis was also performed. The probe for BCR/ABL1 dual fusion gene gave two green signals and two red signals as expected from samples not carrying the ABL1 rearrangement. Molecular analysis was then repeated confirming the previous results. We administered a standard induction therapy (doxorubicine, vincristine, L-asparaginase, and prednisone plus imatinib), and an intensified consolidation therapy (idarubicine and high dose cytarabine) obtaining a molecular complete remission (CR). Particularly, neither BCL/IGH nor BCR/ABL1 rearrangements were detected. Other 2 consolidation courses were then administered (BFM-B regimen, including vincristine, ifosfamide, methothrexate, teniposide, high dose cytarabine, and dexamethasone; and BFM-A regimen, including vincristine, doxorubicine, cyclophosphamide, high dose methothrexate, and dexamethasone) associated with imatinib. Bone marrow harvest and autologous bone marrow transplantation were then performed, lacking a HLA-matched donor. Twelve months after the first documentation of CR, the patient relapsed. The bone marrow aspirate was hypercellular with 90% of leukemic cells. The karyotype was: 46 XX, t(1;5)(p32;q31), del(12)(p11;p13)(14/15); the molecular analysis conducted by PCR showed the BCL2/IGH rearrangement, whereas there was no evidence of the BCR/ABL1 fusion transcript. Salvage therapy with liposomal daunorubicin and intermediate dose cytarabine (23) was then administered, obtaining a second molecular CR (disappearance of BCL2/IGH). Two months later, a second relapse occurred. The karyotype was: 46 XX, t(1,5)(p32;q31), del(12)(p11;p13)(29/30). The molecular analysis showed again only the BCL2/IGH rearrangement, without evidence of the BCR/ABL1 fusion gene. Despite of neuro-meningeal prophylaxis, there was clinical evidence of CNS involvement. Compassionate treatment with campath-1H, 30 mg/dose, for 5 doses, was administered i. v., obtaining a peripheral blood blast clearance, but not a CR. The patients eventually died 17 months after diagnosis due to leukemic progression.

DISCUSSION

BCR/ABL1 and BCL2/IGH rearrangements are common molecular abnormalities in B-cell malignancies. In particular, the BCR/ABL1 rearrangement is the most frequent genetic aberration in adult B-ALL(20–22). On the other hand, t(14;18)(q32;q21) with BCL2/IGH rearrangement is the most common abnormality in tumors derived from peripheral B-lymphocytes, whereas it is absolutely rare in B-cell precursor malignancies (24). However, while the biological role of BCR/ABL1 in acute leukemia is at least partially well known(25), the significance of BCL2 in ALL is still largely indefinite. BCL2 overexpression, without BCL2/IGH rearrangement, is frequent in ALL, and does not seem to be associated with a poorer prognosis (26). On the contrary, t(14;18)(q32;q21) and BCL2/IGH rearrangement are a rarity in ALL, but are associated with very aggressive tumors. Morphologically, the described cases are often L3, according to their immunophenotype of mature B-ALL, with Burkitt-like features. Notably, in all cases, complex karyotypes were observed, with almost constant involvement of the 8q24 locus and MYC deregulation(5–13). Sequential emergence of molecular abnormalities has been proposed in these cases, with progression from indolent (BCL2/IGH positive) to aggressive (BCL2/IGH and MYC positive) B-cell tumors (5–13). Therefore, they most likely represented leukemic variants of high-grade B-cell lymphomas with “double hits”. On the clinical ground, most of the patients presented with rapidly worsening general condition, fever, fatigue, night sweat, and weight loss; massive bone marrow and blood involvement, nodal and extra-nodal infiltration were also present. Clinical course was aggressive, with a median overall survival usually below than 12 months(5–13).

To the best of our knowledge, the association between t(14;18)(q32;q21) and BCR/ABL1 rearrangement has not been previously described in ALL. Nevertheless, a case of co-existing

BCR/ABL1 and BCL2/IGH rearrangements was reported in a MDS case(27). Our patient presented with a pre-B ALL, L2 subtype, carrying the t(14;18)(q32;q21) and other additional chromosomal aberrations, such as del(6)(q21;q25) and t(9;9)(p11;p22) but lacking 8q24 involvement; the BCR/ABL1 rearrangement was documented only by molecular analysis. Clinical course was aggressive, with recurrent relapses, CNS involvement, and death within seventeen months. Interestingly, at relapse, the patient presented a different karyotype [t(1,5)(p32;q31), del(12)(p11;p13), quite common as secondary abnormalities], still showing the BCL2/IGH rearrangement. Furthermore, during the clinical history of the patient, other chromosomal aberrations appeared. The relationship between the molecular events, and even a possible sequential appearance cannot be established. No peculiar morphologic or immunophenotipic patterns can be identified, to be easily associated to either one translocation, and the bad prognosis could be conferred by both the main genetic alterations; however, a dominant role of BCL2/IGH should be hypothesized, since it was always present during all disease phases. In this regard, based on the lack of cytogenetic evidence of Philadelphia chromosome we cannot exclude that BCR/ABL1 rearrangement constituted a sub-clonal lesion, cleared out by the more specific targeted therapy (chemotherapy plus imatinib).

Certainly, the treatment of t(14;18)(q32;q21) positive ALL remains a major problem, as conventional therapy are scarcely effective. Probably, the highly proliferating phenotype is made highly insensitive to chemotherapy by the antiapoptotic effect of BCL2, as observed in high-grade B-cell lymphomas with double hits.

The present case, besides its unicity, also confirmed the importance of molecular testing after cytogenetic analysis in human leukemia. Future experiences and hopefully trials will be useful to improve the current treatment of t(14;18)(q32;q21) positive ALL by adopting more rationally targeted therapies such as BCL2 inhibitors (eg venetoclax), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligands (28), or others.

For more information: https://jmedcasereportsimages.org/about-us/

For more submission : https://jmedcasereportsimages.org/

[girlsloveupdates]

Pluto The Series Q21

[matherofdragons]

Translating Endo's comments Part 2

Part 1 here

Q17: Who does Bond like to go out with the most?

A: Anya seems to be Bond's favorite person to play with. Even though Anya is old enough, she can't take Bond out for a walk by herself. Surprisingly, Bond doesn't seem to dislike taking walks with Frankie.

Q:18 Since when have Emile, Damian and Ewin have been friends?

A: Since Kindergarten

Q:19 Are there any games that Damian, Emile, and Ewin enjoy playing?

A: Football, tag, cards, chess, billiards, anything that sounds fun. There are many things you cannot do in the dormitory due to regulations.

Q:20 what are Damian's Football points?

A: Center forward. He's a kid who likes to score points and stand out.

Q21: What are Franky's future life plans?

A: He's the type of person who wants to have fun now, but he seems to want to marry a beautiful woman.

Q22: Are you particular about Frankie's shaggy hair?

A:It's just natural hair, so I don't think it matters.

Q23: Franky chooses flashy colors for his glasses and tie, but does he like those kinds of colors?

A: I read a fashion magazine some time ago and it said that it's good to add some accent color, so he's trying to do that to make himself more popular.

Q24: What kind of things has Franky invented that have been rejected by Loid

A:・Toothbrush type pistol

(Reason for rejection: Because it is dangerous)

・ Wristwatch-type anesthesia gun

(rejected due to copyright restrictions)

Q25: What does Fiona like the most about Twilight

A: Everything

Q26: What does Yuri like the most about Yor?

A: Everything

[xinfinityl0ve17]

Artist Q&A File63-MALICE MIZER || Translation in english

yu-ki (b)

Q1. Date of birth, blood type, height, weight, shoe size, vision?

August 8th, Type A, 175cm, 54kg, 26cm shoe size, both eyes 8.8.

Q2. Hobby?

Being alone in the dark.

Q3. Habit?

Staring off into the distance.

Q4. The CD you like the most right now?

(Answer not provided)

Q5. When you drink alcohol, what do you drink, how much, and with whom?

I don't drink much.

Q6. If you smoke, what do you smoke and how much?

GITANES (CAPORAL), two packs a day.

Q7. Favorite form of gambling?

None.

Q8. The kind of present you'd be happy to receive?

Something suspicious.

Q9. Your ideal type of woman (if you had to compare her to a celebrity)?

Trish Goff.

Q10. Pickup line for women?

Words aren’t necessary.

Q11. Where do you mainly write lyrics or compose music?

In a dark room.

Q13. The most memorable song from your own music?

"Kioku to Sora" (Memory and Sky).

Q14. A mistake you’ve made during a live performance?

I often forget to turn off the bypass switch, so the sound doesn’t come out.

Q15. What type of women catch your eye during live shows?

Those who are enjoying themselves.

Q16. How do you decide what to wear on stage?

It depends on the concept at that time.

Q17. The last thing you do before a show starts?

Have a smoke.

Q18. The first thing you do after a show ends?

Have five smokes.

Q19. A song you'd like to play as an intro during a live show?

A song I composed myself.

Q20. The most memorable live performance you’ve had, where and when?

The last indie live at Shibuya Public Hall.

Q21. If you could collaborate with someone outside of the band, who would it be?

Lisa Gerrard from Dead Can Dance.

Q22. If one of your band's songs became a drama theme song, which would you choose?

It depends on the story…

Q23. If you had to describe the current state of the band with a color, what would it be?

Colorless.

Q24. Lastly, any message to the fans?

Please feel it.

kami(dr)

Q1. Date of birth, blood type, height, weight, shoe size, vision?

February 1st, 199X, Type A, about 180cm, average weight, 25.0cm shoe size, left eye: gray 2.0 / right eye: purple 2.0.

Q2. Hobby?

Enjoying being alone.

Q3. Habit?

If I knew, I wouldn’t need to worry about it.

Q4. The CD you like the most right now?

There are too many…

Q5. When you drink alcohol, what do you drink, how much, and with whom?

Kalua milk.

Q6. If you smoke, what do you smoke and how much?

Just a puff of smoke each time.

Q7. Favorite form of gambling?

Casino.

Q8. The kind of present you'd be happy to receive?

Cigarettes or CD vouchers.

Q9. Your ideal type of woman (if you had to compare her to a celebrity)?

Someone with piercing eyes and hair longer than mine. Like Maetel.

Q10. Pickup line for women?

You’re beautiful.

Q11. Where do you mainly write lyrics or compose music?

At home.

Q12. How do you compose—do melodies come to you first, or do you build from riffs and chords?

By humming.

Q13. The most memorable song from your own music?

"Bel air ~In the Moment of Blankness…" from MALICE MIZER

Q14. A mistake you’ve made during a live performance?

(Answer not provided)

Q15. What type of women catch your eye during live shows?

A little chubby and in cosplay, hahaha.

Q16. How do you decide what to wear on stage?

We have our own costumes, you know…

Q17. The last thing you do before a show starts?

Smoke a cigarette.

Q18. The first thing you do after a show ends?

Drink water.

Q19. A song you'd like to play as an intro during a live show?

We even compose our own SE (sound effects)...

Q20. The most memorable live performance you’ve had, where and when?

January 10th, at Nihon Seinenkan. I couldn’t stop crying.

Q21. If you could collaborate with someone outside of the band, who would it be?

There are many people.

Q22. If one of your band's songs became a drama theme song, which would you choose?

The song that fits the drama…

Q23. If you had to describe the current state of the band with a color, what would it be?

Five people, five colors.

Q24. Lastly, any message to the fans?

We will keep doing things beyond your imagination, so please grow with us and be able to keep up. Even mistakes are part of the performance!

The end!

[aprilblossomgirl]

PhumPeem & QToey in Q21.

[savethewailes]

Here set up at @anthrocon at dealers table Q21!!! Come visit!!!

[mysterygrl20]

April 24, 2024 | GreatInn | Wandee Goodday Q21

[scrumptiousstuffs]

They are finally smiling and engaging with each other!!! 🥹🥹🥹

RaySan(d)

Q21 Only Friends

29/07/2023

Source: OF Twitter

[poomphuripan]

New stills from Q21 of iQIYI and YYDS’s My Stand-In (2024), dir. Pepzi Banchorn Vorasataree & Khom Kongkiat Khomsiri

[blmpff]

Only Friends Q21

29.07.23

[kexing]

Q21 🥰

[girlsloveupdates]

Pluto The Series Q21

[yloiseconeillants]

I'm going to be greedy with two questions!

Q18: What important relationships changed or developed throughout Dawntrail? Q21: If they had to summarize their journey in Tural, what would they say?

q18: I'm going to have to come back to this once we get a bit more rotations in for Blorboverse stuff, but I am already making So Much Up in My Head about Yloise's brother Vallerin coming along for this one and having to deal with each other after the events of Endwalker. Vallerin's always been this sort of static character for me because he's usually happy to stay put if someone needs him to stay put and he's still *mostly* doing that here in Tuliyollal rather than accompanying Yloise on the contest, but his presence means that when she goes back to the inn at night she's not alone, which is - a big change for her lmao. There's been a lot of isolation and circular thinking in her plot since Heavensward, and Vallerin has always been able to counter that like, immediately, but there's also something here about Yloise being able to get him out of his own self-imposed isolation (out of Issom-Har, out of the Sylphlands, out of Garlemald specifically in the case of Dawntrail). something something minotaur something don't worry about it They're Both Doing Much Better Together Than They Would Be Alone

q21: hooooooooooow to even answer this question!! I have been thinking about this question from the angle of explaining what happened out there when she eventually gets back to Idyllshire and while I'm sure she'd have a lot to say about the people of Tural and the events of the contest, I'm not sure how forthright she'd be about the whole. situation with the Endless. Particularly depending on who she's talking to. She's not great at sorting through her own emotions and even less so in communicating them to other people. I do think she'd ultimately think that the experience was a positive one and possibly a necessary one considering her own feelings about letting grief go.

[winnythanawin]

phi Q and nong Toey in Q21.

[markbandanawitts]

A Full English Translation of Mine Yoshizaki’s 47 Question QnA 🔥🔥

— Near the end of the 11.5 Guidebook, Yoshizaki sat down for an exclusive interview with Shonen Ace (The magazine that serialized Keroro Gunso), where he answered some personalized questions about himself

I’ve translated all of them along with giving some context to certain media references in this w attached links. he’s talks exactly how you’d expect lmao

Q1: Yoshizaki-sensei, people often seem to think you’re a woman.

I guess it’s because my name reads as “Mine.” When I chose it, I only had the image of Ryuta Mine in my head. But judging by Keroro’s behavior, I think it’s pretty clear I’m not a woman (laugh)

Q2: What was the first manga you bought?

I had my uncle buy me one copy each of Kiteretsu Encyclopedia and Obake Q-Taro. I used to borrow Doraemon from a rental bookstore.

Q3: Do you still have them?

Nah, even if I did, they’d be unreadable by now. I reread them so much they fell apart.

Q4: Do you have a favorite place to read?

I haven’t been reading too much lately, but I love to in a quiet, cozy café.

Q5: Has anything recently made you feel like you’ve been tricked?

Actually, yeah. Not too long ago, a friend took me on a small trip. We hopped on the highway and drove quite a bit, and I had no idea why we were going where we were; but it was fun, so I didn’t think much of it. Later, when I got home and watched the episode of Kamen Rider Hibiki that I’d recorded that morning, I realized the episode was filmed in the exact spot we had visited! My friend hadn’t said a word! It caught me completely off guard, but honestly, it kind of made me pretty happy too.

Q6: Is there a character you look up to?

Oh, definitely Saeki-san (laugh)

Q7: Keroro’s gotten really popular. Anything about that make you happy?

Hearing that everyone involved with Keroro is having fun working on it is what makes me happy.

Q8: On the flip side, anything tough about it?

It seems like working on Keroro is also kind of exhausting (laugh)

Q9: If you could be any character in Keroro, who would you choose?

Maybe Poyon-chan. She seems so nice and fluffy.

Q10: Who would you like to live with?

I’d say the new characters, Alisa-chan and Nevula.

Q11: Why them in particular?

I feel like we could have a nice, quiet time in an old Western-style mansion.

Q12: Is there any invention from Kururu that you’d want?

Oh, definitely that one thing for making Gundam models!

Q13: What’s your favorite part of the manga drawing process?

Definitely when it’s finally completed (laugh)

Q14: What’s the toughest part?

Getting started (laugh)

Q15: What do you think of the illustrations in the first volume of Keroro?

What do I think? Well, it was my best effort seven years ago. There's something beyond just thinking "it's bad." Especially for Keroro, since I challenged myself to break my previous style and start from scratch, so there are definitely some awkward parts in there.

Q16: When do you draw the cover illustrations? At the beginning, in the middle, or at the end?

The inking is random, so it varies every time.

Q17: Do you pay attention to differentiating characters?

Sometimes I intentionally try not to differentiate them visually. I make their personalities distinct, so that can create a sense of difference. I’ve even tried going against silhouette theory a bit, which is directly reflected in characters like Keroro.

Q18: Which is more fun to draw, Keronians or Earthlings?

Keronians’ round eyes are a hassle, and Earthlings have too many lines... It’s a toss-up (laugh)

Q19: What about secondary characters? Which ones are fun to draw?

Every character becomes lively as soon as I draw them, so it's fun. To me, they’re all waiting in line to be drawn!

Q20: Any tips for drawing something you’ve never seen before?

Draw with your eyes closed!

Q21: Do you do anything to improve your drawing skills?

Since I started working, not really. I draw every day, so whatever I’m bad at stays bad, which can be a bit of an issue.

Q22: When creating a manga, do you start with the characters, story, or setting?

The theme. Something that instinctively feels like "that's it!" The rest comes after that.

Q23: When do you come up with story ideas?

I thrash my ideas around, trying to come up with something, and eventually, once I reach the mandatory state of resignation, it comes to me (laugh)

Q24: Which takes more time, storyboarding or drawing?

Storyboarding!

Q25: If you had to sum up the feeling of struggling to come up with storyboards in one word?

Ugh.

Q26: What’s something essential while you work?

Coffee, probably.

Q27: You’ve never taken a break from publishing, but do you ever want to? If so, when?

I always feel like I want to! Every single time, no matter what!

Q28: When do you usually draw your manga—morning, afternoon, or night?

My schedule is all over the place. I live on a 25-26 hour cycle, so when my timing is off, it tends to mess things up for a lot of people. It makes planning pretty difficult too.

Q29: What’s your favorite manga that you’ve drawn so far?

Definitely Keroro Gunso.

Q30: Do you think you’re better suited for one-shot manga or long series?

Considering the amount of ideas on my brain when working on Keroro storyboards, I think I’m better suited for long series.

Q31: Are you currently thinking about your next manga project?

Ideas come and go, honestly. Right now, I’m putting all my effort into Keroro!

Q32: Do you like your own manga?

When it comes to Keroro, I like it without hesitation.

Q33: If you were an editor, what would you tell yourself?

“You can take a three month break if you want.”

Q34: Are you comfortable with drawing manga in front of people?

I’m totally fine with it! But in reality, I usually work alone, holed up in my workspace.

Q35: Do you do anything for your health?

Not really… It’s bad… I feel like I’ve been sending out SOS signals lately (laugh)

Q36: Do you have any stress relief methods?

I never considered myself to be stressed, but recently my eye started twitching, and apparently, that’s a sign of stress. I was kind of surprised when I found that out!

Q31: There are 24 hours in a day, but how many hours would you really want?

48 hours would be great!!

Q38: Is there anything that influences your manga drawing?

I’m most influenced by the general atmosphere of the world around me.

Q39: How would you describe the feeling of racing through Okutama on your bike?

Yahoo!

Q40: Anything that’s stuck with you or left a strong impression recently?

The insurance commercial with soccer commentator Matsuki has really stuck with me… As for things, I’m obsessed with the NSF100 motorcycle— I want it so bad!

Q41: A memorable quote that’s stuck with you?

“Ramen is long and delicious!” (I have literally no idea what he’s referencing here my bad guys)

Q42: Since getting your cat, Mac, has your life changed?

My lifestyle hasn’t really changed, but it feels like my heart’s OS has been upgraded by about three versions!

Q46: Do you like traveling?

I like it, but I haven’t gone anywhere recently. If I could, I’d love to go with all my friends.

Q43: What’s the most wasteful thing you’ve ever spent royalties on?

Royalties, huh... (laugh) The other day, I saw a Keroro bath towel in a UFO catcher machine, and I had to get it. I ended up blowing ¥2,000* and still didn’t win it. I wonder if my royalties will cover that…

*this is like $14 😭

Q45: What are the things you love the most?

The Earth, my wife, and Mac (my cat).

Q46: What’s the most shocking thing you’ve experienced?

When I first moved to Tokyo, I saw an elementary school kid at Yotsuya Station wearing a backpack and smoking a cigarette. I thought, “Wow, Tokyo’s scary. Maybe I should just go home.” But I’m glad I didn’t because I became a manga artist (laugh)

Q47: What does drawing manga mean to you?

It’s about making people happy. That concept hasn’t changed since I was a kid making hand-drawn manga for my friends in elementary school.

Anddd heres my impressively terrible scans of those pages just in case anyone wanted the source