G-Men '75
Encyclopedia
was a long-running prime-time television detective series in Japan
. It aired on Saturday nights in the 9:00–9:54 p.m. time slot on the Tokyo Broadcasting System
(TBS) network from May 24, 1975 to April 3, 1982. A sequel, G-Men '82, followed, as did various specials. With several updates and cast changes, it included 355 episodes.
The story revolved around an investigative organ, the G-Men. The principal character, who spanned the entire series (and continued into the sequel and specials), was Superintendent Kuroki. Portrayed by Tetsuro Tamba
, Kuroki directed the members of the group.
The original cast also included Yasuaki (David) Kurata as Detective Kusano, trained in karate. Gō Wakabayashi
joined in Episode 105, and remained to the end of the series (and the sequel). His character, Lieutenant Tachibana, replaced a detective who was written out of the script.
Many more actors and actresses took regular roles in the series over the years. Gō Ibuki, Maria Mori
, Mari Natsuki
, Hiroshi Miyauchi
, Takeshi Kaga
, Bun-jaku Han, and Kyōko Enami were among them.
Shunsuke Kikuchi
wrote the opening theme songs. Various artists, including some cast members, wrote and performed the closing songs. Among the actresses who sang were Mari Natsuki
, Bun-jaku Han, and Kyōko Enami. For most years, the lyrics were by Junya Sato
, set to music by Shunsuke Kikuchi. Veteran announcer Takayuki Akutagawa narrated the series.
Selections are available on DVD.
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...
. It aired on Saturday nights in the 9:00–9:54 p.m. time slot on the Tokyo Broadcasting System
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 ....
(TBS) network from May 24, 1975 to April 3, 1982. A sequel, G-Men '82, followed, as did various specials. With several updates and cast changes, it included 355 episodes.
The story revolved around an investigative organ, the G-Men. The principal character, who spanned the entire series (and continued into the sequel and specials), was Superintendent Kuroki. Portrayed by Tetsuro Tamba
Tetsuro Tamba
was a Japanese actor.-Biography:Tamba is perhaps best known by Western audiences for his role as Tiger Tanaka in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice . By then, he had among other roles appeared in two films by director Masaki Kobayashi: Harakiri and Kwaidan...
, Kuroki directed the members of the group.
The original cast also included Yasuaki (David) Kurata as Detective Kusano, trained in karate. Gō Wakabayashi
Go Wakabayashi
is a Japanese film and television actor from Nagasaki.A graduate of Senshu University, Wakabayashi became a member of Shin Kokugeki, then Wakabayashi Promotions. Currently he is a member of Toho Entertainment....
joined in Episode 105, and remained to the end of the series (and the sequel). His character, Lieutenant Tachibana, replaced a detective who was written out of the script.
Many more actors and actresses took regular roles in the series over the years. Gō Ibuki, Maria Mori
Maria Mori
is a former singer and actress from Sapporo, Japan. She was also known as Maria Elizabeth. The daughter of an American FBI agent and a Japanese mother, she was a member of the Golden Half singing group, whose other members all had Japanese mothers and fathers from other countries...
, Mari Natsuki
Mari Natsuki
Mari Natsuki , real name Junko Nakajima , is a Japanese singer, dancer and actress....
, Hiroshi Miyauchi
Hiroshi Miyauchi
is a prolific Japanese actor from Chiba Prefecture. He is best known for playing some of the most memorable roles in Tokusatsu history, such as Kazami Shiro in Kamen Rider V3 and Ken Hayakawa in Kaiketsu Zubat...
, Takeshi Kaga
Takeshi Kaga
is a well-known stage and movie actor in Japan who is probably best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show Iron Chef produced by Fuji TV. His real name is .-Biography:...
, Bun-jaku Han, and Kyōko Enami were among them.
Shunsuke Kikuchi
Shunsuke Kikuchi
is a prolific Japanese composer from Hirosaki. He specializes in incidental music for media such as television and film.Active since the early 60s, he has been one of Japan's most highly demanded film and TV composers, working principally on tokusatsu and anime productions for children, as well as...
wrote the opening theme songs. Various artists, including some cast members, wrote and performed the closing songs. Among the actresses who sang were Mari Natsuki
Mari Natsuki
Mari Natsuki , real name Junko Nakajima , is a Japanese singer, dancer and actress....
, Bun-jaku Han, and Kyōko Enami. For most years, the lyrics were by Junya Sato
Junya Sato
is a Japanese film director.-Career:Born in Tokyo, Sato graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1956 with a degree in French literature. He joined the Toei studio and worked as an assistant to such directors as Tadashi Imai and Miyoji Ieki. He debuted as a director in 1963 with Rikugun zangyaku...
, set to music by Shunsuke Kikuchi. Veteran announcer Takayuki Akutagawa narrated the series.
Selections are available on DVD.
Source
This article incorporates material from Gメン'75 (G-Men '75) in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on March 4, 2008.External links
- DVD Selection from Toei
- Japanese National Bibliography 音楽録音・映像資料の部 (Audio recordings and film materials)