This publication presents a journalistic interview with Bkub Ōkawa (大川ぶくぶ), creator of the internationally known manga Pop Team Epic, conducted during FicZone 2026 in Granada (Spain). The interview explores Ōkawa’s creative process, comedic philosophy, and approach to absurd and surreal humour, which has made his work a distinctive reference within contemporary Japanese manga and pop culture. Through a structured conversation format, the author discusses the origins of his ideas, his use of parody, and his perspective on narrative expectations and comedic timing in manga. Particular attention is given to the translatability of humour across cultures, as well as the reception of his work by international audiences. The interview also includes reflections on video game culture as a source of inspiration, the role of repetition and failure in comedy, and the construction of absurdity as a narrative tool. Conducted on-site during FicZone 2026, the interview also captures the context of a live cultural event in Spain, where the author interacted with fans and media representatives. The publication includes editorial framing and translation from the original conversation, preserving the tone and spontaneity of Ōkawa’s responses. This material contributes to the study of contemporary manga authorship, transnational humour, and media convergence between Japanese pop culture and global fandom communities. Originally published on CoolJapan.es under a CC BY 4.0 licence and is intended for use in academic research, cultural studies, and media analysis.
Andrés Domenech Alcaide (Thu,) studied this question.