Gintama's Hideaki Sorachi Jokes About "Stealing" from Rumiko Takahashi's Ideas

(Last Updated On: August 26, 2023)

In the 39th release of this year’s Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine, a remarkable collaboration unfolded as 33 accomplished manga authors united to craft fan art paying homage to Urusei Yatsura, commemorating the manga’s 45th anniversary.

Notably among these talents was Hideaki Sorachi, celebrated for his creation, Gintama.

Sorachi’s contribution depicted Gintama’s iconic character, Elizabeth, clutching a placard reading “Sorry for stealing!” while enduring the electrifying presence of Lum alongside Genma from Ranma ½.

Accompanying the artwork was a brief, tongue-in-cheek note wherein Sorachi humorously confessed to pilfering from Rumiko Takahashi’s creative realm for years and willingly embraced the retribution he felt was due.

Within this jest resides an undeniable truth highlighting Rumiko Takahashi’s profound influence on manga and anime. Countless conventions and clichés ingrained in our appreciation of the medium trace their origins to her diverse creations.

The legacy laid by Urusei Yatsura and Ranma ½ forms a bedrock that underpins the very existence of contemporary comedic manga like Gintama.

This sentiment, cleverly concealed within Sorachi’s self-effacing jest, resonates as a heartwarming homage to Takahashi’s enduring impact—a fitting reflection of Hideaki Sorachi’s signature style.