Thank you for buying the 18th volume! The other day, I was reprimanded by the company that manages the building where my flat is located, who accused me of making too much noise and disturbing the neighbours. He added: ‘Your flat is frequented by a Chinese woman, isn’t it? I heard it from your neighbours…’. Well, the noise at night was definitely my fault because I did not take into account that I have a different pace of life from ordinary people. I apologize, from now on I will be careful not to make noise when I work at night. I’m really sorry. But where did the Chinese woman come from? For a moment I couldn’t figure out what she was talking about because my head was in the clouds after a night of work, so I thought, “A Chinese woman? Ooh, that must be Kagura!”. Only she doesn’t come to my flat at all. If people thought (wrongly) that I was a man of international activities, it would be better, but the lady’s gaze was that of someone staring at something really obscene. She was convinced that I practiced Shaolin martial arts with a Chinese woman every night!
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 54
QUESTION FROM MR. STUPID REPRESENTING SEVENTH GRADERS, NAGASAKI PROVINCE
Sorachi sensei, I apologize for asking you this question out of the blue, but you make fun of seventh graders too much, don’t you?
I won’t be a seventh grader anymore soon, but this fact is close to my heart.
Anyway, even though you make fun of them, I really like Gintama and you! Get on with it!
ANSWER:
Well, I don’t know what girls are like, but seventh graders are really terrible! They’re the dumbest beings in the world, seriously, probably dumber than golden retrievers! Being the most delicate period of adolescence, you tend to lose your way due to various torments. I’ve had a period like that myself, and everyone grows out of it. But it’s also the most fun time of life, so go ahead and become wonderful adults!
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 55
QUESTION FROM MR. “I WONDERED WHETHER OR NOT TO SEND THIS POSTCARD”, TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA
Good morning, Mr. Sorachi! After asking myself several times, for at least six months, whether or not to send this postcard… I have decided to do so!
Does Count Hedoro belong to the Dakinis or the Shinras, who are considered mercenary tribes? And if not, to which people does he belong?
ANSWER:
He belongs to the Dakini, famous fighters like the Yato and the Shinra.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 56
QUESTION FROM MISS “THIS WEEK MY OLDER BROTHER HID SOME EROTIC MANGA IN MY ROOM”, HIROSHIMA PROVINCE
While I was cleaning my room, I found a large envelope that I’d never seen before. It contained volumes of the erotic manga A Woman Who Fights Back. It’s no joke! Why did you hide them in my room? If our parents see them, I’m the one who’ll be accused, and maybe we’ve already seen them! Sorachi sensei, what should I do? I’m ashamed to ask my older brother, “What are these?”, and I’m also afraid that the relationship between us might get worse. Seriously, what should I do?! Give me some advice, sensei!
ANSWER:
First of all, forgive him! And don’t hate him! It’s normal for a healthy guy to have ten or twenty erotic books. I’m sure S_zawa, who you like, has some too. As for why he hid them in your room, the most natural thing is to think that your mother was going to get rid of them. Your brother momentarily hid the erotic books in your room to save them from the evil clutches of that woman! But since you came back at that very moment, he couldn’t go back and retrieve them… I think so. In this case, the most important thing is how to return the body without hurting your brother. He fears more than anything that you will read his erotic books. The best thing to do is to give him back the envelope and pretend you don’t know what’s in it, perhaps saying: “I found this in my room. Is it yours by any chance? What’s in it?”. If you don’t succeed, destroy everything and avoid telling your parents anything!
…Under the circumstances, when I think about what consideration my neighbours might have for me, I get very anxious. However, I have to think about the saying ‘He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind’.
Thinking about it now, in the summer I used to rehearse out loud the dirty jokes to be inserted, without closing the window. And maybe there were some Chinese words in between. Maybe I said “ni hao”, it’s likely… Taking advantage of this space, I apologize to my neighbours.
You too, be careful in your dealings with your neighbours, and continue to live modestly!
New topic: “I apologize to all those who have anything to do with my building”.
Yorozuya Shinigami 