Gintama: Why Gintoki is an Enigma

Written by Hideaki Sorachi, Gintama was first published in 2003, and it went on to become a best-selling manga series. It sold more than 50 million copies, and it soon became apparent that an anime adaptation was to follow. However, most fans often complain that anime fail to represent the true essence of the manga series. Surprisingly, in Gintama’s case, the anime did get it right and was praised for it. The show was soon a worldwide success, and fans were captivated by the science fiction twist of the historical anime. There was no turning back; the show went on for a total of 8 seasons and was rated as one of the best of all time. 

The true mesmerizing aspect of the anime series was the protagonists, who, despite their flaws, were very likable and relatable. However, the hero of the show was unlike others, Gintoki was motivated by only one thing, and that was to pay his bills. So, he had to do odd jobs to ensure that he could pay his bills in time. But he was no ordinary man; Gintoki was a very skilled samurai and a mighty warrior who was admired all over the planet.

 Sadistic

Gintoki was unlike other heroes not only because of his motivations and laziness, but there was one distinctive habit that set him apart from everyone. He was sadistic, which was something out of the ordinary for any hero. Although most fans usually despised heroes that enjoyed inflicting pain on others, Gintoki’s flaws did not come in the way of his popularity. He would often treat his employees in the worst way imaginable and fought to the point that only sadists would. His demonic name was very well deserved, but apart from that, he was kind of entertaining as well, since his dark humor only got better with time. No other anime series would stand a chance in front of Gintama when it comes to dark jokes.

 Strongest Character

Although Gintoki appeared to be weak and uninterested, he had fantastic fighting skills that would often surprise his adversaries who underestimated him. He was a war hero and ex-samurai. Even though most people thought he was lazy, when he was on the battlefield, there was no one better. He would kill high ranking warriors and had nothing left to prove.

 Killed His own Master

Yoshida Shouyou appeared to be a kind human being with a neat appearance. He was liked by everyone and had trained almost all of the main characters of the series. However, when his truth came out, he soon became one of the most hated characters. Since every student had some emotional bond with him, it was hard to come to terms with reality. When the Amanto group captured Gintoki, he had to make a choice, either he would kill his peers or his teacher. He did not have a choice, so he ended up killing his own master, which was arguably the most depressing moment of the show.

 Marriage

Although there were several ladies interested in a romantic relationship with Gintoki, for some reason, he never got married to anyone. Even though on several occasions, it appeared that the protagonist might finally settle down now, but he never got a romantic partner to stay with him. Tsukuyo and Sarutobi Ayame were one of his most notable love interests. However, his relationships always had some heartache. 

Can’t Swim

It was amusing to see a war hero and a world-class samurai fear water. Surprisingly, Gintoki can’t swim despite the fact that he was one of the best fighters in the world. However, there was a good reason behind it. He had eaten a cursed fruit because of which he would sink like a hammer in water. It was, therefore, evident that he avoided any adventures near water.

Hasegawa

Gintoki and Hasegawa were great friends, and they would always come to rescue each other in times of need. However, Gintoki once talked about his sexual encounters after drinking too much. In the Scandal Arc, he surprised everyone when he named Hasegawa as one of his sexual partners, which astonished all the fans. 

Chef

Although Gintoki was indeed lazy and careless, he did have some things that he loved to do. He cared little about food, but he was passionate about cooking and really liked making pastries. He would often wear a pink apron when he decided to cook something; these scenes were cute and funny as they portrayed a different side to Gintoki. He had a lot of peculiar habits, and all of these traits made him even more exciting and likable for the fans. 

Death

In the Gintama movie, 2013, fans finally had to come to terms with the harsh reality. The movie revealed how Gintoki was going to realize that he would die in the future. It happened when he was going after a movie thief who took him to the future. Gintoki saw that he had died and Kagura and Shinpachi were mourning for him. He also met them in disguise to understand what had happened. It appears that the fans who love Gintoki will have to accept the harsh reality that their hero will die at some point in time. 

These were a few things that every Gintama fan must know about Gintoki. He was an interesting character, which was unlike the usual protagonists from other shows. His ability to entertain with his humor while he fought to death was something no other character can match. Gintoki was one of a kind, an enigma.

Source: Gintama: Why Gintoki is an Enigma