Ooka Echizen
Encyclopedia
was a long-running prime-time television jidaigeki
in Japan
. From March 16, 1970 to March 15, 1999, 402 episodes were broadcast. Also, a two-hour special aired on March 20, 2006, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the National
Gekijō, which occupies the Monday evening 8:00–8:54 time slot on the TBS
network, sponsored by Matsushita
. It alternated, seasonally, with Mito Kōmon
and Edo o Kiru
.
The title character is Ōoka Tadasuke
, a historical person who was a magistrate in the city of Edo
(the forerunner of modern Tokyo) during the time of Tokugawa Yoshimune
in the eighteenth century. The magistrate acted as chief of police, judge and jury. The show was a detective-courtroom program. Actor Gō Katō
created the title character and played him throughout the life of the series.
Among the characters were many who appeared in several years. For two decades, Muga Takewaki played Sakakibara Iori, a doctor at the Koishikawa Yōjōsho ("city hospital"). Chiezō Kataoka
acted as Tadasuke's father until his death in 1983. Tadasuke's wife was initially portrayed by Masayo Utsunomiya; after the 1983 season Wakako Sakai replaced her and continued until 1985. Later that year, Yoshie Taira
took on the role, and continued for the remainder of the series. Shiho, the apprentice doctor, appeared from 1983 to 1996. Actress Ritsuko Nemoto
portrayed her, and returned for the 2006 special, as did Takewaki and Taira. Takashi Yamaguchi appeared occasionally as Yoshimune. He, Gentarō Takahashi as the beat cop Tatsuzō, and Katō in the title role were the only three who appeared in series from beginning to end, as well as in the 2006 special. Sanae Tsuchida
was in the cast from 1970 to 1975.
Additional roles included members of the police force, maids in the Ōoka household, and the women of the eatery the police frequented. There was a narrator too. In one season it was Hidekatsu Shibata
.
Sōgen Asahina
did the title calligraphy. Takeo Yamashita did the music
The series was produced by C.A.L. It has been widely rerun on ground and satellite television. Some episodes available on DVD.
Jidaigeki
is a genre of film, television, and theatre in Japan. The name means "period drama" and is usually the Edo period of Japanese history, from 1603 to 1868. Some, however, are set much earlier—Portrait of Hell, for example, is set during the late Heian period—and the early Meiji era is also a popular...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. From March 16, 1970 to March 15, 1999, 402 episodes were broadcast. Also, a two-hour special aired on March 20, 2006, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the National
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
Gekijō, which occupies the Monday evening 8:00–8:54 time slot on the 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 ....
network, sponsored by Matsushita
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
, formerly known as , is a Japanese multinational consumer electronics corporation headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan. Its main business is in electronics manufacturing....
. It alternated, seasonally, with Mito Kōmon
Mito Kōmon
is a Japanese jidaigeki or period drama that has been on prime-time television since 1969. The title character is the historic Tokugawa Mitsukuni, former vice-shogun and retired second daimyo of the Mito domain...
and Edo o Kiru
Edo o Kiru
Edo o Kiru or Slashing Edo was a popular jidaigeki on Japan's Tokyo Broadcasting System. During the decades from its September 24, 1973 premiere until the July 25, 1994 finale, 214 episodes aired. It lasted through eight series, with several casts and settings...
.
The title character is Ōoka Tadasuke
Ooka Tadasuke
was a Japanese samurai in the service of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the reign of Tokugawa Yoshimune, as a magistrate of Edo, his roles included chief of police, judge and jury, and Yamada Magistrate prior to his tenure as South Magistrate of Edo...
, a historical person who was a magistrate in the city of Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
(the forerunner of modern Tokyo) during the time of Tokugawa Yoshimune
Tokugawa Yoshimune
was the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1716 until his abdication in 1745. He was the son of Tokugawa Mitsusada, the grandson of Tokugawa Yorinobu, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.-Lineage:...
in the eighteenth century. The magistrate acted as chief of police, judge and jury. The show was a detective-courtroom program. Actor Gō Katō
Go Kato
Go Kato was born February 4, 1938, in Omaezaki, Shizuoka, Japan. He is a Japanese entertainer, and actor.-TV Dramas:*Sosa Kenji Ukon Makoto no Satsujin Chosho...
created the title character and played him throughout the life of the series.
Among the characters were many who appeared in several years. For two decades, Muga Takewaki played Sakakibara Iori, a doctor at the Koishikawa Yōjōsho ("city hospital"). Chiezō Kataoka
Chiezo Kataoka
was a Japanese actor. Born in 1903 in Gunma Prefecture, he was raised in Tokyo. His first starring role in a film was in 1923. Specializing in jidaigeki, he played the lead in various films before and during World War II. After the war, he eventually joined Toei...
acted as Tadasuke's father until his death in 1983. Tadasuke's wife was initially portrayed by Masayo Utsunomiya; after the 1983 season Wakako Sakai replaced her and continued until 1985. Later that year, Yoshie Taira
Yoshie Taira
is a Japanese actress. She graduated from St. Margaret's Junior College in Suginami, Tokyo.From 1985 to 1999, she was a costar in the TBS prime-time television series Ōoka Echizen in the role of Yukie, the wife of Ōoka Tadasuke...
took on the role, and continued for the remainder of the series. Shiho, the apprentice doctor, appeared from 1983 to 1996. Actress Ritsuko Nemoto
Ritsuko Nemoto
is a Japanese actress. From 1983 to 1996, she portrayed the nurse Shiho in Series 7–14 of the long-running prime-time series Ōoka Echizen on the nationwide Tokyo Broadcasting System network. A frequent guest star in jidaigeki roles, she has seven appearances in Mito Kōmon to her credit...
portrayed her, and returned for the 2006 special, as did Takewaki and Taira. Takashi Yamaguchi appeared occasionally as Yoshimune. He, Gentarō Takahashi as the beat cop Tatsuzō, and Katō in the title role were the only three who appeared in series from beginning to end, as well as in the 2006 special. Sanae Tsuchida
Sanae Tsuchida
is a Japanese actress. She was born on July 26, 1949, in Toyonaka, Osaka.In film, Tsuchida had a role in Kore ga Seishun Da! . In another modern role , she appeared in the Norifumi Suzuki film Torakku Yarō: Hōkyō Ichiban Hoshi. The year 1979 saw her in a film based on the television series she had...
was in the cast from 1970 to 1975.
Additional roles included members of the police force, maids in the Ōoka household, and the women of the eatery the police frequented. There was a narrator too. In one season it was Hidekatsu Shibata
Hidekatsu Shibata
is a Japanese voice actor from Asakusa, Tokyo who is affiliated with Aoni Production. He was a classmate of Yasuo Fukuda at Azabu High School. He is married to voice actress Akiko Sekine....
.
Sōgen Asahina
Sogen Asahina
was an influential Japanese Rinzai zen master. He was also a prolific writer and a calligrapher.Born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Asahina graduated from Nihon University. He studied at Myōshin-ji in Kyoto and at Engaku-ji in Kamakura. He rose to become the head of the Engaku-ji branch of Rinzai Zen...
did the title calligraphy. Takeo Yamashita did the music
The series was produced by C.A.L. It has been widely rerun on ground and satellite television. Some episodes available on DVD.