– Do you remember anything about preschool? Also, did you walk to preschool from home?
[No, I got a ride. On a bike.]

– With your mom?
[By my grandma, actually.]

– How long did you go?
[One year. Most people go for two, but I only went for one. I don’t really remember, but I probably didn’t like it much. So, I only went for the year right before I started elementary school.]

– What kind of preschool was it?
[A normal one. It was next to an elementary school.]

– Was there anything from your preschool days that left an impression on you?
[I had a friend who was really good at drawing. He was constantly giving me drawings of Mazinger Z (1). But I told him “Draw for me! Draw for me!” a lot.]

– You were probably in a class play, too.
[I think I was. I kind of remember seeing pictures of something like that.]

-Interviewer : Toujou Sachie
Translated by Natalie Arnold.

1. Mazinger Z was a children’s robot anime, with your typical giant robot piloted by teen who must save the world from evil demons type of plot. The show ran in the mid 70s and inspired a few movies, like most anime aimed at children do. Go back.