Thank you for buying the 9th volume of Gintama! So, I was planning on posting the amantos you sent in here, but since I promised I’d do it in the magazine, I thought you’d be happier to see them posted there, instead of here and then there. So I’d like to reverse the order… In other words, the selected amantos will be suddenly published in the magazine without notifying the readers who created them in advance, and then their postcards will be featured in a volume! By the way, bearing in mind that there are those who only buy the volumes without buying Jump, I’ll be publishing the postcards in the volumes in which the amantos contained in them will appear. To tell the truth, one of these amantos has already appeared in a magazine, but since there’s a certain time gap between the Jump publication and the physical release, I think the postcards will see the light starting from volume eleven. Sorry for the delay… but the selected ones will appear, whatever happens! I promised and I have no other choice, so look forward to seeing them!
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 19
QUESTION FROM MR. MOGUTAN OF OSAKA CITY
Is Hamuko’s boyfriend, Tasuke, the son of the viper? Also, what have the two of them (Hamuko and Tasuke) been up to?
ANSWER:
It’s just as you say, Mogutan! Tasuke, the viper’s son, is really Hamuko’s boyfriend. Because his father (the viper) was arrested, he’s now back on the straight and narrow and works on scaffolding, scaffolds and roofs. Hamuko has become addicted to diets and managed to lose thirty kilos in two months… but she’s still ugly.
By the way, they’re not together anymore. They broke up… normal for a man and a woman.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 20
QUESTION FROM MR. “SNOT IS THE MELTED BRAIN… DID YOU KNOW THAT?”, TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA
Sorachi sensei, please use the autograph I designed for you! It’s so easy!
See how simple it is?
ANSWER:
Why does my name… cross a poo?
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 21
QUESTION FROM MR. AMAMIYAA OF WAKAYAMA PROVINCE
Sensei, I have a question!
Jump magazine often appears in Gintama. How do you personally feel about it? Does it make your soul quiver with dreams and adventure?
ANSWER:
Unfortunately, I didn’t read Jump as a child. Of course, I would read the books I liked, such as Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya, etc., but I was quite fond of TV. All I collected of comic magazines was Wanpakku. Anyone familiar with that? When it comes to magazines we used to read, since no one knows about it the conversation never gets going. Although I collected every issue, down to the last one, my mother threw them away without telling me, so I got angry. Who knows Wanpakku?! Is there anyone who can talk about this magazine with me for a whole night?
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 22
QUESTION BY MISS JENNIFER SANDOVAL, FROM THE USA
For Sorachi sensei.
How are you? I’m good. I’m a student of Japanese, and I’ve been reading Gintama, which I like a lot. I learned from this comic book:
“Liars”…
“Pirates”… then…
“You have dumb luck.”
The sentence I like best of all is:
“I’d say a captain… of space.”
Thank you for teaching me that.
Now, last week I read volume six…
I hate cockroaches, because they freak me out. I have a question for you, sensei! Who is Elizabeth? Please, tell me!* By Jennifer Sandoval
P.s. Give me an autograph!
And one for my friend Yuko, also a big fan!
ANSWER:
Miss Sandoval sent me this letter from the distant United States… Thank you very much! You are very good at writing in Japanese.
It’s just that these phrases you’ve learned can’t be used in everyday life… You should avoid saying ” You have dumb luck,” or you might get beaten up.
Be careful, Miss Sandoval!
Finally, I won’t give you an autograph. It’s not about being an American… Yuko, you explain it to her properly. You understand the situation, right?
*Note: This phrase was actually written in English, unlike the rest of the letter.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 23
QUESTION FROM MS KIM ERI, SOUTH KOREA
Hi, I’m Kim Eri (a Korean girl) and a huge fan of yours, Mr. Sorachi. Hope you understand my poor English…
I really love Gintama. It’s too hilarious! I think you’ve got a great sense of humor. Yes you do! I love all the characters in Gintama, esp. Kintoki & Kagura & Ms. Otose. How funny they are! I really really hope you’re in good health all the time and great ideas never stop flowing from your heart!
P.S. Does Kintoki loves Killer Sacchan? If he does, I’ll hate her. 😝
ANSWER:
Miss Kim sent me a letter from faraway South Korea. Thank you. Worrying that I wouldn’t understand it in Korean, she wrote it in English, but she always called the main character “Kintoki” instead of “Gintoki”, which was wrong… Who are you, Sakamoto?! Also, how come you don’t ask for my autograph?! Yuko, explain everything properly. You understand the situation, right? Huh?! Yuko’s not here this time…?
That’s it! The special “Volume 9: The World is One” ends here. Even though Ms. Sandoval and Ms. Kim live in faraway places, we are all united by Gintama. When you come to Japan, don’t say “Gintama” too often… It’s dangerous. Yuko, you should explain it to them properly.
So, I’m still collecting both amanto ideas and questions.
Then I’ll see you in the next volume! See you soon!
Yorozuya Shinigami 