Thank you for buying the 7th volume! While I was wandering around the bookshop on the day the sixth, the previous book, came out, I saw a young boy buying it in front of me. I thought about telling him, “Wait! I’m the one who draws that manga! Do you want me to give you an autograph?” but I gave up because he’d say, “There’s no way a guy like you is Sorachi sensei! You don’t have to hang around bookstores in broad daylight, you damn M.A.D.A.O.*!”…
I could never ruin a kid’s dream. After all, I’m 162.2 inches tall and look like the actor and singer Tetsuya Takeda. In short, the author of the work is not at all as slender as Gin-san.
Having said that, if anyone is reading this book standing up and not buying it, let them look around: if they find Tetsuya Takeda grinning next to them… it’s definitely him.
*Acronym for “Marude damena ossan”.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 10
QUESTION FROM MR. COFFEE LOVER FROM TOTTORI PROVINCE
Good morning, Sorachi sensei! I’ve been wondering about this for a while… The characters that appear in Gintama are all taken from the Edo era. Who is Gin-san inspired by?
ANSWER:
He was inspired by Kintoki Sakata. He’s the Kintaro from the famous fairy tale, but he wasn’t a character from the Edo era, but from the Heian period*. According to one version, he was the son of the witch Yamanba and possessed unparalleled Herculean strength. In fact, even in the fable he has a sumo match with a bear! It is said that he later became one of the Shitenno** in the service of Yorimitsu Minamoto, and subdued the ogre Shutendoji of Mount Oe. However, Gin-san isn’t necessarily a descendant of Kintaro. Since I was only vaguely inspired by this character, you don’t need to pay that much attention to it…
*The Edo period is from 1603 to 1868, while the Heian period is from 794 to 1185.
**Literally it means “Four Heavenly Kings”, but it is often used to indicate a group that exerts a strong influence over a certain territory.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 11
QUESTION FROM MR. SUGIYAMA, SHIZUOKA PROVINCE
The chapter titles are funny and different from other manga. How do you decide on them?
ANSWER:
I choose them after I’ve completed the panels. At first glance they don’t seem to have anything to do with the story, but there’s always some connection… Try looking for it! By the way, when I don’t have time, sometimes my editor decides them… You may think that the ones that came out wrong were created by him.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 12
QUESTION FROM MR. CHOCO OF AICHI PROVINCE
From every angle, your manga doesn’t fit well into Jump magazine. What means have you resorted to?
ANSWER:
Well, first of all, I rarely use screens. In this way, the pages turn out to have white as their dominant colour, and they stand out from the others. Secondly, I try not to improve the drawings… So my manga is different because everyone else is good at drawing… What the hell are you making me write?! Damn you!
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 13
QUESTION FROM MISS KOROWAN OF TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA
Get together with my older sister (gravure idol)! Because she’s nineteen years old, and loves mozuku seaweed. Since this fact is a secret, when she contacts you, don’t tell her that I wrote this letter!
ANSWER:
It was written like this, in pretty handwriting, and there was also a picture of a pretty little girl in the 3rd or 4th grade along with her beautiful older sister. And a mobile phone number.
Well, I won’t be fooled! Even though I’m a country boy, there’s no way I’m going to get such a tempting proposal…! Anyway, the older sister is really pretty! But I’m sure that if I call this number, some incredible person will answer, right? I won’t be overwhelmed by Tokyo…! Anyway, the sister is reeeeaally pretty! But this letter was written without asking her consent, right? Does she like Tetsuya Takeda? That can’t be… She’s really cute though! Well… big sister is cuuute!
SACCHAN’S SONG
Sacchan
Her name is Ayame Sarutobi
Actually.
But nobody calls her
Ayame, but…
“Saru! Hey, Saru!” …that’s what they call her. So…
“Hey, stop it, you guys!
Sarutobi doesn’t want to be called that!
Sarutobi, come here!
We’ll find you a cute nickname!”
So she was called “Sacchan”.
How sad it was…
…to be called Saru*.
*Literally, “monkey”
There, and so volume seven is finished! It seems to be gradually starting to get monotonous, doesn’t it? Well, I’m not talking about the manga, I’m talking about the extra page space. I’m not talking about the manga! I’m still working hard on that!
Having said that, to brighten up the extras that are starting to get boring, I’ve invented a new angle:
It’s about…
“SINCE IT’S A HASSLE, MAKE UP YOUR OWN AMANTOS!”
Send in your postcards with your creations! You may not believe it, but the ones you choose will appear in the actual work! I await your vulgar drawings!
Yorozuya Shinigami 