Norakuro
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese manga
series created by Suihō Tagawa. The titular protagonist, Norakuro, or Norakuro-kun
, is a black and white dog. The name Norakuro is an abbreviation of and .
Norakuro strongly influenced Machiko Hasegawa
, the author of Sazae-san
, who apprenticed with its author Suihō Tagawa.
There is an excerpt that appears in the sixth Kramer's Ergot comics anthology
which is the only example of Tagawa's work published in English.
of the time. The artist, Suihō, had served in the Imperial Army from 1919 to 1922. Norakuro is gradually promoted from private to sergeant in the stories, which are humorous episodes.
Serialization of Norakuro stopped during the second World War
. After the war, due to the popularity of the strip, the character returned in various guises, including a sumo
wrestler and a botanist.
Pre-war animated films based on the military Norakuro, and two post-war animated
television series of Norakuro, in 1970 and 1987, have also been produced. In the 1970 series, the voice of Norakuro was played by Nobuyo Ōyama
, also known as the voice of Doraemon
. During the 1980s and early 1990s Norakuro was the mascot of the Physical Training School (Tai-Iku Gakko) of the Japan Self Defense Force.
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...
ese 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...
series created by Suihō Tagawa. The titular protagonist, Norakuro, or Norakuro-kun
Japanese titles
The Japanese language uses a broad array of honorific suffixes for addressing or referring to people, for example -san, as in Daniel-san. These honorifics are gender-neutral , though some are more used for men or women and can be attached to first names as well as...
, is a black and white dog. The name Norakuro is an abbreviation of and .
Norakuro strongly influenced Machiko Hasegawa
Machiko Hasegawa
, January 30, 1920 – May 27, 1992, in Taku, Saga Prefecture) was one of the first female manga artists.She started her own comic strip, Sazae-san, in 1946. It reached national circulation via the Asahi Shimbun in 1949, and ran daily until Hasegawa decided to retire in February 1974...
, the author of Sazae-san
Sazae-san
is a Japanese comic strip created by Machiko Hasegawa. It was first published in Hasegawa's local paper, the , on April 22, 1946. When the wished to have Hasegawa draw the comic strip for their paper, she moved to Tokyo in 1949 with the explanation that the main characters had moved from Kyūshū to...
, who apprenticed with its author Suihō Tagawa.
There is an excerpt that appears in the sixth Kramer's Ergot comics anthology
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
which is the only example of Tagawa's work published in English.
History
In the original story, the central character Norakuro was a soldier serving in an army of dogs called the . The strip's publication began in 1931, and was clearly based on the Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
of the time. The artist, Suihō, had served in the Imperial Army from 1919 to 1922. Norakuro is gradually promoted from private to sergeant in the stories, which are humorous episodes.
Serialization of Norakuro stopped during the second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, due to the popularity of the strip, the character returned in various guises, including a sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestler and a botanist.
Pre-war animated films based on the military Norakuro, and two post-war animated
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....
television series of Norakuro, in 1970 and 1987, have also been produced. In the 1970 series, the voice of Norakuro was played by Nobuyo Ōyama
Nobuyo Oyama
is a Japanese voice actress currently represented by Actors Seven.She is best known for playing the title character in the long-running Doraemon anime.- Notable voice work :* Sazae-san * Doraemon...
, also known as the voice of Doraemon
Doraemon
is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...
. During the 1980s and early 1990s Norakuro was the mascot of the Physical Training School (Tai-Iku Gakko) of the Japan Self Defense Force.
External links
- Norakuro-kun at Studio PierrotStudio Pierrotis a Japanese animation/animation studio, founded in 1979 by former employees of Tatsunoko Production. Its headquarters is located in Mitaka, Tokyo.The company has a simple logo of the face of a clown...
- Norakuro-kun at Studio Pierrot