Thank you for purchasing the 6th volume of Gintama. I am Sorachi, and please continue to support me.

So, for this work, which I started while taking advantage of the airing of the long teledrama The Shinsengumi in Japan, the time has come for it to go on its own, since the teledrama has now ended. I’ve always been a fan of the Shinsengumi, so I’m feeling a little sad, both because of work and a private matter. Thank you for keeping me company until now, dear Shinsengumi! I’ll try my best to go as far as I can!

Well, under the circumstances, I’m tired of taking advantage of a certain opportunity in a cowardly way, so this year I’m going to move forward resolutely. That is to say… straight ahead! My editor? Who’s that? Are you by any chance referring to that dead monkey on the side of the road? Since it suddenly appeared, I ran over it, so I can experiment some more. Maybe… something princely… reminiscent of distant eras like the Heian or Kamakura periods. I have a feeling that this year I’ll have a chance to draw things like that… like a character similar to the warrior monk Benkei or his lord Ushikawa… Huh?!

GINTAMA COMPLETELY NAKED

There, the corner you like so much is back! I’m going to undress again! The other day, when I was going through my room, I found a pair of dirty underwear, so I put them on… I’ve been waiting for this opportunity since volume five, thinking, “Aah! So I can do a striptease in the extra pages again!” … As I’ve already written once, in the initial phase Gintama was thought as a manga to be realized taking advantage of the airing of a famous teledrama, in which the Shinsengumi were the protagonists who had to defeat one by one the bad guys. Some character sheets, made at the time, have been discovered… The shocking truth will soon be revealed!

This is Director Kondo at the initial stage. He looks just like Hasegawa, that’s right! Hasegawa’s current character was created using this sketch, and before that, he was actually the director of the Shinsengumi. Kondo’s character was almost the sum of the current Kondo with Hasegawa, split into two, with the remainder of three. In short, an incapable middle-aged person. He was supposed to always meet women for the purpose of marriage… By the way, Hasegawa is a character who ranks among the top two in my personal preference ranking of those who appear in Gintama. That’s why I bring him in at the slightest opportunity… Help me!

And who might this be?

But it’s Shinpachi Nagakura, from whom I developed Shinpachi! The story unfolded from his point of view. He had come to Edo from a small town in the countryside to train in the art of swordsmanship. He was to meet Kondo and his companions, who still ran a dojo for swordplay in Edo, where the samurai were in decline after being attacked by the Amanto, and eventually join the Shinsengumi. Shinpachi is a character I couldn’t define very well: first I made him a shaved head, then a tuft of hair gathered on top of his head… However, since he’s comparable to Nobita, I decided to make him wear a pair of glasses… and so the current character was born.

This is Okita… She must have been a woman at first. She was like Otsu, and her ability to fight with an umbrella was inherited from Kagura. Since at some point I realized that the Shinsengumi were all middle-aged men, devising desperate measures, I decided to create this grumpy character. By the way, Kagura was also supposed to be as big as her, but my editor dismissed that idea saying, “She’s not very pretty… make her smaller!”…

After all, he has a lolita complex.

The next space will be dedicated to Hijikata.

Hijikata was supposed to be the main character, but since I couldn’t find his character sheet, I drew him now, a bit randomly. If I remember correctly, he looked like this. Well, he was basically the same as Gin-san… It was Gin-san with his hair parted on one side and undead eyes. He had an ambiguous nature, less lazy than now… In short, he was a bit indecipherable in every way. Since I like the real Shinsengumi, Hijikata is my favourite. When I read the novel Moeyo Ken, I couldn’t get the image I had of this original character out of my head. However, perhaps because of that, I failed to recreate him, and since I couldn’t use him as the main character, I decided to remove him from that role. The editor complained about my choice, but I evaded his criticism with an excuse I made up on the spot, that it would be enough to give the Shinsengumi a function similar to Zenigata’s in Lupin III. So I named the main character Gin-san, and I managed to break this character. That’s a really weird name! We often talk about the spirit inherent in words, and I feel like I’ve understood him a little. I can’t break Hijikata, even though I ruined him with mayonnaise…

Above is “Mad Bull” Kamo Serizawa, and below is Sanosuke Harada. I had various characters like that in mind… Anyway, absorbing them all… Gintama was born! Although the first episode, the one approved at the meeting to decide on the serial publication, was different: Shinpachi was already part of the Yorozuya and together with Gin-san he saved a samurai who looked like the comedian Cha Kato. But since it seemed a bit too sober, because there were only middle-aged male characters, I changed the story… When I get distracted, my manga tends to be invaded by middle-aged men!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER

QUESTION BY MR T2 FROM GUNMA PROVINCE

Your answers to the questions are too long! It’s tiring to read. Besides, you reply randomly, so do it in short sentences, sensei! (Give a more important role to Yamazaki!)

ANSWER:

Since I got this opinion, I wrote a very long comment this time.

How did you feel about volume six? It’s like I’ve shown myself up to my anus by now! If you consider it a good purchase, since you’ve been able to see someone else’s anus, I’ll be happy! After all, one can rarely admire such a thing…

Also, I would like to tell you not to send opinions like “I would have liked to see the other manga about the Shinsengumi” because I would be psychologically hurt. Keep this thought deep in your heart and carry it to the grave without telling anyone!

I couldn’t have much contact with you readers this time, but since I keep collecting your questions keep sending them in!

So see you in the next volume! Goodbye!



Previous Next

Thank you for buying the 5th volume of Gintama. In Japan, when they decided to release volume five in December, volume four had just come out! Did they want me dead? Apparently everyone is more generous at the end of the year, so they’re aiming for that occasion. Be careful not to be fooled!

So, once again the question corner is full of content. You didn’t like it very much the previous time… In fact, it was showered with criticism and I received many letters of protest. Ha ha ha!

They asked me if I really intended to make these pages… Ha ha ha! But telling me I’m a Tengu demon is too much! Ha ha ha!

Since I had a busy schedule, my editor suggested that I leave the pages blank this time.  But I demanded them by arguing with him. So they are to be considered the result of my own toil and sweat.

However… listen! Ah ah ah ah! Thereafter some tension arose between me and my editor.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!

By the way, I have a busy schedule this time too.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

What am I going to do?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 6

QUESTION FROM MR. KOBAYASHI, SAITAMA PROVINCE

Did you choose the title Gintama because you really wanted the readers to have ambiguous and dirty conversations?

ANSWER:

To make a long story short, I wanted to choose a title with a strong impact. At the beginning, when I presented the work at the meeting for serial publication, the title was Gin-san, the Yorozuya. Since it had little impact, I discussed it with my editor, but I was disappointed by his lack of good taste. He said, “Don’t you think The Silver Samurai is better? Don’t you think it’s good?” So I asked him to give me some time. Since I was back at my parents’ house for a while after graduating from college, I called a family meeting and chose the title Gintama. What kind of family is mine, huh?! Afterwards, my editor liked it too, so much so that he said, “Gintama? Not bad, it’s going to be a hit!”, but only the two of us were elated, and the editorial staff weren’t very enthusiastic. However, since editor Onishi is a man, he insisted on my idea: “I’ve silenced my superiors. We’re going to keep the title Gintama“. Well, was it worth making enemies like that?

Other proposed titles:

Inase Gin-san, meaning “Bold Gin-san”
– Created by my father. Too unrefined!

Notari Gintoki, meaning “The Quiet Gintoki”
– Created by my father. He plagiarized the title of another work!

Gin-chan Ga Yuku, meaning “Gin-chan moves on”
– Created by Sorachi. I plagiarized someone else’s work, too!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 7

QUESTION BY MR. SENZA OF KANAGAWA PROVINCE

Sensei, do you draw your work after studying well the last years of the Tokugawa’s shogunal government?

Munemitsu Mutsu was not a native of Tosa*.

ANSWER:

First of all, in the final period of the Tokugawa’s shogunal government, there were no extraterrestrials… You should study better!

*Old name of Kochi province.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 8

QUESTION BY MR. SHIMOMURA OF AICHI PROVINCE

There’s something I find strange… You want to know what? Well, it’s about what Shinpachi said: “The campaign against foreign invaders, with the intention of driving them out, began when the Amanto attacked us 20 years ago.” (Vol 1, p. 145). In other words, as far as we calculate by rounding down as much as possible, Gin-san and Katsura are now over thirty years old, right?

ANSWER:

Don’t worry! Just be clear and listen carefully because during the exams you’ll be asked a question related to this: the war against the foreigners was by no means over in a year or so, but was a more complicated conflict. I’ve made a simple summary, so open the next extra page, Shimomura!

Twenty years ago the Amanto came to Earth. The frightened samurai fought against them but were easily defeated. By the way, back then Gin-san was a brat who hadn’t even grown any hair.

                                                    ↓

Later, the Shogunate also became afraid and opened the country to diplomatic relations. The Amanto built a terminal and started to come to Earth. In the meantime, some samurai went on the rampage everywhere in the country in order to hunt down the invaders and kill them, but they suffered a sound defeat. By the way, Gin-san was starting to grow hair in the meantime.

                                                    ↓

The Amantos started to do whatever they wanted, even inserting themselves into the very structure of the Shogunate. It must be said that at that time there were samurai who were still trying hard. Gin-san started to go wild right around that time… Well, but not in that sense.

                                                    ↓

Since the Amanto were starting to find samurai annoying, they had the Haitorei edict enacted to dampen their strength. Thus, even the last samurai exhausted their strength.

This was the samurai resistance that lasted about fifteen years… This is what we generally call a war against foreigners. Basically, it was a losing battle. Gin-san and his companions were the ones who played an important role in the second half of this war.

That said… Shimomura, you will stand in the hallway!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 9

QUESTION BY MISS AMI MIZUKI OF OSAKA PROVINCE

I can’t get Gin-san’s hairstyle right. Could you tell me a little secret to do it?

ANSWER:

At first glance, his hair seems to be drawn randomly, but there’s actually a certain rule for doing it. The important thing is to make four points of unruly tufts. First of all you draw a normal head.

Then add the first two rebellious wisps: one on the right and one on the left, at the top.

Then add two more rebellious wisps around the temples, and lengthen the middle part of the fringe…

There you go!

What do you guys think? The extra pages this time weren’t too bad, were they? You should have nothing to complain about, because I tried my best. I really put in the effort! So I don’t have any more time to make the storyboard! Next time I’ll do something different as well, so look forward to seeing it! I’m also looking forward to your questions, so please send them to me! Complaints are also welcome! Send them with the following topic…

Goodbye then!

Previous Next

Thank you for buying the 4th volume… How time flies! In Japan, it has already been a year since I started the serial publication of this work. A year ago, when I went to Tokyo to greet the editors, the editor-in-chief almost sentenced me to death by saying, “You’re still a newcomer, you’ll get a second chance,” even before the manga started publication! Even at the New Year’s party, the bigwigs at the publishing house showered me with criticism… But look, VIPs, four volumes are out already, right?! Your prediction didn’t turn out to be correct! Pff! Well… that said, from this month on, the question corner you have been anxiously waiting for will start!

Enjoy it, everyone!

-Sorachi

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 1

QUESTION FROM MR MIWA OF OSAKA PROVINCE

How do you do? Sorachi sensei, if you don’t know how to fill the extra pages, how about this question? Where does Gin-san sleep and bathe? Let me know the room layout of the Yorozuya!

ANSWER:

Gin-san sometimes sleeps in the Japanese-style room, sometimes on a sofa, and sometimes doesn’t come home at all. Sometimes Shinpachi stays over or goes to his house.

Kagura is like Doraemon.

Sadaharu sleeps everywhere.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 2

QUESTION FROM MR. KANATSU OF OSAKA PROVINCE

We want the profiles of the main characters!

ANSWER:

I haven’t thought about that at all. I only have a vague idea of their ages….

Gin-san – 20 to 30

Shinpachi – 16

Kagura – 13, 14 or so

Shinpachi’s sister – 18

Old hag – About 60

Catherine – Around 30

Hasegawa – Between 35 and 40

Katsura – 20s to 30s

Sakamoto – As above

Takasugi – As above

Kondo – As above

Hijikata – As above

Okita – 15 to 20, even if he already drinks.

Are you happy, you bastard?!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 3

QUESTION FROM MR MARIRO, HIROSHIMA PROVINCE

Is the pronunciation (intonation) of “gintama”

the same as “kintama”?

Or is it the same as Kensama

(the great actor Matsudaira)?

ANSWER:

It is the same as the intonation of the famous actress and singer Yoon Son-ha.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 4

QUESTION FROM MR KASHIWADANI, FROM TOKYO

I’m curious about something: in the 24th Lesson, the Cats Punch appeared, and they consist of Kurikan, Hattori, Catherine (at least before) and the other one who looks like the famous Jigen. Well, if possible, I’d like to know the full name and surname, as well as having the profile of all the members. But if you find this annoying, at least tell me Jigen’s name, because I really like Cats Punch. I’ll even be happy with a random name, but please… do it!

ANSWER.

Um… Kashiwadani.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 5

QUESTION FROM THE HOUSEWIFE WHO WANTS TO PLAY BADMINTON WITH YAMAZAKI

Listen, Sorachi sensei! I’m a 40-year-old housewife and a big fan of Gintama, but the extra pages in the 3rd volume are really terrible! What do they mean?! You could have published the characters’ introductions (i.e. profiles)! I don’t get it…

My question is this:

Why does Yamazaki of the Shinsengumi play badminton by himself? This is a question from a 40-year-old woman who finds it hilarious!

P.S. If my question is published, will I receive anything? Or does this possibility not exist? To be on the safe side, I’ll write my address and phone number.

ANSWER:

Madam, a gag explained is no longer funny! It’s like killing it! It stops being funny! You ask me if the publication of the question will get you anything?! No one will ever give you anything! Let your husband buy you something. Your husband! What do you mean you’ll give us your phone number and address? Are you serious?

Um… I wrote you all sorts of things, but please continue to follow Gintama! And give your neighbors a volume too!

So… how did you like the question corner? I liked it because I didn’t have to work hard! Thank you all for your cooperation! Hey, you! If you have something that is on your mind too, just ask me! I’m also waiting for opinions and requests.

Since the shipping topic was criticized for being too long, I shortened it a bit…

Topic: ‘Well, simply, I consider it a hassle to make the extra pages.



Previous Next

WE ASKED SORACHI SENSEI! HOW TO DRAW MANGA

Q & A 1

ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE TOOLS!

Q. How many types of pens do you normally use?

A. The g-pen and maru-pen, the brush pen and the multiliner.

Q. Which ones do you use to draw the main strokes of the characters?

A. G-pen and maru-pen.

Q. And which ones for the borders of the vignettes?

A. A 0.8 multiliner.

Q. What is your favourite screen, or the one you use most often?

A. I prefer to use them as little as possible.

Q. Do you have a specific technique for applying screens?

A. I can’t answer that… without asking my assistants.

Q. Is there any secret tool that only you use, which is not usually used for drawing manga?

A. No, nothing specific…

ON FINISHING THE BOARDS!

Q. Is there anything you always check in the boards, or any points you pay special attention to?

A. Because I always cut down to the last, my editor takes them away before I can check them.

ON IDEAS FOR THE WORK!

Q. Where do you usually find inspiration?

A. In my room. When I can’t think of anything, I wander up and down the room.

Q. Do you have a method of refreshing your mind when you are struggling?

A. I twirl a pen between my fingers, wash the dishes or take a bath.

AND FINALLY…

Q. Give some advice to aspiring mangaka.

A. I too am still searching for the right path to take, but I always tell myself that you should never forget the playful spirit. I think the best way to draw a fun manga is to draw while having fun…

But then I soon forget… Let’s do it together!

Published on Jump’s special sample book of original illustrations.

Thank you for purchasing the 3rd volume of Gintama. How time flies… We’re already at three! Maybe the time that has passed is comparable to the period of fatigue for a married couple, when every behaviour of your partner strikes your nerves and you let phrases like: “Why do you always leave the light on in the bathroom? Turn it off, you wench!’ In short, it’s a dangerous time… people quarrel over trifles and even risk divorce!

But I believe that by talking frankly you can overcome the crisis.

That said, I want to create a space for questions.

Any topic is fine, as long as I can fill the extra pages, so if you have any doubts… Actually, they don’t have to be questions, you can also send long texts that can fill seven pages! Free theme!

Subject: “It’s not that I consider the creation of the extra pages to be a hassle, I simply want to establish contact with readers”.

GINTAMA COMPLETELY NAKED

Um… We’re out of illustrations to put in the extra pages… Since I have nothing to put in them, I’m stripping again because there’s nothing else to do. I’d urge those of you who are thinking “That’s enough!” to fill this void yourself! Does it bother you? Or do you not care if they remain white? I don’t believe you! When I think back to the Bikkuriman snack stickers… They were a huge success! Some even threw away the snacks to keep only the stickers. Freebies are important… Huh?! We’re running out of space…!

GINTAMA COMPLETELY NAKED

I apologize if I lost my temper earlier. But I wanted you all to understand how hard it is to make extra pages… Huh?! What? Did the title characters get bigger? That’s not true at all! It’s an optical illusion! What are you saying? Are you insinuating that I’m sneakily trying to fill as much space as possible or something?! Stop it! I wouldn’t do something so dishonest! Huh?! The space is used up again…!

GINTAMA COMPLETELY NAKED

I’ve got about three pages left…

How long is the road…

No matter how hard I run, I can’t see the finish line. Will I have to repeat this hard work every time there’s a single issue? Not a chance! After all, I’m writing these pages by giving up my holidays for the Buddhist festival of the dead. While everyone is having fun dancing, I am compiling these pages locked up in my room. I pretend to converse with the readers, even though I am alone and already twenty-five years old! There is no one in front of me! I am alone and writing! Is this good?

Or have I gone mad?

GINTAMA COMPLETELY NAKED

First of all, I’m working without taking a day off, while my editor will surely have gone to the seaside to enjoy himself! Once the holidays are over, if when he tells me “Hey! You’re behind on your storyboard! What the hell did you do?” he’ll be tanned, I’ll break his glasses with the Jump magazine’s rib!

At the high school baseball club, all the students were forced to shave their hair to zero, but the coach did the same….

Maybe the situation is different since it’s work… but at least I’d like him to add “I was having fun at the beach anyway” at the end of his sentence, a bit like Korosuke who in Kiteretsu Daihyakka always ended his sentence with “…nari”.

GINTAMA COMPLETELY NAKED

So, from one complaint to another, I somehow managed to get to the last page. I apologize if I’ve written long nonsense! Since I’ll be creating a question corner from volume 4 onwards, I think things will improve a bit. Sorry again for everything! This will be the last time…

Bye and see you in volume 4!

-Sorachi

Previous Next

Thank you so much for purchasing the 2nd volume of Gintama. I honestly thought they were going to end the series right away, but thanks to my warm fans and eccentrics all over Japan… I will carry on!

As for volume 1, since everyone underestimates its potential, it sold out in Japan. However, I’m not to blame, so I’m not going to apologize to anyone, dammit! I blame Shueisha, which is the den of evil, and my editor Monchicchi Onishi. Get mad at him, and in the subject line of the complaints write:

“I missed my chance to buy the 1st volume of Gintama! I want Mr. Onishi to apologize to me by doing a reverse mohawk.”

APOLOGY

Since there’s a lot in volume two that everyone should apologize for, I want to do so as well… Apparently a lot of people complained saying, “Because of the obscene title, Gintama, which links to Kintama, meaning ‘balls’, I can’t buy the volume, you damned gorilla!” … I’m really sorry!

At first, I wanted to recreate a familiar atmosphere in the whole nation and have all the Japanese high school girls say an ambiguous line like:

“Listen up! Have you seen Gintama this week?”, but it was a big flop and this time the fault is only mine, impatient to make a name for myself! So don’t pick on others! If you want to hit someone, hit me! My heart is here! Come on, you damn fools!

Read Shirokuro here

Previous Next

I would have liked to prevent these sketches from being published, but since they’ve already been printed, there’s nothing I can do about it. Before Gintama, I did three manga… Of these, two have been published, while one (the work in question) got stuck at the storyboard stage.

Objectively speaking, it was a bad manga that told a story along the lines of: we’re at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and a decaying martial arts gymnasium is raided by the space police who, working together with its members, defeat the extraterrestrial criminals they were chasing… More than anything else, it was the inspiration for Gintama, although this fact is not very well known. Just think, if the heroine didn’t pick her nose periodically, she would go into a state of delirium… Of course it was trashed!

A (STERN) WORD FROM MR. O, THE EDITOR IN CHARGE OF YOURS TRULY

The main character needs to be better characterized. It seems, simply, that she speaks a bit strangely, plus other characteristics that seem added at random. What is the main character capable of doing? What is her talent? Because of her, what kind of experiences will the samurai have? See if you can work it all out!

GINTAMA COMPLETELY NAKED

So, there are two pages left.

Since there’s nothing to do, I have no choice but to get naked… So I’m getting naked!

Those of you who think you don’t want to see me naked and dirty, realize that it’s your soul that’s naked! Yes! Having said that, I would like to tell you how Gintama came about. It all started with a sentence said by my editor, Moncicci Onishi: “You know they’re going to make a historical teledrama about the Shinsengumi next year, don’t you? You have to take advantage of the opportunity!”

At the time, I was thinking of a story to be published as a serial, a play in which monstrous beings were fought in a school. A superficial imitation of Harry Potter, which I had never seen, with the addition of typical Japanese elements (I wouldn’t have had much luck…). Besides, I had already failed once in an attempt to create a historical manga, so I didn’t feel like it.

So I replied to the editor: ‘No historical manga, for the dialogues are too limiting. I won’t be able to take advantage of the boom, dear Moncicci!”.

But he insisted: “When you choose to set the story in a modern era, you always come up with something rather modest! And anyway, you’d like to take advantage of the Potter boom too, wouldn’t you?!”

“Taking advantage of Potter isn’t a problem – he’s foreign!”.

Our discussion was getting bogged down, but finally: ‘I don’t give a damn about the historical setting! The important thing is to create a fantasy work! A historical fantasy! The Shinsengumi and monsters will fight with swords!

In short, I got the worst of it, so I started making the boards. However, I soon got stuck with various problems: contradictions in the plot; irritation at my editor; water seeping into the house; inflammation of the mucous membranes in my mouth; irritation at my editor; more anger at my editor; etc…

“I told you so! I won’t listen to you anymore!”.

So in the end, I did my own thing and Gintama was born! So, in the end, I even took off my underwear… Since I don’t have anything else on, I’ll get dressed and see you in volume 2. And thanks for reading this book!

-Sorachi

Next

Thank you for purchasing the 24th volume! I’m finally approaching the age of thirty. Lately I’ve also got a big belly, and it’s as if a mass of flesh has been placed on my trousers. In addition, as is always the case with hairy people, the hair around my belly extends straight down to my groin, so I look really filthy. I was surprised to see my body in the mirror before taking a bath… I saw Boss Troll*. Although it wasn’t Ra’s mirror**, there was a monster reflected in it! To be precise, a sad monster created by a weekly serial publication…

So, as I’ve just explained, I already look like a middle-aged man, and my twenty-nine years therefore seem ambiguous, I find them annoying. You can’t tell whether a twenty-nine year old is a young or a middle-aged man, an angel or a demon… Maybe more of a fallen angel. He has a half-hearted stance, as if, despite already being on the scaffold, the executioner who has to wield the axe has come home saying, “Hmm… I can’t remember if I turned off the kotatsu!”. You wait for the executioner to come back and you want to say: “Give me the coup de grace immediately!”, or “Rip my wings off at once”… Because you know you can’t fly anymore since the ones on your back are just dull hairs.

Listen up, teenagers! If you don’t get up in the air before the age of thirty, your wings will fall off. Just like hair, feathers are also lost. Badly shredded wings can support my fat body, but for you the situation is different. With your dry body and your wings, you will be able to fly anywhere. You can also become pilots, or do any other job. So don’t give up on your dream! I want you to fly towards it with the wings on your back, and then I want you to explain to me why I started talking about such a thing.

*Monster from the game Dragon Quest
**The mirror that reflects the truth that appears in Dragon Quest*

So, that ends the “Lord Of The Thirty” special. I have a feeling that if I end this way, I might be killed by those over thirty, so I want to stress that it’s not what you think. I don’t mean to say that people over 30 are doomed or anything like that. First of all, I’m also going to be a 30-year-old now, so I don’t want to be in a situation like that. I wanted to tell everyone to fly with the feather left on their back, and that men must continue to be boys until they die! The real middle-aged men are those who have given up flying. Even if they’re in their thirties, bald, or give off the typical smell of middle-aged people, men who try to fly with the last feather are still boys… And if they can’t because of their flab, just lose weight! I used to eat lightly salted crisps and consommé crisps on a rotating basis, once a week, but from now on I want to change my habits and only eat the salted ones, which are the best because they have a certain something. Even these efforts can generate the strength for the miracle of flying with one feather towards your dream! Middle-aged men from all over the world, let’s eat salted crisps together… Each to his own dream!

New topic: ‘Even seaweed and salt crisps are hard to give up’.

Starting from page 104, there is an interview to commemorate the first publication of the self-contained work 13-Thirteen in Jump Square (March 2008 issue). Enjoy reading!

SORACHI’S Q&A: HANGING OUT WITH THE READERS

QUESTIONS ABOUT HIDEAKI SORACHI

Q1: First of all, please say hello to Square readers!

Nice to meet you! And thank you for taking care of Ginpachi. I apologize if reading my handwriting is unpleasant, after all, I was told to handwrite the answers.

Q2: How have you been lately?

I’ve hardly slept to draw this work. However, I eat properly, otherwise my head wouldn’t work. I don’t have any friends. But why are you making me say this?

Q3: Did you enjoy New Year’s Eve this year?

I drew the storyboard.

Q4. Your editor has changed and Mr Saito is now in charge of you. Do you sense any change in the atmosphere of the meetings?

Basically nothing has changed, I still do nothing but chat with my editor. The topics, though, are more Otaku… Saito looks a bit like an Otaku, and his feet stink.

Q5: Is there anything you’d like to say to Mr Saito on this occasion?

Well, as I wrote, his feet stink. I don’t notice this fact very much. But my assistants say that when he comes into the studio you can smell it (laughter). I don’t dare say it to his face because I don’t want to cause any discomfort between us, so I’ll write it here… Saito, your feet seem to stink!

Q6: Do you still play Monster Hunter Portable? What character did you choose? What’s his name?

I don’t play it anymore. I played it so much that the joystick broke and I gave the PSP to an assistant. I had chosen a swordsman who uses a big sword, a flamboyant weapon that gave me a pleasant feeling, not least because you could wipe out your companions with it. Of course, the character’s name is “Hideaki”.

Q7: Why did you choose that name?

Both in Dragon Quest and in other games, I almost always put my own name. I used to put in “AAAA” because I found it annoying to write my own, but when I was faced with the last boss I felt an empty feeling in my heart. Since then I have decided to do it this way.

Q8: Gintama‘s serial publication has been going on for a long time. It’s going to keep going, isn’t it? It’s going to run again, right?

As long as they don’t suddenly tell me to draw something for SQ, there’s no problem!

Q9: Why did you refuse the interview at first?

Because I don’t have time. It’s not that I’m afraid of strangers, or that I can’t sleep at night before an interview because of the emotion, eh…


QUESTIONS ON CLASS 3-Z: PROFESSOR GINPACHI

Q1: What made you decide to draw Class 3-Z: Professor Ginpachi in Akamaru Jump?

I wanted to draw a work set in a school, so I didn’t think much of it.

Q2: You won’t be drawing this manga any more?

When the idea of publishing the Gintama novel was first floated, I suggested Ginpachi instead. I thought Osaki sensei could do whatever he wanted since I wouldn’t be drawing it anymore, and I really wanted to see Ginpachi. Well, if the opportunity arises, I might redraw him.

Q3: What’s your favourite character? And why is that?

The headmaster and the deputy headteacher, because you can see how well they can be fooled.

Q4: If you were admitted to Class 3-Z, what would you do, Sorachi sensei?

I’d be slumped over my desk for at least two weeks, radiating an aura towards Shinpachi that means, “Hey, talk to me!”

Q5: By the way, what does Mr. Ginpachi teach?

Japanese… if I remember correctly.

Q6: The novel’s colophon says “Original work: Hideaki Sorachi,” but how much did he contribute with his ideas?

Not at all. Reading the first volume of the novel, and laughing, I even thought, “Ah! If I die, I’ll have this writer develop the Gintama story and Obata sensei do the drawings!” (laughter)
I’ll leave it all up to Osaki sensei, because I guess he has more fun writing when he can do as he pleases.

Q7: Have you ever met Tomohito Osaki sensei?

At the Café Renoir once before the first volume of the novel was published. He sat with his chair at an angle. Since he was always leaning against the wall, I did the same… I had no other choice.

Q8: Why don’t you make friends with Osaki sensei?

I want to, but maybe it’s impossible. Because he seemed unsociable too. We’d probably just look at each other obliquely.


QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SELF-CONTAINED WORK 13-THIRTEEN

Q1: You’ve finally published a manga on Square! Tell us how it came about.

There’s no backstory to tell, I was being forced to!
When my editor said to me, “Editor-in-chief Ibaraki suggested that you draw a self-contained work in SQ. What do you want to do?”, I replied: “Well, it’s tough considering the schedule of my work…”. Then he replied: “Beyond your will, this thing has already been decided. The decision’s been made… That’s what the bald guy said.” … Why did he ask me then?! And bloody baldy!

Q2: This is the first self-contained manga you’ve done since you started publishing Gintama. Did you have any difficulties, different from when you make an episodic series chapter?

It’s always hard having to create everything from scratch. For an episode of a serialized series, the characters are already well defined…

Q3: When it comes to making a self-contained work, did you find a different mood than when you first started making Gintama‘s serialized series?

No change in particular. Since I didn’t have much time, I simply drew.

Q4: The title is 13-Thirteen. I’ll ask you a straightforward question: where are you going with this?

Well, you can tell right away from the first page. It’s obvious.

Q5: Is the main character, Izayo Gorugo, based on anyone in particular?

No, I just wanted to draw a sailor’s uniform and a sword.

Q6: What did you struggle with most?

I had very little time, and I also had to work on Gintama‘s colour pages, so I kept thinking, “I hope they stop publishing SQ! Die, Ibaraki!”

Q7: We’ll be reading the work from the next page onwards, but tell us what we shouldn’t miss.

At a meeting with my editor Saito and Mr. Hayashi of the SQ editorial staff, we decided to create a love comedy. They happened to go to the same high school, so the meeting turned into a reunion of old school friends. So I thought, “Wow! They’re so stupid!” and I made the comic strip on my own and left them alone! And it didn’t turn out to be a love comedy… I’d like you to enjoy this confusion of mine.

Q8: To conclude, say something.

I drew this work with all my strength, and there’s a lot of text. If you’d like, you could read it in three parts, I’d be happy to. Oh, one more thing… I really like SQ! I don’t think it’s better to stop publishing at all! Yay SQ! And call me again!

Previous Next