Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo

Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen Mae Hashutsujo

Cover of the first Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo manga volume
こちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所
(Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo)
Genre Comedy, police
Manga
Written by Osamu Akimoto
Published by Shueisha
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump
Kochikame
Maitsuki Taise Rekushon
Gatsu Kyoku Chō Selection
Konbini Tokushū Genteiban
Getsurei Tokusen Choice!
Gatsu Ichi Gokujō Choice!!
Kochikame Gold
Kochikame Hit Parade!!
Kyokusen Tsuāzu!!
Original run September 1976 – present
Volumes 198
Anime television series
Directed by Tetsuo Yasumi
Noboru Misawa
Shinji Takamatsu
Norihiro Takamoto
Akira Shigino
Music by Ryo Yonemitsu, Toshihiko Sahashi
Studio Studio Gallop
Network Fuji TV (1996-2004)
Original run June 16, 1996 – December 19, 2004
Episodes 373 + 9 specials
Anime film
Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo The Movie
Directed by Shinji Takamatsu
Written by Toshimichi Okawa
Studio Studio Gallop
Released December 23, 1999
Runtime 95 minutes
Anime film
Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo The Movie 2: UFO Shūrai! Tornado Daisakusen!!
Directed by Shinji Takamatsu
Written by Shinji Takamatsu, Toshimichi Okawa
Studio Studio Gallop
Released December 20, 2003
Runtime 109 minutes

Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen Mae Hashutsujo (こちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所, lit. "This is the police station in front of Kameari Park in Katsushika Ward"), often shortened to Kochikame (こち亀), is a Japanese comedy manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Akimoto. It takes place in the present day, in and around a neighborhood police station (kōban) in the downtown part of Tokyo, and revolves around the misadventures of middle-aged cop Kankichi Ryotsu.

It has been continuously serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since September 1976 with over 1800 chapters collected into 198 tankōbon volumes,[1] making it the manga series with the highest number of volumes.[2][3] The manga has been adapted into a television anime series, produced by Studio Gallop and broadcast across Japan by Fuji Television, two theatrical animated films, two live-action movies, several stage adaptations, and a live-action television series. As of February 2012, the series had sold over 155 million copies,[4] making Kochikame one of the best-selling manga series in history. In 2005, TV Asahi named the anime number 36 on its list of the Top 100 Anime.[5]

Plot

The typical Kochikame plot involves Kankichi "Ryo-san" Ryotsu coming up with a money-making scheme by inventing a new gadget or capitalizing on a fad, achieving great success, calling on Keiichi Nakagawa's help as things turn sour, and finally losing it all as the fad runs out of steam or out of control. While the plots are gag-driven, much of the humor comes from the combination of mundane characters with those that are bizarrely out of place; such as Nakagawa who has wealth and Ai Asato who has appeal. What they have in common is everyone's lack of actual police work, most of which is never explained or rationalized in the slightest. (It is explained in Jump that Ryo-san is one of the best officers at catching criminals.) Nakagawa and Reiko Akimoto have special licenses (such as for wearing personal clothes instead of uniforms to work) from police headquarters because of their skills in linguistics.[6]

The plot has consistently evolved with the ongoing times, and most of the main characters have not really aged, despite the fact that the series started in the 1970s, and is now clearly set in the 2010s. However, some characters have aged (like the grandchild of Buchao, who was a baby in the early books, but is now close to junior high) at a relatively reasonable pace, which the author has self-mocked in a few "look back" episodes.

Kochikame has a broad audience, ranging from adolescent boys to middle-aged salarymen. Much like Homer Simpson, Ryo-san's antics appeal to children who can laugh at an old buffoon, and to men fearing that they are becoming old buffoons themselves—and also because it often subtly mocks the latest fads and trends. The stories are generally innocent in content, and what little violence appears is comical, while the occasional risqué subjects are included strictly for laughs rather than to titillate. In another parallel to The Simpsons, Kochikame's immense popularity has led to guest appearances in the strip by real-life Japanese celebrities such as Tetsuya Komuro.

For creator Osamu Akimoto, Kochikame is an ongoing homage to the working-class people and districts of old Tokyo, and most episodes open with an elaborate full-page illustration of a Shitamachi (down-town) street scene, typically with old wooden buildings and boys playing in the streets.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Osamu Akimoto, Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen Mae Hashutsujo has been continuously serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since September 1976. Periodically the chapters are collected into tankōbon volumes by publisher Shueisha; the first released on July 9, 1977.[7]

Anime

A television anime adaptation of Kochikame began airing on Fuji Television on June 16, 1996. Produced by Studio Gallop, it ran for eight years and 373 episodes before ending on December 19, 2004.

Studio Gallop also produced two animated theatrical films, released on December 23, 1999 and December 20, 2003 respectively.

Theme music
  1. "Natsu ga Kita! (Diamond Head) - Nagisa no Joō-sama yori" (夏が来た!(Diamond Head) - ｢渚の女王様｣より, "Summer is Here! (Diamond Head) - from The Queen's Shores") by Joō-sama (eps 1-12)
  2. "Everybody Can Do!" by Tokio (eps 13-38)
  3. "Katsushika Rhapsody" (葛飾ラプソディー Katsushika Rapusodī) by Kōhei Dōjima (eps 39-145)
  4. "Kochira Kameza no Onna" (こちら亀座の女, "This is the Pisces Woman") by Shu Yamada and Hello Nights (eps 146-154)
  5. "Oide yo Kameari" (おいでよ亀有, "Come to Kameari") by Kankichi Ryōtsu and the Kochikame Wiiin Chorus (eps 155-206)
  6. "Damatte Ore ni Tsuite Koi" (だまって俺についてこい, "Shut Up, Follow Me") by Yoshimi Tendo (eps 207-325)
  7. "Katsushika Rhapsody ~Yum Yum Version~" (葛飾ラプソディー～ヤムヤムversion～ Katsushika Rapusodī ~Yamu Yamu Bājon~) by Yum!Yum! Orange (eps. 326-373)
  1. "Smile" (スマイル Sumairu) by Hoff Dylan (eps 1-12)
  2. "Ii Koto Aru sa" (いいことあるさ) by The Collectors (eps 13-38)
  3. "Lady no Yume wa Mangekyō" (淑女(レディー)の夢は万華鏡 Redī no Yume wa Mangekyō, "A Lady's Dream is a Kaleidoscope") by Megumi Okina (eps 39-72)
  4. "Buway no Biya Biya" (ブウェーのビヤビヤ Buwē ni Biya Biya) by George Tokoro (eps 73-124)
  5. "“KYUN”" by Kanae (eps 125-145)
  6. "Kimi to Boku" (君と僕, "You and Me") by The Love (eps 146-153)
  7. "Kimochi da yo" (気持ちだよ, "A Feeling!") by Takuro Yoshida (eps. 154-163)
  8. "Mainichi, No Problem" (毎日、ノープロブレム Mainichi, Nō Puroburemu, "Everyday, No Problem") by Ono (Rieko Miura) & Naoko (Kanako Mitsuhashi) (eps. 164-176; 178-208)
  9. "Robo Keiji Banchō no Uta" (ロボ刑事番長の歌, "Robot Detective Boss' Song") by Kankichi Ryotsu (LaSalle Ishii) (ep. 177)
  10. "Oide yo Kameari" (おいでよ亀有, "Come to Kameari") by Kankichi Ryotsu and The Kochikame Chorus (eps. 209-247)
  11. "Nice na Kokoroiki" (ナイスな心意気 Naisu na Kokoroiki, "Nice Disposition") by Arashi (eps. 248-274; 282-293, 335-353)
  12. "Natsu ga Kita! (Diamond Head) - Nagisa no Joō-sama yori" (夏が来た!(Diamond Head) - ｢渚の女王様｣より, "Summer is Here! (Diamond Head) - from The Queen's Shores") by Joō-sama (eps. 275-281)
  13. "Tetsu and Tomo no "Nande Darō" ~Ryō-san Version~" (テツandトモのなんでだろう～両さんバージョン～ Tetsu ando Tomo no Nande Darō ~Ryō-san Bājon~) by Tetsu and Tomo (eps. 294-305)
  14. "Tetsu and Tomo's "Nande Darō" ~Kochikame version~" (テツandトモのなんでだろう～こち亀バージョン～ Tetsu ando Tomo no Nande Darō ~Kochikame Bājon~) by Tetsu and Tomo (eps. 306-315)
  15. "Hai, Irasshai (HAI,IRASSHAI（ハイ!いらっしゃい）, "Yes, Welcome") by Nice Guy Jin (eps. 316-325)
  16. "Katare! Namida!" (語れ! 涙!, "Speak! Cry!") by Sex Machinegun (Anchang)(eps. 326-334)
  17. "Jugemu ~Kochikame version~" (ジュゲム～こち亀バージョン～ Jugemu ~Kochikame Bājon~) by Kankichi Ryotsu & Oh-Edo Typhoon (eps. 354-373)

Live-action

Kochikame has also had a live-action movie and several stage adaptations. The movie was directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, starred Mitsuo Senda as Ryo-san and was released in 1977.[8] A live-action TV series starring Katori Shingo as Ryo-san began airing on TBS on August 1, 2009.[9] A second live-action movie, based on this TV series and titled Kochikame - The Movie: Save The Kachidiki Bridge!, opened in Japan on August 6, 2011.[8]

Other media

Ryotsu appears playable in the Weekly Shōnen Jump crossover fighting video games Jump Super Stars, Jump Ultimate Stars and J-Stars Victory VS. Other characters from the series appear in a non-playable capacity.

In addition, various toys and collectibles have been created, including some items that first appeared in the manga as creations of Ryo-san.

Real-life Kochikame

The real neighborhood police station on which the manga one is based.

Kameari Koen is an actual park in Tokyo's Katsushika ward. The police station is fictional, but it is modeled after a real one located on the north side of Kameari railway station. The manga has brought considerable fame to the neighborhood, and it draws sightseers from all over Japan to a (usually vacant) station in a nondescript residential neighborhood. There is only a vacant lot where the police station is actually supposed to be located.

In February 2006, two life-size bronze statues of Ryo-san were erected at the north and south gates of Kameari Station. There is currently a trail of 14 statues in the area.[10]

30th anniversary

In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen Mae Hashutsujo's serialization, several special events were held. Separate one-shots of the series were published in thirteen different Shueisha magazines between August and October 2006.[11]

In September 2006, Ryo-san made a cameo in every serialized manga in Weekly Shōnen Jump; most notably, he had a full appearance as a marine in One Piece (chapter 427), as a spectator of the Taiyo/Hakushuu football game in Eyeshield 21, as a crazed citizen in Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro, as a zombie in Gintama (also emphasized in the animated version of the chapter) and drinking alongside Don Patch in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo.

At the same time, a special manga known as Super Kochikame (超こち亀 Chō Kochikame) was published featuring the Kochikame characters in special chapters of series such as Golgo 13, Lupin III, Kinnikuman and Dragon Ball, as well as congratulatory pics from over 80 manga artists, many from Weekly Shōnen Jump authors past and present, but also from other Shueisha manga artists and even from manga artists not associated with Shueisha such as Hiromu Arakawa (Fullmetal Alchemist) and George Morikawa (Hajime no Ippo). Notable congratulatory drawings include a Bankai challenge with Ichigo in Bleach (saying his pistol is his Bankai because of the "BANG!!" sound of his pistol), having his face on the mountain depicting the Hokage of Konohagakure in Naruto and even solving the "Kira" crisis in Death Note.

Special chapters

See also

References

  1. ↑ こちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Thirty Years of Gags". Web-Japan.org. 2006-09-04. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  3. ↑ "Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, Interview with the Artist of Kochi-Kame". Comipress. 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  4. ↑ "Top 10 Shonen Jump Manga by All-Time Volume Sales". Anime News Network. 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  5. ↑ "TV Asahi Top 100 Anime". Anime News Network. 2005-09-27. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  6. ↑ McCarthy, Jonathan Clements, Helen (2007). The anime encyclopedia : a guide to Japanese animation since 1917 (Rev. & expanded ed.). Berkeley, Calif.: Stone Bridge Press. p. 867. ISBN 1933330104.
  7. ↑ こちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  8. 1 2 "Manga-Based Live-Action Kochikame Comedy Gets Film". Anime News Network. 2010-08-08. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  9. ↑ "Kochikame, Shōjo Manga Get Live-Action TV Dramas". Anime News Network. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  10. ↑ "Local communities erect manga/anime statues with tourists in mind". Asahi Shimbun. January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Kochikame Comedy Manga to Appear in 13 Magazines". Anime News Network. 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2014-03-13.

External links

Preceded by
Kiteretsu Daihyakka
(3/27/1988 - 6/9/1996)		 Fuji TV Sunday 19:00 Timeframe
Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo
(June 16, 1996 – December 19, 2004) 		Succeeded by
One Piece
(1/5/2005 - 9/24/2006)
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