Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo
Encyclopedia
, full title , is a long-running comedy
manga
by Osamu Akimoto
. It has been continuously serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump
since September 1976, with over 1700 chapters published, making it the longest-running manga series in history (Golgo 13
and Doraemon
began publication earlier, but neither has been in continuous serialization). As of volume 170 the series has sold over 135 million copies.
The manga has been adapted as an anime
series, produced by Studio Gallop, which was broadcast across Japan by the anime satellite television
network Animax
, and Fuji Television
, and two animated movies, a live-action movie, several stage adaptations, and a live-action television series.
Kochikame 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 a middle-aged cop, Kankichi Ryotsu (Ryo-san).
The plot have consistently evolved with the on going time, though most of the main characters have not really aged or only aged a little despite the obvious fact that the Comic started out drawing Japan of the 1970s while is now clearly drawing the Japan of 2000s. 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 have 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 mock 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 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.
A live-action TV series starring Katori Shingo as Ryo-san began airing on TBS
on August 1, 2009.
crossover fighting game Jump Superstars and its sequel, Jump Ultimate Stars
.
Kameari Koen is an actual park in Tokyo's Katsushika ward; the police box is fictional but modeled after a real one located on the north side of Kameari railway station. The manga has brought considerable fame to the neighborhood, and draws sightseers from all over Japan to a (usually vacant) police box in a nondescript residential neighborhood. There is only a vacant lot where the police station is actually supposed to be located.
In February 2006, a life-size bronze statue of Ryo-san was erected in front of Kameari station. Today you can follow a trail of 11 statues in the area.
(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 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 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 Jyoji 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 Hokage Mountain of Leaf Village in Naruto
and even solving the "Kira" crisis in Death Note
.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
by Osamu Akimoto
Osamu Akimoto
is a Japanese manga artist born on December 11, 1952 in Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan. He is best known for his long running series Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo, which has been continuously published in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1976...
. It has been continuously serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump
Weekly Shonen Jump
is a weekly shōnen manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. The first issue was released with a cover date of July 2, 1968, and it is still circulating. One of the longest-running manga magazines in Japan, it has a circulation of 2.8 million copies...
since September 1976, with over 1700 chapters published, making it the longest-running manga series in history (Golgo 13
Golgo 13
is a manga series written and illustrated by Takao Saito, published in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine since January 1969. In 1976, the manga won the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga...
and Doraemon
Doraemon
is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...
began publication earlier, but neither has been in continuous serialization). As of volume 170 the series has sold over 135 million copies.
The manga has been adapted as an anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series, produced by Studio Gallop, which was broadcast across Japan by the anime satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
network Animax
Animax
is a Japanese anime satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. A subsidiary of Japanese media conglomerate Sony, it is headquartered in in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with its co-founders and shareholders including Sony Pictures Entertainment and the noted anime studios...
, and Fuji Television
Fuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, and two animated movies, a live-action movie, several stage adaptations, and a live-action television series.
Kochikame takes place in the present day, in and around a neighborhood police station (kōban
Koban
Koban may refer to:, Japanese neighborhood police substation, sometimes called a "police box", a former Japanese oval gold coin* Koban culture, a Central North Caucasian culture circa 1100 to 400 BC...
) in the downtown part of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and revolves around the misadventures of a middle-aged cop, Kankichi Ryotsu (Ryo-san).
Plot
The typical Kochikame plot involves Ryo-san coming up with a money-making scheme by inventing a new gadget or capitalizing on a fad, achieving great success, calling on 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 the bizarrely out of place characters as Nakagawa who has wealth and Maria 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 in catching criminals.) Reiko and Nakagawa have special licenses (such as for wearing personal clothes instead of uniforms to work) from police headquarters because of their skills in linguistics.The plot have consistently evolved with the on going time, though most of the main characters have not really aged or only aged a little despite the obvious fact that the Comic started out drawing Japan of the 1970s while is now clearly drawing the Japan of 2000s. 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 have self mocked in a few look back episodes.
Kochikame has a broad audience, ranging from adolescent boys to middle-aged salarymen
Salaryman
refers to someone whose income is salary based; particularly those working for corporations. Its frequent use by Japanese corporations, and its prevalence in Japanese manga and anime has gradually led to its acceptance in English-speaking countries as a noun for a Japanese white-collar...
. Much like Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
, 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 mock 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
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, Kochikame's immense popularity has led to guest appearances in the strip by Japanese celebrities such as Tetsuya Komuro
Tetsuya Komuro
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
.
For creator Osamu Akimoto, Kochikame is an ongoing homage to the working-class people and districts of old Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 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.
Anime
The manga has spawned an animated television series.Live action
The manga had a live-action movie, and several stage adaptations.A live-action TV series starring Katori Shingo as Ryo-san began airing on TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
on August 1, 2009.
Collectibles
In addition, various toys and collectibles have been created, including some items that first appeared in the manga as creations of Ryo-san.Cameo appearance
Several of the characters in Kochikame also appear in the Nintendo DSNintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
crossover fighting game Jump Superstars and its sequel, Jump Ultimate Stars
Jump Ultimate Stars
is a fighting video game developed by Ganbarion and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. It is the sequel to Jump Super Stars, also released for the DS. The game was released in Japan on November 23, 2006...
.
Anime theme music
- Opening Themes
- by Ojou-sama (eps 1-12)
- Everybody Can Do! by TokioTokio (band)Tokio is a Japanese rock/pop band formed by Johnny & Associates that debuted in 1994. It is made up of five men who were signed with Sony Music Entertainment from 1994 to 2001, with Universal Music Japan from 2001 to 2008, and are now signed under J Storm, a label owned by Johnny & Associates...
(eps 13-38) - by Kōhei Dōjima (eps 39-145)
- by Shu Yamada and Hello Nights (eps 146-154)
- by Kankichi Ryotsu (LaSalle IshiiLaSalle Ishii, born on October 19, 1955 in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, is a Japanese tarento, comedian, actor, seiyuu, and theater director. Though his first name is meant to be "La Salle", it is instead usually romanized as Lasa-R.-TV:...
) and the Kochikame Chorus (eps 155-206) - by Yoshimi Tendo (eps 207-324)
- by Yum!Yum!ORANGE (eps. 325-367)
- Ending Themes
- by Hoff Dylan (eps 1-12)
- by The Collectors (eps 13-38)
- by Megumi OkinaMegumi Okinais a Japanese actress, and J-Pop singer in the 1990s.Born in Hiroshima and raised in Tokyo, she made her J-Pop debut on 19 August 1995. She starred in the Japanese original of The Grudge....
(eps 39-72) - by George TokoroGeorge Tokorois the stage name of Japanese tarento, singer-songwriter, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and essayist . Born in Tokorozawa, Saitama, he attended Takushoku University's Commercial Science class.-Works:*ALF - ALF...
(eps 73-124) - Kyun by Kanae (eps 125-145)
- by The LOVE (eps 146-153)
- by Takuro YoshidaTakuro Yoshidais a Japanese male singer-songwriter. He was born on April 5, 1946 in Okuchi, Kagoshima and raised in Hiroshima. He made his debut with the single "Imeji no Uta / Maku II" on June 1, 1970...
(eps. 154-163) - by Ono (Rieko MiuraRieko MiuraRieko Miura is a J-pop singer, and a former member of the group Coco. She was born in Nakano, Tokyo, Japan. Her solo debut was on 14 September 1991. After her career ended, she became a voice actress, performing the voice of Yomiko Readman in the Japanese animation series R.O.D. the OAV and R.O.D...
) & Naoko (Kanako MitsuhashiKanako Mitsuhashiis a Japanese voice actress from the Hodogaya-ku ward of Yokohama, Japan. She is married to fellow voice actor Kōji Yusa. Mitsuhashi is probably most known for her roles as Killua Zoldyck from Hunter × Hunter, Rico from Gunslinger Girl, and Suzuka Asahina from Suzuka.-Anime:* Absolute Boy - Miki...
) (eps. 164-176; 178-208) - by Kankichi Ryotsu (LaSalle IshiiLaSalle Ishii, born on October 19, 1955 in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, is a Japanese tarento, comedian, actor, seiyuu, and theater director. Though his first name is meant to be "La Salle", it is instead usually romanized as Lasa-R.-TV:...
) (ep. 177) - by Kankichi Ryotsu and The Kochikame Chorus (eps. 209-247)
- by ArashiArashiis a Japanese boy band formed under the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates, which announced the formation of the group on November 3, 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii...
(eps. 248-274; 282-293, 335-353) - by Ojou-sama (eps. 275-281)
- by Tetsu and TomoTetsu and TomoTetsu and Tomo are an owarai duo. They have made appearances on variety shows such as Bakushou. Tetsu usually dresses in red and Tomo in blue. Their act has been around since at least 2001, and is generally musical in nature...
(eps. 294-305) - by Tetsu and Tomo (eps. 306-315)
- Hai, Irasshai (Yes, Welcome) by Nice Guy Jin (eps. 316-325)
- by Sex Machinegun (Anchang)Sex MachinegunsSex Machineguns is a Japanese speed metal band formed in 1983. Their music is characterized by a heavy focus on bass as well as extremely fast guitar and bass solos...
(eps. 326-334) - by Kankichi Ryotsu & Oh-Edo Typhoon (eps. 354-366)
The real-life Kochikame
In February 2006, a life-size bronze statue of Ryo-san was erected in front of Kameari station. Today you can follow a trail of 11 statues in the area.
September 2006: Kochikame Anniversary
On the 30th anniversary of Kochikame's serialization in September 2006, Ryo-san made a cameo in every serialized manga in Weekly Jump; most notably, he had a full appearance as a marine in One PieceOne Piece
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
(chapter 427), as a spectator of the Taiyo/Hakushuu football game in Eyeshield 21
Eyeshield 21
is a manga about American football written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Yusuke Murata. It has been adapted into an anime movie in 2004 , an anime television series in 2005, several video games and a trading card game from Konami. The manga is serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump...
, as a crazed citizen in Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
is a supernatural detective Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yūsei Matsui. It is serialized in the Japanese shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series ended its run with 202 chapters...
, as a zombie in Gintama
Gintama
, also known as Gintama, is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Hideaki Sorachi and serialized, beginning on December 8, 2003, in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump...
(also emphasized in the animated version of the chapter) and drinking alongside Don Patch
Don Patch
Don Patch is a character in the anime/manga Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo.Don Patch is a pun on "donpachi", the Japanese sound of machine gun fire, and the name of a Japanese confectionery similar to Pop Rocks, which is why he is named "Poppa Rocks" in the English translation of the manga...
in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshio Sawai, published by Shueisha, and serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine...
.
At the same time, a special manga known as was published featuring the Kochikame characters in special chapters of series such as Golgo 13
Golgo 13
is a manga series written and illustrated by Takao Saito, published in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine since January 1969. In 1976, the manga won the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga...
, Lupin III
Lupin III
, also known as Lupin the 3rd, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiko Kato under the pen name of Monkey Punch. The story follows the adventures of a gang of thieves led by Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of...
, Kinnikuman
Kinnikuman
is a manga created by the duo of Yudetamago , which is composed of Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada. The manga was published in Shueisha's Weekly Jump, and received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen manga in 1985...
and Dragon Ball, as well as congratulatory pics from over 80 manga artists, many from Weekly Jump authors past and present, but also from other Shueisha
Shueisha
is a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
manga artists and even from manga artists not associated with Shueisha
Shueisha
is a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
such as Hiromu Arakawa
Hiromu Arakawa
is a Japanese manga artist from Hokkaidō. Her renowned manga, Fullmetal Alchemist, became a hit both domestically and internationally, and was later adapted into two television anime series. She often portrays herself as a bespectacled cow.-Biography:...
(Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist
, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The world of Fullmetal Alchemist is styled after the European Industrial Revolution...
) and Jyoji Morikawa (Hajime no Ippo). Notable congratulatory drawings include a Bankai challenge with Ichigo
Ichigo Kurosaki
is a fictional character in the anime and manga franchise Bleach by Tite Kubo. He is the story's main character. The series begins with Ichigo receiving Soul Reaper powers as a result of a run-in with Rukia Kuchiki, the Soul Reaper assigned to patrol his city, Karakura Town...
in Bleach
Bleach (manga)
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...
(saying his pistol is his Bankai because of the "BANG!!" sound of his pistol), having his face on the Hokage Mountain of Leaf Village in Naruto
Naruto
is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
and even solving the "Kira" crisis in Death Note
Death Note
is a manga created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and manga artist Takeshi Obata. The main character is Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook, the "Death Note", dropped on Earth by a god of death, or a shinigami, named Ryuk...
.
Special chapters
- 1. Golgo 13Golgo 13is a manga series written and illustrated by Takao Saito, published in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine since January 1969. In 1976, the manga won the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga...
(The Holiday Runner) - Ryo-san and Nakagawa are on vacation in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
when Ryo-san's luggage gets mixed up with Golgo 13's. So, they chase after him to retrieve it. - 2. Lupin IIILupin III, also known as Lupin the 3rd, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiko Kato under the pen name of Monkey Punch. The story follows the adventures of a gang of thieves led by Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of...
(Kankichi Ryotsu vs. Lupin III) - Ryo-san, Nakagawa, Reiko, and Bucho must prevent LupinArsène Lupin IIIis a fictional character introduced by Monkey Punch in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967. According to its creator, Lupin is the grandson of Maurice Leblanc's Arsène Lupin....
and the gang from stealing a diamond from a museum. - 3. KinnikumanKinnikumanis a manga created by the duo of Yudetamago , which is composed of Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada. The manga was published in Shueisha's Weekly Jump, and received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen manga in 1985...
(Seigi Choujin's Great Rendezvous in Kameari) - KinnikumanSuguru Kinniku, real name , is the main protagonist of Yudetamago's slapstick wrestling manga Kinnikuman and a supporting character in the sequel manga and anime series Ultimate Muscle ....
and the Idol Choujins head to Kameari to fight Akuma Choujins, but each ends up getting arrested for various reason. - 4. Dragon Ball (Kochira Namek-Sei Dragon Kōen-mae Hashutsujo) - Ryo-san, having been reassigned to Planet Namek, runs across FreezaFreeza, is a fictional supervillain of the Dragon Ball universe created by Akira Toriyama, who first introduced the character in his manga Dragon Ball, followed by its anime adaptation Dragon Ball Z...
and tries to arrest him for parking his UFO illegally. VegetaVegetais a fictional character and antihero in the Dragon Ball franchise created by Akira Toriyama. Vegeta first appeared in the manga chapter #204 first published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on December 19, 1988, and in episode 5 of its anime adaptation Dragon Ball Z...
and GokuSon Goku (Dragon Ball)Goku, known as in the English-language manga and original Japanese-language version, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball franchise created by Akira Toriyama. He is loosely based on Sun Wukong, a central character in Journey to the West...
make appearances as well. - 5. Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, Pyuu to Fuku! Jaguar, Taizo Mote King Saga, Maison de Penguin (Ryo-san vs. Don Patch!! Jump Gag All Stars' Great Panic in Katsushika) - Don Patch, jealous of the attention Ryo-san is getting during the 30th Anniversary Celebration, tries to steal Ryo-san's statue. So Bo-boboBobobo-bo Bo-bobo (character)Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo , or "Bobobo" as he is often called, is a fictional character and the main protagonist and title character of the anime and manga series Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo and Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo created by Yoshio Sawai.Bobobo is an eccentric man with bodybuilder sized muscles and a giant...
, Jaguar, and Taizo help Ryo-san stop him.