Thanks for buying volume fifty! And right now, when the movie is also coming out, they’re doing some personnel shuffling within Shueisha (notorious for not getting the vibe). So Congalala Matsuo, the fifth editor of Gintama, has been moved to Bessatsu Margaret. As usual, these always happen at inopportune times… I remember the previous editor, Yian Kut-ku Honda, telling me, “Let’s take care of a story for a movie.” But no sooner had we started running towards that goal than his Achilles tendon snapped, and he ended up being replaced by another person. Since then, I’ve been through hell and back with the novice editor Congalala, who didn’t understand a thing and could only throw poo at people, ready to die. And now that we finally see the finish line, and Congalala has learned that you don’t throw poop but flush it down the toilet, he was the one who got flushed and said goodbye.
What the hell is going on at Shueisha? On top of that, the next editor is the Yian Kut-ku of Achilles tendon. Despite pulling out of the race right after the start, he came back just before the finish line showing a face that seemed to say, “Sorry to keep you waiting so long”! I repeat, what the hell is going on at Shueisha?! So Yian Kut-ku only gets the good stuff! When he turned on the microwave, he found a movie ready with cheese on it. But look closely inside the microwave… There’s Congalala’s corpse covered in cheese!
In a nutshell, although Mr. Matsuo was in charge of this project during the toughest period, he walked out just short of the finish line without seeing the film completed. This gives me the same feeling as when you have a little urine left in your bladder. Besides, I was tense all the time, so I couldn’t show him any of my good sides. In the eyes of a new editor, a fifty-volume manga is like Saburo Tokito*: you just frown and look away, and then, even without doing anything, you usually look good. In any teledrama, he would play the lead role. But in the last year and a half, Saburo had reverted to his original spirit and threw himself headfirst into a vat of boiling water… I mean, they used to shove a red-hot ganmodoki** in his mouth, and he was practically always made fun of. Even looking back over the last year and a half, all I can remember is getting hit in the arm by Hideaki Ito* as soon as we met.
In Margaret‘s editorial office, if the cartoonists asked Matsuo what Jump‘s cartoonists are like, he might reply that I’m “Saburo shot in the arm”. If that happens, I’ll ruin the honor of all the writers who are working hard on Jump. So I couldn’t find any other words for him leaving other than, “I won’t tell anyone anymore that all you did was hang out with So_pland because of stress, so you won’t have to say I crapped my pants in the studio either.” I couldn’t even say thank you….
*Japanese actors.
**Fried tofu made with vegetables, eggs and white sesame seeds.
TO CELEBRATE THE THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE 2ND GINTAMA MOVIE
SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH HIDEAKI SORACHI!
Sorachi-sensei, who wrote the entire story specifically for the film version, will candidly reveal his thoughts on the Gintama anime and the cruel backstory!
Interviewer: Finally, on July 6th, the movie that tells the final chapter of the anime will be released… What do you think about it?
Sorachi: I feel a sense of gratitude that they have always run alongside the manga, which looks like a blast. Also, I’m grateful that I was able to offer my collaboration by specifically writing the story for the film, because I wanted to show my appreciation in some way. Since I had heard that this might be the last movie, I felt that if I didn’t assist it on its deathbed, there would be no one else who could. I wanted to personally give it the coup de grace so it wouldn’t suffer. But in retrospect, it suffered so much…since missed my shot. It was writhing around with its head hanging down.
Interviewer: We heard that you were the one who designed the storyboard for this movie. Tell us a few events about the efforts you had to make, or any unforeseen events!
Sorachi: Drawing the storyboard at the same time as the weekly release was the unexpected event. Instead, even though I had to make a story specifically for the movie, I didn’t think they would make me work so hard, I thought they would give me a hand, but instead they gave me everything! On top of that, Shueisha was uncooperative and didn’t even give me a short rest. Eventually I had traces of blood in my urine, caught all the contagious diseases, my editor started hanging out in Soapland. At first, I drew to show my appreciation, but eventually I wished death on everyone around me! In short, my attribute changed from light to darkness. Well, my relationship with this movie was really deep…
Interviewer: The original work also made it to the 9th anniversary of its serialized publication. Do you have any ambitions for the 10th?
Sorachi: Since I’ve had the making of the movie in my head for the past two years, I felt like I was doing two different jobs at once. From now on, I’d like to work only on the manga, to move it up a bit, also because it’s now at its 50th volume…
Interviewer: Finally, could you say a few words to the readers?
Sorachi: The movie version of Gintama is a masterpiece, or rather a bloody fruit, because it was made by various people: by me, by the anime staff members, by my editor, and by the soapland ladies, with tears and blood shed from various points… I ask you to watch the unleashing of the anime until the end! Please also give your support to the original work as well, as I will try to animate it even more.
THIS INTERVIEW IS A REPUBLICATION OF THE ONE INCLUDED IN THE JUMP NEXT! SPRING 2013
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 151
QUESTION FROM MR. “GINTAMA IS FUN” OF IBARAKI PROVINCE
I’m writing to you for the first time, Sorachi sensei! I have a question: With whom and where does Gin-san drink?
ANSWER:
He drinks at Kabukicho. And at any place that’s near his house, there’s always some acquaintance. He has no trouble finding companions to drink with…
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 152
QUESTION FROM MR. RYOSUKE TANAKA OF KYOTO PROVINCE
Sorachi sensei, I’m writing to you for the first time! While reading your manga, I became curious… Sagaru Yamazaki has a sword, but is he able to use it?
ANSWER:
He’s so good with a sword that he can peel an apple without ever breaking the skin.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 153
QUESTION FROM MR. TOKKA OF OSAKA PROVINCE
Good morning, Sorachi sensei! I decided to send you this postcard because your name has been mentioned in the news. They say that when they held a baby gorilla naming contest at a zoo in China, “Hideaki Sorachi” was the most popular! Does that make you happy? It does to me a little bit…
ANSWER:
Is this popularity…?
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 154
QUESTION FROM MR. “I WON THE TICKET FOR THE EVE OF THE CINEMA SCREENING!” FROM OSAKA PROVINCE
I’ll ask you a question right now. The other day, while looking at Twitter, I found your name and was surprised. Despite always complaining that you have to work hard for boards or every deadline, do you have time to use Twitter, Sorachi sensei? Do you actually use it?
ANSWER:
Up until now I’ve never used or kept a blog, let alone plan to do such things in the future. I want to dump both ideas and stress into the comics alone. So I think the Hideaki Sorachi you found is either a namesake, or a Chinese gorilla.
As I explained earlier, due to the sudden shift in personnel I couldn’t say much to my editor, so let me take advantage of this space.
Mr. Matsuo, thank you very much for running with me for a year and a half, and during the hardest period of Gintama‘s history. I’ll never forget that you continued to defend me and the work by sacrificing yourself, even though you had to bald yourself twice and even though you had sunk into the vice of So_plands. You are certainly another gorilla, that is, another author of Gintama.
So, make sure that if the last film is a flop, you’re to blame, and if it’s a success, I am. In return, I’ll give you 300 yen!
That said, the two gorillas’ latest work, the movie version of Gintama, “Gekijōban Gintama Kanketsu-hen: Yorozuya yo Eien Nare (Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya)“, will be released in Japanese cinemas on July 6. Also, to return a favor to Congalala, please go see it, please!
New topic: “So you’re finally advertising the film?”
Yorozuya Shinigami 