Baki Publisher Akitashoten Releases Official Interview on 35 Years of the Manga
Yūki Yokoi on how Baki shaped combat sports, the scrapbook behind its muscles, and the road to TEKKEN
Los Angeles, Calif., November 10 - As Keisuke Itagaki's martial arts manga Baki marks 35 years of serialization in Weekly Shōnen Champion and the Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga heads to US readers for the first time in the New Grappler Baki Perfect Edition, an official interview was held with Yūki Yokoi, Director of Promotions at AKITASHOTEN, who has worked on the series for 20 years. Yokoi spoke about the series' influence on combat sports, the hands-on process behind its art, and how the upcoming TEKKEN collaboration came together.
Read the full interview transcript: HERE
Asked whether the growing popularity of combat sports has influenced Baki over the years, Yokoi said the reverse is true. "Personally, I think it's less that the world changed Baki and more that Baki has had a big influence on combat sports in the world. I believe there are many fighters who started training after reading Baki. It was without a doubt a work that was ahead of its time."
Yokoi also shared how Itagaki-sensei approaches the series' signature musculature. "Itagaki-sensei made his own scrapbook of especially striking shots of each muscle group, collected from countless bodybuilding magazines, and uses it as reference material. Of course, he also refers to medical books on human anatomy, but for depicting muscle, those photos of bodybuilders are what he relies on."
On the TEKKEN collaboration, Yokoi said, "Because both are stories about a father-son feud, I felt the two works were a natural fit, so I'm really happy it came true."
Yokoi also revealed that Retsu Kaioh's final line in his fight with Musashi Miyamoto came from his own suggestion to Itagaki-sensei. "It's a scene where my own idea lives on directly in the making of Baki." Of Yujiro's startled reaction when the invisible table of miso soup is flipped during his fight with Baki, Yokoi said, "I had the exact same reaction when I was checking the storyboards."
Reflecting on how Baki has stayed relevant for 35 years as action manga have grown more high-concept and supernatural, Yokoi credited its cast. "I think it's the overwhelming appeal of the characters. That's what it all comes down to." And asked what the series can offer young men navigating masculinity today, Yokoi needed only three words: "Strength is beautiful."
Streaming Info:
All episodes of BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai are now available worldwide, exclusively on Netflix.
Netflix Title Page: https://www.Netflix.com/bakidou
Baki The Grappler (Perfect Edition) Vol. 21 On Sale Now!
Official Accounts and Info:
Los Angeles, Calif., November 10 - As Keisuke Itagaki's martial arts manga Baki marks 35 years of serialization in Weekly Shōnen Champion and the Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga heads to US readers for the first time in the New Grappler Baki Perfect Edition, an official interview was held with Yūki Yokoi, Director of Promotions at AKITASHOTEN, who has worked on the series for 20 years. Yokoi spoke about the series' influence on combat sports, the hands-on process behind its art, and how the upcoming TEKKEN collaboration came together.
Read the full interview transcript: HERE
Asked whether the growing popularity of combat sports has influenced Baki over the years, Yokoi said the reverse is true. "Personally, I think it's less that the world changed Baki and more that Baki has had a big influence on combat sports in the world. I believe there are many fighters who started training after reading Baki. It was without a doubt a work that was ahead of its time."
Yokoi also shared how Itagaki-sensei approaches the series' signature musculature. "Itagaki-sensei made his own scrapbook of especially striking shots of each muscle group, collected from countless bodybuilding magazines, and uses it as reference material. Of course, he also refers to medical books on human anatomy, but for depicting muscle, those photos of bodybuilders are what he relies on."
On the TEKKEN collaboration, Yokoi said, "Because both are stories about a father-son feud, I felt the two works were a natural fit, so I'm really happy it came true."
Yokoi also revealed that Retsu Kaioh's final line in his fight with Musashi Miyamoto came from his own suggestion to Itagaki-sensei. "It's a scene where my own idea lives on directly in the making of Baki." Of Yujiro's startled reaction when the invisible table of miso soup is flipped during his fight with Baki, Yokoi said, "I had the exact same reaction when I was checking the storyboards."
Reflecting on how Baki has stayed relevant for 35 years as action manga have grown more high-concept and supernatural, Yokoi credited its cast. "I think it's the overwhelming appeal of the characters. That's what it all comes down to." And asked what the series can offer young men navigating masculinity today, Yokoi needed only three words: "Strength is beautiful."
Streaming Info:
All episodes of BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai are now available worldwide, exclusively on Netflix.
Netflix Title Page: https://www.Netflix.com/bakidou
Baki The Grappler (Perfect Edition) Vol. 21 On Sale Now!
Official Accounts and Info:
- Official Website: https://Baki-anime.jp/
- Official X Account：@Baki_anime／@teambaki_en
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