Mika Sadahiro about "Under Grand Hotel"

Hi there, Sadahiro here, still being a bad girl! Recently, an american drama called "OZ" got me interested in prison stories. Without "OZ", this manga probably would not even exist.

I first discovered "OZ" a year ago when it was about to start airing in Japan, by looking at websites. After that, it left such a deep impression on me that I absolutely wanted to see it! And then I started writing this manga. I am really thankful that my editors let me publish a manga with such an unusual theme! They really trusted me on that one. So I had written the first chapter of "UGH" before I actually got to see "OZ". Thank you s-kun, for lending me your "OZ" tapes. After that, I saw the preview for the japanese broadcasting of "OZ" and I got friends interested in the show, so I was thrilled!! After "OZ" ended in Japan, I did not watch the last tape because I feared that passion for the show would end with the last episode. This wonderful series is still airing on cable in Japan and on the movie network, so please watch it everyone!

In any case, "UGH" is part of Sadahiro's own world. For me it was a challenge to draw, since I knew nothing of prison life. Big thanks to my assistants who drew prison backgrounds with great care for me! Unusually in prison, the really strong character shares the top bunker bed, but in "UGH" I put him on the bottom one. In a book I read once (on normal prison life), it was the case too, and I liked the idea, since the stronger guy gets to watch the back of the one on top. ...And I noticed that a prison kinda looks like a gymnasium! (laugh). But a lower class version. Also a lot of the characters could bear a strange resemblance to stone cold or buh buh ray.

Anyway, I worked very hard on this project and if you guys like it, I'll be so happy!! In the next chapters, Sword and Sen's love affair is interrupted by the arrival of a new enemy character, so I hope you all enjoy it!

Mika Sadahiro