Thank you for purchasing the 10th volume of Gintama! Somehow I got there, but every week I feel like I’m still walking on a rope called a deadline… Actually, it’s more like toilet paper than rope… It’s as if I’m being told to walk on a simple roll of toilet paper unrolled and stretched across the Grand Canyon valley. On top of that, behind me, a little monkey with glasses tells me, “If you don’t cross right now, you’re going to fall!” and pisses on it. And every week I miraculously manage to make it, seriously it’s a miracle!

I’m starting to be like Pegasus Seiya, it feels like my microcosm is going to burn. Until I started walking this rope, I had a misconception of the situation, as I knew nothing about it.  I thought I was like a Gold Saint, and I thought it would be so easy to move. Instead, it’s anything but easy! The cloth I’m wearing… it’s not gold, it’s not even bronze! It’s just corrugated cardboard. I’m wearing a cardboard cloth made by my father on a Sunday. It’s hard for a Saint made of corrugated cardboard to advance on this rope! Anyway, since I went to the Grand Canyon of my own free will, I have to keep fighting even if my cardboard is torn, until the microcosm burns down…

                                                                                  – Saint Sorachi –

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 24

QUESTION FROM MR. JON B, TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA

How do you do? I have a question for Sorachi sensei: are the ninja named Hattori, who appeared in Gintama volume 6, and the famous Zenzo Hattori the same person? I really want to know, so tell me!

ANSWER:

They’re the same person, they both have hemorrhoids, remember? But in the 49th lesson, neither Gin-san nor Zenzo saw their opponent’s face… I consider their first meeting to have been later, in the episode where they fought over an issue of Jump. Gin-san even forgot that episode… He’s someone who forgets unpleasant things right away. By the way, the Cats Punch (Catherine’s former thieving companions) also included a man named Hattori, but he has nothing to do with this character. He’s a different person. Sorry for complicating things.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER

QUESTION FROM MISS EMILY “THE CRITICAL WOMAN”, SAITAMA PROVINCE

I like Sagaru Yamazaki. Why is his name Sagaru*?

Was he given such a name because he grew up in a very difficult environment?

Or was he born while his parents were being pursued by persistent creditors?

If that’s the case, I feel sorry for him.

ANSWER:

The meaning of Yamazaki’s name is: “Look at things calmly by taking a step back and then face them”.

It has no negative meaning, as you imply.

If you continue to live looking only at the surface of things, trouble will happen to you. Take a good look by first taking a step back! So, the lesson ends here!

*Literally, “stepping back”.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 26

QUESTION FROM MR. “WHY DO YOU OFTEN CHANGE THE SUBJECT FOR SENDING LETTERS? IT’S REALLY ANNOYING!”, FROM SAITAMA PROVINCE

Is the basic principle of Gintama episodes “gag” or “seriousness”?

ANSWER:

I personally consider each episode to be a separate story, and there are many self-contained episodes in the work. I draw each one by changing the mood, for example: “This time I will create a comedy”, “This time I will describe human warmth”, etc…

In short, my work is a pseudo-comedy with a historical-scientific setting and a lot of human warmth. All in all, it’s a manga you can’t understand.

However, it’s strange that I impose my point of view on readers by saying: “The manga was made according to this reasoning, so read it as I’ve explained”… In short, you can interpret it as you like!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 27

QUESTION FROM MR. “HUH?! THAT’S THE LAUGHING STOCK?!”, FROM FUKUSHIMA PROVINCE

Dear Hideaki Sorachi sensei, how are you? Today, I’ll ask you something straight out! You are serializing Gintama in Shonen Jump magazine, drawing it with all your might, facing life’s storms and being criticized behind your back. Who is the character you think you love the most?

It will be, as I imagine, Kagura, since you have a lolita complex… Answer me! Come on!

ANSWER:

I like all the characters! Seriously, I’m not saying this to keep up appearances, but I like the villains too! I really do! Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to draw manga. So in regards to the ones that have little opportunity to appear, I always think, “Ooh, I have to save them somehow… Only I follow a certain cycle in my considerations that annoys me in that guy” or “I don’t know why, but I think you’re cute… Have you cut your hair recently?”. Basically, it’s the same as the real world. The one who draws my sympathy for now is Oryo, though I ignore why. It used to be Hasegawa, but I’ve had him appear so often that I don’t even want to see his face now! Anyway, that’s not a sentence to say towards the character published on a cover, although I’m back to wanting to see his face… I just keep repeating these things. By the way, I like Kagura a lot, although I don’t have a lolita complex. In regards to the three members of the Yorozuya it doesn’t have to do with the cycle or anything like that… Huh?! So I’m making an impression on you guys? You’re not backing down, are you?

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 28

QUESTION FROM MR. ASAZAKI OF OSAKA PROVINCE

I saw the Gintama anime. They’re very entertaining and I thought they were great! Since there were more known voice actors than I imagined, I was surprised!

By the way… Listen, Mobile Suit Sorachi sensei! How are the voice actors chosen? Do you choose them personally? I’ m an airhead, so I don’ t understand anything!

If you don’t mind, could you let me know?

ANSWER:

I think they’re usually decided by audition, unless certain voice actors are designated for certain roles by the production. A selection was made for Gintama as well. For example, some candidates for dubbing Gin-san were given lines to recite, and then only one was chosen. Then, there are writers who attend auditions, but as I once said, I’m on the edge of a cliff every week, and of course I don’t have time to go. So I insisted that they record the rehearsals on a CD so that I could express my opinions. Only, when I listened to it dozens of times, it seemed to me that everyone was beginning to sound like Gin-san… I didn’t understand anything anymore! I thought, “Do as you please!” … Anyway, with hindsight, all the voices are just as I imagined them, so I find the choices positive.

I thank all the voice actors for giving their souls!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 29

QUESTION FROM MR. TIROL OF AICHI PROVINCE

The day after reading the 65th Lesson in volume eight of Jump Comics Gintama, my father pooped his pants while standing in line for the bathroom at a certain supermarket. That’s why he never went out, and when he did, his trousers were all messed up. Have you ever been involved in an existential crisis like that, Sorachi sensei? What should I do from now on? Let me know! (This story is true.)

ANSWER:

What? You want to know if I’ve been in a crisis because of my underside? I’ve hardly ever had anything like that happen to me. I was so delicate when I was a kid that I couldn’t poop outside, so no matter how much I was assaulted by stimuli, in kindergarten I always held back and did my business at home, by the time I started attending primary schools, I was a veteran fighter who had won numerous battles, and those around me looked like mere brats.

I was called “Guardian of the anus”, in fact I called myself that. I also invented a certain technique which consists of shaking my butt… By doing this, most of the stimuli strangely disappear. The important thing is to believe in yourself and never give up until the end! Then you won’t have any problems until second grade.

Eh…?! What? Yes, it happened! I pooped my pants in second grade! Even the Guardian expelled a streak of feces while shaking his butt.

It’s easy for me to get carried away because I was called the Guardian… But nobody called me that. There’s nothing a guy like me can defend. Anyway, luckily, it happened on the way home from school and I was still wearing a normal brief at the time, so by keeping my poo between my buns so my friends wouldn’t find out, I went home as if nothing had happened. So, I got a bit carried away… And for fooling my mates I was called “North Sea Tactician”… Well, nobody actually called me that! In an attempt to fool my mother I tried to destroy the evidence by flushing my underwear down the toilet. Then, as I feared, it got clogged, and the water in an instant lapped at the North Sea Tactician….

AAAAAAAAH!

The trauma…! Tora (the tiger) and uma (the horse) opened the sealed door that must never be opened! The topic for questions in the next volume is the one shown below!

Previous Next

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!

Previous Next

Thank you for buying volume eight of Gintama. We meet again after such a long time… Up until now, in Japan, I’ve published a volume every two months, but this volume came out after three months with a slightly longer interval. Well, a lot happens in the world in three months… Even a minor panda can stand up in three months: Well, in three months, even Gintama can become an anime! That said, to our surprise, this autumn the work will be made into a video at “Jump Festa”! Gin-san, Shinpachi and the others will be rampaging all over the screen! So it seems, unless it’s a Candid Camera… You may not believe it, but the production will be handled by Sunrise, famous for the Gundam series. I’m sorry, gentlemen of Sunrise! Maybe the sun won’t rise this time, but please take care of my work.

And now I want to present this volume titled “Special for anime adaptation” with a little more cheerfulness than usual, so as to make you slightly angry. I’m starting, guys!

I’m Sorachi! And I’m starting!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 14

QUESTION FROM MR. “NAMELESS” OF TOTTORI PROVINCE

Listen up, Sorachi sensei! Up until now, the patriots promoting the anti-foreigner campaign of the Kaitento group and those of the Burning Fighting Spirit organization have appeared. What is the name of the anti-foreigner party that Katsura belongs to and that Gin-san once belonged to?

ANSWER:

There’s no specific name. By the way, the organization Katsura belongs to and the one Gin-san used to belong to are different. At the time when Gin-san was active in the movement, there was a larger organization in which both the Kaitento group and the other were mixed. All in all, it was a time when it was fashionable… Later on, the activities of the campaign against foreigners disappeared for a while because of the repressive policy of the shogunate and the amanto. But the more tenacious ones created different factions according to their ideologies, continuing their activities on a smaller scale. Katsura is one of them.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 15

QUESTION FROM MR. ‘NAMELESS’, CHIBA PROVINCE

I have a question.

In Gintama, Hasegawa and Kondo are treated as “middle-aged men”, but Gin-san and Hijikata, who are almost their age, are not. How old do you start to be considered “middle-aged men”?

ANSWER:

When, from one’s pillow, one begins to smell a scent similar to that of a family man.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 16

QUESTION FROM MR. NONMI, NIIGATA PROVINCE

How far does your ass hair extend, Sorachi sensei? If possible, explain it to me by drawing it!

ANSWER:

I can’t do that, because otherwise they’d ban the sale of the book.

Rather… when did Sorachi sensei ever become a character with hair on his ass? I’ll report you!

By the way, I personally consider “hairs on the ass”, the ones that grow around the anus… The ones that protect it.

In my case I have so much of it that it looks like I have a katsura, i.e. a wig, stuck up my a-… what?! Why am I writing this in a volume? My parents read it too! My grandmother displays my manga on the Buddhist altar! That’s it, I’m sick of myself! This is not at all the right spirit to entertain readers! That’s not the spirit of an animator, you fool!

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 17

QUESTION FROM MR. “IN TRICHIASIS THE CILIA THAT SHOULD NORMALLY PROTECT THE EYEBALLS DAMAGE THEM… AND THAT’S PROOF OF HAVING ROTTEN DNA”, FROM SAITAMA PROVINCE

I have a question. Is Zura’s cosplay also his hobby? I’m so worried about this question, I can’t concentrate on my studies to prepare for the entrance exams.

ANSWER:

It seems that Kogoro Katsura, the patriot who promoted the campaign against foreigners on which Zura’s character is based, was called “Kogoro the Escape Expert” because he dodged pursuers through various techniques, including disguises. Indeed, although many had died in battle or been murdered, among the patriots who played an important role at the time, Katsura survived into old age. Samurai were all vain, so they would die facing the Shinsengumi loyally saying “What can they do?!”, but he would flee with all his might when necessary. Because I fell in love with this behaviour of his, Zura became the character you see! However, in his case, it’s not about disguises but real cosplay! I think he does it having fun too.

CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 18

QUESTION FROM MR. AAAA, TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA

Sorachi sensei, you don’t have any nice nicknames, and I think that’s a bad thing. Please choose one right away between “Sorachintama” and “Hideakintama”!

ANSWER:

This boy writes, “I think this fact is negative,” as if he’s calling me incompetent… I’m surprised! What kind of upbringing did his mother give him?! He’ s lucky, because this question came to me when I was still elated about the anime adaptation of my work. If he had sent it to me when I was just normal, he would have been in big trouble! I would have stuck a Maru-pen in his forehead!

*Tama can mean “testicles”.

So, I presented this volume as a “Special for the anime adaptation”, but it wasn’t any different from the usual ones… Anyway, without realizing it, it almost became a Katsura special, I only wrote things about him, even sticking it up the ass!

By the way, for the “You invent amantos!” corner I proposed in the previous volume, more postcards arrived than I imagined, so I’ll make them public next time. I’m still collecting your inventions, send them along with the questions to the usual address. I also ask you to go and watch the anime of my work in Japan! The screening is free! The reason why it’s free is because the real goal is to sell you gadgets by enticing you with the anime. Try not to be fooled and leave immediately after watching the anime! So… see you next issue!

Previous Next

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!

Previous Next

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