Thank you for buying the 31st volume! So, thanks to the support you’ve given me, it’s been decided to make Gintama into a movie! To tell you the truth, my editor had told me about this film adaptation a long time ago, but it’s been a really long road to get here, it’s been two or three years since I heard about this idea. I was waiting, waving my yellow handkerchief like Chieko Baisho, but Ken Takakura never came back… No one knows what he was doing or where he was…*. At first I just thought he was lost, or didn’t know how to do well in life, but at some point my editor started not even pronouncing the “M” in movie, starting to give off an aura that seemed to mean there was never such a proposal. So time passed, and the handkerchief became soiled with crow droppings. When even Baisho got soiled, forgetting all about that guy with a military cut, he finally came back. Our situation is comparable, and honestly I feel more anxiety than joy… They all pretended that the proposed transposition never happened. Once Ken had an accident, completely destroying his car… nothing but a military cut, his lower body was completely cut off, and he must have died once. It’s natural that I’m afraid, because you never know when Ken might have an accident again and run after Kaori Momoi** abandoning Baisho…
*reference to the movie Shiawase No Kiiroi Hankachi or The Yellow Handkerchief
**Japanese actress.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 82
QUESTION FROM MR. “I CAN’T ERASE THE JUST AWAY SCRIBBLED IN THE NOTEBOOK ANYMORE BECAUSE I THINK IT’S CUTE”, FROM THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA
Since there are often scenes of Gin-san as a child studying under Shoyo sensei, I can tell that he was with Katsura and Takasugi… But when they were fighting, Sakamoto also joined them. Did he also study with the others? Or did he meet them in another way? I’m very curious about that…
ANSWER:
Three people studied under Shoyo sensei: Gintoki, Katsura and Takasugi. Sakamoto is one of their comrades-in-arms whom they met later on, while they were waging war against the foreigners.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 83
QUESTION FROM MR. SORACHI HIDEAKI_TAMA OF TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA
There’s something that’s been on my mind forever: where does Gin-san usually watch porn videos? I guess he can’t at his house because of Kagura…
ANSWER:
Try asking your dad, he knows.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 84
QUESTION FROM MR SAITO OF IWATE PROVINCE
This is a question from a brat who has nothing to do with you, Sorachi sensei! Lately there have been a few scenes where Sadaharu appears… Do you hate him, sensei? What is your opinion of him?
ANSWER:
I think if you have a dog at home you can understand… Usually you don’t notice your dog’s presence much. It’s like… you suddenly realize the importance of its existence, or of having it next to you, when you feel sad and want to cry. I wanted to express this atmosphere, the bond between him and his master, which seems subtle but is actually deep. I mean, it’s so…
Sorry, I just forgot to draw him.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 85
QUESTION FROM MR. MUTAITO, ISHIKAWA PROVINCE
I have an uncle between thirty-five and forty years old (a Madao). The other day, when that Madao came to see me, he slept in my room. In the middle of the night, at about 2:00 a.m., he unleashed a Mafuba* on me with all his might, while being completely naked. Sorachi sensei, help him!
ANSWER:
I think it’s too late now. Try to seal your uncle up by pushing back his blow with all your might, stripping completely naked. It’s sad to have to tell you this… but I think this is the best thing you can do for him.
*Technique that appears in Dragon Ball.
That said, volume 31, the “Special on the Yellowed Handkerchief of Happiness”, ends here. Well, since there are reasons that only adults can understand, until the end we never know what will happen to these kinds of proposals. Only if you, the readers, wait for us will something happen, that is to say, if you say you want to wait for our return by raising a yellowed handkerchief in the sky, we will surely come to bring you that film… or rather happiness, overcoming any difficulty and having that handkerchief as a reference!
Good luck to all the Chieko Baisho’s in the world who are waiting for happiness!
New topic: “Best wishes for the film!”.
Yorozuya Shinigami 