Considering "Stories That Move People" with the Editor of 'Attack on Titan'

Attack on Titan Consultation Room (published by Kodansha) is a guidebook on strategy based on the hit manga Attack on Titan. Primarily aimed at adolescents, it offers guidance on "how to deal with vague emotions" and "how to fight elusive worries."

Why choose "Attack on Titan" as the subject? What are the deep strategies and ways of thinking hidden within the story...? Incorporating behind-the-scenes stories about the original work's production and anecdotes about creator Hajime Isayama, Shintaro Kawakubo, the editor in charge of "Attack on Titan" at Kodansha, and Takuma Kudo of Dentsu Inc., author of "Attack on Titan Consultation Room," engaged in a discussion.

Choice and Injustice... 'Attack on Titan' is a Mirror Reflecting the Modern Age

Kudo: I wanted to write this book for middle schoolers in their adolescence, not adults, because I felt it was crucial for young people to understand "strategic thinking" early on. I believed that if they knew this way of thinking—breaking down events into numbers and theories instead of relying on emotion when facing problems—it would make life significantly easier. Many kids can grow and become fighters just by shifting their mindset a little. I wanted those kids, especially during their foggy, confusing teenage years, to encounter this book, to pick it up.

The reason I chose Attack on Titan as the subject is, above all, because it features so many scenes forcing characters to make ultimate choices. Moreover, the paths chosen by the protagonists often lead to comrades dying one after another, while conversely, seemingly weak moves sometimes spark dramatic, life-saving reversals. What struck me as incredible was how a single choice isn't absolute, and how the meaning of that choice doesn't just flip sides—it shifts in multifaceted, complex ways.

What's fascinating is that despite the sheer intensity, there's a certain similarity to our own daily lives. If you decide to go right, an unimaginable number of enemies lie in ambush; if you go up, arrows rain down; and while you're figuring that out, an enemy with an absurdly powerful new ability shows up... This constant stream of unexpected events feels strikingly close to the daily struggles modern people face, battling injustice at work or school.

It's fantasy, of course, but it packs in a concentrated view of "universal struggles"—choices, injustice, and the divide between what's inside and outside the walls. That's why I thought it would work perfectly as a guide to strategy or a survival manual for navigating modern life.

Kawakubo: When I heard about this project, I was truly grateful for the chance to reach new readers in a different way, and I genuinely thought it sounded fascinating.

Choices are something everyone must make, no matter who they are or what life they lead. Children, too, are constantly faced with life-altering decisions like choosing schools or careers. That's precisely why Attack on Titan, being a story of "constant choices," feels like such a fitting subject.

Scenes like when Eren is told by Levi, "Choose the path with no regrets," or when Armin says, "Only those who can abandon what's important can change things"... Even just thinking about it briefly, so many scenes and lines come to mind, right?

Kudo: Honestly, there are just too many iconic scenes and quotes! I was spoiled for choice (laughs). *Attack on Titan* is the manga that has had the most profound impact and influence on me personally. Its approach to problem-solving, or rather, its way of posing questions. Being able to deliver that alongside *Attack on Titan* was incredibly exciting, and I wrote with great enthusiasm.

The Strategic Survival Techniques Unleashed by Original Creator Hajime Isayama

Kawakubo: The scene that resonated most strongly in the manga was in Volume 10, when Eren's comrade reveals their true identity. In most manga, you'd build up the tension gradually, ramping up the drama bit by bit, until the confession finally comes as the climactic "high point"... But here, it was handled in a very small panel, almost casually. Presenting an incredibly significant scene with the treatment of a casual conversation. I think that was a pretty rare kind of storytelling.

Kudo: That was definitely surprising...

Kawakubo: In Volume 8 before that, there was a scene where another traitor revealed themselves. That scene used a classic, build-up style of storytelling. So we discussed, "We can't do the same thing again," and that's when the author, Hajime Isayama, said, "Let's do the exact opposite in Volume 10."

Kudo: He also depicts betrayal and rebellion in so many different ways, right? I'm always just amazed by the breadth of his presentation and the sheer number of tricks he pulls out of his hat.

For me, it's not just specific scenes—the entire flow of the story sticks with me. When I first read the serialization, it had such momentum I thought, "Is this a one-shot?!" Drawn in by that energy, I found myself predicting all sorts of developments for the next issue. Then the next issue hooked me again, making me want to analyze it... I'm still captivated by the sheer intensity of each chapter and the way it teases the reader's curiosity.

Kawakubo: That's what's so incredible about Mr. Isayama. I see him as a brilliant strategist, a creator, and an exceptionally talented producer.

For example, before the serialization of 'Attack on Titan' began. It coincided with the launch of 'Bessatsu Shonen Magazine,' so they held a competition for new talent to decide which works would be published. At that time, what Isayama submitted were the first two chapters, which actually contained the story up to around the fourth chapter of the serialized version.

Then, when the serialization was actually decided and it came time to turn it into manuscript, he said, "Actually, I revised Chapters 1 and 2," and brought a different version without consulting anyone (laughs). That's the current Attack on Titan.

Isayama-san specifically drew those first two chapters just for the competition because he thought, "I'll make sure to draw up to the really interesting parts so the editors will find it compelling." He planned to rewrite them after getting approval once he'd shown them the most exciting bits.

He's the kind of person who can pull that off. Plus, he's always thinking, "I'm just an unknown newbie, so what can I do to avoid getting canceled?" He consistently ends each chapter with a powerful cliffhanger. While this approach is commonplace now, it wasn't widely recognized as a technique when 'Attack on Titan' began. During that era, he could incorporate new storytelling and visual techniques without being prompted by editors. He truly thinks deeply about presentation—a rare talent.

Kudo: He skillfully adapts how he presents his ideas based on the target he's facing, the conditions demanded, and the barriers he encounters... He's truly a master strategist.

It struck me that precisely because Mr. Isayama himself possesses such a balanced perspective and ability to see the big picture, he can craft stories so rich in strategy and insight, yet also so bold.

Stories are essential for surviving life

Kudo: Many manga, including Attack on Titan, are packed with adventure, dreams, setbacks, conflicts, and all kinds of wisdom. It's not uncommon to hear about kids who gained courage from reading manga, found their goals, or gained knowledge and discoveries. Thinking about it that way, manga probably has a significant educational aspect, right?

Kawakubo: Hmm, well... Honestly, I've never really thought about the connection between manga and education... But I do believe stories are essential for humans. That's something I feel very strongly about. If we call teaching people "how to live" education, then stories definitely serve a purpose there. If we keep creating stories believing that people need them, maybe someday our work will connect to something called education.

Kudo: That's wonderful. Actually, when I was in middle school, I was incredibly gloomy. I just lazed around at home, living a life that was half like being a shut-in. What saved me back then were various manga and novels. Imagining the circumstances behind the stories, pondering the background... I loved reading manga and novels like that, then using the nourishment I gained to create new ideas. Before long, I started doing fan fiction and copywriting, which led me to where I am now. Thinking about it, maybe I, too, learned "how to live" from stories.

Stories are essential for surviving life. That's precisely why I wanted to write a book based on manga. If this book can present one way of interpreting stories – showing readers "You can read it like this" or "You could interpret it this way too" – nothing would make me happier.

*Continued in Part 2