One of the "Seven Stars of Anime Expo"
An Interview with Watase YuQ: Do you think the television series, the video series, and the CD dramas for FUSHIGI YUUGI are faithful to your original manga and story?
WY: Yes, they are very similar.
Q: How did you develop your interest in manga and how did you go about getting published?
WY: I've been drawing manga ever since I was very young—about five or six years old. So, there isn't really a start. I don't know when I "started."
Q: When did you first get published and how did that come about?
WY: When I was eighteen, my first comic was published.
Q: I couldn't help but notice that there was a big cheer when you were introduced at the opening ceremonies yesterday, so people seem to enjoy the work that you do. What is your reaction to the fact people so far from your home enjoy your work?
WY: I didn't know how people would react to me, and I was really surprised when people were really cheering for me. On the other hand, I was worried that there wouldn't be any cheers for me when I got up.
Q: One of the questions that comes up along with that: does it make you feel good, better, or different to know that people so far away enjoy what you do?
WY: The joy of being a manga artist is to hear people enjoy what I do, and so I was really happy when I heard a lot of fans are here and outside of Japan.
Q: What was your original inspiration for FUSHIGI YUUGI?
WY: I was looking something up in a book, and I found the term "Seven Stars of Suzaku," and I wondered what would happens if they turned into characters. That's how I came up with the story.
Q: What do you think of Disney animation in general?
WY: Disney animation goes way back in history, and the movement is very very smooth. And it is very admirable. The stories themselves usually have very happy endings and give dreams to children. And also for adults. When I watch them, I can go back to my childhood in a way. So I think they should keep on working hard as an animation studio.
Q: How much control over the anime production of your manga did you have? Did you have any say in the decisions that were made?
WY: I did have a little bit of control which was to check a little bit what was going and that was about it. Everything else I left up to them.
Q: How do you find inspiration for your storylines and characters? Do you read manga, watch movies, or read books?
WY: Sometimes, when I am dozing off, ideas pop into my mind. Also, when I read novels and watch movies I think about how maybe the story should be like what I'm watching.
Q: Of all your manga that have not been animated, which would you like to see produced as animation and why?
WY: I would like my newest manga, AYASHI NO CERES, to be animated. There have been talks that it might be turned into animation, but those plans are pending right now
lol... looks like it became a reality, didnt it?Q: There have been lots of stories about how many long hours manga artists have to work. What is your week like and how many hours a week you have to work?
WY: The assistants I work with, they have set times. But for me, it's mostly random, but I try to sleep before twelve because [staying up too late] is not good for my body. I work almost every day from noon to midnight because not only I have to do manga, but I have to do illustrations, supplements for manga magazines, and more
Q: Is there anybody in the manga industry that you admire or think that you like to actually aspire to be on the same level with?
WY: In high school I really admired
Takahashi Rumiko, but because admiration is not a matter of standing up to the same level, I think I will never get there. Right now I am more challenging myself to see how far I can go
Q: As a follow-up, have you looked into computer technology to enhance your drawings by using paint or drawing programs on the computer?
WY: I'm using Photoshop to make calibrations and special effects. Right now I am only using black-and-white but I like to try out color.
Q: Are you basing the Chinese costumes (from FUSHIGI YUUGI) on research?
WY: I did a lot of research in the part of Chinese history I picked.
Q: Any closing thoughts?
WY: In Japan, I was hearing that in America there are a lot of anime fans, but after I came here, I got to really know how people are fans of manga as well. And being that one of my works is one of the favorites here, I am very honored. A long time ago in Japan, manga was really put down, but since the times have changed, I feel manga is one tool that can be used to communicate to other countries in the entire world.
<--Thanks ChibiJen!!
and as for Ayashi no Ceres, I only have Vol 1,2,3 and 7... 
If anymore is released in America, I'm definitely getting them. I wanna check out Appare Jipangu. That one seems interesting. 
She's my role model when it comes to drawing.