The appeal and reputation of "Ijiwaru Baasan": Humor from the good old days brought to the present

"Ijiwaru Baasan": A classic anime filled with Showa-era humor and social satire

■Overview of the work

"Ijiwaru Baasan" is a comedy anime based on a four-panel manga by Hasegawa Machiko, which aired on Yomiuri TV from October 3, 1970 to August 18, 1971. The series has 40 30-minute episodes, depicting the mean behavior of the main character, Harano Tatsu, towards various people. The original "Ijiwaru Baasan" has been adapted into a live-action drama and anime many times, with the character settings and cast often changing each time, but in this 1970s version, the main character's name was changed from "Ichiwariishi" to "Harano Tatsu."

■ Story

Harano Tatsu is an old woman whose sole purpose in life is to be mean. Her targets range from family and acquaintances to people living next door to unrelated passers-by. Tatsu is known as a "mean old woman" who is mercilessly mean to children and animals. Her actions are sometimes humorous and sometimes socially satirical, providing viewers with laughter and something to think about.

■Explanation

"Ijiwaru Baasan" is a work that features Machiko Hasegawa's unique humor and social satire. The original four-panel manga satirizes small events that occur in everyday life, and the anime version retains this essence. In particular, episodes that reflect the Showa era provide a fresh perspective for modern viewers. Furthermore, the meanness displayed by the main character, Tatsu, is not simply shown as malice, but is sometimes depicted as a means to help people, making him a character with depth.

■Cast

The role of Harano Tatsu was played by Shigeo Takamatsu. Shigeo Takamatsu's voice made the character of Tatsu stand out even more and left a strong impression on viewers. Many other voice actors also played supporting roles, improving the quality of the entire work.

■ Main staff

The original story was written by Hasegawa Machiko, the producer was Masuda Kenji, the production manager was Kogure Kazuto, and the scripts were written by Yoshida Yoshiaki, Yoshida Susumu, Suzuki Yoshitake, Okamoto Kinzo, Aono Akira, Yanagishita Chotaro, Ito Tsunehisa, and Amemiya Yuji. The animation was by Hayashi Seiichi and Tominaga Sadahisa, the art was by Kato Kiyoshi, Saijo Kumiko, Kawamoto Seihei, and Kudo Goichi, the music was by Koyama Yasuhiro, and the direction was by Aono Akira, Takeda Harumichi, and Sugiyama Shoichi. It was produced by NAC, and produced by Yomiuri TV and Theatre Pro. These staff members worked together to bring out the best in the work.

■ Main Characters

Harano Tatsu is the main character, an old woman who enjoys causing trouble for people. Her actions, which she plays with no regard for who she meets, provide viewers with laughs and things to think about. Tatsu's character is not simply a villain, but is also portrayed as a means to help people at times, making her a character with depth.

■Subtitle

The subtitles of each episode indicate how Tatsu's meanness will play out. For example, the first episode, "Golf is a Woman's Enemy" and "Peke's First Love", features an episode in which Tatsu is mean to women who play golf, and an episode depicting Peke's first love. There are also a variety of other episodes, such as "I Want to Be Famous," "The Mean Driver's License," "My Wife is Sick," and "Peke is a Famous Dog." These subtitles are designed to allow viewers to enjoy the show while predicting the content of each episode.

■ Related works

"Ijiwaru Baasan" was also made into a TV anime in 1986, which also gained popularity. The original four-panel manga has also been adapted into a live-action drama many times, with each version featuring different casts and character settings. By enjoying these related works together, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world of "Ijiwaru Baasan."

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Ijiwaru Baasan" is a masterpiece anime filled with Showa-era humor and social satire. The meanness of the main character, Harano Tatsu, provides viewers with laughter and makes them think, and he is portrayed as a deep character. In addition, episodes that reflect the Showa era provide a fresh perspective for modern viewers. This is a work that we would especially recommend to those who want to enjoy Hasegawa Machiko's unique humor and social satire. You can also gain a deeper understanding of the world of "Ijiwaru Baasan" by enjoying related works as well.

■Detailed information

Broadcast period: October 3, 1970 to August 18, 1971 Broadcast time: October 3, 1970 to August 18, 1971 Every Saturday 19:30-20:00
(*From April to June 1971, it was aired every Wednesday from 19:30 to 19:56. From July 1971 onwards, it was aired from 19:30 to 20:00.)
Broadcasting station: Yomiuri TV Running time: 30 minutes Number of episodes: 40 episodes Original story: Machiko Hasegawa Production: NAC

■Subtitle List

Episode 1: "Golf is a Woman's Enemy" and "Peke's First Love" (1970/10/03)
Episode 2: "I want to be famous" "The mean license" (1970/10/10)
Episode 3: "My Wife is Sick" "Peke is a Famous Dog" (1970/10/17)
Episode 4: "The Thief Surrenders" "Helping People is a Good Thing" (1970/10/24)
Episode 5: "It's not easy being the director" "Who's going to leave?" (1970/10/31)
Episode 6: "If the Dog Walks" and "I Love Dates Too" (1970/11/07)
Episode 7: "We'll clear the false charges" "The whole neighborhood is neurotic" (1970/11/14)
Episode 8: "I won't let you build a house" "I want a souvenir for my son" (1970/11/21)
Episode 9: "Running away from home is also fun" and "Kidnapping gang filial piety" (1970/11/28)
Episode 10: "Chuck the Chuckle" and "Bonus Fight" (1970/12/05)
Episode 11: "Trip to Hawaii" "This is the final miracle cure" (12/12/1970)
Episode 12: "Boyfriend" "Too much of a good thing is bad" (1970/12/19)
Episode 13: "Free Profit" and "Peke's Cat Extermination" (1970/12/26)
Episode 14: "I'm sorry for causing trouble again this year" "Gangster King Capone" (1971/01/02)
Episode 15: "No Mercy for Meanness" and "The Road to Becoming a Hippie Artist" (1971/01/09)
Episode 16: "I want to be an astronaut" "My tutor is my savior" (1971/01/16)
Episode 17: "Beat the nouveau riche" and "The big alcohol and smoking ban commotion" (1971/01/23)
Episode 18: "Happy Birthday" "Even in rags, the heart is rich" (1971/01/30)
Episode 19: "This is mean" "Mean War" (1971/02/06)
Episode 20: "Beware of Burglars" "Welcome, Mr. President" (1971/02/13)
Episode 21: "It's Hard to Be Mean" "I Love You, Officer" (1971/02/20)
Episode 22: "Spartan Treatment for Cute Children" and "The Secret of Longevity" (1971/02/27)
Episode 23: "It's Easy" "I Can't Lose" (1971/03/06)
Episode 24: "Peke turns into a cat" "Don't give in to a thief" (1971/03/13)
Episode 25: "Great Confusion" "I prefer solitude after all" (1971/03/20)
Episode 26: "Paris is Wonderful" and "A Strange Part-Time Job" (1971/03/27)
Episode 27: "Baby Trouble" "Destroy the Hospital" (1971/04/07)
Episode 28: "Cowardice is dead" "If pushing doesn't work, try peeling" (1971/04/14)
Episode 29: "Eradicating the Educational Mamagon" (subtitle unknown) (1971/04/28)
Episode 30: "It's tough being an extra" (subtitle unknown) (1971/05/19)
Episode 31: "Doggie Liberation" (subtitle unknown) (1971/05/26)
Episode 32: "I Love Amusement Parks" (Subtitle Unknown) (1971/06/16)
Episode 33: "The Great Detective of All Time" and "The Battle of Harassment" (1971/06/30)
Episode 34: "Life Advice" "It's Tough Being a Top Star" (1971/07/07)
Episode 35: "Peke's Big Circus" "The Department Store is a Mess" (1971/07/14)
Episode 36: "Grandma's Will!" "Our House is an Apartment" (1971/07/28)
Episode 37: "Part Timer" "The Worst Showdown in History" (August 4, 1971)
Episode 38: "Let's help those in need" "Oh, the wicked spirits lamenting the dam" (1971/08/18)