The Golden Gods of Poverty 黄金の貧乏神 Gorudo * hinga [Ogon no binbo shin]
Poor Sakae has become a test subject in his parents bizzare experiments. They are convinced that by using some of his bone marrow they can create gold and solve their financial problems. The experiment goes wrong, and instead of creating gold, the "Good Luck Gods" are summoned. Expecting to recieve gold, Sakae's parents let the Gods live with them. The Gods get together and tell Sakae that they've used up all their luck and are now very poor. Sakae hatches a plan that will benefit everyone. The Gods can rob a bank and renew their supply of gold, and he'll help them and force his inconsiderate parents to worry about him for a change.
Published In:
Shonen Sunday Zokan 1978 #9
Rumic World Vol. 2
Publication Date:September 1, 1978
Pages: 32 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: None
Notes:
Takahashi originally published this story earlier and redrew parts of it. You can find the original version published under the title Koufuku Gousei Karada (Happiness Body Synthesis) in Bibito. Small aesthetic improvements were made when it was republished in Shonen Sunday such as screen toned backgrounds in some places.
The Takaro (高良) family all have names that denote wealth. Takaro is written with the kanji (高) meaning "high" or "expensive". Each of the family's first names have a kanji related to wealth as well: Sakae (栄) translates as flourish/prosperity, Fukuzo (福三) means three blessings/fortunes and Tomiko (富子) means enrich/child.
The Seven Lucky Gods (七福神) are exactly what their names say they are, gods who grant good fortune. They are: Bishamonten (毘沙門天), Benzaiten (弁才天), Daikokuten (大黒天), Ebisu (恵比寿), Fukurokuju (福禄寿), Hotei (布袋), and Jurojin (寿老人). On the first three days of each New Year, the Seven Lucky Gods fly through the sky on the Takarabune (宝船), their traditional treasure ship. Of course the Seven Lucky Gods are featured in other works by Rumiko Takahashi, such as Benten in Urusei Yatsura and as the antagonists in the first Ranma 1/2 film The Battle of Nekonron, China! A Battle to Defy the Rules!!.
Swiss Onion Bank - Banking is historically tied to Switzerland, because the country is viewed as a politically neutral country as well as possessing benefits such as: privacy for investors; an often advantageous tax situation; very low corruption; and a stable and strong national economy. The onion domed bank that the Seven Lucky Gods rob has Swiss flags on the outside.
Schmerzlich is a German word for "painful".
Hatsuyume (初夢) is the first dream of the New Year. The contents of what one dreams about on the final night of the year moving into the next year are supposedly a predictor of what the new year will bring. It is thought that someone who dreams of Mount Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant will have particularly good luck. As Wikipedia states, "This belief has been in place since the early Edo period but there are various theories regarding the origins as to why this particular combination was considered to be auspicious. One theory suggests that this combination is lucky because Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain, the hawk is a clever and strong bird, and the word for eggplant (茄子 nasu or nasubi) suggests achieving something great (成す nasu). Another theory suggests that this combination arose because Mount Fuji, falconry, and early eggplants were favorites of the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu."
A: This is my second work after winning the Newcomers Manga Award. I'm doing my best without fail. Additionally, a new serialization is scheduled in for issue 39 of this magazine. Please read my first serialized work as well as this Golden Gods of Poverty. I would appreciate it if you could tell me what you think. Thank you for your support.
