Shintetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo 1

In the year 300X, the Maruhage Empire hunted hair to dominate the world. But thanks to the power of the powerful (and slightly crazy) warrior Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo along with a motley crew of the greatest and strangest warriors the world had ever seen, the Hair Hunts were finally stopped and peace was restored to the world...or had it!? One year later, the Maruhage Empire is just as miserable as before (if not moreso), people are still losing their hair and an old enemy has returned greater than ever! But lucky for the innocent people, Bo-bobo is still on the job even a year after defeating his greatest opponents, with allies old, new and (obviously) strange arriving, a new journey is about to begin...

Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo by Yoshio Sawai

Vol. 1: New Hair
Shinsetsu 1: New Hair

TN: "Shinsetsu" is a word you're going to hear a lot in this series, so I guess it's best to get that explained first. "Shin" is the kanji for "truth" or "real", while "setsu" is the kanji for "theory". So essentially the word is "True Theory" or "Real Theory", dependant on how you feel about it)

5.
Pickle-y Summary of Pt. 1:

In 300X, Tsuru Tsurulina the 4th, the Emperor of the Maruhage Empire, began a "Hair Hunt" on the whole nation. Standing against this violent action is the weilder of Hanage Shinken (Fist of the Nosehair), Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo-san. I was introduced in chp. 1, how nostalgic~~on the other hand, I wasn't in chp. 2 but....
Joined by trustworthy allies such as Don Patch, he fought one after another the Hair Hunters and mangement, no, even more powerful enemies.
The Empire's New Emperor Playoff were invaded by the power of darkness and there were fierce fights, but the Empire was finally destroyed!
The final enemy was Bo-bobo's actual big brother, Bi-bibi, who had plotted everything! Ah, well, I was reintroduced here too. I didn't see how it ended cause I died quickly...
Bo-bobo-san and the others surmounted life and death to grab victory and the team broke up. Peace had arrived for the moment, but a new evil bud....
And so, this pt. 2 opens with great violence! But I, Pickles, am of no use---!!

7.
Narrator: A year has passed since Bo-bobo and the others destroyed the Maruhage Empire...all of their great struggles became legendary......
Narrator: This world is controlled by Tsuru Tsurulina the 3rd, who had obtained his true power and built up the Neo-Maruhage Empire.
Narrator: This Neo-Maruhage Empire possesses a mightier power than the Maruhage Empire. The nation was being tormented by the "Kegarimen", who replaced the Hair Hunters.

Chart:
NEO-MARUHAGE EMPIRE ORGANIZATION CHART
-Tsuru Tsurulina the 3rd
-Neo-Maruhage Three Great Kings
-Kegarimen Organization Department
(to left): Watanabe-san
-Kegarimen A-G Block Branches
(to left) A Famous Ramen Shop
(Left Side): Ramen Factory
(Right Side): Assasination Corp
-Kegarimen H-Z Block Branches
(to left): Propeganda

Narrator: To symbolize Tsurulina the 3rd's power, upon the head of the hair-hunted people
Narrator: A "TsuruPage Ramen" was attached with glue.
(TN: TsuruPage Ramen, or "TPR" as abridged by Sawai (and which I'll probalby use after this introduction if it ever returns), involves "Tsuru", which you probably know by now is an onomatopeia for a "slippery object", and "page" or "hage", which is "bald". BTW: "Kegarimen" is obviously a fusion of "kegari" or "Hair Hunt" with the "men" of "Ramen")
Man: GUBAA!!!
Narrator: The "Pagemen" (for short) had started.

8-9.
(TN: And so it begins...after a while away for me (too long according to some but I had stuff to do), the "Shinsetsu" era of Bo-bobo has come! Some old returns, some new arrivals, and a whole bunch of weirdness awaits...oh, and get a good look at that koala and that kid you don't know, you'll be seeing them soon enough. On the other hand...we're gonna have to wait for Heppokomaru...and really wait for Tennosuke)

10.
Narrator: 300X - Tokyo
Beauty: According to this letter, Bo-bobo should be in this town but...then again, he can't ignore the crimes of the Neo-Maruhage Empire.
Caption: BEAUTY
Beauty: Has it been a year...If I don't meet Bo-bobo quickly, something absurdly dangerous will happen.
Narrator: ...While thinking that, on Beauty's back
Narrator: Konjac clung to her.
(TN: "Konjac", as a reminder, is a type of tuber that is turned into a gelatenous product used either as a type of flour or jelly, including as a vegan substitute for gelatin)
Beauty: Is everyone alright...
"Don Patch & Tennosuke": HURRY AND USE US---!! HEY---!!
Beauty: I want to meet with everyone quickly.

11.
Beauty: But even so, the people in Shinjuku are all peaceful as usual~~As expected, there doesn't seem to be any weird things in this megalopolis.
(TN: As you remember at the final chapter of the original Bo-bobo, the whole team split up in the Tokyo ward of Shinjuku, notable as both a center of government, electronics and a lot of interaction with international tourists)
Koala: OH 1, 2, 3, 4; HACHI ROGO CHICHI KUO
(TN: The "koala" is doing a morning exercise routine by way of the radio, particularly notable due to how many exercise programs there are in Japan for such an activity. However, I really had a bit of a problem figuring out what he's saying in the second half of his program comments)
Beauty: THERE IT IS-----!!!! MY WISH WAS FUTILE, AN UNNATURAL CREATURE IMMEDIATELY APPEARED----!!!
Koala: ATTENDED MORNING RADIO CALISTHENICS! ONE STAMP!
Koala: !
Beauty: He's looking here...

12.
Beauty: EH-----!!? HE'S FALLEN FOR ME--!!!
Koala: Miss, you obviously have to come to my store!!
Beauty: EH? YOUR STORE...?
Beauty: EEH!!? THIS KOALA IS THE NUMBER 1 HOST IN SHINJUKU!?
Koala: RYU--YA, A VIP CUSTOMER! BRING AROUND THE BENZ
Girl: YES, KOALA-SAN!!
(TN: The three kanji in "koala" in the girl's "comment" towards him read "calling" for "ko", "love" for "a" and "Rome" for "la", therefore it's "call forth Roman Love..." I think)
Beauty: He rode here in a Benz...
Girl: I'VE BROUGHT IT, KOALA-SAN
Beauty: WHAT'S THAT?
Koala: This is a nice Benz...it's a wonder it matches me.
Beauty: IT'S OBVIOUS THAT'S NOT A BENZ!!! YOU'VE BEEN OBVIOUSLY TRICKED.

13.
Koala: Now, let's go. To a park where we can see the sea.
Beauty: ABSOLUETLEY NOT!!
Koala: UWAAA~~H, REJECTED~~!!
Beauty: I have to find Bo-bobo quickly...
Hair Hunters: HA HA HA----!!! ENTER KEGARIMEN D-BLOCK!! HERE STARTS THE SHINJUKU PAGEMEN~~~~!!!
People: UWAAAAAAAA
Beauty: RIGHT...RIGHT NOW!! THERE'S KEGARIMEN IN THIS TOWN TOO!!!
Hagemento: GEHEHEHE~~~YOU HAVE A NICE HAIR COLOR! IT MUST BE HUNTED...ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN SEASONED OR MISO!
Caption: Neo-D Vice-Leader: HAGEMENTO
Beauty: KYAAAAA
Beauty: BO-BOBO, SAVE ME!!
Hagemento: It's useless.
Hagemento: N! Above?

14.
Sign: KANTO VEGETABLE ALLIANCE
Hagemento: WHWHWH...WHAT IS HE---!!!?
Beauty: BO-BOBO!!!

15.
Head: A man who leaves behind peppers...isn't meant to live.
Hagemento: WHAAT? BO-BOBO!? HE CAN'T BE THAT LEGENDARY BOBOBO-BO BO-BOBO!?
Bo-bobo: DAAAAAAAAAMN----EVEN AFTER A YEAR, I CAN'T CONQUER THE PEPPERS----!!! ...BUT...BUT...
Bo-bobo: ALL OF YOU WILL EAT PEPPERS---!!!! HANAGE SHINKEN
Hair Hunters: GYAAAAA!!!

16.
Beauty: AMAZING, HANAGE SHINKEN IS INVINCIBLE AFTER ALL!!
Bo-bobo: WEREN'T THOSE KEGARIMEN DELICIOUS!
Beauty: WHA---!!? YOU WERE PAGEMEN JUST NOW!!?
Bo-bobo: It's been a year, Beauty. Are you still OK?
Beauty: Great, I found you at last! You haven't changed, Bo-bobo...
Koala: THE MEETING OF MAN AND WOMAN. AND THUS, I'LL MATURE.
Bo-bobo: Beauty, we'll talk later. Let's go.
Beauty: Go where?
Koala: Ignored!!?
Bo-bobo: I've decided: I'm destroying Kegarimen D-Block base!!

17.
Bo-bobo: NOW, LET'S DEPART FOR D-BLOCK BASE!!
Beauty: A train......
Beauty: YES!! I GOT THE RESERVED SEAT-----!!!!
Beauty: .........
Everyone: WHAT THEEEEE---!!!?
Beauty: Bo-bobo, aside from this, you can't ignore the crimes of the Neo-Maruhage Empire. Please, lend me your power!!
Koala: FINE. THE REWARD WILL BE YOUR LOVE---
Bo-bobo: I'm sorry, Beauty. I want to fight them too, but I have my reasons for not moving.
Koala: Koala ma...
Beauty: Huh? A reason?

18.
Bo-bobo: For the last year, I've...
Bo-bobo: BEEN A SHISHIODOSHI...
(TN: A "shishiodoshi" is a bamboo tube used to fill up with water and clack down lowering and removing the liquid, usually clacking not just to remove it's contents but to remove birds from a garden)
Beauty: WHY!!? IF YOU CAN DO THAT IN YOUR FREE TIME, THEN YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO FIGHT THE KEGARIMEN!
Koala: THIS IS A MEAN LIFE. FOR THE LAST YEAR, I'VE...
Koala: BEEN DAZZLING
Sign: LESSER PANDA CHIBITA-KUN
Koala: GET THOSE CUSTOMERS, PANDA!! KNOW YOUR SHAME! GET THOSE CUSTOMERS, PANDAAAA----!!!

19.
Beauty: Let's hurry and link up with everyone again; we'd want to fight as nine.
Bo-bobo: Of course...Are they doing well?
Beauty: SO WHY ARE YOU DOING JUDO TECHNIQUES ON ALL OF THEM!!? DO YOU HAVE SOME RESENTMENT OF THEM!!?
Bo-bobo: We'll be arriving at D-Block Base soon.
Beauty: Yes! Let's do this.
Koala: Really, you two. You can count on me.

20.
Bo-bobo: Calm down. What were you doing earlier? Are you a spy for the Kegarimen?
Beauty: HEY...THAT'S TOO MUCH!!
Caption: The koala sinks into the seat from the clear Autumn weather.
Gaou: Thanks...I'm the wandering koala, Gaou.
Caption: GAOU
Bo-bobo: So, are you using us for something?
Gaou: Actually...well...
Gaou: I'M KOALA-LY
Beauty: IN LOVE WITH BEAUTY-SAN!
Beauty: I THOUGHT SO!?

21.
SFX: Kyu
Bo-bobo: PTEW, let's go Beauty.
Gaou: AH, WAIT, BEAUTY-SAN!! I HAVE TO TALK...
Caption: KEGARIMEN D-BLOCK BASE
Bo-bobo: ASSAULT ASSAULT, APYAPYA--APYAPYA--!!
Gaou: KOARAMBO--!! KOARAMBO--!!
(TN: While obviously a parody of Sylvester Stallone's popular action hero John Rambo, the "R/L" switcharoo in Japanese allows for "Koala" and "Rambo" to be fused into a neat little pun)
Beauty: THAT KOALA CAME WITH TOO!!
Gaou: You figured it.

22.
Caption: Inside D-Block Base
Hair Hunter 1: Hey, someone defeated our vice-leader.
Hair Hunter 2: EH, YOU SERIOUS!? THAT'S SCARY~~
Hair Hunter 1: We really need to look into that~~
Hair Hunter 2: Should we buy some cheap fruit as we go back?
Hair Hunter 1: We--should.
Sign: FRUIT
Hair Hunter 1: REALLY, WELL, NO--!! WE HAVE A FRUIT STAND HERE?
Bo-bobo: Welcome.
Hair Hunter 2: THIS REALLY HELPS US--TWO MELONS, PLEASE.
Hair Hunter 2: Elevators recently are convenient.
Hair Hunter 1: N?
Hair Hunter 1: THERE'S A STRIPPER HERE--!!? AND YET THERE'S NO FEELING IN THIS SHOW!! (They're usually naked)
Sign: STRIP SHOW

23.
Bo-bobo: ELEVATOR ACTION!!!
(TN: As usual, Sawai uses a reference to a classic era video game. In this case, "Elevator Action" is a notable classic 1983 Taito video game involving a spy moving around a collection of elevators to steal secret documents and evade authorities)
Hair Hunters: GYAAAAAAA
Bo-bobo: ......Are you fighting the Kegarimen too?
Gaou: IF WISHED BY A WOMAN WITH LOVE
Beauty: We've successfully snuck in. With this, we'll go to the floor with the boss at once.
Gaou: Leave it to me! I'll make an opening for the boss here with my "Secret Cute Appeal" technique.
Bo-bobo: Can you do it?
Gaou: KOALA'S MEANING IS: "KO" FOR "KOI", "A" FOR "AI" AND "LA" FOR "OTTER".
(TN: This is a difficult language pun that actually needs some explanation and only works in Japanese. Both "Koi" and "Ai" are Japanese for "love", and Gaou uses both so it was hard to just say "ko" is "love", "a" is "love", so I had to keep both. As for the final "la", it actually stands for "rakko" (remember the r/l switch), which is Japanese for "sea otter". Since "rakko" really has no meaning to a person reading this in English, I translated it appropriately)
Beauty: OTTER!!?
Gaou: Kyu--Kyu--Kyu--Kyu--
Gaou: WELL. I'LL CHARM THEM BEING SUPER-CUTE.
Box: YAMANASHI NASHI
(TN: Yamanashi is a prefecture in the Chuubou region of Japan notable for it's fruit production. Nashi is a type of "Japanese pear" of the species "Pyrus Pyrifolia" known for their high price and generally only used as gifts)
Beauty: ANNOYING......
SFX: BING
Beauty: We're here.

24.
Gaou: THE FOOD CHAIN
Gaou: I'm useless.
Beauty: GAOU-KU--N!!!
Gaou: HEHE...A KOALA WHO CAN'T USE HIS CUTENESS IS WORSE THAN KITCHEN SCRAPS...KILL...THIS WORTHLESS FAD ANIMAL.
Beauty: HE'S SUDDENLY PESSIMISTIC!! WASN'T THAT QUICK.
Gaou: !!

25.
Ichigo Purin: Yo. You smashed the Maruhage Empire one year ago, Bo-bobo...I heard you did that. Riding that trend, you're mistaken in selling your fight to the Neo-Maruhage Empire. Neo is different in every way!
Caption: Neo-D Block Leader: ICHIGO PURIN
(TN: "Ichigo Purin" translates to "Strawberry pudding")
Bo-bobo: I'LL SMASH EVEN NEO!!
Ichigo Purin: NO, YOU'RE SMASHED IN THE ELEVATOR!!
Ichigo Purin: WELL FINE, I'LL KILL YOU!!
Lion: AH--
Beauty: THIS IS BAD, BO-BOBO...
Bo-bobo: The power-ups aren't just for those guys...
Beauty: HUH!?
Bo-bobo: SHINSETSU HANAGE SHINKEN: SUNGLASSES CHANGE!!!
Bo-bobo: BEAUTY...I'VE CHANGED IN A YEAR, I'LL SHOW YOU!!!

26.
Beauty: HE CHANGED TOO MUCH---!!! WHO ARE YOU NOW!!!?
Bo-bobo: Cheep cheep chedeep. Cheep cheep chedeep.
(TN: Bo-bobo's "noise" of "chuchun ga chun" is an alliteration in Japanese for the call of a tree swallow.)
Ichigo Purin: WHAT IS THAT GUY'S MOVE!? TELL ME, GIRL!
Beauty: NO, I DON'T KNOW!!

27.
Ichigo Purin: UWAAAA, HE'S COME! STOP...DON'T COME CLOSE! WHAT?
Bo-bobo: CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP...
Bo-bobo: CAUGHT YOU!!
SFX: POKE
Ichigo Purin: WHAT!?
Bo-bobo: SHINSETSU HANAGE SHINKEN: OUR WORKPLACE * EXPEDITION LOG!!!
Ichigo Purin: WHAT!?
Beauty: IT TURNED INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE!!
Gaou: A NAVY-BLUE BIKINI FITS ME!!
(TN: Another pun: the Japanese word for "convenience store" is "konbini". Meanwhile, Gaou follows that up with "kon bikini", which is a "navy blue bikini". The two are similar aside from adding the "ki" between the "bi" and "ni")
Bo-bobo: THE EFFECT OF THE SUN-GLASSES IS A FIELD CHANGE!! I'VE TRANSPORTED THE ENEMY TO A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS PLACE!!
Ichigo Purin: WHERE IS THAT GUY? WHERE DID HE GO!?

28.
Chip Aisle:
First Row: SWEET POTATO CHIPS / POTACORN / CAL / TAKOYAKI NIROU / MUCHO MU-CHO
Second Row: HOT HORSE / POTATO (CONSOMME) / BO-BOBO / POTATO (CURRY) / POTATO (SALT & SEAWEED)
Third Row: JA-GA-OU (ROYAL SALT) / JA-GA-OU (ROYAL CONSOMME) / POTACHI (QUICK COOK) / POTACHI (CHEESE) / HOT POTATO
(TN: I probably could do a field-day on various potato chip flavors in Japan, but I think I'll just leave this as is for the moment. BTW: somehow I wouldn't be surprised if "Ja-Ga-Ou" is a reference to one of Sawai's favorite WSJ series: Kazuki Takahashi's "Yu-Gi-Oh!")
Ichigo Purin: HE HID IN THE CHIP AISLE---!!!!
Bo-bobo: No one will be bothered if I'm here. We'll fight with everything we have together.
Manager: !!
Caption: Store Manager (45): Freed from being a white-collared worker, has a debt of 300,000.
Ichigo Purin: For making fun of the Kegarimen, I'LL KILL YOU.
Bo-bobo: SO, LET'S SETTLE THIS!!
Ichigo Purin: YOUR MOUTH IS MOCKING!!
Manager: 150...160...170 THOUSAND...NO! MY DAMAGE AMOUNT JUST KEEPS GOING UP!!
(TN: Note the scouter from DB)

29.
Ichigo Purin: SHOW IT TO ME THEN...
Ichigo Purin: THE POWER THAT SMASHED THE MARUHAGE EMPIRE.
Bo-bobo: TOMORROW
(TN: The kanji reading is "Redhead")
Ichigo Purin: GYAAAAA!!!

30.
Ichigo Purin: RIDICULOUS...WAS THAT NOSEHAIR?.....HE'S INSANELY STRONG...
Bo-bobo: Let's go.
Beauty: Right.
Gaou: That power...If it's him...
Tansu: WHY WAS D-BLOCK ANNIHILATED-ZANSU!? WHO ON EARTH DID THIS!? I DON'T HAVE TIME ANYMORE!! NOW I'LL LOOK FOR HIM-ZANSU.
(TN: "zansu" is an archaic standing for "to be")
Caption: Neo-C Block Vice-Leader: TANSU
Tansu: GET A COALITION AFTER HIM URGENTLY!! N!

31.
Tansu: A KOALA? What's it doing here?
Tansu: Well this koala really couldn't be the reason...for Ichigo Purin-zansu~~
Gaou: KOALA TRICK
(TN: The "trick" in "Koala Trick" is "Koppou", which is actually a combination which uses the kanji "bone method". Since it has a definition and isn't a standard movement like "Ougi" or "Shinken", I'm translating it)
Tansu: I...I DIDN'T KNOW-ZANSU...THAT KOALAS CAN USE TRICKS RECENTLY...
SFX: FU
Gaou: A stamp for an assassination. Finally I can be a friend that can use this power.

32.
Gaou: I WANT TO BE BEAUTY-SAN'S FRIEND!! I AM WEAK, BUT PLEASE SOMEHOW MAKE ME A COMPANION ON YOUR JOURNEY!!
Bo-bobo: Beauty...you decide.
Beauty: ...Well, come along.
Beauty: UWA!! A DISGUSTING SMILE.
Beauty: What will we do from here?
Bo-bobo: Right...shall we go and meet with our allies from the past while we destroy the Kegarimen?
Konjac: YOU HAVE ME FOR THAT!!
Beauty: KYA

33.
Mr. Konjac: I'VE BEEN SLOW IN SPEAKING THIS. I'M MR. KONJAC, A MESSENGER FOR TENNOSUKE-SAMA! TENNOSUKE-SAMA CURRENTLY FOR A REASON CAN'T HEAD OUT NOW AND I'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO TAKE YOU TO HIM.
Bo-bobo: WE HAVE TO SAVE HIM? THEN, IT'S DECIDED.
Bo-bobo: Shall we go see Don Patch first?
Beauty: OK.
Mr. Konjac: EEH---? WHAT!?
Mr. Konjac: WELL BEAUTY, I WON'T BE IN YOUR ODEN TONIGHT...
(TN: Oden is a notable hodgepodge filled with various foodstuffs which includes konjac)
Narrator: !!
Narrator: And thus Bo-bobo, joining up with a reunited Beauty and a mysterious koala, heads off on a journey of new adventures.
Center Grave: DON PATCH
Left Grave: SUNGLASSESMAN
Right Grave: BENJIMEN'S TOMB

TN: Welcome, one and all, to something I really should have started a long time ago! For those of you who are new, I'm the guy who actually translated vol. 3-21 of the original Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo and have returned to attempt the second, Shinsetsu era of the series. For those of you coming over from the previous Bo-bobo...let me start with an apology. Yeah, four months between the end of the original and the start of Shinsetsu is a bit longer than I've expected...but what do you expect with the way life has been. I've been busy with all sorts of things, other manga projects and haven't really had the time...let alone I am essentially using my own manga to translate this series so I have limited time to actually do this series compared to the original. But trust me, I do hope to do all 7 volumes no matter how long it takes...sadly, this chapter took me a while, but I can't really help it that Sawai decided to treat pt. 2 like a pilot for a brand new series! He probably just wanted to drive in new readers considering that many are starting from square 1 and really wouldn't want to read everything from the initial weird chapters to the epic final battle with Bibibi-bi Bi-bibi.

We'll probably be slowly getting into a lot of the main differences between the old and the new as the translations go further in, but I guess we can start with this: the first chapter shows that while things may change in the world of Bo-bobo, some things always remain the same. Bo-bobo still kicks a ton of butt (even if he still hasn't quite figured out how to handle peppers), Beauty is still a valuable tsukkomi...though this time seems much more mature in handling the weirdness compared to where she stood in chp. 1 of the original. And then there's Gaou...our first new character and already we face a rather controversial and strange position. You'll be seeing a lot of Gaou in the first couple volumes as Sawai tries to push him as part of the "new blood" of the series (before he slowly starts to vanish away...but we'll get to that), but even from the start you can see how weirdly inconsistant he is. Does the world need a perverted koala to fight alongside Bo-bobo? Well...he has a story but that's coming soon enough. And as for the other two mentioned here...well we'll be getting to Tennosuke's current "plight" by the end of the next couple volumes (yeah, it's bad), and Don Patch...well, that's next time! But hey, all I can say now is this: it's great to be back on the Hajike trail!