#takasugi included

[wiskiemonk]

local shogun discovers the power of friendship

[suchine-toki]

(One more) Top 10 Gintaka moments

Arranged chronologically because it was too difficult to choose. Spoilers ahead.

1. First victory

After going day after day to the Shouka Sonjuku for an undetermined amount of time, Takasugi achieves his first victory against Gintoki. Understanding that he was weak, he defined him and Shouyou as his goal to reach. Thus, chasing Gintoki's back became an objective that he maintained throughout his life. But at this moment, Gintoki was really upset because Takasugi popped his cherry… his defeat cherry, that is (ch. 517).

2. The courtesan incident

After a fight between Gintoki and Takasugi, Sakamoto appears to say that the better friends they are, the more they fight. He also reveals that the reason for their latest conflict was that they both chose the same girl when they went to the red-light district, and she preferred Takasugi. This provoked an attack from Gintoki, but then Tatsuma added that the girl said he only drank and turned out to be very boring, which also provoked an attack from Takasugi, who was in the vicinity despite their previous fight (ch. 453).

3. We like petty wars

Back in the Joui War, when Sakamoto is injured, Takasugi is the first to speak to him, albeit harshly. Nevertheless, Takasugi seems relieved that Sakamoto survived and won’t keep risking his life. However, Gintoki intervenes, challenging the notion of quitting and affirming that Sakamoto can continue fighting, but in his own way. In an instant, both Gintoki and Takasugi agree to hunt down Sakamoto's attacker, declaring that they enjoy petty wars, i.e. not for grand ideals but to protect their loved ones. Naturally, this agreement turns into another competition to see who finds the guy first (ch. 568).

4. Give my regards

In spite of being estranged, they both say the phrase "give my regards to sensei for me" as a tribute to their master and a reminder of the legacy he left in their lives to those responsible for his death, showing them that Shouyou still lives. This also demonstrates how they are still united by the same emotional root while reflecting the duality of the paths they chose (chs. 397/398).

5. Pride

Being in Rakuyo and facing an imminent threat, Bansai believes that Gintoki is going to fight for the pride of the samurai, to which he responds that he is not interested in that, but his source of pride lies in both winning and losing against Takasugi many times, and that is the pride he is not willing to lose. In this way, Gintoki acknowledges that he still holds onto the respect and camaraderie they once shared (ch. 569).

6. Friggin' awful

When the Joui 4 were fighting, Gintoki is isolated from the rest and is ambushed by a huge machine that threatens him with a cannon. Before he can react, Takasugi comes to his aid, sabotaging the weapon in front of Gintoki's perplexed gaze. Then, both attack the mecha together as they tease each other, Takasugi asking how it feels to be saved by him who has just woken up from a coma, while Gintoki flips the question around, asking how it feels to have to be protected by him in the first place. To this, both respond that it's the worst, as an explosion occurs behind them. But they play it cool, because cool guys don't look at explosions (chs. 574-575).

7. Shouldn't interfere

Matako and Takechi have been tracking Takasugi and, after two years, finally found him. However, Matako hesitates about whether they should continue following him after seeing him fighting alongside Gintoki, feeling unsure of what to do, also recognizing that it was the first time she saw him acting silly and carefree. Similarly, the ship's captain comments that they both looked like ordinary no-good brats, which not only shows the camaraderie between them but also that they are happy being together (ch. 683).

8. Holding hands

While infiltrating the Terminal, Gintoki and Takasugi held hands twice. The first time was when the stairs they were climbing with Zura were destroyed, so Gintoki extended his hand, and Takasugi managed to grab it. The second time was when they were attacked while climbing the steel cables of an elevator. Here, Gintoki grabs Takasugi's hand to prevent him from falling and throws him towards a door. There was almost a third occasion where Takasugi was going to help Gintoki, but to no one's surprise, he was stabbed before he could do so (ch. 699).

9. Use me

Takasugi urges Gintoki to use his body as a shield, to which Gintoki seemingly agrees. They fight together, protecting each other and deceiving their enemies with strategies they can devise in an instant without speaking, demonstrating how well they know each other. Takasugi uses himself as bait to help Gintoki attack the terminal, but when he decides to sacrifice himself, Gintoki comes running to push him out of danger, a decision for which the enemy mocks him, saying he wasted his chance just because he couldn't bear to lose Takasugi (ch. 700).

10. Mutual support

Takasugi smiles while watching Gintoki reunite with the Yorozuya, something he urged him to do on multiple occasions since they reunited because if there is one thing he wants, it is for Gintoki to be happy. With the little strength he has left, he takes Gintoki's bokuto again and uses it to support himself, symbolizing how Gintoki helps him move forward. Similarly, in his final fight against Utsuro, Gintoki declares that Takasugi is in his soul while seeing his spirit protecting him. Thus, Gintoki holds his sword and defeats the enemy with Takasugi's aid. This is the second time they exchange swords in the series but, unlike the first, here it is more explicit that the other's soul is what helps them do what they have to do (chs. 701/703).

Part (1) (2) (3) (4) (Bonus)

[lotus-tower]

takagin mutual enabling forever is so good

[joelletwo]

v like these chunks must be taken as separate from each other i cant take this as one whole page bc if i do this is straightforwardly rejection and declaration of breakup and thats not at all whats happening lol. what the hell is going on in the bantaka household. good for them. bansai the one person who can say to his face hey i met your ex and i think i want to hear him out and that not be kjsdfg torpedoing the partnership

[dgrailwar]

Round 13, Day 3 - At The Grail

The tension in the air was palpable. The next few motions were unspoken, but inevitable with a clear impasse. The Gunner gripped his shamisen, grinning. The Ruler's grip on her banner tightened. The Avenger summoned his burning blade. The MoonCancer readied her great axe. The Alter-Ego raised one of her bladed legs.

An agreement wouldn't be reached.

So, they were going to settle things the old fashioned way.

"Wait--"

With a stretch, the Alter-Ego smirked, eyeing the other Servants.

"Oh, whatever. We can sit here and talk about logistics for hours, I know two Servants who aren't gonna budge. So... You know, let's get rid of those two, and then we can work out where to go next, okay?"

"Then we're fighting to kill. It was nice chatting with you all, but I think we're beyond friendly conversation. The Master's want to make things work, you don't. You're outnumbered, so either fall in line, or face the consequences."

The Gunner reached into his pockets, grasping a few colored vials within his fingertips, each one trembling with suppressed power.

"The Age of Gods is over, and that includes the reign of monsters. As Heroic Spirits, our job is to push humanity forward, not drag it back into darkness. If you can't accept that much, then I have nothing more to say to you. May God have mercy on your souls."

The Ruler said, slowly spinning her banner as she began to pace, preparing herself for whatever was to come next.

With a laugh, the Avenger stared down the Ruler, keeping his movements counter to hers.

"This is how we push humanity forward, Ruler. Your flaw is that you're too stuck in your ways. This is the purpose of our summoning! If you wish to go against it, then you'd best stay on guard!"

"Good grief, you're all nuts. Ruler's the only one talking sense! This is more than just taking a risk, this is trying to drop a nuke on society! I hate to pull divine rank here, but as an avatar of Namasthetu, I can't just let this slide. C'mon, Mushika!"

' … '

"Let them fight, Echidna. This is the nature of Servants. Regardless of the specifics, the instinct is the same-- they're still battling over the right for the Grail."

And with that, five forms surged forward--

And a grand battle began.

A simple vote! No bonuses, no boosts, just the pure mana of the Masters!

[kyuuxmizu]

The last part of the exhibit's audio guide is at the 3Z area and literally a GINTAKA fanservice

Takasugi takes supplementary lessons from Ginpachi

To sum it up, it was like Ginpachi dealing with an angry cat (Takasugi), one who is in a bad mood all the time XD

Idk how to explain, but 3z!Takasugi-kun spoke in a different tone than Takasugi in the main series.. Is that how yankee (delinquents) speak?? XD He sounded more like a brat :)))) Is that the kind of Takasugi we will be seeing in the 3Z anime??? XD It's so cute and refreshing tbh!!! XD

And Ginpachi??? It's totally different from how Gintoki speaks...You know how he spoke in the Ginpachi PV??? He used that same tone. I think it's more calm and mature haha XD it definitely fits this image:

I tried to transcribe and summarise some of the convos!!

🍓: 日直の高杉 (Takasugi on duty)

🦋: なんで俺が補習なんか受けなきゃならねんだ (Why should I take supplementary lessons??)

🍓: ほんとは展覧会の途中でお前も出すつもりだったのでも扱いがめんどくさいだろ？ (Actually, we were supposed to include you from the middle of the exhibit, but it's troublesome right?)

🍓: だから特別補習の時間で出してやる..感謝んしろ (That's why we set up a special supplementary lesson time, so be grateful)

And then I think 🦋 proceeded to say, why should he be grateful

🍓: ２０周年をおめでとみたいな簡単をいいから (Just say something simple like: "Congratulations on the 20th anniversary")

🦋: くっだらね (Nonsense!)

-> TL note: Notice the emphasis at ku"dd"arane!! I don't think Takasugi in the main series speaks in this way?!

🦋: めでたいのはお前らの頭のほうだろ (The celebration is just in your heads)

🦋: 20はただの数字だ (20 is just a number)

-> TL note: everything is numbers to him, my littol abacus boi... remember 246 wins & 247 losses

And then some convo about 感けて and not 暇（Takasugi preoccupied and has no free time ??)

🦋: 俺ぁただ　壊し続けるだけだ　こらからを　この腐った���界を

(I will continue destroying this rotten world)

🍓: 相変わらず拗らせて (You're difficult to deal with as usual)

🍓: 要約すると「これからも自分らしく頑張るぞ」(from now on, just try to be yourself)

🍓: 気持ちは分��る * * i couldn't understand the next part * * (I know how you feel * * * )

🍓: 特にヤンキーは面相を大事にするし (Yanki have to keep up their appearances)

-> TL note: Eh??? Gin-chan is so mature?? Eh?? I think in this part he also said that he was like that in the past. I haven't finished reading the novels but was he also a yanki in the past ?

🦋: だから！Tsk! 馬鹿馬鹿し (Like I said! Tsk! So stupid!)

-> TL note: When he clicked his tongue bc he knew he couldn't win the argument with Ginpachi, like idk it was so cute?!?!

🍓: 素直でよろしい (Being honest is good)

🦋: うっせー　先公面すんじゃね (Shut up! Don't act like you're the boss!)

-> TL note: Or maybe it's "Don't act like you're better than me ??? " Hmmn "senko" here is derogatory for teacher? HEH.

🍓: 最後になんか一言を (Takasugi, any final words?)

🦋: ウルセェよー (Shut up!!)

🍓: そんじゃーね〜 (Good-bye~)

Everything was so funny and cute I was grinning the whole time listening to it hahaha

Istg someone in the gntm prod team is a GinTaka fan 🤣

[j-ent-translations]

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[reductionisms]

gintama mathematics compendium

recent developments in the world of gtama mathematics have convinced me to put together a rough handbook, if you will, of its various disciplines and applications.

the culmination of my gtama-math thinking is a (subjective) understanding that any gtama math is necessarily derivative. gtama mathematicians take gintama's initial unintelligible representation and extract meanings from it into relations we can better understand; in other words, we are looking at the representation of something undescribable and attempting to describe it further. if you like Euclid, this is going from R^n to R^n-1.

the scope of this list is narrow simply because my memory sucks and my knowledge of gtama-math bloggers is small. please send me addendums and updates so i can incorporate them.

My qualifications for this project are that I'm bad at math.

Philosophical Basis

on gintama as a mathematical system (yamameta, 2024)

Set Theory (groups and their relations)

gintoki equivalence class (ibid, 2023)

yorozuya&shinsengumi equivalence class (kraniumet, 2022)

joui 3 set theory (ibid, 2022)

ft. ygh set theory (ibid, 2022)

shoukason equivalence classes (joelletwo, 2023)

Analysis (limits, continuity, sequences, etc)

limit theory (kraniumet, 2023)

zura is schrodinger's wall (ibid, 2022) *geometric analysis

Algebra (concepts and their operations)

shouyou transitive property (yamameta, 2023)

shogun assassination equivalence poem (kraniumet, 2022)

takasugi&gin (me, 2024)

eye equivalence (kraniumet, 2024)

fs castle (ibid, with tags from transjjester, 2023)

cliff (agroupofcrows, 2022)

poles (ibid, 2023)

Euclidean Geometry (parallel lines exist)

types of symmetry (yamameta, 2024)

angle relations (ibid, 2023)

foils/parallels (ibid, 2022)

utsuro samsara geometry (agroupofcrows, 2023)

spiderweb cycles (ibid, 2022)

illustration of the final (ibid, 2023)

cinematic angles (kraniumet, 2022)

shoukason geometry (suchira with regnigt, 2024)

comedy orientations (regnigt, 2023)

Topology (beyond the parallel)

ouroboros framework (yamameta, 2023) *including sequel (application), original poem and its annotation

spheres (ibid, 2023)

spiderweb cycles #2 (agroupofcrows, 2023) *c.f. path connectedness in toplogy

joui 3 homeomorphism (kraniumet, 2022)

joui 4 topology one (ibid, 2024), two (ibid, with my tags, 2024)

Logic (applications)

time math (ibid, 2023)

takasugi math (ibid, 2022)

final triangle math (joelletwo, 2024)

shogun assassination equivalence (triangles) (joelletwo as joelleity, with kraniumet tags, 2023) *tags belong to analysis

shogun assassination equivalence (relational) (agroupofcrows, my tags, 2023)

shouyoutsuro reproductive strategies (joelletwo, 2023)

sakagin existence theory proof (yamameta, 2024)

sacchan/mutsu existence theory proof (ibid, 2024)

Conclusions:

I think gtma math works best when it refuses to describe with generative structures. that is, rather than generating an unrelated, outside structure and forcing gintama into it, we look at gintama and derive structures from it in cooperation with other knowledge. obviously the entire concept of gtama math already seems generative (who in gintama is actually doing math, anyways?), but i think this actually comes down to axioms and proofs, basis and spaces. gintama is already some unknown space; we first acquaint ourselves with the space, consider its pre-existent properties, and then we incorporate outside knowledge-as-description to reduce it into something knowable. this takes a lot of creativity, and is quite literally the procedure of math.

every single person who engages with any text ever is actually doing this in their own heads. we can never know anything, and yet, when we are related to by something from outside ourselves, we are called to incorporate its shadow into who we are. mistakes come when we generate ideas of what outside things should be and force whatever approaches us to fit those ideals (e.g., never-ending complaints about fanon). in a certain sense, though, it's impossible not to do this, which is why the modern mathematical system exists. logic is about appropriate direction; rather than idea in my head->put thing outside me into my idea->this is what the Thing is, math wants to go in the reverse: I can't know the thing outside me->it enters into me nonetheless->from studying it and relating it to other things, i generate ideas. hence axioms, which put the Thing inside your mind while also telling you, what we're talking about, you can never know, it is and isn't real, but you still have to deal with it.

everyone derives, or, in its proper sense, generates, their own frameworks about everything they come into contact with, whether or not they're aware of it. and yet, it takes a shit ton of thought and creativity to shape the framework taking form in your head into something actually expressible in words. the gtama mathematicians cited here are therefore brave warriors of mathematics, literary analysis, philosophy, and general living. pythagoreas has nothing on any of you.

[symbieote]

Gintoki is my boyfriend (in the world's most aro4aro way possible) and Takasugi is my girlfriend (in the world's most chump who gets pulled by femme fatale to a bad end way possible) but Katsura Kotaro is my little chew toy and I just HRRGBFGGGFHFHHHHHGHHGGGG ARF ARF ARF ARF ARF ARF. He can access being Shoyo-coded in ways that Gintoki and Takasugi don't even understand. Gintoki and Takasugi can elicit an overwhelming emotional response but they're all human emotions capable of being explained and understood whereas Zura and Sakamoto elicit shrimp emotions.

Do you ever think about how Zura didn't get to see Shoyo face to face one last time. Because he's staying behind and making sure people got out alive. There's not even a scale that he has to balance between Shoyo and everything else. Do you think about how Takasugi included Zura in his belief that Shoyo should have survived while he should have died. Do you think about the fact that Katsura Kotaro does not have a monster in his chest in the shape of Shoyo that howls incessantly because inside of him is a seventh dimensional prism that the human mind can't understand and also a two dimensional flowchart in which the results can only be somewhere on a scale of dignified embodiment of Bushido to clownery. Do you think about how his most common gag about his name also is constantly reinforcing the one seam line that runs split down his middle. Of course he doesn't howl about Shoyo, his own monster is calm because it is undone by Gintoki who is of course alive and well and stupid as ever.

Of course in this polycule Sakamoto is my pet puppy who has ruined my collection of Miki Shinichiro content but I forgive him and also I'm his dog and he's going to abandon me on the side of a highway or possibly save my life or maybe he's actually my pet rock and no matter how much i chew on him his insides are unfathomable to me despite being purely and upsettingly consistent all the way through. He's a crystal made up a single molecule of some substance I and science can't understand. He's so eminently knowable and eminently unfathomable.

[otori0]

Second chances: A Kijima Matako + Kiheitai Analysis

This will be messy and include spoilers.

Kijima Matako, just like all Gintama characters, isn’t reduced to a single aspect to her character. What makes Gintama women special to me is that they aren’t just shonen women that are used when convenient or left to the side: they all break some kind of stereotype and have life of their own. They all have a soul. (If interested in this topic, there’s this analysis on Gintama women that really stood out to me)

When it comes to Matako, I don’t think this is different, even though her screen time is limited as she’s a side character. Despite her being introduced as a girl who loves Takasugi and shows extreme loyalty to her, this isn’t all there is to her. Not only is she a great fighter and indispensable to the Kiheitai, but her backstory in Silver Soul also shows us more sides of her. In particular, I’ll be discussing episodes 354 and Matako’s last scene in Gintama The Final, as they are the scenes that made me want to write this. Please don’t proceed if you haven’t finished the series. You’ve been warned!

We learn in episode 354 that Matako’s parents both died because of war, trying to protect the country. Because of this, she seeks revenge and asks Takasugi to join him in his goal of destroying the country.

At this moment, Matako is using her parents’ deaths to give herself a purpose. It seems like she’s lost, even though there is certainly disdain and hate for the country inside her, it’s definitely not a decision a person her age would be making in normal circumstances. In the words of Francis Bacon, “A man that studieth revenge, keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal, and do well.” (This also equates to Takasugi saying that the hardest part comes after war, when you’re reduced to just a man and forced to live that way, and Takasugi knows this better than anyone. Seeking revenge and keeping the wounds fresh is a way to run away from this. It also gives a mindless purpose so they don’t have to actually think about what comes after)

Just like Takasugi, losing something gave her a meaning and a goal. This should make them similar, but Takasugi knows it’s not the case, because his revenge isn’t simple revenge— it’s revenge against himself. Matako might not find what she's seeking if she goes with him, and she might just be throwing her life away. Going with Takasugi is the same thing as killing herself, her soul and her goals.

There’s a poetic sadness in the fact that Takasugi eventually died not in the way he’d thought he’d go. He was unable to kill Gintoki, which was the ultimate form of self-harm for him, and he lived an immortal but weakened life for a moment before he died against Gintoki himself. One could say that Takasugi did kill himself as well since he assisted Gintoki in killing Utsuro, but it’s still a death that’s very different from what one would imagine, especially in relation to this scene and Takasugi’s goals.

In the end, however, Gintoki fulfilled his promise and protected Takasugi's soul this way. This is the antagonic nature of Gintoki and Takasugi's characters and how Takasugi's goal was always doomed to fail.

Going back to Matako, because Takasugi gave Matako a second chance, this actually gives her even more motivation to follow his steps. He provided her a motivation aside from revenge.

A lot of Matako's loyalty to the Kiheitai comes from her devotion to Takasugi, but there's also the knowledge she has that the Kiheitai is more noble than it might seem. It saves nobodies, it has the power to protect— she has known Takasugi's kindness from the moment she met him, because he saved her even though they were nearly strangers.

However, ultimately Matako loses Takasugi as well. I've seen some people feel sympathy for her as she has 'lost everything' (at first her parents, then bansai & takasugi), but is this truly the case? I believe The Final proves otherwise.

The end of the movie, through Takasugi, makes the Kiheitai appear more human and follows the parent-child pattern that Gintama has used again and again to show vulnerability and human soul.

There's a lot of debate on what the baby Takasugi actually is, but from my point of view, if it's purposefully left ambiguous it should be ambiguous. That's part of the point of it. It could be reincarnation, it could be a different person, it could be Takasugi's second chance— we will never know, and that's okay.

Still, the topic of second chances is presented thorough the series and this movie is no exception. It's not a coincidence that Matako is the one to do this for Takasugi, to find him.

In this scene, there's a Sakamoto monologue in which he says that ''it's not a miracle for a teacher to save his students, it's just what they do''. I'm not confident in comparing what Takasugi did for Matako to what Shoyo did for his students because obviously it's not the same, but there is a meaning in this shot being shown during this monologue, because the cicle of second chances Matako and Takasugi (especially in regards of baby!Takasugi, since it's the most fantasy-esque aspect of this) is not 'a miracle', but something that had to happen.

Going back to the topic of revenge, Francis Bacon, who has already been mentioned here, made an experiment that actually proved that the people who had the chance of acting on their revenge had a harder time moving on from things and suffered more, because it prolongs that experience (more on this here). In this way, Gintoki who moved on the best he could from the past is a happier person than Takasugi. In the same way, I believe that Takasugi giving the Kiheitai a new goal to fight for in Soul Silver arc did this for Matako (although she wasn’t as deep into revenge as other characters, and it had already become something secondary for her). Especially when taking into consideration that Takasugi knew he’d die, or at the very least that his goals weren't leading him to anywhere good, it’s not unthinkable to believe that he was trying to give the Kiheitai something else for when he was gone. In a sense, Takasugi gave them what he learned from Gintoki but was too far gone to apply to himself. (Just like he gave the Kiheitai a place to belong) It's very much like Takasugi to take in all the pain to himself but never impose his own mentality into others.

After Takasugi died, it wouldn't be strange for the rest of the Kiheitai to grow apart from each other, to abandon that role and go on living normal lives, pursuing new goals. However, because of this new goal Takasugi has given them through the act of dying, Henpeita and Matako can redeem themselves, 'atone for their sins' as Henpeita words it. In a sense, had Takasugi survived, this might have been impossible.

Because Takasugi gave Matako a second chance and new reasons to fight, Matako could develop and grow into a person who in return gave Takasugi a second chance, enveloping him (physically) and I assume taking care of that baby in the future. Matako’s kindness is reflective of Takasugi’s own. In this way, although she believes herself to have been unable to save Takasugi during his life and bring back his smile, Matako also took an important part in preserving his soul.

At the end of Takasugi's road he found Gintoki, who had given him a part of his soul, and at the end of Matako's road she found Takasugi, who had given her a part of his (shown in their last scenes respectively). This becomes Matako's soul, turning her into a compassionate person who cares about Takasugi from the bottom of her heart, which gives her a chance to take action and abandon the revenge she initially sought.

Feel free to add anything to this, I have finished Gintama pretty recently so I'm sure there's people who have a better grasp and wording than myself. I might also edit this someday.

I hope this was an interesting read!

EDIT: In a sense, Bansai being the one to die first (not counting Nizou since he didn't have the same attachment to Takasugi and the others as the rest of the Kiheitai), in a sense, is a way to show that he has already found a purpose back then, while the other two still need a new purpose, which Takasugi gives them in SS. Bansai already knew Takasugi's soul and decided to die for him. The rest, however, had to live on to atone and carry that soul.

[purintama]

Christmas came early cause GUESS WHO GOT THE BOOK!?

Lots of information in the read more.

There's about 300 pages of yume/self insert scenarios. It's all in 1st POV, which surprised me! I was expecting the artists to create a NPC self-insert character, but I honestly prefer what they did! The cover is a sleeve, so you can easily remove it. Though if you flip it over, you get this:

Definitely caught me off guard but it's a neat surprise.

As for the stories, each one-shot is like 5 or 6 pages long. They included a lot of characters (even Itou/Bansai/Otae get a chapter!). The more popular characters like Gintoki or Hijikata have at least three scenarios.

I'm debating whether to make a sideblog for these scans (especially since I might get more yume books in the future + people can request which characters they want) or to simply drop em in dropbox, mega or catbox. Let me know what you prefer. For now I'm probably gonna drop some of the scanned scenarios via a dropbox link.

Heads up I decided to use a scanner app on my phone to get the scans. Mostly because I realized that unless I wanted to wreck my book, my regular scanner wouldnt work lol. The scanner app does its job, but it kinda messed up the coloring/shading (ex: it makes it appear that sougo has darker hair instead of his biblically accurate sandy brown). Also they're all in Japanese and I barely know how to read hiragana/katakana, so you won't be getting translations from me 😭I could use DeepL or Google translate but theres a chance it'll be inaccurate. But if anyone here knows Japanese and wants to translate this book, be my guest!!

Anyways! Here's the first scenarios for Gintoki/Sougo/Kamui/Takasugi! I'm gonna tag @okiria @doki-doki-imagines @plucky-belmondo because their blorbos are involved (also if you would prefer not to tag you in the future pls let me know in dms!):

Gintoki

Sougo

Kamui

Takasugi

[suchine-toki]

Okay, was anybody going to tell me that the official music video of the 6th opening of Yorinuki Gintama-san has strong gintaka vibes or was I just supposed to find it out myself?

First I would like to show the lyrics of two specific scenes in the actual opening:

A silver-haired guy is looking for a place to return home

following the memories of a time that can't come back

We didn't get to see each other, but we're not apart.

With this we realize that this part of the song is from Gintoki's point of view, who's feeling homesick. The first scene shows him remembering Shouyou, Katsura and Takasugi in his childhood, and then Sakamoto, Katsura and Takasugi again during the war.

Someday when we've gotten to meet,

I'll surely shout aloud "I'm home!"

So that you won't be laughed at

by those who are even now watching from somewhere.

In the second scene, Takasugi is seen putting on bandages under a cherry tree, when Bansai, Matako and Takechi arrive to look for him. The lyrics could be interpreted as Gintoki being the one who greets Takasugi so that he doesn't have to do it in front of those looking at him or the other way around.

Now let's see what the official music video (今日もサクラ舞う暁に) by CHiCO with HoneyWorks) shows:

At daybreak when the cherry blossoms were dancing,

we were having dreams.

Wow Wow Paint them in the sky and run.

Go my way

A silver-haired guy is looking for a place to return home

following the memories of a time that can't come back.

We didn't get to see each other, but we're not apart.

The memories of us laughing and crying are even now, even now

living right here.

As you can see, the story of the protagonists of the video has several similarities with that of Gintoki and Takasugi. At the beginning, a silver-haired boy is shown remembering his childhood and noticing the absence of a purple-haired boy who is no longer by his side. But when they were together, he was his friend and rival.

At daybreak again today when the cherry blossoms were dancing (Wow oh oh)

we found our dream.

Wow (Wow) Wow (Wow)

On your mark, run! (Go my way)

So that you won't be laughed at

by those who are even now watching from somewhere,

Wow (Wow) Wow (Wow)

paint your dreams and run.

Go my way

The video includes speech bubbles in some scenes (which I didn't consider for aesthetic purposes), but it's very curious that at one point the purple-haired boy mentions that he has won 56 consecutive times, in the same way Takasugi kept track of his victories and defeats against Gintoki.

My burning wounds still make me run,

holding onto the memories of that time I want to go back to (Wow)

I superpose myself with how I used to be and laugh.

As I was that day when I hid my weakness, even now, even now

I'm right here.

The purple-haired boy is later shown with who appears to be his father. Here both the tone of the song and the visual effects change to demonstrate greater seriousness in the scene. The lyrics seem to indicate a change in perspective towards him, who also longs to return to those days. It's striking because it expresses similar feelings to Takasugi, in addition to showing a complicated relationship between father and son.

At daybreak again today

when the cherry blossoms were dancing (Wow oh oh)

we grasped hold of our dreams.

Wow (Wow) Wow (Wow)

On your mark, run! (Go my way)

The event that broke the video kids' friendship was basically the purple-haired boy beating up his friends at the dojo without any explanation (strangely similar to a little samurai doing dojoyaburi), which caused the silver-haired boy to confront him.

If we can restart,

and find a place with them,

Wow (Wow) Wow (Wow)

draw your ideals, and run.

Go my way

I'll say goodbye over and over many times.

I found the only one truth.

Though getting more and more wounded, the past stays the past.

I reach my hand out to the glaring answer.

We didn't get to see each other, but we'll always be connected.

The memories of us laughing and crying are even now, even now

living right here.

The silver-haired boy questions if their dreams couldn't coexist. It isn't until many years later that he understands the actions of his friend, and he decides to go look for him. The purple-haired boy is under a cherry tree, reminiscing about the past. There were 4 friends, and in addition to the protagonists of the video there was a boy with long hair and another who is the tallest in the group, which reminds me of Joui 4.

At daybreak again today when the cherry blossoms were dancing (Wow oh oh)

we found our dream.

Wow (Wow) Wow (Wow)

On your mark, run! (Go my way)

Someday when we've gotten to meet,

I'll surely shout aloud "I'm home!"

So that you won't be laughed at

by those who are even now watching from somewhere

It's after all this that they meet again. The silver-haired boy throws a bokuto at the purple-haired boy and they clash their swords at the beginning of a friendly combat that symbolizes the reconsolidation of their friendship.

Wow (Wow) Wow (Wow)

paint your dreams and run.

Go my way

I think it's important to highlight the use of cherry trees during the song and, well, in the title itself (At This Dawn When Cherry Blossoms Are Dancing Again). Gintoki once said that the darkest time of the night is just before dawn, and he and Takasugi have been depicted together using cherry trees in the manga, anime, and the final movie. So this could be another poetic way of showing how they would be at their worst before meeting again, a reunion that has a happy connotation for both of them.

[babygray]

Menu items for the Class 3-Z collab at the Capcom cafe, 2025.

The menu includes the Disciplinary Committee’s boxed lunch, Takasugi’s hotdog, Sadaharu’s milk pudding with Kagura’s fruit punch, and the Shimura siblings’ dark matter rice bowl.

In a surprising (?) twist, Ginpachi’s drink is melon soda…

[joelletwo]

#something something takasugi daddy issues + gintoki unable to resist being a burden carrier#+ the shouyou who reflects both of them and is the adult body in this situation but is actually a lost child like takasugi

IS takasugi supposed to read so. gestures. brain foggy and also this isnt the thing i want to spend time on typing so how to say quickly. parent issues-sublimated-onto-teacher issues. like that cant just be my own baggage im bringing in but also it feels like a wild basis for ur sympathetic antag-turned-series meow meow is for him to be more obsessed w ur dead teacher than u were but u were yalls dead teacher's favorite and he was just another [precious but not specially] student.

like what do we know about his relationship to shouyoutsuro. bc they relate on being lost in life but his initial draw to shoukason is more about gintoki to my memory. gintokis the one who chose takazura on purpose and shouyou was just like they seem like good kids good for u :) has been my reading lol. so any feelings he'd have about shouyou would be filtered/interpreted thru gintoki first. or vice versa. not engaging w shouyou one-on-one yet. and then im really extremely unclear on the timeline of the fire->the war->the execution so who knows but none of that is specifically about takasugi and shouyou. does it really just all boil down to hating the world that made gintoki cry again.

[sankatsuka]

Otose, Jirochou and Tatsugorou: Microcosms in Gintama

Back to being delusional and crazy about Takagin... I've always noticed some similarities between Jirochou and Takasugi, but because the narrative kept comparing Tatsugorou and Jirochou to Gintoki (+ the white hair), it was hard to decide what to make of it...

But now I would go on to say The Four Devas arc feels like a microcosm of Shogun Assassination arc. Otose, Jirochou and Tatsugorou could very well be a microcosm to the entire Gintama. I think there's a lot to say about Gintoki and Takasugi's characters based on this.

Warning for spoilers and romantically implied Takagin/Gintaka.

Edit: Added another microcosm I found. Marked *.

I don't even feel like this needs to be explained, but Jirochou and Takasugi have pretty much the same gruff, constipated, distant personalities, except of course Jirochou came from a better family. Not to forget the heights and the similar choices of kimonos. The narrative never makes any points on how similar Takasugi is to several characters, but it definitely is there. Especially if Gintoki often picks a fight with them (looking at you Hijikata and Umibouzu). But I think Jirochou is the biggest culprit for being most similar to Takasugi, often having the same intense sequences with Gintoki.

There are two big similarities in the setting and events of The Four Devas arc and Shogun Assassination arc -

Both involve an attempt at overthrowing the authority;

One takes place in Kabukichou, and the other in the entire Edo.

Whether its coincidence or not, the cast that appear in The Four Devas arc and Shogun Assassination arc don't appear in the other (aside from Yorozuya, of course). If you can believe this was intended as a microcosm, then this means Otose, Jirochou and Tatsugorou have big roles to play in Gintama's overall narative.

So if Jirochou's personality heavily references Takasugi, who represents Gintoki? Or is there a third character to represent Otose?

Nope, my take is that Gintoki represents BOTH Otose and Tatsugorou. The narrative clearly points out the parallels between Tatsugorou and Gintoki, but the ones with Otose are never said. In fact, Gintoki has many similarities to women but the narrative never points it out (aside from Tsukuyo, but even then Gintoki belittles himself compared to her). It's probably because it's weird to compare a good-for-nothing guy to a woman in the first place.

But it wouldn't be weird if Gintoki was meant to represent a son to Otose and Tatsugorou, considering how they never had a child and Otose took him in. In a way, you could say he has a half of Otose and a half of Tatsugorou--

Gintoki has also coincidentally had two occasions where he is associated with halves. The first is in the Soul Switch arc, where the soul in the cat corpse Dozaemon with half of Gintoki's soul embodies the losses Gintoki suffered. The second is in Takasugi's death, where for some reason, he says he wished he could have shared a drink with him, even if it was half the number of times they fought.

These halves can be traced back to Otose and Tatsugorou. Dozaemon was highly characterized by wanting a place to belong and found it in Tae, which very much resembles Tatsugorou who is heavily implied to long for a place as a lone wolf and found it in Otose.

Then, Gintoki's words to Takasugi about sharing a drink seems very much like why Otose opened her snack bar in the first place - so anyone, no matter how different, can have a drink together. Maybe it's coincidence, but if Gintoki chose to say half + sharing a drink, then this could be one half of him speaking (Otose).

Another implication of Otose's half in Gintoki is in the amnesia arc. If it took away all memories, including the bad ones, from Gintoki, then what was left was just his soul as it is. He acts surprisingly more polite and empathetic compared to his usual self that even Tae is captivated. He also naturally cares about everyone's feelings around him, apologizes a lot and chooses to leave Yorozuya so as to not burden Shinpachi and Kagura any longer. Gintoki's base soul has always been someone who cares deeply about people, which we see demonstrated in his own way in the rest of the series.

Tatsugorou's traits in Gintoki are obviously that he's a lone wolf who gets along with everyone, but never gets too close and keeps his past a mystery. Otose's traits in Gintoki are how he easily acts like her proxy, always bringing people together. There is that huge parallel of how the entire Kabukichou came together to protect Otose and the city and to fulfil Gintoki's wish in the end. I would simplify their traits in Gintoki as wanting a place to belong (Tatsugorou) and sharing a kindred spirit (Otose). It's probably why the Gintoki in Hijikata's body isn't so different from the usual - because the soul and some memories that defined it were still there.

There is the argument that Tatsugorou would act like Gintoki without his memories, of course. But Jirochou describes Tatsugorou as chivalrous rather than an idiot who would protect everyone like Gintoki. So I'm inclined to think that Tatsugorou doesn't have the unconditional loving side for everyone that Otose has and acts mostly on his justice. He does get into physical fights for no reason.

Now that I have established Otose, Jirochou and Tatsugorou's traits in Gintoki and Takasugi, the events in their past and the Four Deva arcs has more to say about their characters:

Tatsugorou dying because of Jirochou, and Jirochou making a promise to protect Otose and Kabukichou | Takasugi making Gintoki promise to protect Shouyou, who breaks it and kills Shouyou to protect both

I know, the most obvious parallel is how Tatsugorou died in Jirochou's arms. But I'm taking a more psychoanalytical approach as always, as this event became what changed Jirochou immensely. I would think that Shouyou's death would be the parallel to this, given how it changed Takasugi.

Jirochou and Takasugi (partly) letting their guards down was what caused these tragic events to happen. Jirochou distances himself from Kabukichou and lives out the guilt of having let Tatsugorou die for someone like him, and Takasugi lived on suffering the guilt of having made Gintoki bear the cross of killing Shouyou. Both even feel like they were the ones who killed Tatsugorou and Shouyou.

Not to mention how Takasugi literally threw away his humanity in the Silver Soul arc to protect his teacher, just like Jirochou metaphorically doing so to protect Kabukichou. And Pirako comments how Jirochou really couldn't care less about the city and only did so for one woman. This is the same mindset Takasugi openly fights with in the war, fighting only for Shouyou, but later that reason reveals itself to be Gintoki.

Both Jirochou and Takasugi threw away their humanities to make it up to the man they admired who died protecting them (Tatsugorou and Shouyou), and make the person they love happy through that (Otose and Gintoki).

I would even go as far as saying the Tatsugorou half of Gintoki died alongside Shouyou at that time. There is the symbolism of how all three students created their graves. After all, Gintoki lost his home, something Tatsugorou always wanted for himself. He started wandering around afterwards, distancing himself from people but still protecting them. Even being willing to give up his life for strangers, like Otose sacrificing herself for everyone.

It's as if during this period, he closed the part of him who wanted a place to belong entirely but not the rest of it. He did say he no longer wanted to carry the burden of belonging somewhere with something important--

As he expresses it openly to Kamui 500+ chapters later, he had tried to live on empty and not let people in anymore to protect himself. But when he met Otose behind Tatsugorou's grave only did Tatsugorou's half start to come back alive, fighting once again to belong somewhere.

Gintoki does after all promise to stay somewhere to protect someone, despite having avoided belonging anywhere until now.

Jirochou attempting to kill Otose for his plans of protecting Kabukichou | Takasugi fighting to kill Gintoki to go through with his plans of toppling the Bakufu

Another big similarity here is how both Jirochou and Takasugi are willing to kill someone they love for the apparent greater good. Jirochou critically injured Otose, and Otose was at great risk of dying.

This emphasizes how Jirochou and Takasugi always play the roles of villainous anti-heroes. We learn in the Liberation Army arc that what Takasugi was trying to do was play hero and make a miracle to avenge the dead, even though it was impossible.

Something I also have to talk about is the romantic feelings that this trio captures. Jirochou's feelings for Otose seem to have come about from the way she loved everyone equally, even never giving up on straightening Jirochou up no matter how much he misbehaved.

As I discussed in previous posts, Takasugi's romantic feelings for Gintoki seem to stem from a similar place of unconditional love. It makes me think that gruff guys ware drawn to gentler, unconditional people who can see through their facade, contrast them and express their love for people when they themselves can't. Someone who wouldn't give up on them.

Even Gintoki being the one to keep getting back up to stop Takasugi on his rampage, like Otose had done with Jirochou.

With how the story teases Otose with Jirochou too, I'm inclined to believe that Otose did harbour some romantic feelings for him. But she was more attracted to Tatsugorou, who shared her values of being present with people, unlike Jirochou who distances himself all the time. There is a scene where Otose notes how Jirochou and Tatsugorou communicate with their fists, and she looks from far away as if it isn't a world she is part of. A way to see this, could be that if Otose understood Jirochou better, she may have fallen in love with him first.

Whereas Gintoki already knows how important it is to communicate with your fists, that it's what he uses to wake Takasugi up in the end. The chapter even being titled Fists.

This is what makes both Otose and Tatsugorou's halves in Gintoki important. Without Tatsugorou's traits, Gintoki would have never been able to see eye-to-eye with Takasugi. Gintoki probably knew Takasugi better than Otose knew Jirochou because of this too, which is a recurring theme in the story of how they can just tell each other's thoughts. And without Otose's trait of loving people and never giving up on them, Takasugi would have never found a place and fell in love with Gintoki.

And in Takasugi's final moments, if Gintoki was speaking with the half of him who is Otose - then it could mean that part of him fully reciprocated Takasugi's feelings.

Takasugi plays strong roles to both halves - he was the one who encouraged Gintoki to just do what he wanted honestly and with all his heart at the start (here, just a theory though), and he was the one who fought to his death for his sake fully committing Gintoki's place within Takasugi's soul in the end. It's just that only one half of him could be honest, but it doesn't mean the other didn't love him either.

In the end, Jirochou's conclusion is to properly return to his life, to stop being bound to a promise and pay attention to what really matters now in the present. This is similar to Takasugi's conclusion in the Liberation Army arc: to live life as just a human and to face and accept everything that's happened.

The ending of the Four Deva arcs involve Jirochou reuniting with Pirako, and so does Takasugi's ending reuniting with Matako.

*(Another strong microcosm is in the Invasion arc: Jirocho made his entrance with a speech about the role of men in Kabukichou - how they become cowards when they can't protect one woman, so with that title, they will keep roaring about their chivalry till their death. And this is exactly what Takasugi does both as a terrorist and at his death, playing hero and never divulging the real reason why. Sadly I can't add anymore photos - this speech is in Chapter 622.)

I did talk about Tae being drawn to instances where both halves were showing. I personally think the reason Gintoki and Tae aren't together is because of how they are too similar as people, both being a combination of Otose and Tatsugorou instead of one. Both of them are kind caring people but also terribly cunning, that it isn't an exaggeration to say Tae IS the female Gintoki and vice versa. It's even emphasized in how they coincidentally have many similar character traits (having stalkers and chibi rich kid one-eyed simps, being a useless woman and man). Even the teasing of how Tae seems to return the feelings of many people like Gintoki.

As halves, I do think they would have been together. But as wholes, they probably understand each other better than anyone that they want to care about everyone (hence why they aren't together).

They can only really be with someone who is happy with them just the way they are. Even Kyubei being happy just seeing Tae smile, even if it could be taken in a romantic context of reciprocating Kondo's feelings. Kyutae was heavily implied to be mutual and canon if Kyubei was a man (grrrr). Takagin feels mutual but just won't happen even if Takasugi was alive because of their clashing natures.

Yup, I'm pretty much convinced Takasugi->Gintoki was 100% implied romantic at this point. Pirako commenting how Jirochou was doing all of this for the woman he loved and didn't care about the town, Takasugi having parallels to almost every man canonically in love...

Takasugi saying he can just a bit honest about doing what he wants to do and not entirely. This motherfucker.

(Gin-san is my honest reaction to him.)

[dgrailwar]

Round 6, Day 2 - Foreigner vs. Alter-Ego vs. Gunner

"…Good morning, Miss Alter-Ego."

The two Servants stood across from each other.

"There you are, little doll. So pure and innocent, beloved by the world… you're the type of thing I want to trample the most. I've since learned these feelings are abnormal, a curse from my 'origin'… but they're my feelings nonetheless, and I'll let myself be a slave to them for this war."

"I see…I'm sorry your feelings make you do bad things, Miss Alter-Ego, that must be hard… I want to help, but I don't think I know how… so I'll have to do my best to fight, okay? Masters-- on standby for commands!"

Before the two could charge at each other, a two bullets were fired with excellent precision. The Foreigner leapt out of the way, eyes wide, as the Alter-Ego swung her leg and knocked it away, frowning. Another Servant approached, keeping his distance, one hand on a shamisen that was smoking from the end.

"Ah-- dammit, I missed. But look! Two Servants fighting in broad daylight… that's problematic for a number of reasons, though I'm no Ruler, so you won't see me complaining."

"Good day, you two. I can't remember your names-- I guess the Grail didn't want me coming in with an unfair advantage, but you both go ahead and have an interesting fight while I observe. I'll just take potshots when your backs are turned."

"Mister Gunner…? How'd you get to come back? That doesn't seem fair."

"Hmph-- how cowardly. You have a handsome face, but a terrible attitude. Fine, you're the type of man I like squashing too!"

The Servant Boosts are...

Voyager: +2.5

Meltryllis: -1%

Takasugi Shinsaku: -1%

This is Voyager's first time engaging Takasugi directly! His 'Contact with Civilization' skill triggers!

Takasugi has a chance to gain components from both Meltryllis and Voyager!

Takasugi's 'Unconventional Child Prodigy' Skill triggers!

Servant Skills:

Voyager (Foreigner)

Swing-By (A Rank): A momentum-based skill that assigns a boost to Voyager. This value starts at 1%, and increases by 1% per each victory, and .5% per loss. It remains unchanged if the Masters choose to 'Play Defensively'. This buff is applied whether Voyager is caught off guard or not. (Current value: +3.5%)

Contact with Civilization (D Rank): When fighting in a Free-for-All, he gains a +2% boost. No matter the battle type, if he's encountering a Servant that he hasn't met before, he gains a +2% bonus to his poll results.

Voyager of the Stars (A Rank): When fighting against a Servant with a higher boost than him, gain an additional +2%. Voyager's 'Swing-By' skill is also upgraded, adding an additional .5% bonus to his Swing-By victory boost if he wins in a Free-for-All.

FOREIGNER-CLASS Servants take advantage of the chaos around them. When engaged in a Free-for-All (while not Playing Defensively), all other participants are given a -3% demerit. If attacked while 'Playing Defensively'', their attacker takes a -2% penalty.

Meltryllis (Alter-Ego)

Melt Virus (EX Rank) - When engaged in a Free-for-All, inflict all foes with a -3% demerit. If Meltryllis gains 1st place in the Free-for-All by a margin of 10% or more, inflict a -3% demerit to your foes for their next round and gain a +3% boost for your next combat round.

Crime Ballet (A Rank) - When engaged in a one-on-one, increase the Alter-Ego Class Trait one-on-one boost to +5% rather than +3% (+6% if targeting a Servant that's Playing Defensively).

Saint Graph Expansion (B Rank): When engaged in a Free-for-All, gain a +2% boost. Additionally, if Alter-Ego finds herself in a tie against an opponent in a one-on-one (according to the final results, including boosts), her opponent takes a wound and a -2% demerit while she fully escapes damage and gains a +2% bonus for the next round.

ALTEREGO-CLASS Servants fight at their best when given a specific target. When engaged in a standard one-on-one confrontation, they gain a +3% boost. If attacking a Servant 'Playing Defensively', they gain a +4% boost instead.

Takasugi Shinsaku (Gunner)

Unconventional Child Prodigy (A Rank): When fighting someone with a higher boost than Gunner, gain +2%.

Innovate - Armaments Reformation (B Rank): Defeating a Servant once will net special 'components' from them. When at least 4 of those 'components' are gathered, a secondary Noble Phantasm will be unlocked. If 6 are gathered, then the utility and power of 'Kiheitai' will be upgraded.

Current Components: N/A

(Winning first place in a Free-for-All will count for gathering 2 components- one for each Servant beneath you).

Retaining the Japanese Spirit (A Rank): When Gunner is about to take a fatal blow and the difference between scores is less than 5%, survive with one 'health' remaining. If this is triggered, gain a persistent +2% bonus that cannot be reduced or removed.

GUNNER-Class Servants are quick to action and yet methodical with their attacks. When engaged in combat, gain a +3% boost. Additionally, if in last place during a Free-for-All, inflict a -4% demerit on the 1st place Servant.