Review of "Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho": A masterpiece anime depicting the passion of youth and the bonds of friendship

"Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho": A legendary anime depicting the youth and masculinity of the Showa era

■Overview of the work

"Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho" is a TV anime series that aired on Nippon Television from 1969 to 1970. It is based on a manga by Hiroshi Motomiya that was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump and produced by Tokyo Television Animation. It consists of 156 short episodes, each 10 minutes long, and was a popular daily program that aired from Monday to Saturday. This legendary anime, depicting the youth and masculinity of the Showa era, is still loved by many fans today.

■ Story

Mankichi Togawa of Saikai Junior High School wins a fight against 180 kids and becomes a bully with 1,000 followers in the Kansai region. He then makes his way to Tokyo, where he encounters business tycoons, rivals, and vicious minions of power. Mankichi grows stronger and strives to take over the world. His manly actions and the bonds he forms with his friends are at the heart of the story.

■Explanation

"Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho" was a TV anime series based on Hiroshi Motomiya's manga, with a unique format of six episodes aired Monday through Saturday. Tokyo Television Animation, which produced the series, was founded in 1965 by members of Nippon Broadcasting Films, an animation production company exclusive to Nippon Television, and began operations in 1968. The company disbanded in 1971 after producing the film "Yasuji's Pornrama: Yacchae Mae!", but members of the same company later founded Nippon Television Animation, which produced "Doraemon" (the first Nippon Television broadcast series) and other works. The series captured the hearts of boys in the Showa era and is known as a masterpiece depicting manliness and friendship.

■Cast

• Togawa Mankichi: Toyama Kei
• Mankichi's Mother: Toshiko Maeda
• Ginji Kubo: Makio Inoue
• Trumpet: Masako Nozawa
• Kaiunji Temple Priest: Masashi Amemori
• Masae Mito (the old woman from Mito): Kaneta Kimotsuki

■ Main staff

• Planning: Kensuke Fujii
• Producers: Hiroo Mishima, Nobuyuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Iwata
• Screenplay: Susumu Yoshida, Tadaaki Yamazaki, Shunichi Yukimuro
• Direction: Tadao Wakabayashi, Yoshiyuki Tomino
• Animation directors: Hiroji Kanazawa, Takao Yamazaki, Tsuguo Sakamoto, Saburo Sakamoto
• Art: Takamura Mukuo
• Photo by: Takashi Wakabayashi
• Edited by Tomoaki Tsurubuchi
• Audio Production: Kinzo Azusa
• Sound: Masahiro Ogawa
• Music: Yasuhiro Koyama
• Effects: Takayoshi Ohira
• Developed by Tokyo Developing Laboratory
• Recording: Bancho Studio
• Produced by Nippon Television Network, Tokyo Television Network

■ Main Characters

• Mankichi Togawa: A boy full of chivalry. With his strength and courage, he unites all the delinquents in Japan, and eventually comes to control Japan.
• Kubo Ginji: Self-proclaimed number one underling of Mankichi.
• Trumpet: Mankichi's oldest subordinate.
• Kaiunji Temple Priest: The head priest of the temple in Saikai Village, Mankichi's birthplace. He acts as a father figure to Mankichi.
• Mito Masae (Mito Hag): A fierce woman who leads the Mito zaibatsu and dominates the Japanese business world.
• Bouyatsu Mitsugoro: The leader of the beggars who Mankichi gets into a fight with when he comes to Tokyo.
• Kasumi no Daizaburo: The leader of the beggars. He has high hopes for Mankichi's future and promises to cooperate with him.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: The Village Braggart
• Episode 2: The Scarred Hero
• Episode 3: Boss Tsurutsuruten
• Episode 4: Duel! 180 vs. 1
• Episode 5: The old hag from Mito has arrived
• Episode 6: Mankichi's crying match
• Episode 7: A life-or-death gamble
• Episode 8: Mankichi Climbing Sugoroku
• Episode 9: A Man Among Beggars
• Episode 10: Mankichi goes to Tokyo
• Episode 11: The Mankichi family gathers in Tokyo
• Episode 12: Run! Idatenkid
• Episode 13: I'll Take on the Challenge
• Episode 14: Ginji's turn
• Episode 15: One million yen, life or death
• Episode 16: The Battle of Mankichi
• Episode 17: In Danger! Ten Million Yen
• Episode 18: Gather Around! Idiots
• Episode 19: The Millionaire Dream
• Episode 20: Mankichi, save your hometown!
• Episode 21: Flames of Vengeance
• Episode 22: The Battle of Akahimeyama
• Episode 23: The Continuation of the Battle at Akahimeyama
• Episode 24: Mankichi is defeated
• Episode 25: Showdown
• Episode 26: The Final Showdown

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho" is a work that captured the hearts of boys in the Showa era, and its appeal has not faded even today. The main character, Mankichi Togawa, is portrayed as a character full of manliness, and many viewers sympathized with his actions and words. In addition, the bond with his friends and his attitude of facing difficulties were loved by many people as a symbol of youth.

The series has been highly praised, especially for its storytelling and the appeal of its characters. Mankichi's coming-of-age story gives courage and hope to viewers, and teaches the importance of friendship and justice. In addition, despite being a short 10-minute episode, it has been praised for its suspenseful development and detailed story structure.

■ Background and influences

The production of "Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho" symbolized the heyday of Tokyo Television Animation. Many of the production staff were leading figures in the anime industry at the time, and their skills and passion are reflected in the work. In particular, the names of directors Tadao Wakabayashi and Yoshiyuki Tomino are familiar to anime fans, and their skills raised the quality of the work.

This work had a huge influence on later anime works. In particular, the production techniques, character drawing, and storytelling methods of anime based on boys' manga have been passed down to later works. In addition, as a work depicting the youth of the Showa era, it has become a masterpiece that remains in the hearts of many people.

■ Recommendations and related works

If you enjoyed "Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho", we also recommend the following works. These works are also known as masterpieces depicting the youth and masculinity of the Showa era.

• "Ashita no Joe": A youth drama about boxing. The main character, Toru Chikaraishi, is full of manly spirit.
• "Tiger Mask": A story about a wrestler who fights to save an orphanage. A masterpiece depicting friendship and justice.
• "Star of the Giants": A youth drama themed around baseball. It depicts the growth and friendship of the main character, Hikaru Hoshi.

These works, like "Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho", are masterpieces that captured the hearts of boys in the Showa era, and are stories that give courage and hope to viewers. Please watch these works to feel the youth and masculinity of the Showa era.

Conclusion

"Otoko Ippiki Gaki Taisho" is a legendary anime that depicts the youth and masculinity of the Showa era, and its charm is still loved by many people today. The story of the protagonist Togawa Mankichi's growth, his bond with his friends, and his attitude towards facing difficulties give courage and hope to viewers. This work had a major influence on later anime works, and will forever be remembered as a masterpiece that symbolizes the youth of the Showa era. Please watch this work and feel the youth and masculinity of the Showa era.