Q. How did you come up with the special powers of the Kekkaishi and the terms for their magic (ketsu, joso, etc.)?

A. I came up with the special powers based on my image of how the kanji characters for the special terms look, and I created the terms based on a system.

Q. Did something in the real world inspire you to create the bureaucratic, evil Shadow Organization?

A. I'm not really sure. I just sort of thought that's the way organizations are.

Q. Are there any similarities between Yoshimori and Tokine’s schooling and the schools you attended when you were young?

A. Not really, aside from it being coed.

Q. The mystical sites in Kekkaishi are often beautiful serene natural landscapes. What natural sites in the real world would you like to visit someday?

A. I would like to visit the Izumo Grand Shrine.

Q. Were you afraid of monsters in the closet or under the bed as a child?

A. No.

Q. Would you ever be interested in writing a shojo manga?

A. Not at the moment.

Q. How did you choose the name Yellow Tanabe and a penguin as your aliases?

A. They just sort of felt right.

Q. Does your demanding production schedule affect your creativity?

A. Yes.

Q. What are some of your favorite Western movies and books that our readers might be familiar with?

A. There are lots, but when I was a kid, I liked Ghostbusters.

Q. Do you have any message for your American readers? Anything you’d like to clarify that you think might be harder for them to understand than your Japanese readers?

A. I'm trying to evoke the feeling of a Japanese setting with a Japanese atmosphere. I hope that is able to successfully come across to American readers.