The new theatrical film “Shin Gekijouban Gintama -Yoshiwara Daienjou-” (which can be translated as “New Theatrical Version Gintama -Yoshiwara Great Fire-“) is currently playing in theaters to great acclaim since February 13, 2026. Anime! Anime! conducted a reader survey titled “What is your favorite line from the anime Gintama?” This article presents the results.
Released as the grand finale of the “Gintama 20th Anniversary Project,” this movie continues the legacy of the long-beloved series. Gintama is packed with a cast of incredibly charming characters.
From the protagonist Sakata Gintoki—affectionately called Gin-san—who somehow manages to spout the most outrageous dirty jokes, to the sharp-tongued straight man Shimura Shinpachi, and the beautiful yet consistently disappointing Kagura, these unique individuals make the series what it is.
A huge part of the show’s charm lies in the explosive lines they deliver. From heart-stabbing famous quotes to laugh-out-loud “迷言” (those gloriously dubious lines), there are simply too many to count.
That’s why Anime! Anime! ran this survey asking, “What is your favorite line from the anime Gintama?” During the voting period from February 7th to 11th, we gathered responses from 206 fans. The gender ratio was about 10% male and 80% female, showing a overwhelming majority of female respondents. Age-wise, roughly 55% were under 19, 15% in their 20s, and 10% in their 30s.
■Scenes You Can’t Help But Recall! Serious Lines Dominate the Top Spots
1st Place
The winner is Sakata Gintoki’s line: “If you have time to decorate your end beautifully, why not live beautifully until the very end?“ It grabbed approximately 18% of the votes.
Gintoki shouted this during the Joui War, when Katsura Kotarou was surrounded by enemies and ready to commit seppuku. Fans said: “So many great quotes, but this was the first one that popped into my head!” “It’s such a Gintoki and Gintama-esque phrase. The whole series boils down to this for me. It’s the way I want to live my own life, too.” “The gap from his usual lazy self is huge, but no matter how many times I hear it, this beautiful line always squeezes my heart.”
It’s the perfect line for a protagonist like Sakata Gintoki, who might seem like a slacker but absolutely knows when to get deadly serious.
2nd Place
Second place goes to Hijikata Toushirou’s “I just want the woman I love to be happy.” It secured about 17% of the vote.
This heartfelt line comes from the emotional “Mitsuba arc,” featuring Okita Sougo’s sister. Comments poured in: “The love packed into Hijikata’s words for Mitsuba got me right in the feels. I stan Hijikata!!” “It hurts my heart—what a sincere, manly samurai.” “Hijikata is just too cool here. This was the first moment I truly saw how cool he could be.” Clearly, the “because he’s cool” factor was strong.
Hijikata had carried a torch for Mitsuba since their days back home. The final scene, where he breaks down in tears alone after missing her final moments, remains one of the series’ most poignant.
3rd Place
Third place is Katsura Kotarou’s legendary “It’s not a wig, it’s Katsura!” with around 10% support.
This is Katsura’s go-to retort every time Gintoki teases him by calling him “ヅラ” (wig). Fans love it: “Even casual fans know this iconic bit!” “A line used everywhere, from gag scenes to serious moments—it totally encapsulates Katsura Kotarou.” “This IS Gintama.” “When you think of Katsura, you think of this famous, or should I say infamous, line! Bet everyone’s tried saying it themselves.”
The survey even included votes for hilarious variations like “It’s not a wig, it’s Katsura! Or rather, it’s not a wig, it’s Captain Katsura!” and “It’s not Katsura, it’s a wig!” Katsura Kotarou, the “Mad Noble” Joui rebel who masters both comedy and drama, easily clinched a spot in the top three.
■Here Are Some Other Fan-Favorite Comments!
“Nothing I protect has changed one bit from then till now!!” – Sakata Gintoki.
“Gin-san, who still keeps that one single promise, is the coolest!!!” “It’s one of those cool lines from Gin-san when he shows his serious side.”
“I know I ain’t gaining anything from this. But if I don’t move here, I won’t be myself anymore.” – Okita Sougo.
“When the world tries to crush my feelings under ‘what’s normal,’ I remember this line. Even if my head gets it, I must never bend my beliefs. Be honest with your heart. Probably influenced by Gin-san’s earlier words, but seeing such seriousness from the usually trollish Sougo is super impressive. Gintama has tons of quotes like this, but as a Sougo fan, I love this one most.”
“Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up! Are you in heat, you bastard?” – Sakata Gintoki.
“Probably the first line the protagonist ever said, so it’s stuck with me forever.”
“If Gin-chan wasn’t here, living wouldn’t be any fun at all.” – Kagura.
“This one line from Kagura-chan shows the blazing trust between the three Yorozuya members. I remember sobbing my eyes out when I heard it.”
(Survey period: February 7 to February 11, 2026)
※This survey is part of our ongoing effort to understand readers’ current interests and attention regarding anime works and characters. The results are not intended to rank characters or works in any way. We hope this article helps you discover new aspects of these characters or deepens your interest in them.
For more results, including a breakdown by character, check out the next page.
《Sato Erika》
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