Gege Akutami is a dark fantasy author, much better known for Jujutsu Kaisen, where they showcased their style as an author of the most captivating yet extremely unsettling storylines. Their work is certainly filled with complex plot structures, riddled with violence and ominous characters. But beneath these darkly creative ideas is a surprising contrast: Akutami’s own personality is exceptionally polite and kind!
In a very interesting conversation with Tite Kubo, the author of Bleach himself, Akutami, explained why they are this polite. It is because, in reality, they hold a deeper purpose behind their behavior. It is here that we realize Akutami’s character has another dimension, which challenges one’s perception that art must reflect the artist’s personality.
As a Mangaka, It’s Important to Set a Good Example
In a joint interview with fellow manga artist Tite Kubo, Gege Akutami revealed a surprising fact about his personality that nobody could have expected. Tite Kubo, usually known for his black sense of humor, told Akutami that he actually expected the author of Jujutsu Kaisen to have an “evil personality” that resonated with the dark themes of the series.
From looking at your series, I assumed you’d have an evil personality. I mean, don’t you get a sense of an author’s disposition or temperament by reading their work?
However, it turns out that Gege Akutami is actually rather polite and kind as a person. They shared what had motivated them to be like this, saying that people of his generation generally see a mangaka from a negative perception. So, they want to set a good example and be viewed by everyone as a really upright adult, despite how bad their job may make them seem.
It’s precisely because I’m a mangaka that I try to behave myself. You see, my generation has a rather negative perception of this job. [laughs] So I want others to view me as a respectable adult.
This contrast between the really dark material they pen and their kind personality begs the question: What does the work of an artist have to do with their true nature? This makes Akutami’s approach even more interesting, setting up a positive example for their fellow manga artists.
Gege Akutami Used to Get Teased As a Kid For Their Over-formal Behaviour
Gege Akutami sought extreme politeness since childhood. In the same interview, Akutami himself said to Tite Kubo that they were in an all-boys middle and high school, and their classmates used to tease them because they appeared too formal when using the pronoun “boku”.
Back when I attended an all-boys middle school and high school, I tended to use “ore” (masculine, casual). (TN: “Ore” is Kubo’s pronoun of choice.)
But as they grew older, and later went to college, Akutami made a conscious decision to switch back to the more formal “boku”, and eventually settled on the gender-neutral “watashi”, for a more respectable image.
Later on, when I got more opportunities to speak with superiors in college, I switched to “boku.” Then before my series went weekly, I decided to act more respectably and defaulted to “watashi.”
Now, Akutami is careful with their words. They use ‘watashi’ even among friends, rarely letting down their guard to ‘ore,’ when in high spirits. This contrast between their politeness and dark themes in their works—such as Jujutsu Kaisen—is what charms Kubo, who humorously remarks that there still seems to be an air of ‘darkness’ left in Akutami’s series.
You can watch Jujutsu Kaisen on Crunchyroll.
