Thank you for purchasing Gintama 39!
In conjunction with the anime’s resumption, I’ve had various jobs come in, and I’ve been very busy lately. So, the number of e-mail exchanges with my editor has also increased. I would reply, “Sorry, but it looks like I’m going to be a little late with those colour pages,” etc. At some point I realized that the subject was always the same: ‘Sorry’. In all the emails. ” I’m sorry”, or “Re: I’m sorry”, all the way up to “Re: I’ m sorry”, in both mine and the editor’s emails. Even when there was no need to apologize it said “Excuse me”.
That item was probably used for the first time when I delayed the delivery of the storyboard. We both have many opportunities to apologize to each other, so in our response we pretend to express some sense of regret by deleting “King”, but in reality the words ” I’m sorry” refer to something else entirely. Don’t you think this is rude? It’s true that I am rude, since I recycle ‘Sorry’ several times and sprinkle water on the dried out ‘Sorry’ object to put it back on the plate, but it’s my editor who is more rude. That is my ‘Sorry’ object, which I wrote in tears after hurting my back. How dare he use it acting like my father? Is it reasonable to apologize to me before using the “I’m sorry” object… If he really wanted to apologize to me, he would have to erase not only “Re:” but my entire “I’m sorry” in the object and write “I’m sorry” with his fingers… That’s really apologizing, isn’t it…?
I apologize if I ended up being preachy.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 102
QUESTION FROM MR. JUMP LOVE, GUNMA PROVINCE
Ever since I read Bakuman, I’ve wanted to work in the Jump editorial department. Also, after learning that Mr. Nakasaki, Sorachi sensei’s previous editor, graduated from T. University, I realized that there are people with a high degree, and I have even more desire. I pride myself on being able to judge a manga, I can tell immediately if it’s going to end soon or when the editor has changed. And now we come to the question: is Mr. Nakasaki an ordinary employee or a senior employee? And how much does he earn?
ANSWER:
As you have read, I received a letter from a Bakuman fan. Unfortunately, Elite Nakasaki now works for Margaret magazine, so I can’t ask him for details about his salary.
One thing I can say, though: he does have a high degree, but he also has such a low IQ that he cries his eyes out after pouring tabasco on his groin. I can’t forget his silly face as he proudly told us that by rubbing dairy products, like cheese, on himself, the pain went away.
Having said that, in order to work in an editorial office, qualifications do not count. In Bakuman the editors are drawn as cool individuals, but their IQ is lower than that of chimpanzees, so even you, who use “manager” instead of “director”, have a good chance. Also, just noticing the flaws in a manga is not good at all, everyone can do that. But an editor has to be able to find the interesting elements and think how to enhance them.
Of course, it’s not easy, but we mangaka want a partner to walk through hell with, even if they have a very low salary or are at the level of a chimpanzee. So if you aspire to that job, aim to become a passionate chimp, but never pour tabasco on your crotch… it’s dangerous!
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 103
QUESTION FROM MR TAKEMON OF OSAKA PROVINCE
Good morning, Sorachi sensei! A friend of mine, despite being a high school student, suffers from the typical immature and self-centered seventh grade student syndrome. He thinks he can defend himself and fight back, even in front of four punks. I would like to treat him in some way, you tell me how.
ANSWER:
People suffering from this disease have a weakness for words like “On the contrary”, or “I would dare…”, so say to him: “I’d even lose to a brat in primary school, you’re really strong!” showing him the strength of someone who recognizes his weakness. But don’t say it with a thymus of esteem, but with a deep sigh, as if you wanted to imply ‘You’re incorrigible!’. The phrase “You are really strong!” should be uttered to show your magnanimity, as if it were a warm blanket with which to wrap him and his irascible soul. The number of thugs he says he can rout should decrease from four to three and from three to two. Eventually he will begin to say: “The hooligans frighten me, but if they touch something dear to me, I will not keep quiet!”. Even then he will seem quite annoying, but less so than before.
Anyway, if some thugs actually beat him up, call me! I train my fists on the wall every day, I can crush four or five of them with one hand!
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 104
QUESTION FROM MISS AKARI OF YAMAGATA PROVINCE
Good morning, sensei! I can’t help but think of something… Once, in the episode where the slimy orbs appeared, Hijikata said he was going to quit smoking, right? Yet I keep seeing scenes where he has a white stick in his mouth. Tell me why! Is it to maintain his pose? Personally, I don’t think there’s any problem with smoking, but I’m curious about this… Tell me if there’s a particular reason!
ANSWER:
Despite the desire to quit smoking, people tend to fail. And there’s a kind of tacit consensus on the subject.
Hiroshi Tachi* demonstrates this, watch him!
*Actor and singer. He once claimed to have quit smoking.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 105
QUESTION FROM MISS YNG, TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA
In the 286th Lesson “Don’t let the meteorite defeat you” in volume 33, there’s a scene where Gin-san gets hit in the groin, right? So because I’m a woman, I can’t understand how strong the pain can be. Someone said, “It’s comparable to what it feels like to be attacked directly, ignoring your opponent’s defensive strength, by a body with no abdominal muscles”. Even with this explanation, I don’t fully understand. In simple terms, how much does it hurt? This issue is so close to my heart that I can’t sleep at night…?
ANSWER:
You can’t understand because you don’t have the balls?
Well, I’ll use a fairy-tale comparison.
Imagine that you are drinking a cup of delicious tea in a field of flowers, when your rabbit escapes. You go to fetch it, but at that very moment a prince riding a white horse passes by. Because of your sudden appearance, he can’t keep hold of the reins, and the horse gives you a hoof on the head! But since you’re wearing a helmet, you don’t get hurt.
The prince loses his balance and is thrown to the ground by the horse, but just before he hits the ground, he is caught by his servant, who used to be a member of the artistic gymnastics club. However, perhaps due to over-exertion, the faithful servant’s back makes an unpleasant ‘crock’, causing him imaginable pain all over his body. The old man cries out loud, and wakes up. Yes, it was all a dream.
When you read a horrendous novel, which narrates what is written above, you are in great pain.
It is a pain similar to the one your father finds when he bangs his balls, and to the even deeper pain of your mother next door, who sees you in such pain.
Volume 38, the ‘Sorry’ special, ends here! And remember, apologize in your own words! In fact, don’t ever become frivolous adults who think it’s enough to say sorry! The other day my editor sent me by mistake the email he could have sent to his girlfriend. When I saw the subject line was “Sorry”, I was amazed! What’s more, the content of the email was more or less: ‘Sorry! As I will have to drink until the morning, let’s postpone our appointment to Sunday. Sorry again! Jelly Belly”, But it was me, Sorachi sensei, who was going to drink with him until morning! He sent me who was standing in front of him, an email blaming me for the postponement of his appointment as if nothing had happened!
From then on, as we conversed, I had my head in the clouds, because I was worried about him. Jelly Belly, on the other hand, was talking about the mysteries of mathematics while drunk.
Well, I already know the subject of the answer:
“Re: excuse me”.
New topic: “Re: excuse me”.
Yorozuya Shinigami 