Thank you for purchasing volume 22 of Gintama!
I’m writing this space on Christmas Eve. Do you want to know why I’m doing it now that there’s a TV set next to me showing Akashiya* dressed as Santa Claus? Because I am lonely. I’m doing this because I’m lonely. Actually, I’m supposed to draw a self-contained episode for SQ, but I’m so lonely that my hand is shaking and I can’t stop the tears. It’s Christmas and I’m so hungry. But I can’t go and buy a ready meal from a convenience store, otherwise the shop assistant will think: “Ah! It’s Christmas, but this guy eats a ready meal from a convenience store by himself…”. If someone thought that about me, just at Christmas time, I wouldn’t be able to go and buy even a single umaibo snack! So, since I have no other choice, I’m working alone in the warmth of the kotatsu, eating a weird little steamed cake prepared for the Jump Festa by my editor. It couldn’t get any worse. The label on the cake was that of Gintama. I repeat, it couldn’t have gone any worse. A thoughtful cake… what does this little Christmas present mean? I don’t want a steamed cake to care about me! This thoughtfulness irritates me. On nights like this, I get annoyed by the kindness of a person, let alone a cake! Having said that, please give me your support again this year, even though I am behaving in this way.
*Sanma Akashiya, famous Japanese comedian.
SORACHI’S Q&A: HANGING OUT WITH THE READERS 60
QUESTION FROM MR. “SINCE YOU CAN’T SEE THE GINTAMA ANIME IN SHIZUOKA, I SEE IT ON DVD”, FROM SHIZUOKA PROVINCE
In this space, may I also ask you a question related to the anime? Who writes the subtitle of each episode? You can’t really tell even by looking at the overlays. Anyway, it has nice handwriting!
ANSWER:
It’s written by a man named Wakanabe, a Sunrise director. Apparently, he used to do calligraphy exercises, but he drinks so much he can’t draw a straight line anymore. He’s the very middle-aged man I once wrote about who said he could make love to Joe Odagiri.
SORACHI’S Q&A: HANGING OUT WITH THE READERS 61
QUESTION FROM MRS ‘A LITTLE ADVICE FROM A BUSYBODY’, SHIGA PROVINCE
Hello, Sorachi sensei! I’m a 49-year-old housewife, but I’m a big fan and I follow all the episodes of both the manga and the anime. There’s one thing that’s been on my mind since the beginning: the kimonos the characters wear are too short, aren’t they?
ANSWER:
Look at the young people walking around the city these days, ma’am! They all wear trousers that sag down, don’t they? It’s the same thing. In the world of Gintama, it’s fashionable to wear kimonos that are a bit short… You should have told me earlier!
SORACHI’S Q&A: HANGING OUT WITH THE READERS 62
QUESTION FROM MR “SOMEONE FIND ME”, AICHI PROVINCE
How are the questions to be published in these spaces chosen? Do you select the ones that seem suitable, sensei? Or is it just random?
ANSWER:
I choose them from those sent in letters and postcards, but I’m more likely to choose them from postcards. I read both, but when I don’t have a lot of time, postcards are faster.
SORACHI’S Q&A: HANGING OUT WITH THE READERS 63
QUESTION FROM MISS “HIDEAKI’S SISTER (HAVING NO OTHER CHOICE)”
Good morning, Sorachi sensei!
My parents got divorced because of my father’s infidelity. The other day, he sent me a letter saying he’s remarried and has a son named Hideaki. I don’t need to explain where the name comes from. He makes me laugh in many ways, and I feel a slight homicidal instinct towards him… what could you do for me, Sorachi sensei?
ANSWER:
HIDEAKI, GROW VIGOROUS…!
“I’ve read volume 21, which is the last of Gintama, and I really enjoyed it. I was almost thinking of sending an email with the subject line ‘AT HOME DO IT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT’, but let me say one thing… Onishi doesn’t touch himself there at all! He scratches or grabs his belly! Please understand the situation!”
This is the message in the New Year card sent by Onishi’s wife, in which she protests what I wrote. She tries so hard to convince me that her husband doesn’t touch his cock… Poor thing! Maybe she doesn’t know what her husband does outside the house. Men have a completely different face when they’re not in the family. Madam… I understand that you can’t, or rather you don’t want to believe it, but your husband touches a lot of things outside the house at will…
New topic: “Hideaki Sorachi’s very stupid advice”.
I will give advice on any issue. Marital problems, family problems, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law problems, etc…
Yorozuya Shinigami 