Thank you for purchasing the 30th volume!
That said, I’ve made it this far, to the thirtieth…. At thirty! Both the manga and its author have reached an age when one smells like an old person… I was nervous before I turned thirty, but I was convinced that I would remain rather impassive. However, the other day when I picked up a card for the points collection, I was stunned… I had to put a ‘3’ in the age space! I almost shouted: “What does this mean? What is this number? Who is this uncouth transfer student from another school?”. Until recently I was writing “2” in such an elegant way, but now I will never be able to meet that number again, that elegant age will never return. For the next ten years I will have to deal with “3”, made up of two unrefined protuberances. I was trying to resist with all my might, I was about to collapse and I couldn’t move from the box. Why “3” … What does “3” mean? Are you kidding? “ω” sounds like a butt! But “m” sounds like a butt waiting for a suppository. “3” is a butt waiting for a suppository. No matter how you try to resist, there’s no escaping the butt! I can’t take it anymore! Somebody help me! Rather than starting with “3”, “4” is much better. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9… Look, of these numbers, “3” is the crudest, isn’t it? The other numbers I can see what they’re trying to do, they have a clear goal. Some want to be sharp or rounded, some want to be a bit roguish (with both elements). But only “3” looks like a third-year student who hasn’t yet decided what to do after graduating despite being in his third term. He hasn’t decided whether he wants to be round, pointy or square. He’s like someone who says naive things like, “I want to be a dancer, but for now I’ll do odd jobs.” … Moreover, he does things just to show off when in fact he has failed to become an ‘8’. He tries to hide it with all his might fearing he’ll be hurt, he’s given up halfway through… That’s no good!
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 76
QUESTION FROM MR. “YOU WON’T DIE EVEN IF YOU DON’T STUDY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL!” FROM MIYAGI PROVINCE
Master Sorachi, in volume 15, you were asked where Gintama was going, and you answered in vain, saying that around volume 20, you’d catch a glimpse of your goal! Now that we’re on the thirtieth volume… have you begun to glimpse the goal?
ANSWER.
Judging by the nickname, this letter was sent by someone who’s in the middle of his rebellious period! The theme of Gintama has been obvious for some time now, since about the twenty-first volume it keeps leaking out and seeping in. I think all other readers but you have already noticed… that’s just it, isn’t it, guys? Elizabeth’s calves are done that way, all in all that’s the theme… how embarrassing! If you read the manga normally, you should have figured it out… as you say, even if you don’t study in middle school you won’t die, but if you don’t you’ll never understand Gintama.
That said, for now, study with all your might without sulking! You have to do what’s possible for you now, otherwise you’ll become an irresponsible adult like me! If you continue to study, you’ll surely be able to understand this work. Is that alright, Madam… er, Mother?
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 77
QUESTION FROM MR. JIJI, MIYAZAKI PROVINCE
Good morning! Excuse me for writing something like this out of the blue, but Mr. Nakasaki Élite’s comment, published in the 2009 issue 30 of the weekly Shonen Jump, made me very curious. “I soiled the gift for Sorachi sensei from the staff of the Gintama anime… Never drink, never!” … But what happened?
ANSWER:
Once a year I drink with the anime staff. Well, basically we don’t even want to see each other’s faces, because we’re all sweaty middle-aged men, but since it only happens once, we all drink while frowning. So, because my birthday is coming up, they bring me a present, and élite, as soon as it arrives, gets it dirty. You’re all thinking of vomit, but it wasn’t such a pretty episode… and the present wasn’t pretty either: an inflatable wife. Our elite, drunk, soiled her… Everything was filthy from the start, the gift, the staff, elite. The only clean one was Sorachi sensei.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 78
QUESTION BY MR. “NOW I’M LOOKING AT SAZAE-SAN” FROM HIROSHIMA PROVINCE
Sorachi sensei, did you have to struggle because your family opposed your moving to Tokyo, or did they give you permission easily against all odds? I would like to draw and go to Tokyo someday too, but my mother says I can’t. Tell me your story…
ANSWER:
Even if you don’t go, you can still draw. On the contrary, you don’t necessarily become a mangaka just because you go to Tokyo. For a job like mine, almost like a gambler’s job since you don’t know if you’ll be able to make a living or not, it’s hard to get the understanding of the people around you. However, if you want it from your family, it’s best to get some results by actually doing something before revealing your dream of “wanting to go to Tokyo and become a mangaka”. No one would listen to the words of a person who hasn’t made any effort or achieved any results. The advantage of being a mangaka is that you can draw anywhere, so you might be able to submit them to some contest. As an aspiring mangaka, you don’t have to think about Tokyo or becoming an author’s assistant, but about drawing. When you get some results, like when you win an award or get an editor to follow you, other people will understand your efforts too. I think that’s how it is. And then maybe a different response will come from your family. Nowadays, going to Tokyo doesn’t count for much, so get busy!
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 79
QUESTION FROM MR. DANCING WIND WHOOSH OF OSAKA PROVINCE
Hello, Sorachi sensei! Why are you so good at drawing middle-aged men?
ANSWER:
BECAUSE I’M ONE OF THEM.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 80
QUESTION FROM MS. I ♡ SOUGO & YUZU, HYOGO PROVINCE
I have a question for Sorachi sensei! Gin-san and Okita are super S. I want to become super S too, what should I do? I’m S, and while I’m at it…
ANSWER:
This postcard was sent to me along with a picture of an older sister and her brother with bright, naive eyes that look like they’re primary schools age. So… I get it, you want to be super S… Um, yeah… Well I ♡ Sougo, you um… do you understand what “S” means? The phrase “I’m S” means you’re a student, right? “I’d like to be super S” means you’d like to be a super student, i.e. a formidable schoolgirl, right? I used this term in that sense. You understand this fact, right? So listen, dear I ♡ Sougo, you must do the following: first of all, you must not tell your mother where you learned this word, then you must hide Gintama in the deepest part of your desk drawers, and you must never mention the name “Sorachi”… you must eliminate it from your brain! Also, from now on, you must absolutely refrain from talking about S or M as if you were at a gokon*. Am I not right, elite? It’s not OK to talk about things like that! Only if you can do what I’ve said will you be a respectable super student! Oh, and don’t let your mother see this page (even if your postcard is published). If you show it to her, I’ll deprive you of the title of super S… Please!
*Organized meeting between multiple single men and women who don’t know each other.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 81
QUESTION FROM MR YAMAMOTO OF SHIZUOKA PROVINCE
Hello, Sorachi sensei! I’d like to ask you a question right away: Leukocyte King looks like Gin-san because he mirrors his image, right? But why doesn’t he have dead eyes?
ANSWER:
Tama chose Gin-san as the model for Leukocyte King because he gives the impression of being the strongest among the people around her. It’s not that she accepts everything about Gin-san, but he represents strength. Since Tama doesn’t approve of his character, Leukocyte King is a completely different individual from Gin-san.
Well… I have the feeling that the road in the next ten years, in which I’ll have to continue with the unrefined “3”, will be very hard both for Gintama and for me…
I’d like to move forward with firm conviction, so that it doesn’t become a manga similar to that issue where it’ s not clear whether it wants to be a dancer or an “8”. That’s how I feel, so I promise you:
I WILL BECOME A DANCER!
New topic: “Thank you for supporting 30 volumes!”.
Yorozuya Shinigami 