Getting to Know: Komatsuda Shuusaku
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nintamaThis is (what I hope is) the first in a series of posts dedicated to showcasing different characters, groups, committees, etc. in Nintama so that anyone who's interested in knowing more about them has a bit of a starting point. There's a ton of characters to learn about in Nintama, so sometimes it can be difficult to figure out which episodes to watch.
I will, perhaps unsurprisingly, be starting with Komatsuda Shuusaku. This post contains an overview of Komatsuda's history and personality along with a selection of episodes that provide a well-rounded picture of him as a character. I'm hoping this will be a good intro to those who don't know much about him and a nice refresher for those who already do.
This post cites both the Nintama Rantarou anime and the Rakudai Ninja Rantarou manga.
Komatsuda Shuusaku, sixteen years old, is the second and youngest son of the Komatsuda family of folding fan artisans and sellers. His older brother, Yuusaku - who has taken over the family store Komatsudaya at the age of nineteen - characterizes Komatsuda as having always done things "by halves" and never following through (vol 35, pg 47 and ep 13-05). We've never been told anything about his childhood, but it's likely he spent parts of it helping at Komatsudaya, as he always comes back to help with the store during school breaks (vol 65, pg 15).
At some point in his youth, he became interested in ninja and learning ninjutsu. Yuusaku paid Komatsuda's way through the private ninjutsu school in town - an expensive undertaking, so the Komatsuda family must be rather well-off (vol 32, pg 87 and ep 31-30). Komatsuda graduated with a third-level ninjutsu certificate (vol 28, pg 235 and ep 09-20), though his current skills don't quite reflect his education; he's on par with 1-Ha when it comes to ninjutsu.
After receiving his certificate, he set out to find employment as a ninja. In his first appearance in the series, he infiltrated Ninjutsu Academy to attack it as part of Dokutake castle's employment exam (vol 19, pg 79 and ep 04-82). He'd been vaguely aware of Dokutake's bad reputation, but once he ran into 1-Ha and they showed him just what evil Dokutake gets up to, he gave up on joining them.
We don't know exactly what he got up to after that incident. Perhaps he continued seeking out ninja work; perhaps he returned home to help with the store again. Some time later he ended up as the newest employee of Ninjutsu Academy (vol 21, pg 211)*. He joined the staff as a clerk, with some of his duties including paperwork, taking care of equipment, and getting people to sign in and out whenever they come into or leave the school.
If I had to sum up Komatsuda's personality, I might go with "in his own world." In some ways, Yuusaku's description of him as doing things by halves still rings true. He naps on the job (eps 14-40 and 16-97) and immediately goes off the clock as soon as the bell sounds at the end of the day (vol 27, pg 204). He can be easygoing to a fault: his reaction to someone saying he's a bother is to smile and say with a little laugh, "I didn't know! So I was being a bother"(ep 17-05). When Dokutake ninja come to spy on Yamada-sensei, he happily lets them - and even brings them bento (ep 22-53). "It's frightening how out in left field this boy is," someone said of him (vol 22, pg 111).
These traits, as well as his poor ninjutsu skills, often have people telling him that he isn't suited to be a ninja. However, there's one thing he does have that would make him a good ninja, and that's tenacity. When he falls, he gets back up. No matter what happens, no matter what people say and no matter what setbacks he faces, Komatsuda has never fully given up on his dream of becoming a ninja.
He also tends to see the best in people and situations. Demo Shikanosuke, a ninja who's vying for Komatsuda's position, tries time and time again to steal Komatsuda's job in underhanded ways, but Komatsuda never thinks poorly of him. When told that Demo purposely tripped him to make him look bad, his response is simply, "No way! Demo Shikanosuke would never do something like that" (ep 32-66). This sort of harmonious attitude is why Komatsuda has kept his job in the first place. Unlike Demo, who everyone thinks has a rotten personality, Komatsuda almost never does anything to hurt others and gets along with everybody - a trait that's more valuable than ninjutsu or clerical skills.
That's not to say he's always all smiles. In some ways, he can be incredibly stubborn and pushy. For example, his fervor for getting people to sign in and out of the school is unmatched; he'll chase after people, cling onto them, take bombs and beatings just to get a signature. He can also be petty and childish, such as when he chased Hemu-Hemu all across the school because Hemu-Hemu laughed when he fell down (ep 26-13), or when he got mopey about the students ignoring him (ep 11-04).
The adjective most associated with Komatsuda is "heppoko" - untrained, incompetent, good-for-nothing - and it's not entirely unearned on his part. From scattering stacks of papers across the floor to spilling tea to sending out invitations to all the wrong people, there's little as a clerk that he's actually good at. When he does his job right, it's usually because he does things by the books. However, being Komatsuda, he sometimes takes things to the point of absurdity: he'll let in an intruder and show them around the school as long as they sign in (ep 18-58), will ignore any enemy until they hit the invisible threshold of what he considers the school grounds (ep 23-34), and even makes animals sign in and out of the school (ep 15-19).
However, there's one thing he's more skilled at than anyone else: sensing and chasing down people trying to get in or out of Ninjutsu Academy. Whether they're going over or under the school walls, he'll be there as fast as his legs can carry him. If someone doesn't sign the entry or exit form and he senses them, he'll chase them down to the ends of the earth - into the ocean if he has to (vol 29, pg 234 and ep 10-05). His skills were even acknowledged by the Dokutake ninja, who used him as an alarm system when they'd taken over Ninjutsu Academy (30th anniversary special). This talent has earned him a variety of nicknames, such as Ninjutsu Academy's Sidewinder (vol 36, p65)**, their Terminator (vol 28, pg 234), and their Ultimate Weapon (vol 26, pg 234 and ep 22-67).
That's it for the overview - onto episode recommendations!
*It's possible that the why and how of Komatsuda getting his job at the school is explained in the anime, but the episode(s) in which he's reintroduced as clerk are currently unavailable to me, so I can't know for sure.
**A reference to the AIM-9 Sidewinder, a heat-seeking missile. In the anime adaptation of this chapter (ep 13-26), his nickname was changed to "Demon Pursuer" (鬼の追跡者). However, he was later called Sidewinder in the anime in ep 23-23.
Recommended Episodes
For convenience, I've put all the episodes together here (except the three episodes which have been translated - 28-48, 31-30, and 32-62 - where I've linked to the subber's page).
Most of these entries contain spoilers for the episode in question, as almost none of them have been translated and I want as many people as possible to be able to understand the plots.
Introductory episodes:
04-82 "RanKiriShin Get Angry" (乱・きり・しん怒るの段)
His very first appearance. While quite different than his current incarnation, this episode gets you acquainted with his backstory, and it's interesting to look back on. Technically a two-parter, as his story continues into episode 04-83, "It's Finally Summer Vacation" (やっと夏休みの段).
13-05 "Yoshino-sensei's Home Visit" (吉野先生の家庭訪問の段)
This episode has a little bit of everything, making it a good introduction to Komatsuda's character. It introduces us to his brother, shows off his poor ninjutsu and clerical skills, and showcases his odd way of thinking. Additionally, it lets us see his cheerful, caring attitude, as well as how he and the staff feel about each other.
Episodes that show off his personality and skills:
09-05 "Komatsuda-san's Talent" (小松田さんの素質の段)
Komatsuda and RanKiriShin visit Daisankyoueimaru at the ocean, where Komatsuda saves him from drowning (Komatsuda had excellent swimming skills, but these seem to have been forgotten in later seasons). Daisankyoueimaru says Komatsuda has the talent to be a pirate, which gets Komatsuda dreaming. However, when he learns that Daisankyoueimaru can't swim and is still aiming to be a pirate anyway, he reflects on his own aspirations. "I may not have the talent to be a ninja," he thinks, "but it's so much fun to work as the school's clerk. It's okay if I'm not talented, as long as I enjoy my work every day." Komatsuda can always find a silver lining.
17-89 "The Master Komatsuda Shuusaku" (名人小松田秀作の段)
The sixth-years are all showing off their ninjutsu to appeal to prospective employers who have come to visit. To Komatsuda's surprise, one of those employers scouts him - not as a ninja, but for his intruder-detecting and detaining skills, as the castle's princess keeps sneaking out. Komatsuda arrives and does his job well: he keeps going even after being bombed and chases the princess as she digs her way out of the castle grounds. However, Komatsuda's stubbornness and fervor take over, and soon he's making sure nobody leaves - not soldiers nor cats nor even mice. In the end, he's returned to Ninjutsu Academy. Komatsuda is the kind of person to take a direction literally and commit his all to it.
21-72 "Don't Throw Your Dreams Away" (夢を捨てるなの段)
Yoshino, Komatsuda's direct supervisor, is worried because Komatsuda has been even more absent-minded than usual. It turns out he's been thinking and has decided he's not cut out to be a ninja. However, the always steadfast Komatsuda has a plan - if he can't become a ninja, then he'll just become the best clerk that he can possibly be. Unfortunately, this causes even more problems. In the end, he goes back to being his normal self and continues to dream of being a ninja. Komatsuda normally doesn't get down on himself, even when he's yelled at or reprimanded, so I enjoy the rare moments where he's introspective.
22-67 "Ninjutsu Academy's Secret Weapon" (忍術学園の秘密兵器の段)
While showing around a ninja looking to scout students, Komatsuda relishes the chance to be scouted as a ninja himself - but, after much inner debate, decides he shouldn't. Komatsuda is aware and humble about his own lack of ninjutsu skills, even showing the scout how bad he is at throwing shuriken - but the scout is convinced Komatsuda is downplaying his abilities and is actually an amazing ninja. When he returns to his castle and his lord looks up Komatsuda's name, he finds that Komatsuda is described as "Ninjutsu Academy's ultimate weapon" (perhaps acquired as rumors of his intruder-catching skills spread?). The scout returns to tell Komatsuda of this nickname, and Komatsuda gets fired-up, returning to his job with new vigor... only to fail as usual. Komatsuda is confident in himself, enough to engage in flights of fantasy, but he's also aware of his strengths and weaknesses.
27-67 "Mail-Order Ninja" (通販の忍者の段)
Makaino-sensei of Dokutake orders the wrong item and ends up getting Komatsuda sent to him instead of the vegetable komatsuna. A good example of how silly (and cute) Komatsuda can get, especially when he has a straight man to play off of. He takes an already absurd situation and his naturally unusual thought process makes it even more absurd.
Episodes focusing on his relationships with others:
School staff:
The staff is most often seeing yelling at, berating, or just being baffled at Komatsuda. However, beneath all that, everybody at the school cares for him in their own way - or else he would've been fired long ago.
30-12 "What's 'Normal'?" (普通ってなんだ？の段)
RanKiriShin find Yoshino watching Komatsuda from a distance. RanKiri say maybe Yoshino is too strict, but Shinbei insists Yoshino is just keeping an eye on Komatsuda. Yoshino doesn't hate Komatsuda; he criticizes Komatsuda because he wants Komatsuda to become "an excellent clerk - no, an excellent human being." It turns out that Komatsuda hasn't been his usual clumsy self lately - and this worries Yoshino so much that he ends up collapsing. When they ask Komatsuda, it turns out he'd been to a shrine recently, and that's why he hasn't been clumsy. When all of them go to the shrine, Komatsuda rings the bells - and they end up falling on Yoshino's head. Yoshino chides him, and Komatsuda, with a blush on his face, says it's been awhile since Yoshino scolded him. Ninjutsu Academy is kind of like a big family, with episodes like this emphasizing the bonds all the employees share.
31-05 "Ninjutsu Academy's Specialty" (忍術学園名物の段)
Hemu-Hemu and Komatsuda tend to work well together (they have that same kind of breezy attitude), but Hemu-Hemu can also bring out Komatsuda's more childish side. In this episode, Komatsuda decides to go on a journey to train to be a ninja, and it's decided that Hemu-Hemu will take over Komatsuda's job. But when Hemu-Hemu excels at it and is called the school's specialty, Komatsuda gets jealous and instantly declares that he's the school's specialty and won't give up that title to anyone. It's not even the first time he's tried to compete with this dog... (see also ep 23-34).
His brother:
Yuusaku is a kind older brother who some might say babies Komatsuda a bit, and Komatsuda refers to Yuusaku as his "pride and joy" (ep 28-48). They're usually affectionate with each other, but there are times when they don't see eye to eye.
28-48 "Komatsuda Brothers Taken Prisoner" (とらわれた小松田兄弟の段) [Subbed by Tasogaredoki Jou]
When Komatsuda returns home to help with the store, he finds that Yuusaku has been kidnapped by the Dokutake ninja so they can force him to make fans for them to use ninjutsu with. Never fear, for Komatsuda is off to rescue him! An excellent example of their love for each other, as well as how understanding Yuusaku is of Komatsuda.
31-30 "Loved By Everyone" (みんなに愛されているの段) [Subbed by Tasogaredoki Jou]
After Komatsuda says he's on par with elite ninja when it comes to tracking intruders, Yuusaku visits the school to put Komatsuda's skills to the test. When Komatsuda doesn't perform as expected, Yuusaku decides to take Komatsuda back to Komatsudaya. This episode lets us see the friction that Yuusaku has between treating Komatsuda like a child and treating him autonomously.
Rikichi:
Rikichi and Komatsuda are like oil and water - except Komatsuda doesn't realize it. Komatsuda looks up to Rikichi's skills and gets along well with him, while Rikichi's anger at Komatsuda's shenanigans goes right over Komatsuda's head. Despite this, Rikichi still tends to treat Komatsuda with a level of respect (albeit sometimes begrudgingly).
30-56 "Rikichi's Day Off" (利吉の休日の段)
On his day off, Rikichi runs into Komatsuda while walking around town. Convinced that Rikichi is actually on the job, Komatsuda asks Rikichi if he could watch him so he can learn to be a ninja. And so begins an inadverdant game of hide-and-seek as Rikichi tries to get away from Komatsuda. This episode is a microcosm of their relationship: the casual and close way Komatsuda interacts with Rikichi, Komatsuda's inability see how irritating he can be to Rikichi, and the way Rikichi always gets pulled into Komatsuda's pace.
32-62 "Testing My Patience" (イライラするの段) [Subbed by Tasogaredoki Jou]
In addition to his normal spiel about how Komatsuda should give up on being a ninja, Rikichi specifically tells him that people like him are the first to die on the battlefield - potentially a look into why Komatsuda's naivety incurs a special wrath in Rikichi, as Rikichi has probably seen enough starry-eyed teens go to war unprepared and end up killed. This episode also has a rare instance of Rikichi respecting Komatsuda for his character and giving him a genuine smile. Includes the line "Just looking at you annoys me!" (イライラするんだ君を見ていると!) - a staple in fanwork with Rikichi and Komatsuda ever since its first appearance in volume 32 of the manga.
If you've made it to the end - thank you! I hope that even just reading through everything here has left you with a better appreciation of the depth of Komatsuda's character. If you have any comments, suggestions, or corrections, I'd love to hear them!
Interested in more episodes with Komatsuda? You can consult my chart which lists all (currently) known appearances of him in the anime. Please also feel free to direct any questions or discussion about Komatsuda my way!
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出門票にサインおねがいしま～す！
I will, perhaps unsurprisingly, be starting with Komatsuda Shuusaku. This post contains an overview of Komatsuda's history and personality along with a selection of episodes that provide a well-rounded picture of him as a character. I'm hoping this will be a good intro to those who don't know much about him and a nice refresher for those who already do.
This post cites both the Nintama Rantarou anime and the Rakudai Ninja Rantarou manga.
Komatsuda Shuusaku, sixteen years old, is the second and youngest son of the Komatsuda family of folding fan artisans and sellers. His older brother, Yuusaku - who has taken over the family store Komatsudaya at the age of nineteen - characterizes Komatsuda as having always done things "by halves" and never following through (vol 35, pg 47 and ep 13-05). We've never been told anything about his childhood, but it's likely he spent parts of it helping at Komatsudaya, as he always comes back to help with the store during school breaks (vol 65, pg 15).
At some point in his youth, he became interested in ninja and learning ninjutsu. Yuusaku paid Komatsuda's way through the private ninjutsu school in town - an expensive undertaking, so the Komatsuda family must be rather well-off (vol 32, pg 87 and ep 31-30). Komatsuda graduated with a third-level ninjutsu certificate (vol 28, pg 235 and ep 09-20), though his current skills don't quite reflect his education; he's on par with 1-Ha when it comes to ninjutsu.
After receiving his certificate, he set out to find employment as a ninja. In his first appearance in the series, he infiltrated Ninjutsu Academy to attack it as part of Dokutake castle's employment exam (vol 19, pg 79 and ep 04-82). He'd been vaguely aware of Dokutake's bad reputation, but once he ran into 1-Ha and they showed him just what evil Dokutake gets up to, he gave up on joining them.
We don't know exactly what he got up to after that incident. Perhaps he continued seeking out ninja work; perhaps he returned home to help with the store again. Some time later he ended up as the newest employee of Ninjutsu Academy (vol 21, pg 211)*. He joined the staff as a clerk, with some of his duties including paperwork, taking care of equipment, and getting people to sign in and out whenever they come into or leave the school.
If I had to sum up Komatsuda's personality, I might go with "in his own world." In some ways, Yuusaku's description of him as doing things by halves still rings true. He naps on the job (eps 14-40 and 16-97) and immediately goes off the clock as soon as the bell sounds at the end of the day (vol 27, pg 204). He can be easygoing to a fault: his reaction to someone saying he's a bother is to smile and say with a little laugh, "I didn't know! So I was being a bother"(ep 17-05). When Dokutake ninja come to spy on Yamada-sensei, he happily lets them - and even brings them bento (ep 22-53). "It's frightening how out in left field this boy is," someone said of him (vol 22, pg 111).
These traits, as well as his poor ninjutsu skills, often have people telling him that he isn't suited to be a ninja. However, there's one thing he does have that would make him a good ninja, and that's tenacity. When he falls, he gets back up. No matter what happens, no matter what people say and no matter what setbacks he faces, Komatsuda has never fully given up on his dream of becoming a ninja.
He also tends to see the best in people and situations. Demo Shikanosuke, a ninja who's vying for Komatsuda's position, tries time and time again to steal Komatsuda's job in underhanded ways, but Komatsuda never thinks poorly of him. When told that Demo purposely tripped him to make him look bad, his response is simply, "No way! Demo Shikanosuke would never do something like that" (ep 32-66). This sort of harmonious attitude is why Komatsuda has kept his job in the first place. Unlike Demo, who everyone thinks has a rotten personality, Komatsuda almost never does anything to hurt others and gets along with everybody - a trait that's more valuable than ninjutsu or clerical skills.
That's not to say he's always all smiles. In some ways, he can be incredibly stubborn and pushy. For example, his fervor for getting people to sign in and out of the school is unmatched; he'll chase after people, cling onto them, take bombs and beatings just to get a signature. He can also be petty and childish, such as when he chased Hemu-Hemu all across the school because Hemu-Hemu laughed when he fell down (ep 26-13), or when he got mopey about the students ignoring him (ep 11-04).
The adjective most associated with Komatsuda is "heppoko" - untrained, incompetent, good-for-nothing - and it's not entirely unearned on his part. From scattering stacks of papers across the floor to spilling tea to sending out invitations to all the wrong people, there's little as a clerk that he's actually good at. When he does his job right, it's usually because he does things by the books. However, being Komatsuda, he sometimes takes things to the point of absurdity: he'll let in an intruder and show them around the school as long as they sign in (ep 18-58), will ignore any enemy until they hit the invisible threshold of what he considers the school grounds (ep 23-34), and even makes animals sign in and out of the school (ep 15-19).
However, there's one thing he's more skilled at than anyone else: sensing and chasing down people trying to get in or out of Ninjutsu Academy. Whether they're going over or under the school walls, he'll be there as fast as his legs can carry him. If someone doesn't sign the entry or exit form and he senses them, he'll chase them down to the ends of the earth - into the ocean if he has to (vol 29, pg 234 and ep 10-05). His skills were even acknowledged by the Dokutake ninja, who used him as an alarm system when they'd taken over Ninjutsu Academy (30th anniversary special). This talent has earned him a variety of nicknames, such as Ninjutsu Academy's Sidewinder (vol 36, p65)**, their Terminator (vol 28, pg 234), and their Ultimate Weapon (vol 26, pg 234 and ep 22-67).
That's it for the overview - onto episode recommendations!
*It's possible that the why and how of Komatsuda getting his job at the school is explained in the anime, but the episode(s) in which he's reintroduced as clerk are currently unavailable to me, so I can't know for sure.
**A reference to the AIM-9 Sidewinder, a heat-seeking missile. In the anime adaptation of this chapter (ep 13-26), his nickname was changed to "Demon Pursuer" (鬼の追跡者). However, he was later called Sidewinder in the anime in ep 23-23.
Recommended Episodes
For convenience, I've put all the episodes together here (except the three episodes which have been translated - 28-48, 31-30, and 32-62 - where I've linked to the subber's page).
Most of these entries contain spoilers for the episode in question, as almost none of them have been translated and I want as many people as possible to be able to understand the plots.
Introductory episodes:
04-82 "RanKiriShin Get Angry" (乱・きり・しん怒るの段)
His very first appearance. While quite different than his current incarnation, this episode gets you acquainted with his backstory, and it's interesting to look back on. Technically a two-parter, as his story continues into episode 04-83, "It's Finally Summer Vacation" (やっと夏休みの段).
13-05 "Yoshino-sensei's Home Visit" (吉野先生の家庭訪問の段)
This episode has a little bit of everything, making it a good introduction to Komatsuda's character. It introduces us to his brother, shows off his poor ninjutsu and clerical skills, and showcases his odd way of thinking. Additionally, it lets us see his cheerful, caring attitude, as well as how he and the staff feel about each other.
Episodes that show off his personality and skills:
09-05 "Komatsuda-san's Talent" (小松田さんの素質の段)
Komatsuda and RanKiriShin visit Daisankyoueimaru at the ocean, where Komatsuda saves him from drowning (Komatsuda had excellent swimming skills, but these seem to have been forgotten in later seasons). Daisankyoueimaru says Komatsuda has the talent to be a pirate, which gets Komatsuda dreaming. However, when he learns that Daisankyoueimaru can't swim and is still aiming to be a pirate anyway, he reflects on his own aspirations. "I may not have the talent to be a ninja," he thinks, "but it's so much fun to work as the school's clerk. It's okay if I'm not talented, as long as I enjoy my work every day." Komatsuda can always find a silver lining.
17-89 "The Master Komatsuda Shuusaku" (名人小松田秀作の段)
The sixth-years are all showing off their ninjutsu to appeal to prospective employers who have come to visit. To Komatsuda's surprise, one of those employers scouts him - not as a ninja, but for his intruder-detecting and detaining skills, as the castle's princess keeps sneaking out. Komatsuda arrives and does his job well: he keeps going even after being bombed and chases the princess as she digs her way out of the castle grounds. However, Komatsuda's stubbornness and fervor take over, and soon he's making sure nobody leaves - not soldiers nor cats nor even mice. In the end, he's returned to Ninjutsu Academy. Komatsuda is the kind of person to take a direction literally and commit his all to it.
21-72 "Don't Throw Your Dreams Away" (夢を捨てるなの段)
Yoshino, Komatsuda's direct supervisor, is worried because Komatsuda has been even more absent-minded than usual. It turns out he's been thinking and has decided he's not cut out to be a ninja. However, the always steadfast Komatsuda has a plan - if he can't become a ninja, then he'll just become the best clerk that he can possibly be. Unfortunately, this causes even more problems. In the end, he goes back to being his normal self and continues to dream of being a ninja. Komatsuda normally doesn't get down on himself, even when he's yelled at or reprimanded, so I enjoy the rare moments where he's introspective.
22-67 "Ninjutsu Academy's Secret Weapon" (忍術学園の秘密兵器の段)
While showing around a ninja looking to scout students, Komatsuda relishes the chance to be scouted as a ninja himself - but, after much inner debate, decides he shouldn't. Komatsuda is aware and humble about his own lack of ninjutsu skills, even showing the scout how bad he is at throwing shuriken - but the scout is convinced Komatsuda is downplaying his abilities and is actually an amazing ninja. When he returns to his castle and his lord looks up Komatsuda's name, he finds that Komatsuda is described as "Ninjutsu Academy's ultimate weapon" (perhaps acquired as rumors of his intruder-catching skills spread?). The scout returns to tell Komatsuda of this nickname, and Komatsuda gets fired-up, returning to his job with new vigor... only to fail as usual. Komatsuda is confident in himself, enough to engage in flights of fantasy, but he's also aware of his strengths and weaknesses.
27-67 "Mail-Order Ninja" (通販の忍者の段)
Makaino-sensei of Dokutake orders the wrong item and ends up getting Komatsuda sent to him instead of the vegetable komatsuna. A good example of how silly (and cute) Komatsuda can get, especially when he has a straight man to play off of. He takes an already absurd situation and his naturally unusual thought process makes it even more absurd.
Episodes focusing on his relationships with others:
School staff:
The staff is most often seeing yelling at, berating, or just being baffled at Komatsuda. However, beneath all that, everybody at the school cares for him in their own way - or else he would've been fired long ago.
30-12 "What's 'Normal'?" (普通ってなんだ？の段)
RanKiriShin find Yoshino watching Komatsuda from a distance. RanKiri say maybe Yoshino is too strict, but Shinbei insists Yoshino is just keeping an eye on Komatsuda. Yoshino doesn't hate Komatsuda; he criticizes Komatsuda because he wants Komatsuda to become "an excellent clerk - no, an excellent human being." It turns out that Komatsuda hasn't been his usual clumsy self lately - and this worries Yoshino so much that he ends up collapsing. When they ask Komatsuda, it turns out he'd been to a shrine recently, and that's why he hasn't been clumsy. When all of them go to the shrine, Komatsuda rings the bells - and they end up falling on Yoshino's head. Yoshino chides him, and Komatsuda, with a blush on his face, says it's been awhile since Yoshino scolded him. Ninjutsu Academy is kind of like a big family, with episodes like this emphasizing the bonds all the employees share.
31-05 "Ninjutsu Academy's Specialty" (忍術学園名物の段)
Hemu-Hemu and Komatsuda tend to work well together (they have that same kind of breezy attitude), but Hemu-Hemu can also bring out Komatsuda's more childish side. In this episode, Komatsuda decides to go on a journey to train to be a ninja, and it's decided that Hemu-Hemu will take over Komatsuda's job. But when Hemu-Hemu excels at it and is called the school's specialty, Komatsuda gets jealous and instantly declares that he's the school's specialty and won't give up that title to anyone. It's not even the first time he's tried to compete with this dog... (see also ep 23-34).
His brother:
Yuusaku is a kind older brother who some might say babies Komatsuda a bit, and Komatsuda refers to Yuusaku as his "pride and joy" (ep 28-48). They're usually affectionate with each other, but there are times when they don't see eye to eye.
28-48 "Komatsuda Brothers Taken Prisoner" (とらわれた小松田兄弟の段) [Subbed by Tasogaredoki Jou]
When Komatsuda returns home to help with the store, he finds that Yuusaku has been kidnapped by the Dokutake ninja so they can force him to make fans for them to use ninjutsu with. Never fear, for Komatsuda is off to rescue him! An excellent example of their love for each other, as well as how understanding Yuusaku is of Komatsuda.
31-30 "Loved By Everyone" (みんなに愛されているの段) [Subbed by Tasogaredoki Jou]
After Komatsuda says he's on par with elite ninja when it comes to tracking intruders, Yuusaku visits the school to put Komatsuda's skills to the test. When Komatsuda doesn't perform as expected, Yuusaku decides to take Komatsuda back to Komatsudaya. This episode lets us see the friction that Yuusaku has between treating Komatsuda like a child and treating him autonomously.
Rikichi:
Rikichi and Komatsuda are like oil and water - except Komatsuda doesn't realize it. Komatsuda looks up to Rikichi's skills and gets along well with him, while Rikichi's anger at Komatsuda's shenanigans goes right over Komatsuda's head. Despite this, Rikichi still tends to treat Komatsuda with a level of respect (albeit sometimes begrudgingly).
30-56 "Rikichi's Day Off" (利吉の休日の段)
On his day off, Rikichi runs into Komatsuda while walking around town. Convinced that Rikichi is actually on the job, Komatsuda asks Rikichi if he could watch him so he can learn to be a ninja. And so begins an inadverdant game of hide-and-seek as Rikichi tries to get away from Komatsuda. This episode is a microcosm of their relationship: the casual and close way Komatsuda interacts with Rikichi, Komatsuda's inability see how irritating he can be to Rikichi, and the way Rikichi always gets pulled into Komatsuda's pace.
32-62 "Testing My Patience" (イライラするの段) [Subbed by Tasogaredoki Jou]
In addition to his normal spiel about how Komatsuda should give up on being a ninja, Rikichi specifically tells him that people like him are the first to die on the battlefield - potentially a look into why Komatsuda's naivety incurs a special wrath in Rikichi, as Rikichi has probably seen enough starry-eyed teens go to war unprepared and end up killed. This episode also has a rare instance of Rikichi respecting Komatsuda for his character and giving him a genuine smile. Includes the line "Just looking at you annoys me!" (イライラするんだ君を見ていると!) - a staple in fanwork with Rikichi and Komatsuda ever since its first appearance in volume 32 of the manga.
If you've made it to the end - thank you! I hope that even just reading through everything here has left you with a better appreciation of the depth of Komatsuda's character. If you have any comments, suggestions, or corrections, I'd love to hear them!
Interested in more episodes with Komatsuda? You can consult my chart which lists all (currently) known appearances of him in the anime. Please also feel free to direct any questions or discussion about Komatsuda my way!
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出門票にサインおねがいしま～す！
