Notari Matsutaro: The charm of a relaxing everyday life and humorous characters

"Notari Matsutaro": Chiba Tetsuya's masterpiece revived as an OVA

■Overview of the work

"Notari Matsutaro" is an OVA based on the popular sumo manga by Chiba Tetsuya. It was released on November 22, 1990, and consists of 5 episodes. Directed and produced by Katabuchi Sunao, it has succeeded in bringing out the charm of the original work to its fullest.

■ Story

Matsutaro Sakaguchi is a 19-year-old middle school student who is a problem child who repeatedly engages in problematic behavior such as cheating and leaving school early. One day, under the influence of alcohol, he barges into the house of his admired teacher, Reiko Minami, and commits a violent act. This incident causes Matsutaro to be expelled from school, and while searching for work, he gets into trouble with Iwanokuni, a touring sumo wrestler. This is where his new life begins.

■Explanation

"Notari Matsutaro" is an OVA based on Chiba Tetsuya's work, which won the Shogakukan Manga Award in the Young Adults General Category. The humor and human drama of the original work are skillfully visualized, and the highlight is the human drama depicted through the sport of sumo. Directed by Katabuchi Sunao, the worldview of the original work is faithfully reproduced.

■Cast

The voice actors for this work include talented actors such as Yusaku Yara, Rei Sakuma, Kozo Shioya, and Takeshi Aono. Their performances bring out the personalities of the characters even more vividly.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song "Yokozuna Tsuna" was written, composed and sung by Ikuzo Yoshi. This song is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

■Detailed story and character analysis

The story of "Notari Matsutaro" revolves around the growth and setbacks of the main character, Matsutaro Sakaguchi. Matsutaro is a middle school student, despite being 19 years old. His problematic behavior has a huge impact on those around him, but he never loses his purity or passion.

After dropping out of school, Matsutaro meets sumo wrestler Iwanokuni while searching for a job. This encounter becomes a turning point in his life. Through the sport of sumo, Matsutaro comes to recognize his own weaknesses and strengths and grows.

Of the characters, one to pay particular attention to is Reiko Minami, a teacher whom Matsutaro looks up to. Although she is troubled by Matsutaro's behavior, she understands his purity and is portrayed as trying to support him. Additionally, sumo wrestler Iwanokuni is both a rival and a mentor to Matsutaro. Their relationship is an important theme throughout the work.

■Animation and direction

Director Sunao Katabuchi's direction faithfully reproduces the atmosphere of the original work while pursuing the visual beauty that only an OVA can offer. In particular, the sumo scenes are a perfect blend of powerful movements and detailed depictions, creating a visual impact. In addition, the way the characters' expressions and movements convey their emotions has also been praised.

■ Voice actor performance

Matsutaro, played by Yusaku Yara, is portrayed as a character who exudes innocence despite being a troublemaker. Teacher Reiko Minami, played by Rei Sakuma, leaves a deep impression on viewers as a character who is both kind and strict. The sumo wrestlers, played by Kozo Shioya and Takeshi Aono, also add to the excitement of the show with their performances that make the most of their individual personalities.

■Music and theme songs

The theme song "Yokozuna Tsuna" by Yoshi Ikuzo plays an important role as a song that symbolizes the theme of the work. The powerful melody and lyrics add depth to the story that depicts Matsutaro's growth and setbacks. The background music also effectively expresses the sumo scenes and the characters' feelings, contributing to the overall atmosphere.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Notari Matsutaro" is highly acclaimed as an OVA work that brings out the charm of the original work to the fullest. In particular, the human drama depicted through the sport of sumo wrestling deeply moves viewers. In addition, the direction of director Sunao Katabuchi and the performances of the voice actors are also superb, raising the quality of the entire work.

This work is recommended not only for sumo fans, but also for those who want to enjoy human drama and stories of growth. In particular, the story of Matsutaro's growth and failure resonates with many viewers. In addition, the theme song by Yoshi Ikuzo also enhances the appeal of the work.

■ Related works and recommendations

The original story of "Notari Matsutaro" has the same themes and style as other works by Chiba Tetsuya. In particular, fans of "Notari Matsutaro" should also check out other works by Chiba Tetsuya, such as "Ashita no Joe" and "Chibi Maruko-chan." These works are also known as masterpieces that depict human drama and coming-of-age stories.

Other recommended sumo-themed anime works include "Samurai Champloo" and "Hajime no Ippo." These works also focus on human drama and character growth through sports.

Conclusion

"Notari Matsutaro" is a work that faithfully reproduces the original work by Chiba Tetsuya, while drawing out new charms with the visual beauty and direction unique to OVA. The story of Matsutaro's growth and setbacks deeply moves viewers, and the human drama depicted through the sport of sumo resonates with many people. The direction of director Katabuchi Sunao, the performances of the voice actors, and the theme song by Yoshi Ikuzo also enhance the appeal of the work. This is a work that can be highly recommended not only to sumo fans, but also to those who want to enjoy a human drama and a story of growth.