Fuku-chan

Publication

Fuku-chan began as a spin-off after the mischievous street boy from Yokoyama's earlier series Edokko Ken-chan became more popular than the original lead. The strip launched in the Asahi Shimbun in October 1936 and continued through the war, during which "Forward!" was added to its title for propaganda. It ran until 1971. Post-war, the artist faced censure for drawing Americans with red noses.

Film adaptations

The first film adaptation, Fuku-chan no Kishū, was released in 1941 as a one-reel film and was likely a success, leading the Navy Department to commission two more films about life at sea. Both were propaganda films released in 1944. The one-reel short Uwanosora Hakase was scripted by Yokoyama, directed by Maeda Hajime, and produced over eight months by a team of 18 as a Navy Department co-production with Asahi Eigasha; this short has not survived.

The second 1944 film, Fuku-chan no Sensuikan ("Fuku-chan's Submarine"), was a five-reel work directed by Mochinaga Tadahito, with conflicting reports about Yokoyama's involvement. The production team visited a naval base and submarine, incorporating observations such as a cooking scene. A multiplane camera was built but could only be used to a limited extent due to material and staff shortages. An anime television series followed in 1982, directed by Mineo Fuji at Shin-Ei Animation, with screenplays by Masaki Tsuji, Toshiyuki Kashiwakura, Noboru Shiroyama, and Hiroko Naka.

Character design was by Ryuichi Yokoyama. The 71 25-minute episodes aired on TV Asahi from November 2, 1982, to March 27, 1984. Music was composed by Hiroshi Tsutsui, and the opening song was "Boku, Fuku-chan dai!" by Chika Sakamoto.

Did You Know?

• The protagonist is five-year-old street boy Fukuo "Fuku-chan" Fuchida.
• Recurring characters include Kumi, Namiko, Kiyo, twins Doshako and Garako, and Ganchan.