"Gintama" is a popular manga and anime not only in Japan but all over the world. It is a sci-fi comedy set in Edo's Kabukicho district, where aliens have invaded. Its unique worldview, packed with a variety of elements including comedy, seriousness, parody, and dirty jokes, makes it a long-selling series that has captured many fans. "Gintama" features many fascinating characters. Among them, the protagonist, Sakata Gintoki, is a perennial favorite, consistently winning number one in popularity polls! In this article, we will introduce 10 charms of Gintama's protagonist, Gin-san, also known as Sakata Gintoki!
Charm of Sakata Gintoki 1. He has curly, sloppy hair, but he's cool!
First of all, Gintoki's charm lies in his coolness. In the anime, he has an image of having "messy, naturally curly hair," "dead fish eyes," "always lazy," and "a useless adult," and is not often rated as "cool," but fans still think he is cool. Of course he looks cool in his everyday life, but when he suddenly takes on a serious expression during a fight, he's irresistibly cool. His name is "Gintoki" and he has silver hair, which is another reason he is so popular. The kimono he always wears is also nice.
Here's a serious expression!
By the way, this is Gintoki with a serious expression. So cool! He's so cool, it's no wonder female fans fall for him. Incidentally, Gintoki once won first place in a Recochoku survey on "Anime Characters You Want to Marry"! Gintama's popularity is no surprise.
The Charm of Sakata Gintoki ② Doesn't he seem like the main character? He definitely has his flaws.
![Sakata Gintoki with the Yorozuya members]()
Sakata Gintoki with the Yorozuya members
Gintama is a little different from the typical "protagonist" found in Jump anime. He spends his days drinking and playing pachinko, and always seems to be wasting his life. He does have a job (?), running a "Yorozuya" shop from his own home, where he solves people's problems. However, he's behind on his rent, and he's also behind on paying Kagura and Shinpachi's salaries... Though he is technically the president of Yorozuya, he has no dignity whatsoever. However, this is also one of Gintoki's charms. He is a "protagonist who isn't too perfect," which is rare in Jump works, and readers can relate to him. There's something appealing about a character that's a little unique.
Pachinko Goddess...
![Email from Sakata Gintoki]()
Email from Sakata Gintoki
The email is cut off in a huge place, and the text is a mess! This email is one of the most famous scenes from "Gintama," and at the time, Gintoki was also out playing pachinko. Usually, Gintoki either wins or loses at pachinko, but this time he seemed to be in good form.
Charm of Sakata Gintoki 3: He has a huge sweet tooth!
![Sakata Gintoki buying strawberry milk]()
Sakata Gintoki buying strawberry milk
When you think of Gintoki, many people probably think of him as someone with a sweet tooth. Gintoki loves sweets so much that he has a picture hanging in his house with the word "sugar" written on it. His doctor has told him he's consuming too much sugar, but he still can't stop. His sweet tooth is so intense that he gets irritated if he doesn't have something sweet on a regular basis! His favorite foods are strawberry milk and strawberry parfaits. This contrast is what makes him so attractive, and it seems that many girls are smitten with him. It's one of his cutest sides.
What is the shocking "Uji Gintoki Bowl"...?
![Sakata Gintoki Eating a Uji Gintoki Bowl]()
Sakata Gintoki Eating a Uji Gintoki Bowl
One of the most famous dishes featured in "Gintama" is a rather shocking one: the "Uji Gintoki Bowl." This is Gintoki's favorite dish. It's on the menu at his favorite diner, a bowl of rice topped with an entire can of bean paste...an incredibly sweet dish. It's a great food combination, isn't it? Shinsengumi's Hijikata Toushirou has even called it "gross" and "cat food." However, Hijikata Toushirou himself has also eaten a bowl of rice topped with an entire bottle of mayonnaise, known as the "Hijikata Special," so you could say it's a case of them both being alike. They're alike, aren't they?
Charm of Sakata Gintoki #4: He's actually got a kind-hearted side!
![Sakata Gintoki as a Joui Shishi]()
Sakata Gintoki as a Joui Shishi
The reason why Gintoki, who is usually lazy, somehow seems cool is because he's "a man who gets things done when it's time!" He's actually a very compassionate person, and when his comrades are in trouble, he'll rush to their aid and join the fight. And, above all, he's strong. He actually once fought on the front lines as a Joui patriot, and his combat abilities are top-notch. Since he never shows any of that behavior in his everyday life, I'm sure many female fans are captivated by this contrast!
Check out his coolness in the Benizakura Arc!
![Famous Scenes from the Benizakura Arc]()
Famous Scenes from the Benizakura Arc
The "Gintama" feature-length series is full of cool scenes. This scene from the Benizakura Arc was particularly exciting. Together with Katsura, he faces off against his former comrade, Takasugi. It's heartbreaking, but each of them stands up for their own will. Katsura, Takasugi, and Sakamoto Ryoma were all comrades who once fought together. Keep an eye out for Gin-san's swordplay!
The Appeal of Sakata Gintoki ⑤ The Anti-Foreigner Patriot Formerly Known as "White Demon"
![Sakata Gintoki as White Demon]()
Sakata Gintoki as White Demon
As mentioned earlier, Gin-san was once a Joi patriot. He was a pirate warrior tribe from outer space who fought against the Tenjin, a warrior tribe. Fighting on the front lines as Joi patriots were the "Four Heavenly Kings of the Joi patriots," including Gin-san, Katsura Kotaro, Takasugi Shinsuke, and Sakamoto Ryoma. Nicknamed the "Silver-Haired Demon, White Demon," Gin-san was feared by the Tenjin and the Shogunate army for his unstoppable strength, brave fighting style, and white appearance. He excelled in surprise attacks and rearguard battles, and sometimes launched surprise attacks alone without forming a unit. Though he was legendary, Gin-san himself doesn't seem to be too happy about being called the "White Demon."
The Shocking "Class Reunion Arc"
![Scenes from the Joi Shishi Class Reunion]()
Scenes from the Joi Shishi Class Reunion
There was also talk of a reunion for the Four Heavenly Kings of the Joui War. Just when you thought things would get serious, the unexpected "Kuroko's Basketball" parody elicited laughs. Even Takasugi reverted to a bit of a comedy routine, shocking fans. There's also Sakamoto, who doesn't appear much in the main story.
The Charm of Sakata Gintoki 6: He's Active in Parody Material!
![A parody that really got the production team in a bad mood.]()
A parody that really got the production team in a bad mood.
Speaking of Gintama, it's also famous for its borderline parodies. Of course, Gintoki is also very proactive when it comes to parody material. His rampage is so intense it's nerve-wracking to watch! There are so many parody material that it would be impossible to count them all. Apparently, the production guides are sometimes scolded for his rampages, but the fact that he always pushes the boundaries is also part of Gintama's charm.
Press Conference Parody
![Sakata Gintoki imitating Congressman Nonomura's gestures]()
Sakata Gintoki imitating Congressman Nonomura's gestures
When the new anime series first aired, the opening scene was this parody of a press conference. It perfectly replicates the much-talked-about tearful press conference by Representative Nonomura. Even the gestures are so similar!
"The Wind Rises" Parody
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"The Wind Rises" Poster Style
From "Gintama: The Final Movie: Be Forever Yorozuya." You might think, "What a thing to do!", but apparently they got permission from Ghibli to do this...it's shocking. The original author, Sorachi Hideaki, is apparently a big fan of Ghibli, so Gitama often features Ghibli references. Gintama always treads the line between parody and vulgar humor. If you look closely at this poster, you'll notice that even the director's name and other things are a bit strange.
Charms of Sakata Gintoki 7. "Ginpachi Sensei" is cool too!
![Ginpachi-sensei in glasses and a lab coat]()
Ginpachi-sensei in glasses and a lab coat
This is also a parody of "Kinpachi Sensei, Class 3B," but there's also "Ginpachi Sensei, Class 3Z." This is a "Gintama" spin-off. Ginpachi Sensei, not Gin-san, is the homeroom teacher for Class 3Z, where characters from Gintama attend as students. While the original work is a novel, Ginpachi Sensei frequently appears in the anime's letter section. Just like in the main story, Ginpachi Sensei, who brings together a group of unique characters (and often plays the fool himself), is also very charming. He usually wears glasses and a lab coat, and many fans are thrilled by his unusual appearance. Incidentally, his subject is apparently Japanese. Even though it's Japanese, he wears a lab coat.
The Charm of Sakata Gintoki 8: His Famous Quotes Are So Wonderful!
Speaking of "Gintama," did you know that there are so many famous quotes? There are plenty of gags and serious moments, as well as many touching scenes, and the lines spoken by the characters in "Gintama" all resonate powerfully. Of course, Gintoki's lines are also super cool! Even though he's usually lazy, it makes your heart flutter when he says something cool. Sometimes his lines are a little cheesy, but Gintoki's style is to say them casually and coolly. Here are some of Gintoki's famous quotes!
"If we have time to decorate our ending beautifully, why not live beautifully until the very end?"
This is such a cool quote. During his time as Shiroyasha, Gintoki found himself surrounded by enemies and in a very dangerous situation. "Finalizing like a samurai," he said this to Katsura, who suggested suicide. ...It's so cool! It's wonderful to hear such a line come out in such a dire situation. It gives us a glimpse into how Gintoki felt as he fought during his time as Shiroyasha.
"But my sword, wherever it reaches, is my country."
This is a line spoken to the space pirate Harusame. Gintoki is threatened, "The Harusame pirates scattered throughout the universe will come to kill you." Here's the line he uttered to his enemy at that time. This line has also long been beloved. It shows how he protects what is important to him. It's cool!
"I'm just going to live with my back straight until my body is destroyed!!"
This quote is quite sobering. It appears in the story "Pets should be looked after responsibly by their owners until the very end," in which Prince Hata's pet, Pes, escapes.
"The foolish soul that lived an honest life will not disappear even if the body is destroyed."
This is a famous line uttered by Gintoki during his battle with Onishi. "Gintama" is full of inspirational, uplifting quotes that inspire us to live life to the fullest.
Sakata Gintoki's Charm 9: Voice actor Tomokazu Sugita!
Gintama's voice actor is the well-known and incredibly popular Tomokazu Sugita. The anime "Gintama" premiered in April 2006, so it's been a long time. He's also renowned for his ad-lib skills. His hobby is gaming, and he's apparently a hardcore gamer! He also has his own radio show. He even appeared on the Gintama radio show.
What other works has he appeared in?
Tomokazu Sugita is best known for his role as Kyon in "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya," which aired around the same time as "Gintama." He also played Joseph Joestar in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" and Kazuhira Miller in "METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER."
The Charm of Sakata Gintoki 10: Shun Oguri stars in the live-action version!
The live-action film aired in the summer of 2017 and received a huge response. It was a wonderful movie that didn't destroy the image of the original work. The role of Gintama in the film was played by actor Shun Oguri. He was incredibly cool and truly Gintama! The film followed the story of the hugely popular feature-length "Benizakura Arc." The cast, including Masaki Suda as Shinpachi and Kanna Hashimoto as Kagura, was truly impressive! Every character was perfectly portrayed, and it was a wonderful movie filled with laughs and emotions. There's apparently a second installment, so I'm already looking forward to it!
It was even joked about in the original work!?
When the cast for the live-action adaptation was announced, the original manga immediately started making jokes about it. Incidentally, the "grabbing" part refers to the commercial for "Granblue Fantasy" starring Masaki Suda. Incidentally, Kagura says things like, "They're worried because a once-in-a-millennium beauty has come," and "I'll have to rip off the angel's wings and drag her down to me." This episode has generated quite a bit of buzz.
Summary of Sakata Gintoki's Charms!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
That sums up the appeal of Sakata Gintoki! As the protagonist of the long-loved series "Gintama," his charm is almost impossible to describe. He's usually lazy and has many flaws, but he's cool when the time comes. I think it's this contrast that's earned him such a fanbase. Both the anime and the original manga are getting very exciting. With a second live-action film also confirmed, we can't wait to see how "Gintama" develops in the future!
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